Washington Wizards majority owner Abe Pollin, in an online chat on the team's Web site, answered a question as to why he did not rehire Michael Jordan as the team's president of basketball operations.

"My decision not to bring Michael Jordan back as President of Basketball Operations was extremely difficult," Pollin said. "But the bottom line for me was to do what I felt was best for this franchise. It is important to remember that I was determining whether to rehire Michael Jordan as President of Basketball Operations, not whether to re-sign Michael Jordan the player. At this stage in our team's development, I felt it was best to move in a different direction."

In early May, Pollin notified Jordan that he no longer wanted Jordan around in an 18-minute meeting described as acrimonious.

Some within the Wizards organization painted Jordan as an executive who fostered bad relationships and an environment of mistrust and a player who was feared by his teammates.

"Regarding the manner in which Michael was let go, I can only say that I respect Michael Jordan, I made a decision about the future of the franchise and I stated my decision to Michael," Pollin said in the online chat. "Any other characterization of what happened in this meeting is only hearsay and not worthy of discussion. This will be the last statement I make about this issue."

Jordan, in a statement after he was released, said the manner in which his dismissal was handled was "callous."