In a stunning turnaround, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said Sunday that he had decided against selling the Milwaukee Bucks to Michael Jordan and would "continue to own them, improve them and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin."
Kohl's abrupt announcement came after weeks of intense local and national speculation that the retired basketball superstar had reached a tentative agreement to buy the team or was about to do so. The announcement would have to be considered a huge disappointment for Jordan.
Kohl's announcement capped an afternoon in which the Bucks released general manager Ernie Grunfeld from the last year of his contract, allowing Grunfeld to pursue what is expected to be a similar position with the Washington Wizards. That move immediately raised questions about the future of the basketball operations of the franchise.
Assistant general manager Larry Harris, the son of former Bucks coach Del Harris, was named acting general manager.
Jordan ended his playing career this season with the Wizards, then was fired by owner Abe Pollin as Jordan was poised to take over that team's basketball operations. Jordan had high hopes of becoming an owner in the National Basketball Association.
Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Expansion
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Ernie Grunfeld's job is done with the Milwaukee Bucks.
But it appears likely his days with the Washington Wizards are just beginning.
Bucks owner Herb Kohl released Grunfeld from the final year of his general manager's contract Sunday, just a few hours before Kohl announced that the National Basketball Association team was no longer for sale.
With Grunfeld officially out, the Bucks named Larry Harris as acting general manager. The 40-year-old Harris has been with the Bucks organization in various positions since 1990, and has served as assistant general manager to Grunfeld since August 2001.
Grunfeld is expected to interview for the Wizards' president of basketball operations position, a job once held by Michael Jordan. Wizards owner Abe Pollin has targeted the 48-year-old Grunfeld as the man to resurrect the moribund Washington franchise, which has not reached the playoffs since 1997.
Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards
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The Milwaukee Bucks yesterday released General Manager Ernie Grunfeld from the final year of his contract, allowing him to begin official negotiations with the Washington Wizards about their vacant president of basketball operations job.
If hired, Grunfeld would assume the job left vacant by Michael Jordan, who yesterday was no longer a candidate to purchase the Milwaukee franchise. The Bucks' owner, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), pulled out of negotiations to sell the team to Jordan, who played for the past two seasons with Washington before being rebuffed by Wizards owner Abe Pollin in an attempt to regain his front-office job as president of basketball operations. Jordan held the top basketball executive post from January 2000 to September 2001, before coming back to play.
The move to hire Grunfeld has been in the works for days.
"I have one year left on my contract and the Bucks graciously have allowed me to resign and seek employment," Grunfeld said in a statement released by the Bucks.
Grunfeld and his agent were expected to begin talks with Pollin right away. League sources recently said a deal could be finalized by early this week -- maybe as soon as today -- and Grunfeld could be with the Wizards by the time the free agent negotiating period gets underway Tuesday.
The team has called a news conference for 2:30 p.m. today at MCI Center. Initially it was to introduce draft picks Jarvis Hayes and Steve Blake, but the media advisory regarding the news conference gave no specifics about the topic of the assembly. The only other candidates for the basketball operations job known to have spoken to the Wizards are attorney and former University of Maryland star Len Elmore and NBA official and Hall of Fame player Bob Lanier.
Via Washington Post
Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks
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Bucks Jun 2003 Archive
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ESPN | Jun 29, 2003
Michael Jordan looked into buying the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 29, 2003
It's nearly time to find out if Gary Payton will stay in Milwaukee or hit the road, after just a few months in a Bucks uniform.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 29, 2003
While talks regarding the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks continue to center on National Basketball Association legend Michael Jordan, local efforts to buy the team from U.
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Pioneer Press | Jun 28, 2003
The Timberwolves on Thursday drafted for the future.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune | Jun 28, 2003
The 19-year-old high school kid and the skinny long shot from Duluth -- the Timberwolves' two draft picks Thursday night -- realistically won't help the team improve much next season.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 28, 2003
U.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 28, 2003
The almighty greenback continues to be a deciding factor in the Milwaukee Bucks' player personnel moves.
