CHARLOTTE, February 16- NBA great Michael Jordan is trying to put together a plan to buy majority control of the Charlotte Bobcats from owner Bob Johnson, coach Larry Brown said Monday."He said he’s doing his best to put himself in a position to get the team," Brown said. "He wants it badly."
Johnson wants to sell the unprofitable club. NBA commissioner David Stern said Saturday he expects a deal to be completed within two months.
Stern has said that Jordan, already a part owner, owning the team "would be a good thing." But the former NBA superstar isn’t the only potential buyer.
George Postolos has made inquiries, and if Postolos gets control Jordan might not have a role with the club.
Jordan, who currently has the final say on basketball decisions with the Bobcats, would have to put an ownership group together and agree with Johnson on a price.
Jordan declined comment Monday through a team spokesman.
"I didn’t talk to him about the particulars," Brown said of his conversation with Jordan last week. "He just told me, ‘Don’t believe everything you read in the paper and I’m trying my hardest to get this thing done.’ I’m hopeful that at the end of the day Michael will be running the Bobcats."
Postolos has been in talks with Johnson for months.
Jordan’s current role with the Bobcats is unique. He is not a team employee, but runs the basketball operations. He enticed Brown to coach the team, and his fellow Hall of Famer has the Bobcats poised to make their first playoff appearance.
"Anytime I read a possibility that Michael is not going to be involved it impacts my family and me because I came here because of him," said Brown, in his record ninth NBA head coaching job.
"Now after I got here I realized there were a lot of real plusses for being here. But again, I wouldn’t have thought about it and I’ve been thrilled since I’ve gotten here with the arrangement."
Jordan bought into the team in 2006. After a shaky start that included drafting the disappointing Adam Morrison, he has made several moves that have helped the team, including November’s acquisition of Stephen Jackson from Golden State.
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