Scottie Pippen is coming to Chicago–for personal reasons.
Whether Pippen’s visit becomes professional remains to be seen.
The former Bull plans to spend part of the 4th of July weekend visiting friends in his former home city. Pippen is expected to return to Portland on Saturday to run his youth basketball camp, beginning Monday.
Bulls general manager John Paxson wouldn’t comment on Pippen’s imminent visit, which was scheduled before Paxson went public with his desire to sign Pippen. But it’s likely the two former teammates will talk this weekend.
After all, a formal free-agent visit in which the potential signee tours the city and the Berto Center is unnecessary. This is Pippen. And Paxson sees benefits in pursuing him even if he signs elsewhere.
“More than anything, I want to make him feel welcome back here,” Paxson said. “He’s going to stop playing some day. I want all these guys to feel free to come back to games, to give us a call, whatever. That’s just a natural thing.”
If the Bulls do strike out with Pippen, they already are making alternate plans.
Steve Kauffman, the agent for Ira Newble, confirmed the Bulls have asked his client to visit. The meeting will take place next week.
Pippen is a more exciting name than Newble, but Newble is the type of tough, defensive-minded forward the Bulls are seeking.
On a team full of scorers in Atlanta, Newble shot 49.5 percent and took just 6.4 shots in 26.5 minutes per game. He’s unselfish, but also averaged 13.5 points on 51.9 percent shooting in April.
The Bulls also have had success signing former CBA players, such as Newble, who are hungry to be in the league. Think of Kevin Ollie and Rick Brunson.
Kauffman said the Bulls’ interest in Pippen isn’t a deterrent.
“You can’t worry about that,” Kauffman said. “Scottie Pippen is Scottie Pippen. He’s a legend in Chicago. And there is other interest in Ira. It’s just great to have Chicago interested.”
