As an NBA player, Michael Jordan's performance was beyond reproach. The same certainly can't be said for his work as an NBA executive.
Let's review: In 3½ seasons running the Wizards -- he unofficially maintained front-office control during his two years as a player -- Washington was 110-179. His first coaching hire was University of Miami coach Leonard Hamilton, who resigned after the Wizards went 19-63 in his first season in 2000-01. Jordan then selected Kwame Brown with the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft. Brown, who was picked ahead of Tyson Chandler (No. 2) and Pau Gasol (No. 3), was a bust in D.C. and was traded to the Lakers in August 2005. By then, Jordan was gone, unceremoniously fired by Wizards owner Abe Pollin just weeks after ending his final comeback in 2003.
Jordan got another chance in June 2006 when he became part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, with whom he would have final say on personnel decisions. The Bobcats, an expansion team in 2004, were coming off a 26-56 season but were loaded with young talent such as Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton and Sean May. And thanks to their frugality under former coach/GM Bernie Bickerstaff, the Bobcats were also flush with about $20 million in salary-cap space when Jordan assumed control.
But much like his tenure in Washington, Jordan's personnel moves have been puzzling:
• Seeking an established scorer, Jordan gave up the rights to the eighth pick in the 2007 draft (Brandan Wright) for shooting guard Jason Richardson, who came to Charlotte with a career scoring average of 18.3 points as well as $51 million remaining on his contract. Through Tuesday, Richardson was averaging 16.1 points and shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 59.6 percent from the free throw line.
• He handed Gerald Wallace a six-year, $57 million contract, giving the small forward the same salary this season as the Mavs' Josh Howard.
• He hired another rookie coach in Sam Vincent.
• He drafted Adam Morrison with the third overall pick in 2006, ahead of Rudy Gay and Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy. (Morrison is out for the year with a knee injury, as is May, whose chronic knee woes make him a question mark to return at all.)
• He grossly overpaid for backup shooting guard Matt Carroll (six years, $27 million) and signed off on the bizarre three-year, $17.4 million offer sheet to restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, a contract the Cavs quickly matched.
• And last week, Charlotte traded struggling starting center Primoz Brezec and forward Walter Hermann (who both have expiring contracts) to the Pistons for reserve center Nazr Mohammed, who is owed $20 million over three years after this season.
The results of Jordan's wheeling and dealing have been mediocre at best. Charlotte won 33 games in 2006-2007. After a 6-4 start this season, the Bobcats have lost eight of their last 10 games, a skid that prompted Jordan to practice with the team Tuesday. Charlotte is the second-worst scoring team in the league (91.9 points per game) and ranks 28th in field-goal-percentage defense (46.8).
Fans are staying away in droves (Charlotte is drawing 13,949 a game). The Bobcats also have gobbled up most of their salary-cap flexibility and are faced with the possibility of losing Okafor, who reportedly rejected an extension worth $12 million a year last offseason.
Moreover, there may be some discord in the Charlotte front office about the direction of the team.
"They are in disarray," said a league source familiar with the Bobcats. "They don't know whether they want to build the team or try to win now. I don't understand the Mohammed trade; it doesn't make them much better in the short term or long term, when they have to take on that salary."
The Mohammed trade raised eyebrows throughout the league.
"It was a very good deal for Detroit," another league source said. "Nazr wasn't doing anything and it saves them $20 million. The thing about Joe Dumars is that he makes mistakes, on draft picks and free agents, but he isn't afraid to fix them. He knew Brezec was soft, but it wasn't too long ago that Brezec was a decent player. And [Brezec and Hermann] can both play in spots. Brezec can play against a team with bigs like Miami and New York, and Hermann can play against [Bulls forward Andres] Nocioni [who has had some big games against Detroit]."
Jordan is faced with an uphill climb if he hopes to guide the Bobcats to respectability. As a player, he would be up to the task. As an executive, we're not so sure.
Cheney Larschied
Daniella Sarahyba
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Comments (17) Add A Comment
MJ should make another comeback and play for the bobcats!!!
