Bulls F Scottie Pippen repeats desire to leave Chicago
BSW
Disgruntled Chicago Bulls star forward Scottie Pippen told a
local radio station Sunday that he doesn't "give a damn" what
happens to the team after this season, repeating his desire to
leave.
"I feel like it's time for me to move on," Pippen told WMVP
Radio in Chicago. "It's time for me to move on. I'm sure there
are many other teams looking for complementary players.
"I don't give a damn if I did burn any bridges," continued the
seven-time All-Star, who has been involved in a long-running
feud with Bulls management. "I'm gone. I'm not looking back
over my shoulder. I don't give a damn about this franchise
after that."
Pippen first expressed his desire to leave while recovering from
a foot injury earlier this season, saying he would not play for
the Bulls once he got healthy. He later softened his stance and
agreed to return.
Pippen, who has teamed with superstar Michael Jordan to lead the
Bulls to five NBA championships in the last seven seasons,
missed the first two months of this season after undergoing
surgery on his left foot.
Jordan repeatedly has said he will not return if Phbil Jackson
is not coaching the Bulls. Jackson signed a one-year contract
prior to this season with the agreement that it would be his
last season with the club.
League rebound leader Dennis Rodman also is a free agent this
summer and it appears the Bulls will have to rebuild, whether or
not they win a thrid straight championship.
Pippen did not rule out following Jackson to another team if the
circumstances were favorable. Pippen becomes a free agent July
1st and is expected to command a multi-year contract averaging
at least $10 million to $15 million per season.
"If it's the right situation, if the opportunity is right for
me, I would definitely look forward to something like that,"
Pippen said. "But I'm not really hitching my horses on anybody's
wagon right now. I want to see what's out there on the market
for me."
In late November, Pippen possibly tried to bait Jerry Krause
into dealing him away by calling the Bulls' general manager a
"chicken" in an article published by the Arlington Daily Herald.
He mentioned the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers as
potential new teams, but admitted he had not spoken with Krause
about his demand.
Pippen, who last year was voted one of the NBA's 50 Greatest
Players, also assured WMVP that his feelings about the
organization have in no way squelched his desire for a third
straight title.
"I play to win," said Pippen, who last season was voted one of
the NBA's 50 best players of all time. "I want to come out and
be the best when the season's all over. That's very important."
One of the best all-around players in the NBA, Pippen is in the
final year of a contract that pays him a comparatively paltry
$2.77 million. After missing the first 35 games of the season,
Pippen bounced back to average 19.3 points, a team-high 5.6
assists and 5.4 rebounds, helping the Bulls to a league-best
58-17 mark.
Last season, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.7
assists per game, helping the Bulls win their second straight
title.
While Krause spent nearly $38 million to keep Jordan and Rodman
for another season, he tried to deal Pippen to the Boston
Celtics on draft day. In 1995, he tried to trade Pippen to the
Seattle SuperSonics for Shawn Kemp.
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