Coach Brown: Jordan determined to buy Bobcats

[King Taharqa]

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP)—Former basketball great Michael Jordan could soon be the owner of his own NBA team.

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown said Monday that Jordan is doing everything he can to become the majority owner of the club in his home state.

“He said he’s doing his best to put himself in a position to get the team,” Brown said. “He wants it badly.”

Johnson is eager to sell the unprofitable club, and NBA commissioner David Stern said Saturday he expects a deal to be completed within two months.

While Stern has said Jordan owning the team “would be a good thing,” he may have competition. Former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos has made inquiries, and it’s possible if Postolos gets control, Jordan would no longer have a role with the team.

Jordan, currently a part owner with the final say on basketball decisions, would have to put an ownership group together and agree with Johnson on a price. Jordan declined comment Monday through a team spokesman.

“I didn’t talk to him about the particulars,” Brown said of his conversation with Jordan last week. “He just told me don’t believe everything you read in the paper and I’m trying my hardest to get this thing done. I’m hopeful that at the end of the day Michael will be running the Bobcats.”

Postolos, who once worked as an assistant to Stern in the NBA offices, has been in talks with Johnson for months.

“I am still not talking to media about Charlotte,” Postolos wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday.

Jordan currently has a unique role in Charlotte. While he runs the basketball operations, he’s not officially a team employee and rarely attends practices or games. But he was able to lure Brown, a fellow Hall of Famer, to coach the Bobcats and Charlotte (26-25) is in position to make its first playoff appearance this season.

“Anytime I read a possibility that Michael is not going to be involved it impacts my family and me because I came here because of him,” said Brown, in his record ninth NBA head coaching job. “Now after I got here I realized there were a lot of real plusses for being here. But again, I wouldn’t have thought about it and I’ve been thrilled since I’ve gotten here with the arrangement.”

Guard Raymond Felton(notes) was even more confident that a deal would be struck to make one of North Carolina’s most popular figures owner of the state’s NBA team.

“From what I’ve been hearing it’s probably going to happen,” Felton said. “So I hope it works out and he gets the team.”

Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team, also wasn’t talking Monday. He has declined interview requests for months.

What’s clear is Johnson is looking to unload the Bobcats. After paying $300 million for the expansion franchise that began play in 2004-05, Johnson has lost tens of millions of dollars each season as the Bobcats have struggled to draw fans and find sponsorships.

But after five losing seasons, the Bobcats sit in sixth place ahead of Tuesday’s game against New Jersey.

Jordan bought into the team in 2006 and after a rocky beginning that included drafting the disappointing Adam Morrison(notes), he’s made several moves that have helped the team, including November’s acquisition of Stephen Jackson(notes) from Golden State.

Owning a team outright would be another milestone for the six-time NBA champion.

“He’s as good a player as we’ve ever had in this sport. He’s a wonderful guy,” Brown said. “I think when the NBA bounced back, Magic (Johnson) and Larry (Bird) and then Michael sustained it. A lot of people owe a lot to him. I don’t think David Stern takes that lightly. I think he admires Michael and realizes what he means to our sport.

“I just think we’ve got to have him involved. … I just can’t see the NBA without him being involved.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-bobcats-jordan&prov=ap&type=lgns

Big props to MIKE CRANSTON. The best Bobcats beatwriter out there BAR NONE.

[Sam Mills Fan]

I'd prefer Postolos to be honest.

I like MJ, I really do, but what in the world does he know about owning a professional team?

[CarolinaPride5]

I agree Sam Mills Fan, does MJ know a damn thing about owing a team? Will be interesting to see how this plays out if MJ does end up buying the team.

[pantherfool]

I would love for this to happen. I think it would be the best for Charlotte. Anything to keep LB happy.

[Zaximus]

I agree Sam Mills Fan, does MJ know a damn thing about owing a team? Will be interesting to see how this plays out if MJ does end up buying the team.

He won't know any less than Bob Johnson. While Jordan is a bit green, his name and profile should be able to draw some players here while otherwise they wouldn't. This is evident for the fact that we lured Brown here. We'll also probably get more press and coverage with Jordan owning the team.

Another thing to think about is, I bet Brown stays with us longer if Jordan takes ownership. We really need Brown to be around for at least 2-3 more years.

I think Jordan will have more of a personal connection with the team than Johnson or the Rockets guy will. I think Jordan understands this isn't a money maker (he has other means of this) and probably wants to do it because of his passion for basketball. I want an owner that is passionate about his team, someone like Mark Cuban (who always fields a contender).

[Darth Biscuit]

Screw all this owning, managing, directing stuff... they need to start a 40+ veterans league and bring Jordan, Bird, Magic et al back to play... now I'd watch that.

[Mr. Scot]

I'd prefer Postolos to be honest.

I like MJ, I really do, but what in the world does he know about owning a professional team?

Realistically, not much. And great players rarely turn into great GMs or owners.

With that said, if he'd take the reins with a hands off approach and allow Larry Brown (or a future coach of similar pedigree) to control all team decisions, I'd be in favor of it.

The best owners tend to be the ones that hire good people and get out of their way.

[ckad79]

I would love for this to happen. I think it would be the best for Charlotte. Anything to keep LB happy.

I agree. I hear people say, "what does Jordan know about owning at team?" He knows how to be who he is and who he is, got us Larry Brown. Do you George Shinn could have ever talked Larry Brown into coaching the Hornets? haha Do you think Larry Brown would ever CONSIDER coaching a small market team if Jordan wasn't here? Get real!

Jordan is the best option for us because he has ties with North Carolina and really wants the team to make it. Plus, over the past year he's not only brought in Brown, but brought in Higgins who is a great GM! Say what you want about Mike's time spent in Washington, but I repeat NOBODY could save that franchise! They sucked before Jordan, and they continue to suck after Jordan --- they are just a crappy franchise.

[Jackofalltrades]

Mike Cranston isn't a Bobcat beat writer, he works for the AP and covers a variet of teams and sports. He's done numerous articles on the Panthers too and usually does a very good job.

[Britneck]

Mike Cranston isn't a Bobcat beat writer, he works for the AP and covers a variet of teams and sports. He's done numerous articles on the Panthers too and usually does a very good job.

Yeah. The guy has never really reported on the Bobcats until they started winning. He has some good articles though.

[Kakarot]

He won't know any less than Bob Johnson. While Jordan is a bit green, his name and profile should be able to draw some players here while otherwise they wouldn't. This is evident for the fact that we lured Brown here. We'll also probably get more press and coverage with Jordan owning the team.

Another thing to think about is, I bet Brown stays with us longer if Jordan takes ownership. We really need Brown to be around for at least 2-3 more years.

I think Jordan will have more of a personal connection with the team than Johnson or the Rockets guy will. I think Jordan understands this isn't a money maker (he has other means of this) and probably wants to do it because of his passion for basketball. I want an owner that is passionate about his team, someone like Mark Cuban (who always fields a contender).

:iagree:, especially with the bold.