Is Having MJ as an Owner More Negative Than What We Originally Thought?

[Proudiddy]

Remember how many of us hoped MJ would become the owner so he could exercise his power broker/basketball businessman muscle and connections to make our franchise a contender year in and year out?

Well, I'm really starting to think that was never possible, because perhaps he doesn't have any connections at all.

The guy who was known for punching teammates in their faces at practice during his prime... Perhaps, that's what he's been all along. All the charisma and 'good guy' features that made him rich and famous were strictly for commercials, and in real life, he's an arrogant ass hole that has rubbed people in the basketball world the wrong way for years.

Maybe MJ doesn't have any influence at all, and because he IS MJ, maybe other front offices are taking other deals over what we offer because they prefer not to deal with him?

Maybe not. And this is coming from a life-long MJ fan... And I apologize for the overall negativity and pessimism of this thread, but I just find it weird that we couldn't work our way into one of these deals AT ALL, and our front office apparently was talking to Washington about Gil... It's the only thing I can think of at this point. Man this season sucks.

[ammofan]

Im not sure....because tomorrow we could come out and trade for Melo. Its too hard to say right now.

[SWedd523]

Just because we aren't a part of every trade made throughout the league, and just because we aren't the best team in the league, does not mean that he has no connections or pull.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, but other than the trades with Golden State, how often have we cam out on the better end of a deal? And that is only because Higgins probably still has some people in their front office (maybe not after the newest ownership took over).

[BIGCatBobcat]

The basketball side of things, yeah, questions abound. Just crazy, crazy number of moves and it's gotten the team no where. Business, just for him being MJ, whooo. You can't question that side at all. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2010/12/michael-jordan-lands-sponsor.html
They just keep coming.

[BlockParty]

MJ has his inner circle of friends in NBA offices, but he also has an outer circle of players that struggled to beat him on the court and would love nothing better than to beat him in their new respective positions (Bird in Indiana, Dumars in Detroit, Ainge in Boston, etc). The balance of the NBA GM's probably respect him, but are contrite and realize this is a business..period!!!!!

Where MJ would get the nod is the ability to close the deal on a Free Agent that has tried to emulate MJ his entire career. After the CBA is panned out, it should make the playing ground a little more even (if Stern gets his way, which is usually the case). However, that assumes that the Cats start making wise financial decisions so they have assets that other teams actually want, that we still have our draft picks and that we still have some wiggle room under the cap to strike/close a deal.

And MJ helps in attracting corporate sponsors (doesn't help the on the floor product directly, but it should make it easier for the team to breakeven sooner, which in the long term will help create a sustainable NBA product in Charlotte). They just signed BlueCrossBlueShield (the largest health insurance company in the Carolinas) this past week (despite their pitiful on the court performance).

[Chef]

Maybe not. And this is coming from a life-long MJ fan... And I apologize for the overall negativity and pessimism of this thread, but I just find it weird that we couldn't work our way into one of these deals AT ALL, and our front office apparently was talking to Washington about Gil... It's the only thing I can think of at this point. Man this season sucks.

i am sure we were on the phone, but may not have offered anything better. we are all for blowing it up on this board, jordan and management may not be. it seems the only logical solution, but none of us have millions invested in the team. if we we weren't looking to send crash, i don't see them wanting anything we have. forget jax, they have had enough guns so no way that headline writes itself. diop, carroll, najera or any of our long term or higher priced salaries are not appealing to them. they don't need diaw at all so why do that deal if you are washington. that is why i proposed crash carroll najera or crash nazr for gil and their #1 unprotected. obviously they weren't going to break up gil's bad deal for a bunch of shitty unproductive deals just to save 20 mil in the last year.

i think one of the big mistakes we all make on this board is overvaluing our "young talent". hendo, ups have absolutely no value around the league. furthermore, our trade pieces aren't that great. jax is an old headcase on a long contract, diaw is not worth his salary for the next two years, dj is marginal talent around the league at best (best case scenario as a centerpiece is for jason thompson), nazr is an expiring but not worth much because most teams are under the cap and those that are over are contenders and don't mind it, tyrus is ok but still has a bad rep and a huge contract that leaves wallace as are only trade piece which we could realistically use as a base for rebuilding.

[DY_nasty]

MJ has already brought more interest to the team in a less than a year than the team ever had before...

Just because we aren't in every trade its no reason to get upset with the guy. Its not like he's got a lot to work with.

