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Deal dilemma Jordan's relationship with agent could cause problems
Posted: Saturday January 15, 2000 05:11 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The potential conflict of interest between Michael Jordan and his agent, David Falk, is throwing a wrench into Jordan's efforts to own a piece of the Washington Wizards. The Washington Post reported today that the Jordan-Falk relationship is one of several factors holding up a deal. Also uncertain is the amount of equity in the team that Jordan would hold, and how much he would pay for it. If the snags can be worked out, the NBA would welcome Jordan back eagerly. "We've made it clear that we think it'd be a terrific thing to have Michael Jordan involved in the NBA in whatever capacity he wants to be involved in. That's no secret," deputy commissioner Russ Granik said Friday. "That would be wherever and whatever he was interested in doing." A shroud of secrecy continued to hang over negotiations between current Wizards owner Abe Pollin, minority owner Ted Leonsis and Jordan. If negotiations continue to progress, Jordan could be running the team before the Feb. 24 trading deadline. "I think he'd be great in the job, I really do," Indiana Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh said. "He knows the players, he knows what it takes to win. In dealing with his own franchise, he'll know why they are winning or not winning and what he needs to win." Leonsis, an executive at America Online, and two partners bought 100 percent of the NHL Washington Capitals and part of Washington Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Wizards, the WNBA's Mystics and the MCI Center, from longtime owner Pollin last year. Leonsis' group also has the right of first refusal to buy the rest of WSE when the 76-year-old Pollin decides to sell. "We have no announcement scheduled and no comment," Wizards spokesman Matt Williams said. Still, the seemingly impending return of Jordan to the NBA was creating quite a buzz. No name in basketball commands attention like that of Jordan, whose mere presence would bring instant excitement to a moribund franchise. The Wizards, 12-24 this season, haven't won a playoff game in 12 years and haven't had a sellout this season at the 2-year-old downtown MCI Center. As head of basketball operations, Jordan would oversee the trading, signing and drafting of players and the hiring and firing of front-office personnel. Although he would be a newcomer to that end of the business, no one was expecting him to be a pushover in trade talks. "I don't think you're going to take advantage of Michael Jordan. Nobody has so far," Walsh said. "You're dealing with a basketball person who understands what you're talking about. Once you establish a relationship with him, you both know what each other are talking about. "It's the same as asking whether a great player can be a great coach, like Larry Bird. Guys who have been players in the league have ended up being good coaches and general managers. What's going to make Michael Jordan any different? I think he'll be a great general manager," Walsh said.
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