By By The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Jason Richardson was so shocked to be traded that he wouldn’t talk to anybody — including his new boss, Michael Jordan.
Once he studied his new Charlotte Bobcats teammates, his perspective changed.
The Warriors traded Richardson and the rights to second-round pick Jermareo Davidson to Charlotte for the rights to North Carolina forward Brandan Wright.
The Bobcats’ preseason goal is to make the playoffs, and part-owner Jordan thinks Richardson may be the player who can lead them there.
Richardson, who has four years and $51 million left on the contract he signed with Golden State in 2004, initially felt loyalty to the Warriors after he led them to the Western Conference playoffs and a first-round upset of top-seeded Dallas. The shooting guard averaged 18.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 438 games with Golden State.
Earlier in the day, Richardson met with his new coach, Sam Vincent — who already is envisioning fast breaks with Richardson on one side and, he hopes, Gerald Wallace on the other.
Wallace, the team’s top scorer last season, remains unsigned.