Bobcats contattano Gherardini, GM di Treviso

Bobcats interview Italian GM
Posted: Friday October 10, 2003 5:58PM; Updated: Friday October 10, 2003 5:57PM





CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Charlotte Bobcats have interviewed the general manager of an Italian club for the same position with their expansion team.

Maurizio Gherardini, general manager of club Benetton Treviso, was interviewed by team executives this week in Paris, Bobcats spokesman Chris Weiller said Friday.



Charlotte vice president Ed Tapscott and Weiller met with Gherardini for four hours on Wednesday in a Paris hotel, Weiller said.

"We are guys who want to look at things with a sense of innovation," Tapscott said. "This guy is absolutely the best general manager in the international game."

Gherardini, who speaks fluent English, has turned the Benetton club into a top European team and produced two of the top 15 picks in the recent NBA draft. Nikoloz Tskitishvili was taken by Denver with the fifth pick and Bostjan Nachbar was selected by Houston 10 picks later.

Gherardini is considered one of the top basketball executives in Europe and could help the Bobcats create an international scouting base.

Tapscott has interviewed all five candidates for the job.

In addition to Gherardini, the Bobcats have interviewed Charlotte Sting general manager Bernie Bickerstaff, Chris Wallace of the Boston Celtics, Walt Perrin of the Utah Jazz and Gary Brokaw, who was with the Orlando Magic.

The Bobcats don't plan to hire a general manager for at least another week.


Copyright 2003 Associated Press