First, it was going to cost you $29 million. Then, it was $21 million. Now, if you want to buy the three-level, 56,000-square-foot compound in which Michael Jordan lived for nearly two decades, all you need is a cool quarter-mil.

The 7.39-acre property is in Highland Park, a suburb 30 minutes north of Chicago. The contemporary-style home has nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms. According to [New York-based Concierge Auctions], it also has a three-bedroom guest wing, an outdoor tennis court, pool pavilion and entertaining area, a deep water pond, putting green and three climate-controlled multicar garages.

In 2001, Mr. Jordan built a full-size, regulation basketball court that is attached to the home but has a separate entry and nearby parking area. Adjacent to the basketball court are locker rooms and showers as well as a lounge with leather chairs, a built-in television and a glass observation overlook.

Mr. Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championship titles, spent 13 seasons playing for the Chicago Bulls. His jersey number—23—is emblazoned across the gates of the property. The home is being sold fully furnished, according to the listing agent Katherine Chez Malkin of Baird & Warner.

Jordan told the Journal that he's selling the home because his children are grown, he's got a vacation home in Utah and he's already splitting time between North Carolina, where he tends to his duties as the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, and Jupiter, Fla., where he lives with new wife Yvette Prieto in a new $12.4 million home that was completed last year.

It might seem kind of odd to auction off something this gigantic, expansive and expensive, but I suppose when you've had a home on the market for 20 months and not even a 28 percent price cut is increasing interest, it's sensible to pursue an alternate strategy. Besides, as Jordan said, "Some of the best things in the world are sold at auction." Like, say, sneakers. (And, to a lesser extent, expired credit cards.)

Concierge won't require a minimum reserve in the auction; once you've put up that $250,000 deposit, you're in the running. You might be out of it before you even get started, though, because your fellow bidders "will have the opportunity to submit opening bids before the auction" begins, according to Schuker Blum. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Who knows — maybe everyone else will forget to mark off Nov. 22 on their calendars, your $250K will be the only entry and you'll be filling up those three climate-controlled multi-car garages with your bowling trophies and VHS tape collection before New Year's Day. Sure, it might be unlikely, but at that kind of discount, can you afford not to hit up every person you've ever met, seen or tweeted with to see if they can kick you a few shekels? I think not.

Here, via Baird & Warner and John S. Eckert Photography, are some more shots of the Hall of Famer's sweet, about-to-be-up-for-grabs former digs:http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/michael-jordan-56-000-square-foot-suburban-chicago-203620292--nba.html

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