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Let’s say he comes back after taking one year off instead of three.

What are his options for teams and how much better would he be than the Wizards version at two years younger?

Options in my opinion with very little research put into it:
Knicks
Heat
Hawks
Rockets
Suns

I think Washington was still basically his option because he came back with the intent of returning to his management position.

But if he returned 2 years earlier with a full training camp and Artest not having broken his ribs, he would have looked much better. The Knicks were still a pretty good team in the East and he was certainly a better scorer than Latrell Sprewell. They also had the defense to cover for him as he slowed down. Miami had a full year of Zo that season, and Mash with bits of Majerle and Tim Hardaway, so that also would have been an interesting one. Atlanta sucked, despite having Mount Mutombo, and Jordan wouldn't have been able to take them too far at that stage. Houston was a horrible Steve Francis team with the final games of Chuck's career, half a year of Olajuwon and then like Cat Mobley and Kenny Thomas. Would have been the old guys club, for a chunk of the season.

Phoenix had Kidd, had 60 games of Penny, some Gugs, Rodney Rogers, a partial season from Shawn Marion. They were good, but they weren't healthy at all. Would have been interesting come the playoffs, though.

Either Miami or New York win the East with MJ. The Knicks would have a chance vs Lakers in this hypothetical if they trade Sprewell for a legit PG.

His stats were already steadily declining during the second three peat. Coming back earlier would make him somewhere in between 198 and 02. Probably 25 ppg at 50% TS. His defense was almost gone in '98 and would be second to none in '00. Although it would make him a top 15, maybe a top 10 player statistically, he wasn't really known as a good teammate. Put him on the Knicks and he would be a better scorer than Sprewell, but Houston would probably have a problem. And it would be the same on all other teams. He wasn't about to fill the gaps or play second fiddle, he wanted to shine, and not necessarily in the team's best interest.

I think Portland or Sacramento would have been the best option. In Portland, he would have teamed up with Pippen (as well as Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, and Jermaine O'Neal). Jordan and Pippen win a 7th title in 2000. However, the team implodes shortly thereafter, and Jordan retires after the 2000-01 season.

In Sacramento, he would have played with Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Chris Webber. This team doesn't win the title right away, but Jordan helps lead the Kings to a title in 2002, and plays one more season before retiring.

PhiEaglesfan712 wrote:I think Portland or Sacramento would have been the best option. In Portland, he would have teamed up with Pippen (as well as Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, and Jermaine O'Neal). Jordan and Pippen win a 7th title in 2000. However, the team implodes shortly thereafter, and Jordan retires after the 2000-01 season.

In Sacramento, he would have played with Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Chris Webber. This team doesn't win the title right away, but Jordan helps lead the Kings to a title in 2002, and plays one more season before retiring.

He was never going to consider the Jail Blazers given their issues. Past prime MJ on the Kings would’ve been amazing those years but he wasn’t going to a perennial loser prior to 2000 IMO.