Wizards Finally Get Hamilton as Coach

Though he was not the first choice, Leonard Hamilton ended 3 1/2 weeks of negotiations and signed a five-year, $10-million contract to coach the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

“I’m not sure I wouldn’t be more excited about this challenge than I would taking over a team that just won the NBA championship,” said Hamilton, 51, who has coached at Oklahoma State and Miami over the last 14 years.

Hamilton is the Wizards’ fifth coach in three seasons. The team hasn’t won a playoff game in 12 years, with the only postseason berth since 1988 coming in 1997.

The Wizards need a roster overhaul, but the huge salaries of underachieving veterans Juwan Howard, Rod Strickland and Mitch Richmond make it nearly impossible for Michael Jordan, the president of basketball operations, to move players under the league’s salary cap guidelines. Furthermore, the Wizards do not have a first-round draft pick this year.

Jordan fired Gar Heard shortly after joining the Wizards’ front office Jan. 19. Darrell Walker finished the season as coach before joining Jordan in the front office.

Jordan’s search was not always smooth. Lenny Wilkens, the NBA’s career leader in victories, said he had been offered the job when he hadn’t, and St. John’s Coach Mike Jarvis turned down Jordan in a disagreement over money.

“It doesn’t always work out the way you envision, so you’ve always got to prepare for that. That’s a big lesson for me to learn,” Jordan said. “Sure he was not the first choice that I had, but I wasn’t the first pick in the draft either.”

Jordan said a college coach would symbolize a new beginning and help repair the lack of fundamentals that “a lot of players on this team need.”

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Charlotte Hornet Coach Paul Silas is optimistic that free-agent guard Eddie Jones could return to the team.

The two met earlier this month for two hours, and Silas said that it “went great, with good communication.”

“He told me that money was not going to be a factor, which made me happy,” Silas said. “But he’s got some other criteria that will go into it.”

The Hornets are in a position to offer Jones the league maximum seven-year, $86.625-million contract.

Silas said among the issues Jones is concerned about is that the team remains in Charlotte. The Hornets are trying to work out a deal with the city for a new arena and have hinted that they will leave Charlotte if they don’t get one.

Silas did not mention roster moves that Jones reportedly wants.

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Portland Trail Blazer forward Brian Grant is leaning toward exercising an “out” clause in his contract and becoming a free agent, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said from Chicago.

The decision would void the remaining four years and about $40 million from the seven-year, $56 million deal Grant, 28, signed in 1997. He is scheduled to make more than $8 million next season.

Bartelstein emphasized that Grant wants to re-sign with the Trail Blazers, but would also like to explore his options.

Grant was not available for comment. Bob Whitsitt, Trail Blazer president and general manager, stuck by his policy of refusing to discuss personnel matters.