Michael Jordan wanted to team up with Larry Bird amidst rumors the Celtics were willing to trade him:
Michael Jordan wanted to team up with Larry Bird amidst rumors the Celtics were willing to trade him: “I’d take a cut…I make enough money on outside stuff”
Larry Bird was hardly fazed when word got out he may be traded in
Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird knows what it takes to win. However, the 6th overall pick of the 1978 Draft knew that he could only do so much.
Leading the Cs to three NBA titles, Bird was the last name most would hear in the trade rumor mill. Celtics management felt changes were needed to improve their postseason performance. Some of those happened in the 1990 offseason, with Larry Legend’s name cropping up as someone who could be shipped out.
Given his talent and accomplishments with the Celtics, Bird admitted that he could not see himself being moved to another team. But then again, the three-time Most Valuable Player knew that such was not entirely in his hands.
“I can’t see (a trade) ever happening, but if it does, I’ll make the best of it,” Bird said back in June 1990 via UPI.
Bird’s take on trade rumors
Insinuations that Bird could be moved to another team cropped up after the Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1990 playoffs. This was disheartening because Boston was just one win from making it to the next round. After going up 2-0, the Cs got stumped after the Knicks racked up three straight wins, leading to their elimination.
As a result, heads would roll. Former coach Jimmy Rodgers would be fired after failing to lead the Celtics past the first round of the playoffs in his two seasons with the team. Aware that his name was being mentioned in trade chatter, Bird emphasized what he would prefer if given the chance.
“I want to finish my career there. I’m a Celtic. I’ll be a Celtic for life,” Bird quipped.
Crazy spot for Bird
When word got out that Bird may be traded, most fans and players around the league hardly expected it to happen. Among them included Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, who deemed it idiotic.
However, if a Larry Bird trade did happen, MJ was willing to sacrifice to get the All-Star forward to the Windy City. Jordan appeared serious had it happened, declaring that he would take a salary cut if Indiana native was put on the block.
“If they want to trade him, we’ll take him,” Jordan said via the San Francisco Examiner. “I’d take a cut…I make enough money on outside stuff.”
Of course, that never happened, and Bird went on to stay with the Celtics. But with a nagging back injury hounding him, “The Hick for French Lick” would opt for retirement in 1992 at the age of 35.
