Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, and is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.
The Clippers have never even played in the NBA Finals, and until landing some legitimate talent four years ago, had only made the playoffs four times in their previous 27 seasons in Los Angeles.
Justin Russo of Clips Nation reminds us that the fate of both franchises would have been changed forever if one of two attempts by the Clippers to potentially land Jordan had been successful.
The first involved trading for the draft pick the Bulls used to select Jordan back in 1984. Chicago had its eyes on L.A.'s Terry Cummings, and a three-team deal that would have also included the Mavericks could have returned that third overall pick, which the Clippers presumably (though not certainly) would have used to add Jordan to the franchise.
The second offer was far more tempting, and came during the 1988 season. Believe it or not, there was a feeling in Chicago that Jordan's style of play wouldn't be conducive to winning championships, and the team's 4-15 record in the playoffs during Jordan's first four seasons with the Bulls was used as Exhibit A anytime that argument was delivered.
The Clippers offered "any combination of five players and/or draft picks," according to Sam Smith's book "The Jordan Rules," and L.A. had the No. 1 and No. 6 picks in the draft that season. That was tempting, because of the availability of players like Mitch Richmond and Rik Smits, both of whom the Bulls were reportedly interested in.
But Jordan sold tickets and merchandise in Chicago, and probably for that reason alone, ownership ultimately passed.
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[via Clips Nation]
