Zen-like Todd
June-21st-2003, 10:11 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17529-2003Jun20.html
By Steve Wyche
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 21, 2003; Page D01
Eddie Jordan spent his first full day as head coach of the Washington Wizards yesterday by meeting a surplus of issues head-on.
First, he began putting together a coaching staff. He received permission to interview his former colleague with the New Jersey Nets, assistant coach Mike O'Koren, who likely will be Jordan's top assistant. That path was cleared yesterday when lead assistant Brian James was notified he would not be retained. Jordan's former coach at Rutgers, Tom Young, who coached at American University, will probably join his staff as well.
Jordan also spoke with other members of the staff about their futures.
Next, Jordan helped work out point guard prospects Kirk Hinrich (Kansas) and Steve Blake (Maryland) in preparation for Thursday's draft.
"I was glad I got to work out when they do have a coach," Blake said. "I wouldn't want to work out here if they didn't have a coach yet."
Then Jordan met with current players Jared Jeffries and Juan Dixon, who stopped by to visit.
"I just talked to him and he seems like a great coach," said Jeffries, who was cleared to begin some basketball-related drills. Jeffries missed 53 games last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "What he's saying, it sounds real good. Hopefully, it's a good experience for me and the rest of the team."
Jordan, 48, said he plans on getting in touch with every player on the roster over the next few days. Letting them know he's on their side from the outset is important, he said.
"It's a great day, very positive," Jordan said. "The most important thing is that the players know that I'm here. My outlook is positive. The players have to know they are going to play and have some fun -- but I'm not a softie. They will know it. You can show people how tough you are without beating them up. It's a different way of doing things."
Jordan also met with owner Abe Pollin, President Susan O'Malley and General Manager Wes Unseld to discuss everything from player personnel to plans for the season. He'll take today off to return home to New Jersey, but probably will return Sunday.
"Day One was a lot of fun," Jordan said.
Jordan also must get up to speed on the team's draft plans. The Wizards draft 10th and 38th. Because he was with the Nets through the NBA Finals, he saw few of the prospects. So most of the insight he gets will come from watching workouts and talking with members of the basketball operations staff, who are working without much job security.
The Wizards are still looking for a president of basketball operations after Pollin declined to rehire Michael Jordan for the top executive post. Unseld plans to take an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons after Thursday's draft. The new president of basketball operations will decide the fates of assistant general manager Rod Higgins and director of basketball operations Fred Whitfield, who were hired by Michael Jordan.
Eddie Jordan said he can't be concerned with that dynamic and said he thinks all the team's officials will be forthright in their assessments of potential draft picks, free agents and possible trades.
"Frankly, I like to let the janitors do their jobs, the GM do his job and the coach do his job," Jordan said. "So when I have the whistle in my mouth I'm the boss."
Hinrich, who will be on Washington's short list in the first round, said he felt much more comfortable working out knowing Jordan was on board than if he was auditioning for a team without a coach.
Said Hinrich: "It was kind of exciting and it's better because the coach is going to have an impact on who they pick."
Wizards Notes: Oregon guard Luke Ridnour did not work out because of a leg injury but he did interview with the coaching staff. . . . Guard Jerry Stackhouse received the NBA's Community Assist award for May for his continued work to aid research for a cure for diabetes. He will receive the David Robinson plaque at this weekend's HealthFest 2003 on the Mall.
By Steve Wyche
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 21, 2003; Page D01
Eddie Jordan spent his first full day as head coach of the Washington Wizards yesterday by meeting a surplus of issues head-on.
First, he began putting together a coaching staff. He received permission to interview his former colleague with the New Jersey Nets, assistant coach Mike O'Koren, who likely will be Jordan's top assistant. That path was cleared yesterday when lead assistant Brian James was notified he would not be retained. Jordan's former coach at Rutgers, Tom Young, who coached at American University, will probably join his staff as well.
Jordan also spoke with other members of the staff about their futures.
Next, Jordan helped work out point guard prospects Kirk Hinrich (Kansas) and Steve Blake (Maryland) in preparation for Thursday's draft.
"I was glad I got to work out when they do have a coach," Blake said. "I wouldn't want to work out here if they didn't have a coach yet."
Then Jordan met with current players Jared Jeffries and Juan Dixon, who stopped by to visit.
"I just talked to him and he seems like a great coach," said Jeffries, who was cleared to begin some basketball-related drills. Jeffries missed 53 games last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "What he's saying, it sounds real good. Hopefully, it's a good experience for me and the rest of the team."
Jordan, 48, said he plans on getting in touch with every player on the roster over the next few days. Letting them know he's on their side from the outset is important, he said.
"It's a great day, very positive," Jordan said. "The most important thing is that the players know that I'm here. My outlook is positive. The players have to know they are going to play and have some fun -- but I'm not a softie. They will know it. You can show people how tough you are without beating them up. It's a different way of doing things."
Jordan also met with owner Abe Pollin, President Susan O'Malley and General Manager Wes Unseld to discuss everything from player personnel to plans for the season. He'll take today off to return home to New Jersey, but probably will return Sunday.
"Day One was a lot of fun," Jordan said.
Jordan also must get up to speed on the team's draft plans. The Wizards draft 10th and 38th. Because he was with the Nets through the NBA Finals, he saw few of the prospects. So most of the insight he gets will come from watching workouts and talking with members of the basketball operations staff, who are working without much job security.
The Wizards are still looking for a president of basketball operations after Pollin declined to rehire Michael Jordan for the top executive post. Unseld plans to take an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons after Thursday's draft. The new president of basketball operations will decide the fates of assistant general manager Rod Higgins and director of basketball operations Fred Whitfield, who were hired by Michael Jordan.
Eddie Jordan said he can't be concerned with that dynamic and said he thinks all the team's officials will be forthright in their assessments of potential draft picks, free agents and possible trades.
"Frankly, I like to let the janitors do their jobs, the GM do his job and the coach do his job," Jordan said. "So when I have the whistle in my mouth I'm the boss."
Hinrich, who will be on Washington's short list in the first round, said he felt much more comfortable working out knowing Jordan was on board than if he was auditioning for a team without a coach.
Said Hinrich: "It was kind of exciting and it's better because the coach is going to have an impact on who they pick."
Wizards Notes: Oregon guard Luke Ridnour did not work out because of a leg injury but he did interview with the coaching staff. . . . Guard Jerry Stackhouse received the NBA's Community Assist award for May for his continued work to aid research for a cure for diabetes. He will receive the David Robinson plaque at this weekend's HealthFest 2003 on the Mall.