MIAMI — As usual, Charlotte owner Michael Jordan caught those shadowing him off balance.
After Bobcats president Rod Higgins made it Bahamas’-water clear management was in the hunt for a coach with NBA head coaching experience, someone who really wanted to win — as opposed to deposed Paul Silas, Larry Brown and Sam Vincent, I presume — former Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap was hired.
Like everyone else, specifically the impulsively gambling Jordan, who put University of Miami coach Leonard Hamilton in charge of the Wizards for one (19-63) season, I don’t have the faintest idea whether Dunlap possesses the competence to command respect from pro players should Jordan luck into any.
What’s known for sure is Dunlap, who was coach Steve Lavin’s assistant at St. John’s, proved more appealing than Jerry Sloan, won everywhere he assisted, was very successful at the Division II level as Sideline Superior for Metro State, is a workaholic and never quit a team in midseason.
If that’s not conclusive proof Dunlap has a top spin on the ball, George Karl’s effusive endorsement certifies it. According to the Nuggets’ chief intelligence officer, his former assistant is one of the most creative defensive minds that ever shared his workspace.
From one former Carolina Tar Heel to another, what else do you have to know?
Well, how about this: If Karl is so smart how come he let Dunlap leave the Nuggets to become an assistant for Arizona?
This just in: Dunlap has lapped the league’s lowest-paid head coach.
Far be it for column castigator Frank Drucker to say Dunlap will be working on the cheap, “but between quarters he’ll be required to make Air Jordans.”
* Danny Ferry is the leader for the 76ers’ job currently held by team president Rod Thorn, but may decline for fear of not having full control. Ownership should stop playing games. Just give Doug Collins the title of president so he can call the shots on and off court out in the open.
Pret-ty good. In a roundabout way over a couple seasons, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld managed to turn toxic waste Gilbert Arenas and his obscene contract (dumping him in Orlando for Rashard Lewis) into Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.
Acquiring the defensive oriented center and swingman from New Orleans for Lewis further stabilizes Washington’s frontcourt (bulkheaded by Nene), if not leftover Andray Blatche, and balances the compulsive scoring backcourt of John Wall and Jordan Crawford.
Blatche’s untradeable long-term guarantee figures to be amnestied before next season, whereas the final year of Lewis’ contract will be bought out by the Hornets for $13.7 million — unless commissioner David Stern rules otherwise.
Orlando’s hiring Rob Hennigan as its general manager all but assures the exodus of Dwight Howard (to Brooklyn, still his first choice) even sooner than expected. The 30-year-old Thunder assistant general manager is coming from a franchise that was built patiently and prudently through the draft and trades.
Upon taking over the team when it was based in Seattle, the first thing Hennigan’s boss (Sam Presti) did was cut the cord with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.
The same thing is bound to happen regarding Howard. He’s through playing games. He’s dead set on competing for championships, not lotteries, and is convinced that can happen with him and Deron Williams as the core.
This just in: Dan Gilbert has hung LeBron James’ mortgage in effigy.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, people celebrated the Thunder’s Finals loss by overturning cappuccino machines.