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Washington Post | Jun 28, 2003
Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld is expected to speak with Wizards owner Abe Pollin in the next few days to finalize terms of a contract that would make him Washington's new president of basketball operations, league sources said.
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| Jun 28, 2003
The 19-year-old high school kid and the skinny long shot from Duluth -- the Timberwolves' two draft picks Thursday night -- realistically won't help the team improve much next season.
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RealGM.com | Jun 27, 2003
Multiple league sources report that the Bucks and Timberwolves have agreed to a trade that would send Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson to Minnesota with Anthony Peeler and Joe Smith going to Milwaukee.
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Charlotte Observer | Jun 27, 2003
Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson said Thursday that if he were Michael Jordan, he'd buy an NBA team rather than work for someone else.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune | Jun 27, 2003
The Timberwolves already were living in the past Thursday night, selecting in the first round of the NBA draft for the first time since 1999.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
The Milwaukee Bucks did not take Polish power forward Maciej Lampe in the National Basketball Association draft Thursday night.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
There is no agreement in principle to sell the Milwaukee Bucks to Michael Jordan, and the basketball superstar had no hand in the Bucks' draft selections Thursday night, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Thursday.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 27, 2003
Wearing a green Milwaukee Bucks cap cocked slightly to the side, guard T.
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Washington Post | Jun 27, 2003
In one of the more active days in recent memory, the Washington Wizards agreed to extend the contract of leading scorer Jerry Stackhouse for two more seasons and a path was cleared to hire Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld as their president of basketball operations.
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ESPN | Jun 26, 2003
NBA sources say an announcement regarding the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks to a group led by Michael Jordan could be made as early as this afternoon.
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New York Post | Jun 26, 2003
JUST call me a draft dodger.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 26, 2003
Maciej Lampe, a poised 6-foot-11 Polish power forward, sat at his station in a hotel meeting room here Wednesday, fielding questions on the eve of the National Basketball Association draft.
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Washington Post | Jun 26, 2003
The question as to whom the Washington Wizards will pick with the 10th and 38th picks in tonight's NBA draft is nearly as intriguing as who will be making decisions for the team.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 25, 2003
Gary Payton said recently that he would be watching the Milwaukee Bucks very closely on draft day.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Dale Hoffman | Jun 25, 2003
My last memory of Kirk Hinrich is watching him go 6 for 20 against Syracuse, and I'm wondering which of the Milwaukee Bucks' problems he's supposed to solve.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 23, 2003
Clay Tucker won't be one of the invited guests at Madison Square Garden for the National Basketball Association's player draft Thursday night.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Michael Hunt | Jun 22, 2003
At a time when the league is suffering from a distinct lack of panache and star power, David Stern would be thrilled to have his most marketable asset back in the game.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 22, 2003
As National Basketball Association teams continue their early posturing in preparation for Thursday's college draft, one theme is emerging where the Milwaukee Bucks are concerned:
A former Kansas Jayhawk may be in their future.
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Los Angeles Times | Jun 21, 2003
Free agent point guard Gary Payton said he would have no problem fitting in with the Laker triangle offense.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 21, 2003
The whirlwind tour of workouts has concluded, the suit's picked out and the travel plans to Madison Square Garden have been finalized.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Michael Hunt | Jun 21, 2003
In sports, as in life, what is legal isn't always what is just.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 21, 2003
No matter how good his intentions are, U.
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Chicago Tribune | Jun 20, 2003
For many years, Milwaukee feared Michael Jordan.
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New York Daily News | Jun 20, 2003
Scott Layden, who has added three points guards over the last two seasons, is trying to move up in the NBA draft so the Knicks can select Texas point guard T.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 20, 2003
The Milwaukee Bucks apparently won't be losing general manager Ernie Grunfeld to the Portland Trail Blazers but he might still be a candidate for a similar job in Washington.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 20, 2003
Michael Jordan, looking to move from the basketball court to the owner's box again, is pursuing the purchase of the Milwaukee Bucks, a source close to the future Hall of Famer said Thursday.
