The Bobcats dropped their first game of the season in Houston on Wednesday night, but will look to get in the win column later today when they host the Cavs in Charlotte. In advance of tonight’s home opener, Bobcats owner Michael Jordan spoke to The Associated Press and the Charlotte Observer about a number of subjects related to his team. Courtesy of Steve Reed (AP) and Rick Bonnell (Observer), here are a few highlights from the six-time champion:
- Asked about tanking, Jordan said that’s not a path the Bobcats plan to go down. “I don’t know if some teams have thought of that,” Jordan said. “That’s not something that we would do. I don’t believe in that…. If that was my intention I never would have paid Al Jefferson $13MM a year.”
- More Jordan on tanking: “It’s not guaranteed [the player] you are going to get is going to be that star anyway. I did read that certain teams are thinking about doing it. But I’m not one of them.”
- Jordan referred to the amnestying of Tyrus Thomas as a statement that showed the Bobcats weren’t going to be shy about spending to improve the roster. Charlotte is still paying Thomas, and the cap space cleared in the move helped the club add Jefferson and re-sign Gerald Henderson.
- Initially, Jordan was unconvinced that the league’s new CBA was helping to level the playing field, but he has started to come around on its benefits. “We are still going through and seeing the full effects of it,” Jordan said. “From a business standpoint if you operate your team in the right way it gives you a chance to break even or be profitable. And it makes it more difficult for your talent to get up and go somewhere else.”
- Jordan singled out Josh McRoberts, who re-signed in Charlotte this past summer, as one of the keys to the club, expressing hope that he won’t opt out of his deal at season’s end.