Michael Jordan: I “made a couple phone calls” about James Harden

Michael Jordan tried to bring James Harden to Oklahoma City. (Davi Cannon, Getty Images)

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has admitted that he tried to attract James Harden to Charlotte before the swingman signed an extension with the Houston Rockets.

In an interview with the Charlotte Observer, Jordan noted that the Bobcats may not be the most ideal destination for free agents given their small-market stature, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get the Oklahoma City Thunder’s sixth man.

Q: James Harden was just traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. Were the Bobcats ever in the mix to acquire him?

A: “We made a couple phone calls. That’s all I can say.’’

Q: Do you still believe a major free agent would come to the Bobcats?

A: “If the (collective bargaining agreement) operates the way it’s supposed to, there will be very few teams with the right cap space (to pursue major free agents). Hopefully we can start picking them off that way, by maintaining our flexibility. Maybe we can provide them with the financial reward most players are starting to look for. Hoping the CBA will work that way for small-market teams – some parity.’’