| | WASHINGTON -- When Michael Jordan entered the NBA, he dazzled fans
and foes with his athletic ability while winning two slam dunk
championships.
Later in his illustrious career, Jordan demonstrated his unrivaled passion for winning while leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships.
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Running against the Bulls
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Michael Jordan played his entire NBA career in a
Chicago Bulls uniform. But he'll be on the other side two more times this
season:
March 18: Chicago at Washington, 7 p.m. ET
April 13: Washington at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
ET |
But in his latest role as president of basketball operations for
the Washington Wizards -- a hiring that was announced Wednesday -- Jordan's basketball brilliance and fierce competitive streak will only go so far. Jordan is going to have to rely on every ounce of charisma, charm and savvy he gained during his 13-year NBA career to turn around
a struggling franchise.
"I'm looking forward to this opportunity," said Jordan, who also bought an unspecified share in Lincoln Partners, the company led by AOL executive Ted Leonsis that owns a minority stake in the Wizards' parent company.
"I have an attitude about the way I play and I have an attitude
about the way I win. My job, my responsibility with this organization
is to see if I can pass that on to the players. That's going to test
my brains to see what changes have to happen."
It also might test his patience.
The Wizards (12-28):
Have the second-worst record in the Eastern
Conference.
Are saddled with four high-priced, under-producing
veterans -- Juwan Howard, Mitch Richmond, Rod Strickland and Ike
Austin.
Are at least $15 million above the salary cap, which
makes attracting new talent via the free-agent market next to
impossible.
Don't have a first-round draft pick for next season unless they finish with one of the top three
picks in the NBA draft lottery.
Still, that didn't stop Leonsis from declaring what all long-suffering Wizards fans must be dreaming.
"We all worked with one effort, one mission, which was to bring
Michael Jordan here and to have what he does best, which is to win
championships," said Leonsis.
Admitted Jordan: "The expectations are definitely high. I'd like
for it (the turnaround) to be short. But I'm realistic."
Jordan might try to unload some of his pricey players before the
Feb. 24 trading deadline, but Howard's salary (about $15 million this
year) and the salaries and ages of Richmond ($10.1 million, 34) and
Strickland ($10 million, 33) will make trading them difficult. Dealing
high-priced players won't get any easier because a luxury tax goes
into effect after the 2000-01 season, requiring a dollar-for-dollar
payback by teams that are over the salary cap, and most teams are
already over the cap.
"If any of the players are worried about being traded, then go out
and do your job and you don't have to worry about it," said Jordan.
Jordan also hinted that changes could be forthcoming, possibly even
involving coach Gar Heard.
"I'm not saying I'm going to fire Gar Heard," said Jordan. "I'm
saying I'm going to evaluate everybody. Until we get ourselves on
track, everybody's disposable."
Jordan said he would take a hands-on role in evaluating the team's
talent, including practicing with the team.
"The best evaluation I can give is to look in a player's eye and
see how scared he is," said Jordan.
History is littered with the shattered egos of top NBA players
whose front-office acumen never could match on-court ability,
including the Wizards' current executive vice president and general
manager, Wes Unseld. Since 1987, Unseld has been directly involved
with the team's basketball operations, either as coach or in the front
office and the Wizards have won only two postseason games and had
only two winning seasons.
Unseld apparently will remain with the team, as Jordan said he
would consult with Unseld on all basketball decisions. Jordan now has
final say, however, on all personnel decisions -- subject to majority
owner Abe Pollin's approval.
There is precedent for Jordan to be successful in the front office.
Two of the NBA's top 50 players, Bill Sharman and Jerry West, both led
the Los Angeles Lakers to titles as general managers.
"Basketball is my life," said Jordan. "I know it inside and out
because I've experienced it. It's an easy transition for me."
Even if Jordan is able to trade some veterans to free up cap room,
it remains to be seen whether he can attract any of the top free
agents, including Detroit's Grant Hill, who played high school ball in Washington's suburbs. Still, if anyone can do it, Jordan seemingly
can.
But one thing Jordan, 36, can't do, however, is lace up his Air
Jordans. NBA rules prohibit players from owning any part of the team.
(David Nielsen writes for Scripps Howard News Service.) | |
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