[teej]

First off, while the return on the trade is obviously not what we wanted, Cuban called MJ up to offer him Damp. That's AT LEAST one "GM" who's more than willing to work with Mike. He's made plenty of trades since he and Rod took over, and he made plenty of trades in Washington. He's done more in less than one year with the team in his hands than Bob did in 6. Like was said, his business team will make the basketball side more workable. And really, he needed the "win-now" approach that killed the future just to save the team from drowning. We don't want the NBA to own us, do we? Given the limited tools he had, he's done a good job with this team, outside listening to Larry on the Diop and Radman trades and DJ pick. He learned from that, just like he's learned from everything else in life, and I have no doubt that, while it may be a long time down the road, this team will be a contender. MJ won't allow otherwise, nor will his accountant.

[DY_nasty]

The one thing that I like about the FO is that they learn from their mistakes most of the time.

Right now, I'm just hoping that MJ's pride and feud with Isiah isn't whats keeping him from doing something about Larry...

[WAM9]

I think it is a legitimate question but I have to say that I am still completely happy with MJ as the owner. Many of the other comments have addressed it but the franchise is in better condition and far more respected league wide than it was when Bob was the owner. Larry Brown was an excellent hire that simply stayed 1 year too long. We have upgraded our roster through numerous trades and made our way to the playoffs. Even with these steps though, I think MJ's best moments are still ahead. This is not 2K11 or NBA Live, it takes time.

I still 100% believe in MJ and couldn't be happier that he is our owner.

[Plowright]

Guys, i know its hard for all of us right now, but we are all looking for someone to blame. The way i see it its the players fault, nobody elses

[jdub28]

It's kind of hard to blame MJ. Look at the situation he walked into. You can't expect MJ to come in and save the team in one season or find the player that will. He still has to work around the busted TV deal, the lack of draft picks, players bitching at each other, potential lockout, and a HOF coach that doesn't want to be there but MJ would look like ass for firing. This is gonna take a couple of years.

[BIGCatBobcat]

Well, in retrospect, you could say that one thing MJ did do wrong was ask LB to come back. Sounded like LB didn't want to but MJ talked him into it. Then again, what choice did he have? Who could we have added late in the off season?

[TheBeagle]

I think it is a legitimate question but I have to say that I am still completely happy with MJ as the owner. Many of the other comments have addressed it but the franchise is in better condition and far more respected league wide than it was when Bob was the owner. Larry Brown was an excellent hire that simply stayed 1 year too long. We have upgraded our roster through numerous trades and made our way to the playoffs. Even with these steps though, I think MJ's best moments are still ahead. This is not 2K11 or NBA Live, it takes time.

I still 100% believe in MJ and couldn't be happier that he is our owner. Absolutely. I mean, knowing this team's performance is killing MJ MORE than it is us means so much to me as a fan and to a lesser extent as a STH. With Bob, you never got the sense he gave a rat's ass; the complete opposite in fact.

I will say I've wondered if there wouldn't be some owners/GMs/agents out there that would try to hardball with MJ so they could say they stuck it to Michael Jordan, but I think if that is even the case it's rare and a one-time thing at that.

So yeah, there are some negatives, but not enough to outweigh the positives that come with having MJ as owner.

[BlockParty]

Well, in retrospect, you could say that one thing MJ did do wrong was ask LB to come back. Sounded like LB didn't want to but MJ talked him into it. Then again, what choice did he have? Who could we have added late in the off season?

I think MJ is HUGE on people honoring their contract. Of all players in professional sports, MJ probably had a better arguement than all of them to hold out and ask for a better deal (threatening to sit out or pout until it happened). MJ never did that as a player, he said, I signed the contract, nobody held a gun to my head and my signature means something, so I'm going to honor that contract and play my heart out until my contract is up.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the same approach.

LB suggested it's hard being away from his family, Jordan merely suggested publicly that if Larry wanted to be closer to his family and felt the need to quit, he'd let him leave. Privately, I'm sure Philly or the Clippers approached MJ about interviewing and MJ stuck to his guns and said, I'll listen, but you will have to provide compensation via draft picks.

Unfortunately LB decided to pout about it a bit over the summer, did that spill into the players? who knows, but it's safe to say LB doesn't view contract commitments the same way MJ does.

[fallen xxi]

Saying "Year In and Year Out" is not even a valid statement. Has MJ even been the owner a full year? Patience grasshoppers. And as stated earlier: Melo could easily be a Bobcat tomorrow morning. You just never know.

[CatNation]

He's stupid for hiring friends. Big business no-no.

[Absinthe]

If I'm being completely honest, I don't think he's ever going to spend the money to make this team into a contender.

[Marvel]

He needs to step out of his comfort zone with that "friends" thing

[adam187]

I've been seeing a lot more Hanes and NBA2k11 commercials, that's for sure, so that's a plus.

[teej]

Who has he hired that's a "friend" that's unqualified?? Vincent is the only one that comes close, but he was hired by Bob over Van Gundy, Fratello and others (cheap).

