Wizards Have New Top Choice for Coach

After 2 1/2 weeks of silence, Michael Jordan has a new top choice to coach the Washington Wizards: Leonard Hamilton of the University of Miami.

“He is certainly the leading candidate as of right now,” Jordan, the Wizards’ president of basketball operations, said Wednesday after a round of golf in Chicago as part of a seniors tournament. “We have other options. It could fall through, but quite naturally we are working with him to try to get something worked out.”

The Washington Post, citing an unidentified league source, said Hamilton has been offered a four-year deal that could be worth up to $2 million a season.

Hamilton, 51, called that decision “not easy” and said he is still thinking about it. He did not say how long it would take him to make the decision, only that it would happen as soon as possible.

“I’m in the middle of a process of evaluation,” he said at a news conference in Miami. “I’ve always been close to my kids, my staff. I just need some time to sort this out.”

Hamilton and Jordan have been talking for about 10 days, Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee said. He indicated Hamilton has received an offer and is deciding whether to jump to the NBA or remain at a school he has built into an NCAA tournament regular.

“I hope what’s holding him up is that he wants to stay here,” Dee said.

Dee said the university was examining the terms under which it would release Hamilton from the seven-year contract extension that was signed last season and pays an average of $750,000 annually.

“I think Leonard really is torn. I think Leonard is just what the NBA needs,” Dee said. But, he added, “I’m not telling him to leave.”

The Post reported that a buyout could cost Hamilton $1 million or more.

Hamilton would become the Wizards’ fifth coach in less than three seasons, following Bernie Bickerstaff, Jim Brovelli, Garfield Heard and Darrell Walker. The Wizards have not won a playoff game since 1988.

Jordan did not answer directly when asked if he had a deal with Hamilton, but indicated the situation hinges on Hamilton’s relationship with Miami.

“I don’t know the time frame,” Jordan said. “I think he has to deal with his situation at the university. Hopefully, it can work out.”

Last month, Jordan had apparently settled on St. John’s Coach Mike Jarvis. But Jarvis withdrew after he and Jordan could not agree on money.

Hamilton, who has never coached in the NBA and left Oklahoma State for Miami in 1990, was coach of the year in the Big East after the 1998-99 season, when Miami went 23-6 overall and 15-3 in the conference. It was Miami’s first 20-win season since 1964-65. In 14 years of college coaching, Hamilton has a 200-210 record. In 10 seasons at Miami, he is 144-147.

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The Boston Celtics hired C.M. Newton as a consultant, reuniting Coach Rick Pitino with his former athletic director at Kentucky.

Newton will help Pitino analyze college players for the NBA draft and offer advice on personnel during the season, the Celtics said in Boston.