Jordan's return up in the air
Posted: Wednesday January 06, 1999 04:05 PM
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Millions of reasons to return: Jordan, who made about $33 million last year, can get about $34.7 million from the Bulls should be choose to return AP |
NEW YORK (AP) - The basketball world will have to wait to find out if Michael Jordan
is returning to the NBA.
"Michael is going to analyze the deal, see what Chicago wants to do and
then make an informed decision," agent David Falk said Wednesday. "I'm not
certain what his time frame is."
Jordan, who led the Bulls to their sixth championship of the decade last
June, had said he would wait until the end of the lockout to announce
whether he will retire. At 36, Jordan remains the game's best player. He is
a free agent and can sign with any team, but the Bulls can offer him far
more money than anyone else.
Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, a grandfather
clause allows any player to sign for 105 percent of his previous salary.
That means Jordan, who made about $33 million last year, can get about
$34.7 million from the Bulls should be choose to return.
Jordan's whereabouts were not immediately known. He has been reported to be
in the Bahamas recently.
"He needs to see what the rules of the new agreement are so he can see what
the big picture looks like," Falk said.
Asked what he expects Jordan to do, Falk said: "I have no gut feeling on
it. He has to make whatever decision makes him happy, and I'll support
whatever decision he makes."
Several other members of the Bulls are free agents, including Scottie
Pippen, Dennis Rodman,
Luc Longley
and Steve Kerr.
Jordan has said he would never play for another coach other than Phil
Jackson, and the Bulls have said they will make one more effort to get
Jackson to return before handing the coaching job to Tim Floyd.
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