John Paxson has done a lot of studying in his first two weeks as the Bulls' operations chief, but there's one move he didn't need much time to consider.

Paxson would like to get Michael Jordan back to the Bulls in some capacity.

"I would leave that open for him anytime," said Paxson, who has played phone tag with Jordan since succeeding Jerry Krause on April 14. "I think Jerry [Reinsdorf] would, too. I hope someday that does happen."

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that changes in the Wizards organization could be made in more areas than just player personnel.

Abe Polin and Michael Jordan will speak next week in regards to his future with the organization.

"There is a lot to be done in terms of the future of the franchise and it's more than just player evaluation," Polin said.

Meanwhile, Coach Doug Collins had a tumultuous relationship with some of the players. Much of the season was marred with bickering between Jordan, Collins, and Charles Oakley and players like Kwame Brown and Jerry Stackhouse.

Collins realizes that while certain problems existed, the main goal, making the playoffs, was not accomplished.

"I'm disappointed that, as the coach, I could never get the team to play at its highest level," Collins said. "That's my job and I never felt I could get everything pieced together. I feel badly about that for [Jordan], as well as everybody. Obviously, you want to have a good team. We have good players but we just didn't fit. We just couldn't get the right fit. It's my job as a coach to get [us] to do that.

"I'm disappointed in myself. I feel very badly right now because I thought we'd be getting ready for the playoffs. That's not the case."

Stackhouse blames the Wizards inconsistent play on inconsistent decisions and the team's lack of identity.

"We changed lineups. We changed personnel. Whenever we did that, we changed our style," Stackhouse said. "We changed the plays we ran -- constantly. We had plays like a football team. There was a point in the season when we said we would try a youth movement. Then we went with veteran guys, trying to focus on winning games. We did that for a while then we went back."

While many inside and outside the organization feel the Wizards will take a big hit by the loss of the Jordan the player, Stackhouse feels good about the roster that remains.

"I like the makeup of the team that we have," Stackhouse said. "I think we're a better team than what our record shows. That's with Michael. Without Michael we could be just as good of a team. I look forward to that challenge and I know other guys in this locker room, even though they may not say it, are looking forward to that challenge, too."

Stackhouse may not be around, though, as he can opt out of the last 2 years of his contract- which will depend on the direction of the franchise.

"The biggest thing is to see the approach guys take in the summer," Stackhouse said about his criteria for returning. "There's no cavalry coming. There's no savior player. Maybe we can get a talented free agent that could help our talent pool that could take us up another level, but there's no savior. You have to get better in-house and that has to be the focus."

Jordan knows the Wizards need to improve and will make the necessary changes- which likely will not include moving Kwame Brown. The Wizards feel he may improve at a faster rate without having Jordan on the court, therefore taking pressure off of Brown to perform at such a high level.

"We have got to find the right mix to move in the right direction. We may have to keep certain components on this team that we can utilize but then there are things on this team that I think we probably need to change or they need a different atmosphere.

"Until we get ourselves in the position where we consistently play the way we should play every night we have to make changes," Jordan said. "They may be minor but you still have to make changes."

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that the Toronto Raptors are interested in speaking to Wizards assistant coach Brian James as a possible replacement to recently removed Lenny Wilkens.

The Raptors have yet to seek permission to speak to James, but are expected to at least offer him an interview due to ties he has within the Raptors organization.

Other candidates the Raptors may look into will be former Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy, former Cavalier and Atlanta coach Mike Fratello, and Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo.

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that Michael Jordan's farewell has finally come.

The Wizards closed their season, and Jordan's career, with a loss to the Philadelphis 76ers. The loss did not prevent a love fest for Jordan as the Philadelphia faithful gave Jordan the respect and tribute he deserved.

"It was a chilling event," Jordan said of the way Philly made him feel. "I felt proud about what I had done over the years."

In the pregame, Jordan was presented with a personalized golf cart by 76er greats Julius Erving and Moses Malone. Jordan spoke to the crowd soon after.

"Obviously you guys see the talent you have here in Philly and the talent in the league," Jordan told the crowd. "I feel as comfortable as Dr. J felt when I came into the league when he was leaving the game; that the league is in great hands. Thanks for supporting the game. Thanks for supporting me. Continued success. Good to see you Doc, Moses, World [B. Free]. Thank you very much. I appreciate it."

One of the biggest surprises of the night came when former Bulls public address announcer Ray Clay was brought in to introduce Jordan for the last time.

"Annnd now, from Norrrrrth Carolina, at guard, six-six, Miiiiichael Jordan!"

So this is the end.

While some are not ready for the Jordan era to end, Jordan himself is ready to accept it.

"I never knew where the end was going to be," he said, "but I once said that I wouldn't be playing at the age of 40. Well, here I am, playing at the age of 40. It's like trying to determine how long you are going to love a person. Love is a very delicate thing; once you love the game, you never lose that love for it. You never know when you can walk away from it. And I tried a couple of times, obviously, for different reasons. But I've come to grips with it now . . .

"It's been a great relationship. It's been like my best friend. Obviously, sometimes you've got to grow up and move away from your best friend."

Michael Jordan has just one game left in his storied NBA career with his matchup Wednesday at Philadelphia.

USA TODAY NBA writer David DuPree has counted down 10 memorable MJ moments before each of Jordan's final 10 regular season games as basketball's brightest star concludes his storied career including a couple painful games against Utah.

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports: Michael Jordan will meet with team chairman/owner Abe Pollin late this week or early next week to discuss what his role with the team will be next season.