Seriously though, he needs to start making better decisions and keep the good players. i guess getting j rich wasn't a bad deal. but picking morrison was dumb. and if they get rid of okafor, they'll be screwed. that trade for nazr was another dumb move. now, they'll have to pay more money for a player who sucks.
I was a HUGE MJ fan growing up, but now its sad to c him in this situation.
We're still rooting for u MJ!
sjbears_54
St. Joseph, MI
Total Comments (8)
I know, he's not the best executive. But he's MJ, and we all want him to succeed. The Nazr trade was really his worst move to date, but Jrich will be ok. Give Ammo some time, he has the tools to develop into an option off the bench for quick scores! I'm not even a Bobcats fan (we all know there's only a handful of those), but I still hope his Airness will get it right.
ManuteBolSuperfan
Ithaca , NY
Total Comments (59)
Find another a story to write. This is Jordan's second year as GM. What GM turns a team around after one full year without drafting Shaq or LeBron. Regarding the Wizards, tell the whole story. The state of the Wizards when Jordan took over; jumping the first hurdle, which was cleaning up the salary cap and talent mess that Wes Unseld created. Jordan (who got fired in midstream) left a foundation for Ernie Grunfield to build. The story to write about is Mitch Kupcheck in LA.
StretchOnyx
Silver Spring , MD
Total Comments (1)
Chris, you don't seem to understand the situation that this franchise faces in Charlotte. The bobcats aren't a normal expansion team. Charlotte had some success with the Hornets before they bolted to new orleans. The city doesnt feel that the team is a novelty like other expansion teams would be in their new city. The only way Charlotte will recognize the bobcats is if they make an effort to spend money. The J-Rich deal was one of the few times the city was buzzing about the Bobcats on the local sports radio station WFNZ. If they would of kept Brandan Wright there would have been alot of negative speculation (and alienation) that the team only picks Tar Heels in the draft. I know its backward thinking but thats how the sports climate in the QC works with rabid fans of Duke, NC State, Wake, and the Tar Heels. Jordan had to resign Wallace because if he didn't the fans would feel that the Bobcats are cheap and the city would revolt much like they did against George Shinn. The Matt Carroll deal was a good deal because he is one of the fan favorites on the team.
The real problem that the bobcats have is the lack of exposure in Charlotte. the TV deal that the team has is horrendous. And the team seems to layoff workers such as play by play announcer Matt Devlin on a monthly basis. The real guy at fault i believe is Bob Johnson. Johnson is the same guy who is rumored to overrule Bernie Bickerstaff and pick Sean May over Danny Granger in the 2005 draft. He is also probably the one who picked Morrison for the potential box office draw.
I agree that some of the moves MJ has made are questionable (Nazr, Morrison, the hiring of Sam Vincent) but this team has to make a concerted effort to prove that their willing to spend money to their fans. That is why they let MJ break the bank and get JRich, and resign Wallace and Carroll. So for you to fault MJ for the team's problems is all wrong.
CharlotteSportsFan
New Providence , NJ
Total Comments (1)
jordan needs to stop making decisions and start training these guys to win. Seriously.... Kwame Brown?...Quiting in his prime?...Space Jam?...Baseball? lets put the ball in his hands so he can teach what he knows best.
rerun007
Columbia , MD
Total Comments (25)
StretchOnyx - you're right he didn't tell the whole story about what happened in Washington, but unfortunately that works against Jordan. Jordan also traded Rip Hamilton to the Pistons for Stackhouse so that Jordan could try and make a playoff run in what he knew would be his last year playing. He forfeited the future for the present. Whilte Hamilton won a championship in Detroit, Stackhouse was dogging it in Washington. The only common thread here is Jordan making favorable trades to Detroit - maybe he's a closet Pistons fan.
