CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Michael Jordan is surrounding himself with old colleagues in his second stint running a team.
The Charlotte Bobcats hired Rod Higgins, his former teammate and aide, as general manager Thursday, a move that nearly recreates Jordan’s staff with the Washington Wizards.
Jordan is also in discussions with his college roommate – Coastal Carolina coach Buzz Peterson – about joining the franchise as an assistant coach or scout.
Higgins served as Golden State’s general manager the last three seasons, working under Warriors vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin. Before that, Higgins was the Wizards’ assistant GM when Jordan ran the team from 2000-03.
Higgins and Jordan became friends as teammates in Chicago during Jordan’s rookie season in 1984-85.
Higgins will collaborate with Bernie Bickerstaff, who stepped down as coach and general manager after the season but is staying on in a new role as executive vice president.
“Bernie and I will work together day to day, but at the end of the day we’ll put things on the table and Michael will come and make those decisions,” Higgins said.
Higgins will also be reunited with Fred Whitfield, Washington’s director of player personnel during Jordan’s time with the Wizards. Whitfield was hired as team president shortly after Jordan joined the team as part-owner last summer.
It all seems to be part of an effort by Jordan to surround himself with people he trusts. Last week, the Bobcats hired Sam Vincent – who played with Jordan in Chicago – as coach.
And next up could be Peterson, his former North Carolina teammate. Peterson, who just finished his second season at Coastal Carolina, has also coached at Tennessee, Tulsa and Appalachian State.
“We’re having those conversations in terms of Buzz,” Higgins said. “We look forward to getting something done real soon.”
Higgins couldn’t pass up rejoining Jordan, even though Golden State is coming off its first playoff berth in 13 years. The Warriors upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round before losing to Utah in five games in the Western Conference semifinals.
“I’d like to think that, particularly with this season being such a successful one, it was time well spent,” Higgins said. “This was an opportunity for another challenge.”
Higgins said the Bobcats’ wealth of salary cap space also played a role. Charlotte has the lowest payroll in the league and will have more flexibility than any team this summer during free agency.
Could that flexibility lead to bringing in Kobe Bryant? The Los Angeles Lakers star said Wednesday he wanted to be traded, then backed off that statement.
“We’ll go down that road if it’s something that makes sense,” Higgins said. “But more importantly, we’re not afraid to go down that road. I say all that to let you know we’re going to do our best to improve this team – and the resources are there to do that.”
Higgins has already been studying the Bobcats. He thinks they need help at center and point guard and looks forward to being involved in pre-draft activities.
Meanwhile, Jordan seems determined to prove he can win with his own people – even though he and his staff were fired four years ago in Washington.
“Looking at the course of what Rod has accomplished throughout his career,” Jordan said, “Bernie and I felt we had to bring in someone who could help elevate this franchise to the next level.”
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