CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan won't have to comb through the classifieds long.

Bob Johnson has a job waiting for him with Charlotte's expansion team -- if he wants it.

''Whatever we do, it can't hurt our friendship,'' Johnson said Wednesday. ''If he wants to be a partner, perfect. If he wants to run basketball operations, fine. Either way, we have to decide that it wouldn't hurt our friendship.''

Friends for over 12 years, Jordan and Johnson spoke on the phone Wednesday shortly after the Washington Wizards told Jordan they didn't want him back as president of basketball operations.

''He just called to say, 'Hey, I wanted to let you know what decision has been made. When you get a chance, let's talk,''' Johnson said. ''We're friends. It won't take us very long to get together.''

When they eventually meet, Jordan will have his pick of roles with the new Charlotte team.

Part owner? Sure. President of basketball operations? No problem.

Either way, Jordan will certainly get better treatment than he got from the Wizards.

Disappointed with the team's poor record and embarrassed by infighting on and off the court, owner Pollin told Jordan he wasn't wanted back in a short morning meeting at the team's arena.

Johnson also was surprised with the way the Wizards handled the situation.

''For a guy like Michael, who has contributed so much to the game, so much to the Wizards' organization -- the way it happened lacked diplomatic style and class,'' Johnson said. ''I don't begrudge any owner firing anybody.

''But if you are going to do something like that … to someone who may be sitting across the table at a Board of Governor's meeting, class and style dictate you don't handle it that way.''

Jordan had a 3 1/2-year tenure with the Wizards, the last two as a player. His hasty departure came as somewhat of a surprise.

Jordan was the Wizards' president before coming out of retirement to play the past two years. He retired for good last month and was expected to return to the front office.

''This was definitely my desire and intention,'' Jordan said in a statement. ''However, today, without any prior discussion with me, ownership informed me that it had unilaterally decided to change our mutual long-term understanding.

''I am shocked by this decision, and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it.''

Johnson, founder of BET, paid $300 million for his yet-to-be-named team, which will begin play in 2004-05 and replace the Hornets, who left for New Orleans last year.

He was expected to pursue Jordan but had to wait until Jordan first settled things in Washington.

Johnson would not assess what kind of job he thought Jordan did during his time in Washington.

''I wasn't there,'' he said. ''But he knows more about basketball than I can learn in 100 lifetimes.''

Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s but never came close to duplicating that success in Washington.

Now, he could come aboard an expansion team that will have to be built from the ground up. It's a job Larry Bird really wanted, but lost out when the NBA awarded the Charlotte franchise to Johnson instead of Bird's group. Johnson has ruled out hiring Bird.

So far, Johnson has made just one significant hire in Ed Tapscott, who was hired in January as executive vice president.

Tapscott came highly recommended by Jordan, Johnson said. He was expected to be the architect of the franchise, but Jordan could now take over that role if he wants it.

Johnson said he was confident Jordan and Tapscott could work together should Jordan want to run basketball operations.

''When I started looking for someone to build this organization, I turned to Michael as a friend and he had Eddie at the top of a very short list,'' Johnson said. ''They can work together like a hand and a glove.''