Bobcatters' Consulting Firm
Posted: Sat Jan 3, 2009 4:43 pm
Free advice to a company that needs corporate restructuring amongst the leadership.
Let us assume the following rumors, stories, sausage, and/or wise tails are at least based in some fact:
1) Augustin was drafted at the last second without a workout or interview on the insistence of Coach Brown. Jordan's plan going into the draft was to draft Lopez if available, but deferred to Brown's last second whim.
2) Jordan was allegedly out of the country when the team signed Juwan Howard and was not pleased when he heard about it. Jordan had Howard in Washington and was unimpressed with Howard's attitude. (Recall that Howard was grossly overpaid and under-producing for the last few years of his big contract) Jordan allegedly blamed Brown for the deal and felt that Brown went behind his back.
3) Jordan had nothing to do with the Richardson trade. It was initiated by Brown and negotiated by Higgins. Steve Kerr on Bill Simmons' podcast stated that he never talked to Jordan during the process. I would not expect Jordan to be burning up the phone lines, but it would seem that as Head of Basketball Operations, he would have talked, at least conceptually, to the Suns' Head of Pperations at least once or twice.
If any or all of these vignettes have some truth, I posit that Brown is running the team and Jordan is merely a figurehead. If so, this is clearly in the interest of the team as Brown has a much better eye for talent and Jordan has proven over the years that he should not be in the picking players business. I would propose that Jordan formally hand over personnel decisions to Brown. I would propose this on the condition that Jordan has unqualified veto power over any deal.
This system would be in the Bobcats' interest. Brown is a tireless worker and expects the same from his charges. He would demand the most from the scouting ranks and would be in the best position to choose players and make deals. However, it is well documented that Brown's greatest weakness is impatience and his need to tinker. Jordan has the pedigree to wield the veto power sparingly and in a way that will not bruise Brown's ego. Jordan would not have to deal with the minutiae of running a team, but could still give the final go-ahead on big decisions. He could give the allusion of being an executive without having to do the work. This arrangement is beneficial because even from the 5th tee box, Jordan can quash an irrational Brown move:
Scene: Following an embarrassing blowout loss to the Bucks.
Brown: Michael, I just worked out a trade that will ship Okafor, Carroll, Felton and Wallace to Real Madrid for Sergio Ramos and future considerations.
Jordan: What position does Ramos play?
Brown: Right Fullback.
Jordan: What?
Brown: He also is on the Spanish national team that just won Euro 2008,
Jordan: Is this Real Madrid the Soccer club or the Basketball club?
Brown: Does it matter?
Jordan: Larry, lets put this one on hold for now.
END SCENE
As you see, Jordan does not have the work ethic to work deals, scout players and run a program day to day. However, he does have the ability to oversee and check Brown when he is being unnecessarily reactionary. Higgins can keep making the phone calls and cashing checks. This would be the best for Bobcats fans and the organization.
On this board, there seems to be a lot of talk about trading players and drafting prospects, but I think the focus needs to be on the organizational structure. Without a strong, and transparent structure, there can be no solid vision. If some deals are Jordan deals and some deals are Brown deals, this team will continue to be a hodgepodge of misfit toys. The rest of the league needs to know who is running this team.
It appears that Brown conceded to at least give the Jordan players a chance and he has done so to no avail. I image that before the season, Brown wanted to blow up the team, but Jordan convinced him that the players really are not that bad and should be given a chance. I then imagine that Brown gave them a "chance" and recently went back to Jordan and said, "I tried it with your guys and it is not working, my turn." I predict that there will be several moves coming in the next two months and a lot of the guys we consider foundational Bobcats will be gone. This is for the best.
I just hope before these trades happen, it becomes known that they are Brown deals and that Jordan has approved them. It is not healthy for the franchise to have outsiders wondering who did any particular deal and was it by consensus or a unilateral act.
First consultation is free, I bill hourly for the next installment.
Let us assume the following rumors, stories, sausage, and/or wise tails are at least based in some fact:
1) Augustin was drafted at the last second without a workout or interview on the insistence of Coach Brown. Jordan's plan going into the draft was to draft Lopez if available, but deferred to Brown's last second whim.
2) Jordan was allegedly out of the country when the team signed Juwan Howard and was not pleased when he heard about it. Jordan had Howard in Washington and was unimpressed with Howard's attitude. (Recall that Howard was grossly overpaid and under-producing for the last few years of his big contract) Jordan allegedly blamed Brown for the deal and felt that Brown went behind his back.
3) Jordan had nothing to do with the Richardson trade. It was initiated by Brown and negotiated by Higgins. Steve Kerr on Bill Simmons' podcast stated that he never talked to Jordan during the process. I would not expect Jordan to be burning up the phone lines, but it would seem that as Head of Basketball Operations, he would have talked, at least conceptually, to the Suns' Head of Pperations at least once or twice.
If any or all of these vignettes have some truth, I posit that Brown is running the team and Jordan is merely a figurehead. If so, this is clearly in the interest of the team as Brown has a much better eye for talent and Jordan has proven over the years that he should not be in the picking players business. I would propose that Jordan formally hand over personnel decisions to Brown. I would propose this on the condition that Jordan has unqualified veto power over any deal.
This system would be in the Bobcats' interest. Brown is a tireless worker and expects the same from his charges. He would demand the most from the scouting ranks and would be in the best position to choose players and make deals. However, it is well documented that Brown's greatest weakness is impatience and his need to tinker. Jordan has the pedigree to wield the veto power sparingly and in a way that will not bruise Brown's ego. Jordan would not have to deal with the minutiae of running a team, but could still give the final go-ahead on big decisions. He could give the allusion of being an executive without having to do the work. This arrangement is beneficial because even from the 5th tee box, Jordan can quash an irrational Brown move:
Scene: Following an embarrassing blowout loss to the Bucks.
Brown: Michael, I just worked out a trade that will ship Okafor, Carroll, Felton and Wallace to Real Madrid for Sergio Ramos and future considerations.
Jordan: What position does Ramos play?
Brown: Right Fullback.
Jordan: What?
Brown: He also is on the Spanish national team that just won Euro 2008,
Jordan: Is this Real Madrid the Soccer club or the Basketball club?
Brown: Does it matter?
Jordan: Larry, lets put this one on hold for now.
END SCENE
As you see, Jordan does not have the work ethic to work deals, scout players and run a program day to day. However, he does have the ability to oversee and check Brown when he is being unnecessarily reactionary. Higgins can keep making the phone calls and cashing checks. This would be the best for Bobcats fans and the organization.
On this board, there seems to be a lot of talk about trading players and drafting prospects, but I think the focus needs to be on the organizational structure. Without a strong, and transparent structure, there can be no solid vision. If some deals are Jordan deals and some deals are Brown deals, this team will continue to be a hodgepodge of misfit toys. The rest of the league needs to know who is running this team.
It appears that Brown conceded to at least give the Jordan players a chance and he has done so to no avail. I image that before the season, Brown wanted to blow up the team, but Jordan convinced him that the players really are not that bad and should be given a chance. I then imagine that Brown gave them a "chance" and recently went back to Jordan and said, "I tried it with your guys and it is not working, my turn." I predict that there will be several moves coming in the next two months and a lot of the guys we consider foundational Bobcats will be gone. This is for the best.
I just hope before these trades happen, it becomes known that they are Brown deals and that Jordan has approved them. It is not healthy for the franchise to have outsiders wondering who did any particular deal and was it by consensus or a unilateral act.
First consultation is free, I bill hourly for the next installment.