WASHINGTON, 2 July 2003 — Ernie Grunfeld has been hired as the Washington Wizards’ president of basketball operations one day before NBA teams are allowed to meet with prospective free agents. “I am very pleased to be joining the Wizards,” Grunfeld, who was released from his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, said on Monday.
“This is going to be an exciting challenge and I am looking forward to working with this organization and in Washington.”
Ironically, Bucks owner Herb Kohl turned down Michael Jordan’s latest bid to own an NBA team, then paved the way for Grunfeld to take Jordan’s former job with the Wizards.
Kohl released Grunfeld from the remaining year of his contract on Sunday and later released a statement saying he decided not to sell the Bucks to a group headed by Jordan. Jordan, who was expected to return to the Wizards’ front office after a two-year return to the court, was fired in May by team owner Abe Pollin.