Higgins was a GM in GSW, his business team is excellent, and I don't think anyone else he's hired is a "friend"

[WAM9]

Who has he hired that's a "friend" that's unqualified?? Vincent is the only one that comes close, but he was hired by Bob over Van Gundy, Fratello and others (cheap).

Higgins was a GM in GSW, his business team is excellent, and I don't think anyone else he's hired is a "friend"

I agree with you Teej. Lot's of folks like to say his hires his too many of his friends but examples of unqualified hires are hard to come by. Other than bringing Larry back this year (and even that is a hindsight 20/20 thing) I don't have a problem with any of MJ's hires.

[CatNation]

Its not that they are unqualified, but it just leads to problems when you have to tell them they arent doing their job well, or you have to fire him. We are stuck with LB, because MJ will never fire his UNC buddy

[BRNC]

It would not surprise me if (by mutual) if LB decided he needed to spend more time with his family...before the season is over...I understand MJ feeling loyalty towards LB and that's not really an issue for me...the issue (for me) is I do not feel LB really wants to coach this team...he needs to man-up and meet with MJ and set up an exit strategy...before it gets worse...

[WAM9]

Loyalty isn't a bad thing.

Remember, the only reason we got LB in the 1st place was because of MJ and their relationship. It might eventually end up with some uncomfortable meetings behind closed doors but nothing that would make me question MJ's hires. I run a couple of companies and I have had to fire friends before but believe me, some of my closest and most productive employees are also some of my best friends. If you have the connections, why not use them?

[WAM9]

...and it was just announced that LB has resigned. Looks like MJ is willing to make the tough, behind closed doors, decisions after all.

[CatNation]

glad to admit i was wrong about it

[Marvel]

Me too.....

[BlockParty]

MJ definately earned some points with me today. And he has been my all-time favorite player for the last 25 years (and I hate UNC).

And we get 8 of our next 10 games at home (including the next 4 in a row and 7 of next 8).

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

This Brown firing/resignation makes me very uneasy about MJ as the Bobcats owner...I'm starting to doubt his abilities to manager and own a team. Bringing an interim coach? Sounds like a terrible idea...

[WAM9]

This Brown firing/resignation makes me very uneasy about MJ as the Bobcats owner...I'm starting to doubt his abilities to manager and own a team. Bringing an interim coach? Sounds like a terrible idea...

Are you serious?

Would you rather he keep LB and keep watching him try to put a square peg in a round hole?

If you don't like the whole interim thing that is one thing but not liking the LB situation makes me question what you are watching.

If you fire your entire coaching staff then what is your alternative? You need an interim coach while you do your homework and conduct interviews. Naming the coach an interim simply gives you more flexibility as an owner down the road. If Silas is incredible, then he keeps the job, if not, then you find the right guy in the "interim".

I just don't see, in any way, shape or form, how this is a "terrible idea".

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

In retrospect, it would have been better had we gotten a different owner and LB quit last year. We would have some sort of consistency going forward

The organization as a whole seems a mess. Constant trade rumors, and now who wants to play for an interim coach? These are all Jordan's decisions. I think the writing was on the wall this summer with Felton not coming back that LB was going to be a pain to deal with. Jordan knew after the playoffs that Felton wouldn't be back. He should have just gotten rid of LB then.

[WAM9]

In retrospect, it would have been better had we gotten a different owner and LB quit last year. We would have some sort of consistency going forward

The organization as a whole seems a mess. Constant trade rumors, and now who wants to play for an interim coach? These are all Jordan's decisions. I think the writing was on the wall this summer with Felton not coming back that LB was going to be a pain to deal with. Jordan knew after the playoffs that Felton wouldn't be back. He should have just gotten rid of LB then.

Yeah, nothing spells consistency like changing owners.

[dnbman]

"In retrospect, it would have been better had we gotten a different owner and LB quit last year. We would have some sort of consistency going forward"

Consistency is an extraordinarily difficult thing to maintain, especially if you're not one of the top teams in the NBA, especially if you haven't truly established anything. Given the powers at the top of the NBA, Charlotte is going to have to take chances in order to be successful. Sometimes, those will work out and sometimes they won't. Until you get a true blue-chip, franchise player that helps define your team and organization, you're always going to be changing things to make them better.

Retrospect is also tough. Case in point: EVERYONE was fawning all over Portland a few years ago. Now, they look like they're falling apart. Too many variables to know exactly what the right solution was.

[BlockParty]

In retrospect, it would have been better had we gotten a different owner and LB quit last year. We would have some sort of consistency going forward



The Clippers have been pretty consistent the last 20 years....I'll take MJ anyday