He was hired on an interim basis following Jordan's decision to fire Heard on Jan. 29, Jordan's first major move after joining the Wizards as a part owner and front-office executive 10 days earlier. I'm just so excited of being a part of this new beginning with the Wizards. I'm not real sure that I wouldn't be more excited about this challenge than taking over a job with a team that won an NBA championship. This separates different types of personalities. I just get excited about taking those things over that appear to be difficult.
Some people get excited about going places where they already had success.
This motivates me. Turning around the Wizards won't be easy, Hamilton and Jordan acknowledged yesterday. They do not have a first-round draft pick this year. Since they are well above the NBA's salary cap, they also have little ability to augment their roster quickly through free agency. Though he struggled in his initial years at both stops, Hamilton took Oklahoma State to the National Invitation Tournament in 1989 and 1990 and led Miami to six consecutive winning seasons and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including an unprecedented run to the round of 16 this past season.