What swan song? Jordan to Charlotte?

Michael Jordan has never been one to hold firm on a decision. After retiring from the NBA after the 1993 season Jordan came back in March of 1995, winning three more championships. As he closed out his stellar career with the Chicago Bulls with what "was" referred to as "The Last Shot", Jordan again felt the tickle has he returned to the NBA last season with the Washington Wizards. Jordan is now half way through the last year on his two year contract and has already announced that this will be the final hurrah.... or will it?

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is no stranger to Jordan, and if what Smith says is true the NBA will have a very interesting scenario. As Jordan perpares for what might be his last game as an NBA player in Chicago today Smith delivers the bombshell that talk around the NBA is that Jordan will join the ownership of the expansion Charlotte team starting in the 2004-05 season.

Smith says that Jordan still has juice in the tank, and John Stockton of the Jazz is living proof that a 41 year old can still be successful in the NBA. 'After a year off, why couldn't a 41-year-old Jordan come back and shoot jump shots when it could mean millions of dollars for his next investment?,' asks Smith.

Jordan states that he is going back to his front office job with the Wizards once he hangs up his sneakers while Charlotte owner Robert Johnson says he has his management team in place.

But Jordan back home in North Carolina makes much more sense writes Smith, with Jordan being both the lead figure in a new franchise in his home state and having the greatest ever as the public figure in the first primarily African-American-owned franchise in pro sports. Jordan with the Wizards simly isn't a fit long-term, and it may be time for him to move on.

Jordan would be free to flee if he so desired, his five year deal with the Wizards concluding at the end of next season.

Washington have learnt first had the value of having Jordan's name linked to the franchise, even though it took Jordan pulling on a Wizards jersey for them to start to turn around the ship and become a drawing ticket. Jordan could have a similar drawing power in Charlotte, a place where he'd be able to start fresh with his own team to mould without the pressure of having to get results immediately.

Larry Bird, who tried to get the new Charlotte franchise, was said to be unenthusiastic about acquiring an existing franchise because he wanted the challenge of building a team from the ground up.

Larry might have missed his opportunity, but Michael may not.

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Washington Wizards, Expansion, Chicago Bulls

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Ed Tapscott appointed Charlotte's inaugural GM

While a vote amongst current NBA owners to allow Charlotte to become the 30th NBA team doesn't happen until Friday, it looks like the team already has it's inaugural General Manager.

According to Chris Broussard of the New York Times Charlotte owner Robert Johnson has hired former Knicks official Ed Tapscott to be the expansion team's executive vice president.

Tapscott and Johnson have known each other for nearly 20 years, and Tapscott's wife used to work for the Black Entertainment Television, a company founded by Johnson.

"He is one of the most capable and talented people involved in basketball," Johnson said. "He brings a wealth of experience to the position, including having been an N.B.A. general manager, a college basketball coach, a basketball color commentator and a players' agent."

Tapscott's most famous move for the Knicks was the selection of frenchman Frederick Weis, who has yet to play a single game in the NBA, in the 1999 NBA Draft when he served as an assistant to then-GM Ernie Grunfeld. Two months after the selection Grunfeld was fired and Tapscott moved on.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Bob Johnson on his new basketball team and am equally excited to take on the challenge of building a first-class N.B.A. franchise in Charlotte," said Tapscott. "I look forward to being part of the effort to reignite Charlotte's passion for basketball."

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General Basketball, Expansion

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