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 Wednesday, January 19
New job could test Jordan's patience
 
By David Nielsen
Scripps Howard News Service

 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.

Running against the Bulls

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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