baggio248
07-20-2003, 09:44 AM
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0719/1583037.html
"Pippen agrees to two-year, $10 million deal
ESPN.com news services
Scottie Pippen is returning to familiar stomping grounds.
The former Chicago Bull, shipped off in a sign-and-trade in 1999 after winning six NBA titles as Michael Jordan's right-hand man, has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with his old team, according to ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.
General manager John Paxson wanted Pippen, an unrestricted free agent who spent the past four seasons in Portland, to finish his NBA career where it started.
"I think he deserves to end his career here,'' Paxson, a teammate to Pippen during their run in the 1990s, said earlier this month. "I do think there is a place for him here if he does want to come.''
The team will have an official announcement Sunday, Bulls spokesman Tim Hallam said Saturday night.
"We are aware that Chicago had a lot of interest in Scottie," Trail Blazers general manager John Nash said. "I talked to him on Thursday and told him we weren't prepared to move forward at this point. We thank him for his contributions. He is a true professional."
The 37-year-old Pippen will be used as a defensive-minded small forward, and mentor to their crop of talented young players such as Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler .
The Bulls could afford Pippen with a mid-level exception of about $4.9 million.
"More than anything, I want to make him feel welcome," Paxson said. "To me, he would be the perfect veteran leader."
Pippen was a seven-time All-Star during his 11 seasons with the Bulls, helping them win six titles between 1991 and 1998 and setting an NBA record with 72 victories in the 1995-96 season.
Pippen didn't leave Chicago on the best of terms, though. When coach Phil Jackson left and Michael Jordan retired before the 1999 season, Pippen was shipped off in a sign-and-trade deal to Houston by former general manager Jerry Krause."
"Pippen agrees to two-year, $10 million deal
ESPN.com news services
Scottie Pippen is returning to familiar stomping grounds.
The former Chicago Bull, shipped off in a sign-and-trade in 1999 after winning six NBA titles as Michael Jordan's right-hand man, has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with his old team, according to ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.
General manager John Paxson wanted Pippen, an unrestricted free agent who spent the past four seasons in Portland, to finish his NBA career where it started.
"I think he deserves to end his career here,'' Paxson, a teammate to Pippen during their run in the 1990s, said earlier this month. "I do think there is a place for him here if he does want to come.''
The team will have an official announcement Sunday, Bulls spokesman Tim Hallam said Saturday night.
"We are aware that Chicago had a lot of interest in Scottie," Trail Blazers general manager John Nash said. "I talked to him on Thursday and told him we weren't prepared to move forward at this point. We thank him for his contributions. He is a true professional."
The 37-year-old Pippen will be used as a defensive-minded small forward, and mentor to their crop of talented young players such as Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler .
The Bulls could afford Pippen with a mid-level exception of about $4.9 million.
"More than anything, I want to make him feel welcome," Paxson said. "To me, he would be the perfect veteran leader."
Pippen was a seven-time All-Star during his 11 seasons with the Bulls, helping them win six titles between 1991 and 1998 and setting an NBA record with 72 victories in the 1995-96 season.
Pippen didn't leave Chicago on the best of terms, though. When coach Phil Jackson left and Michael Jordan retired before the 1999 season, Pippen was shipped off in a sign-and-trade deal to Houston by former general manager Jerry Krause."