"The Scottie Pippen Story..." (December 8, 1997)

"After hearing about this Scottie Pippen debacle it brought to mind the Shawn Kemp scenario from last year. Funny, it sounds very similar. It might have been more beneficial for Seattle and Chicago to trade Kemp for Pippen a couple of years ago when they had that deal on the table. Both Pippen and Kemp signed long term deals that were very lucrative when they signed their contracts. Both were stars, but weren't superstars, as they are now. Both signed contracts that gave them financial stability and a long term guarantee. It seems that these long term deals that seem ridiculous at their inception are in fact, a bargain for the owners. Larry Johnson signed a 15 year $84 million contract. That works out to $5.6 million a season. That's a bargain for a star like LJ. Will a contract like Shaq's or Zo's become the norm? I hope not. Ok, back to Pippen. Why didn't he say anything when Vin Baker and Shawn Kemp were on the block. A Pippen for Kemp deal would not have been inconceivable. They contracts were similar (add a player or two). The deal was set two years ago but was nixed at the last second. Kemp would have moved into the starting power forward position, Kukoc would have started at small forward and the Bulls would not have resigned Dennis Rodman. The rebuilding would have begun. They could have unloaded Pippen to the Bucks for Vin Baker or to Phoenix before they traded for McDyess. They could have dealt him to the Lakers before Eddie Jones decided to show he was the best 2 guard this side of His Airness. He wants out. I wonder why he didn't say anything about getting out before the season started. Now the Bulls have spent more than $45 million on Jordan, Rodman and Phil Jackson. All three would not have returned if they knew that Pippen wanted out. The Bulls could have made a deal for Keith Van Horne or some other young talent. The Bulls were going to trade Pippen to the Celtics for their third and sixth and a player, I believe it was Eric Williams, but I forget now. Now the Bulls are going to be lucky if they get anything for him. Sure he's a superstar, but let's get serious for a second. He's 32. He's got an attitude. He's coming off an injury. Do you think a GM will drop $100 million on him? Good question. He said he only wants to go to the Suns or Lakers. The Lakers are not going to trade for him. Why not? Chemistry. They have a young team with good chemistry. When Shaq comes back, the Diesel is the man, no question. They have great chemistry and everyone likes each other. The Lakers would have to trade Eddie Jones and/or Kobe Bryant to get Pippen. Jerry West will not do that. No way. First off, Jones is almost as good as Pippen straight up. I mean, Jones is the defensive stopper on the team. He can light it up from downtown and can take the rock to the rack, not to mention jump out of the Great Western Forum. He can flat out play. Kobe Bryant is the real deal. He has talent coming out of his ass. When he gets some more playing time and more shots, he'll be great. He has great instinctive moves and will learn more about the game. Remember, it took Shawn Kemp three years before he got comfortable in the NBA (and it's easier for a big man to adjust than a small guy). Kobe will be a star. Jerry West hopes that Jones and Bryant will be the backcourt of the future for the Lakers. Both adept at handling the ball, both the same size, both able to shoot, play defense and light it up. I remember hearing Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones for Pippen. There is no way that is happening. Jerry Krause would love to do that, but Jerry West is not that stupid. I know that most general managers don't like dealing with Jerry Krause. I heard it's because he's always trying to make unrealistic deals. He always wants to try to rip off other teams, thinking that the Olden Polynice for Scottie Pippen deal was all his doing. No one knew how good Pippen would be or how bad Polynice would be. Now he has this huge ego and tries to make deals like Pippen for Eddie Jones and Kobe Bryant. That just ain't happening. He probably thinks of himself as a Jimmy Johnson type GM. The man who knows everything and can control everything. Let's face it. There is only one Jimmy Johnson is the NBA and that's Jerry West. West rarely makes a deal that is bad for the Lakers. Sure he's made some bad draft picks (David Rivers, Anthony Peeler and George Lynch, although the latter two both are decent NBA backups) and some poor trades, Peeler and Lynch for two seconds (to clear cap space for Shaq Diesel) but he also drafted Vlade Divac and parlayed that into Kobe Bryant. He drafted A.C. Green, traded Norm Nixon to the Clippers for Byron Scott, etc. Jerry West doesn't get hosed.So now that leaves Phoenix. Hmmm, let's see. Phoenix has only three players under contract for next season. They are going to resign Antonio McDyess for $100 million. They still will have a load of money under the cap. Do you think they'll trade for Pippen. Nope. They are poised to become a young team in a matter of a few days. KJ will probably retire (although you've heard this tune before) leaving the backcourt open for Steve Nash and Jason Kidd. McDyess and Danny Manning will be around and that's about it. They can try to sign Jerry Stackhouse, Brent Barry, Joe Smith, etc. They could even make a run at Pippen, so why trade some important cog for Pippen? I don't know. Jerry Colangelo (weird how there are many Jerrys in this story) won't make this deal. If he can get Pippen for free at the end of the year, why trade Nash, McDyess or some other player for him.Where does that leave Pippen? According to the most recent papers, his foot is even worse than anticipated. He won't be able to play until late January. He also hinted that he will return to the Bulls. I wonder why? Can it be because he knows he has to prove he's over his injury before he can cash in next off-season? Maybe because he knows he needs to mend his injured reputation. Maybe because Mike told him to get his ass in gear and toe the team line. Pippen doesn't work for Jerry Krause or Jerry Reinsdorf. He works for Phil Jackson. He answers to Phil and not the owner directly. When Pippen says he can't work with Krause, that's like an analyst at Chrysler saying he can't work with Lee Iacocca. Give me a break. Pippen will return. The Bulls will make a run for the title. Next year Mike will be playing golf. Rodman will be making movies. Phil Jackson will be meditating in Montana. Tim Floyd (of Iowa State) will be the Bulls coach. Either Joe Smith, Jerry Stackhouse or Antonio McDyess will be on the Bulls. Pippen will be making $100 million. Can't he just accept that now?!