 They both want things but a source said yesterday that neither of their demands appear to be unreasonable.

 Jordan wants final say on basketball decisions and to possibly hire some more front-office personal.

Pollin wants Jordan to be in Washington more often. Jordan currently spends most of his time in Chicago. He also wants Jordan to build a winning team.

"As soon as Michael's ready, we'll talk. I'll be ready," Pollin said. "It's going to be what he wants and what I want and it's going to be a combination of what his desires are and what mine are. Until that happens there's nothing more I can say other than we're going to try and sit down and see how it goes."

However, if the two sides cannot agree on Jordan?s role, he likely will leave and some of the people he hired when he was president of basketball operations from January 2000 to October 2001 would either resign or be fired.

 Those people include: Assistant general manager Rod Higgins, director of player personnel Fred Whitfield, and head coach Doug Collins along with his coaching staff.

 "I'll be here as long as Michael wants me here," Collins said.

 If Jordan does not return to the Wizards, he could very well be headed to Charlotte, which is owned by his friend Robert Johnson, who will offer him a stake in the franchise and high-ranking front office post. However, Jordan insists the Washington Wizards are his first choice.

 "I have options," Jordan said.

  If Jordan does return, he has a lot of personal decisions to make.

 "Our pieces don't fit," Collins said. "When you look at it Atlanta's roster is better than us. New York's roster is better than us and they are behind or even with us. Chicago is going to be better than us and we got all those teams ahead of us, so we have a lot of things we need to do."

  Jordan agreed.

  "I'm not saying I shy away from some of the decisions we've made as an organization," Jordan said. "In terms of what happened with this team and some of those changes, I will never walk away from those decisions because I was involved with them."

Washington?s whole offseason will depend on whether or not Jerry Stackhouse opts out of his contract. If he does, the Wizards would have about $12 million in capspace to sign free agents. However, if Stackhouse doesn?t, the Wizards will only have about $5 million to spend.

 Stackhouse hinted that his decision could be based on Jordan?s future with the team.

  "I'll wait and see what happens with the team, wait and see what happens with Michael," Stackhouse said. "First things first, try to find out what's happening with our organization internally. From there, start talking about what we're going to do to start piecing together the team. That's important to me, to see what direction the team is going in."

 It is also mentioned that the Wizards want to re-sign Tyrone Lue and would deal Kwame Brown if the right deal came along.

 In the end, Doug Collins probably said it best.

 ?We need to get everything in place in terms of the hierarchy and how it's going to be so we can start moving in the right direction."

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that the rift between the players, head coach Doug Collins and Michael Jordan is growing by the day.

According to Collins, some of the players have totally disrespected him throughout the season.

"I've had guys in that locker room curse at me this year, show no respect," said Collins, who did not single out any players but did have an incident at a game in Phoenix in which second-year forward Kwame Brown swore at him after being pulled out of a game. "Michael [Jordan] stepped in and said, 'Don't treat Coach that way.' Michael has the ultimate respect for a coach."

Said Jordan: "Doug felt he had been disrespected. These are things you have to deal with. I'd rather for them not to be out for everyone's opinion. Those are things I'd like to field internally, but I think Doug felt very disrespected."

Jordan hinted that the chemistry problem between players and coach could lead to some changes if he remains with the Wizards.

"I can look at some marginal players around the league and say, 'You know what? This kid may not be as talented, but his desire and passion is strong and he may be able to help a team like this on a consistent basis,' " said Jordan, who hired Collins before the 2001-02 season. "Maybe there's a guy we feel who is a star, yet he doesn't have the quality it takes to be a leader at practice, on the court, responding to the coach's leadership and what he thinks. I would take 12 guys who had a strong passion to play this game over 12 stars who don't respect the game."

Some players took exception to Collins' remarks.

Said second-year center Brendan Haywood: "Obviously he feels someone disrespected him. If he feels that disrespected maybe he should have called them out to you all instead of just saying all the young guys, because that's not fair."

"He can't be talking about me. I'm a straight shooter," said Brown, who has admitted to having a strained relationship with Collins.

Howard Beck of the Los Angeles Daily News and Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Times report: No matter if Phil Jackson coaches one, two, or three more years, the Los Angeles Lakers are his last coaching job.

"I don't see myself coaching anywhere after this," Jackson said Sunday. "This will be kind of my final thing, I believe."

Jackson's five-year deal with the Lakers expires this summer and he and owner Jerry Buss have had discussions about a one or two year extension.

Despite the fact that he won't coach again after L.A., that doesn't mean he wouldn't work for Michael Jordan wherever he ends up next season.

"I'd certainly like to have him be a part of any organization I was a part of," Jackson said, then added, "I don't see that happening."

Perhaps, Jackson added, "I would consult for Michael."

When Jackson was asked if he would consider coaching for Jordan, he said L.A. is his last stop.

"No, I don't think so," he said. "I would work with him as a consultant. I don't see myself coaching anywhere after this. This will be the final thing I do."

Before the Wizards game against the Miami Heat, Michael Jordan had his jersey retired at American Airlines Arena reports the Associated Press.

"In honor of your greatness and for all you've done for the game of basketball ? and not just the NBA, but for all the fans around the world ? we want to honour you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters," Riley said at midcourt. "No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best."

Riley said the number 23, which was the first number ever retired in Heat history, would not be worn by anyone ever again.

The jersey that hung in the rafters was half a Bulls uniform and half a Wizards uniform.

The Wizards won the game 91-87.