It's hard to imagine Michael Jordan wearing anything but the Chicago Bulls' blood red, with the Washington Wizards' metallic blue truly being hard to fathom. Yet the Bulls had multiple offers for Jordan during the 1984 NBA Draft, including from the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks.
According to former general manager Rod Thorn, the Bulls had to turn down those hefty offers from both franchises, knowing they might have something precious on hand.
“We had really strong offers for Michael from both Philadelphia + Dallas. Plus other lesser offers. Couldn't do it.”
The Bulls might not have had the No. 1 overall pick in 1984, but that third pick was perhaps even more valuable in retrospect, as it netted them arguably the best player of all time.
This trade revelation should come as no surprise, however, as front offices are active prior to draft day and get multiple packages prompted in conversations with other executives.
As a top-five pick, Jordan was sought after by Philly and Dallas, among others, but the Bulls knew better than to let go of a potential generational talent.
Jordan's selection paid dividends for the Bulls right away, as he walked away with Rookie of the Year honors after putting up 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game in his first season.
Thorn and company were likely alleviated by then, fully knowing they had made the right decision to keep him home.
While trade heists and whiffs are often talked about, this no-trade decision from the Bulls might be the greatest choice in franchise history, as Jordan netted them six titles and over a decade of absolute glory and prestige.
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