WizardsFan31
Bristow , VA
Total Comments (1)
Just more proof that great basketball players do not make good coaches or managers. ... ie Isiah, Magic, Larry and MJ. Look at your really good coaches. ... they were all bench warmers; they had the entire game to see what works and what does not. Think about it.. ... Pat Riley and The Zen Master in LA were average at best as pros and that is being kind. On the College level. .. can you tell me what kind of athletes Dean Smith, Bob Knight and Coach K were. ...hmmmm. ... if my observation is correct, the 12th man on most NBA and College rosters has the potential to be the next great coach. ... Sorry MJ. ... you are average at best and I m a Carolina fan.
Coyet
Clemmons , NC
Total Comments (46)
Do any of you actually watch bobcats games?? I can tell you dont because if you did you would know what this team lacks is an inside presence....Nazr will never be an all star but if he gives us 10-12 pts 8 rbs he damn near triples the production of Brezec. Okafor is not a center and is not a good low post scorer, Nazr gives us a presence down low that we can run a post play for, it also allows Emeka to play PF, rebound & defend without fear of foul trouble. Mohammed may not be a big name or all star but he is something this team needed. So many people want to hate on the bobcats but truth be told this team has been built the right way now its up to the players to perform. Dont speak about something you have no idea about. We have pratically the same or better record than several teams in the East including Miami, Chicago & Cleveland, wheres the right up on how horrible their ownership & GM's are?? Us true bobcats fans are behind you MJ and have no problems with what you've done this far cuz we see the reasoning behind it haters are gone hate thats what they do........
misterglover
Charlotte , NC
Total Comments (5)
I watch the Bobcats and you are right Mister Glover about the Cats needing an inside presence. ... So my question is why does MJ not know that. ... ? I bet you were a bench warmer !. My theory is becoming more accurate all the time. .. lol.
Coyet
Clemmons , NC
Total Comments (46)
How can Sports Illustrated say such a thing about the greatest athlete that has graced their cover and made so much money for them! To me the Bobcats are much better then before MJ. So as a fan of Jordan, Sports Illustrated needs to watch what they try to write about. MJ was the most successful athlete ever, and now Sports Illustrated thinks he should be the most successful gm ever. Let his Airness do his job! I bet he will pull something off, and you guys will jump on his bandwagon to sell issues once again!!-- From A Jordan Fan
Pistol23
Talladega , AL
Total Comments (1)
Jordan is probably the worst executive in the league!
oaklandelite
Rochester , MI
Total Comments (1)
I wonder what we would say if we could evaluate your job performances? I can see sports writers criticizing players and execs, but you guys could be the worst employees in your company/resturant.
What have you accomplished? Why aren't you an NBA exec?
Stop Hating!
Fairplay
San Antonio , TX
Total Comments (1)
Not sure I agree with everyone on Nazr. He is a massive improvement on Primoz. The May/Felton/Morrison picks have not gone well, and Okafor really isn't lighting the world on fire. But other then maybe Morrison you cannot pin this on MJ.
dan4th
Charlotte , NC
Total Comments (1)
Again people, don;t take what Mannix says seriously - he thought the randoplh trade was great for the knicks and picked them to finish 6th in the east, So since he lieks zeke, maybe it's good he is bashing MJ. Nazr is exactly what they need in the middle, aand there was no pt for hermann as dudley needs to see minutes. Agsin, consider the source - Mannix has as much hoops cred as my dog....
hoopsguynyc
New York , NY
Total Comments (8)
i actualyl agree with Chris i didn't like the nazr trade either and what's worse is that if the lose okafor they lose a superb inside presence, besides that i think he did an OK job, J-RIch was a good move, if they wanted a strong inside presence they should have gone for the knicks who won't mind off loading curry who could have worked well with okafor....hindsigh is always 20-20 so we can't be too harsh on him , give it some time and i think a proper judgement can be made at the end of this season
Prags
Total Comments (273)
to the person who asked what gm turns a team arounds in 1 year umm there is a guy in toronto he goes by the name of Bryan Colangelo don't know if you have heard of him???
theking81
Total Comments (1)
Jordan hasn't done the best job as a GM, but like anyone at anything, he has gotten better with time. The moves he made this year almost got the team to the playoffs. Things are starting to look up for the Bobcats.
http://therookiecontract.com/
CNForeman
Agoura Hills , CA
Total Comments (1)
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