Bobcats' Michael Jordan wants a player like 'Mike'

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- NBA superstar turned owner Michael Jordan is looking for a gamer like he was to turn his small-market Charlotte Bobcats around.

"Does that mean we have to get a high draft pick this year," Jordan rhetorically asked interviewers with The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer Wednesday. "I don't know -- I'm afraid to admit that."

Jordan told the newspaper he was reluctantly leaning toward team vice president Curtis Polk's strategic plan which would keep salary cap space available for 2012, 2013 and longer.

The young Bobcats have signed rookie Kemba Walker and have three veteran players under 25 – Tyrus Thomas, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson. Top-9 NBA draft pick Bismack Biyombo, who Jordan likened to a young Hakeem Olajuwon, has not yet signed.

Jordan admits he'd love to find that special player like he was when he led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

"Chicago put its faith in me to win," he said. "Maybe we can find a guy with that same emotion."