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ESPN | Jun 19, 2003
Takeover talks involving Michael Jordan's ownership group and the Milwaukee Bucks have intensified in recent days, raising the possibility that Jordan could be in charge of his own franchise as soon as July, league sources told ESPN.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 19, 2003
In his tour of National Basketball Association team practice facilities, Marquette's Dwyane Wade has been a workout warrior.
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Hoopsworld.com | Jun 19, 2003
The Pacer Report
By Marc Roberts
for HOOPSWORLD.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Dale Hoffman | Jun 18, 2003
Herb Kohl said last January that he hoped the sale of the Milwaukee Bucks could be "a non-event.
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Oakland Tribune | Jun 18, 2003
Could free-agent point guard Gary Payton return to his hometown next season to play for the Golden State Warriors?
It may be a longshot, but "it's not by any means out of the question," said one of his agents, Eric Goodwin.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 15, 2003
Those hoping the future of the Milwaukee Bucks will be found in the deep pockets of Racine businessman Craig Leipold will apparently have to look elsewhere.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 12, 2003
Marquette's Dwyane Wade will get a second workout with the Chicago Bulls today at the Berto Center, the Bulls' practice facility.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 11, 2003
Maybe this will put an end to those rumors about Tiger Woods buying a piece of the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 11, 2003
Plenty of credit gets passed around to explain the San Antonio Spurs' success and a good chunk of it goes to former Milwaukeean Sam Schuler, the team's director of player personnel.
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Racine Journal Times | Jun 10, 2003
Jim McIlvaine had grown accustomed to being the subject of the story.
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Washington Post | Jun 10, 2003
Former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy notified the Houston Rockets this morning that he will accept their head coaching job, leaving the Washington Wizards still searching.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 9, 2003
Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Sam Mitchell is one of four remaining candidates for the vacant Toronto Raptors head coaching job, according to a source at the NBA Finals.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 9, 2003
The Bradley Center agreed to pay $2.
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Charlotte Observer | Jun 8, 2003
Michael Jordan crony Pat Ewing told some scouts at the camp to anticipate Jordan buying the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Miami Herald | Jun 8, 2003
The Chicago Bulls are interested in Memphis' Shane Battier, and the Grizzlies are interested in getting the No.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Michael Hunt | Jun 8, 2003
As a parting chorus to his redemption song that was Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Jason Kidd spoke of New Jersey's resolve to carry on not only against the San Antonio Spurs, but also "to compete against the mighty West.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 7, 2003
In his state of the league address before Game 2 of the NBA Finals Friday night, Commissioner David Stern was asked about the unemployment status of one Michael Jordan.
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Washington Post | Jun 7, 2003
NBA Commissioner David Stern said tonight he is optimistic that Michael Jordan will be back in the NBA in some capacity, most likely as an executive or owner, before next season.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 6, 2003
If Game 1 television ratings are an accurate barometer, the National Basketball Association Finals don't come close to holding the nation's - or Milwaukee's - interest the way they did last season.
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Journal Times | Jun 5, 2003
While it has been known for several weeks that Michael Jordan has an interest in being part of a group trying to buy the National Basketball Association franchise, word surfaced Wednesday that Eldrick "Tiger'' Woods may be a partner in the Jordan-led group.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 5, 2003
Michael Jordan's priority is to own a team, NBA Commissioner David Stern said.
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The Oregonian | Jun 5, 2003
It is "very possible" that free agent Gary Payton could become a Trail Blazer next season, according to the All-Star point guard's agent.
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Washington Post | Jun 4, 2003
The Wizards have contacted the agent for Rick Carlisle and could meet with the recently fired Detroit Pistons coach this weekend or early next week about Washington's coaching vacancy, according to Warren LaGarie, Carlisle's agent.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 3, 2003
Robert Johnson, the owner of the new Charlotte franchise in the National Basketball Association, met with Michael Jordan about coming to Charlotte.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist Michael Hunt | Jun 3, 2003
While some of the NBA's more prominent franchises are in flux on the eve of the league's signature event, it is interesting to note that the status of the Milwaukee Bucks is as constant as Jason Caffey's seemingly permanent spot on the injured list.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Jun 1, 2003
There has been a growing reluctance on the part of National Basketball Association teams to sign free agents to long-term contracts.
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