Speaking at his basketball camp Monday in Portland, Ore., Scottie Pippen confirmed his interest in possibly returning to the Bulls.
“There’s a great appeal there for me,” Pippen told The Oregonian. “It’s where I started my career. I had a lot of success playing there. My wife is from there, and that’s really the icing on the cake.”
Pippen spent part of the 4th of July weekend in Chicago for personal reasons. That didn’t stop Bulls general manager John Paxson and coach Bill Cartwright from beginning the recruiting process that they hope will land their former teammate.
“It helps the situation for you when you’re sitting in a room with people who you’re comfortable with and who have been mentors to you your whole career,” Pippen said.
Free agents can sign contracts beginning July 16.
Los Angeles no longer appears to be an option for Pippen since the Lakers are pursuing Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Detroit and Orlando are other suitors besides the Bulls, who have a midlevel exception worth approximately $4.6 million to offer.
Paxson will be patient with Pippen, who is clearly the team’s priority. But he also must pursue other options, which is why Ira Newble will visit the Bulls on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Newble, making the Bulls’ first official free-agent visit, is a tough defender who averaged 7.7 points in 73 games with Atlanta last season.
“They don’t need any more scorers,” said Steve Kauffman, Newble’s agent. “He does what they need. He plays hard and plays defense.”
Kauffman is biased. But management shares the same belief.
Newble is drawing interest from four teams, including Atlanta. He is seeking a multiyear deal after making the league minimum last season.
Chicago native Corey Maggette will command much more than that.
Speaking on NBC-Ch. 5’s “Sports Sunday,” Maggette expressed interest in the Bulls. But the Clippers restricted free agent is drawing interest from several teams and the Bulls would have to engineer a sign-and-trade to acquire him, which is a long shot.
Note: Kirk Hinrich will make his Bulls debut on July 18 against Dallas, the first of six games at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. A July 24 game against Portland at 7 p.m. will be on ESPN.
Assistant Bob Thornton will coach the team, which also includes second-round picks Mario Austin and Tommy Smith. Roger Mason Jr., Trenton Hassell, Lonny Baxter and Dalibor Bagaric are the only current Bulls on the roster.
The Bulls will stage a four-day mini-camp beginning Monday at the Berto Center before departing for Utah.
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SUMMER DREAMS
Roster of invitees for a 4-day camp to determine the Bulls’ roster for the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league, July 18 through July 26. Camp begins Monday.
NAME POS HT WT AGE
Soumalia Samake C 7-0 245 25
Maurice Evans G/F 6-5 195 24
Tommy Smith F 6-10 200 22
Dalibor Bagaric C 7-1 290 23
Kirk Hinrich G 6-4 190 22
Rosell Ellis F 6-7 200 28
Kenny Gregory G/F 6-5 208 24
Terry Black G 6-5 210 24
James Singleton F 6-8 215 21
Roger Mason Jr. G 6-5 200 22
Mario Austin F 6-9 260 21
Lonny Baxter F 6-8 260 24
Trenton Hassell G 6-5 200 24
Paul Shirley C/F 6-10 235 25
SUMMER SCHEDULE
7/18 Dallas 9 7/22 Denver 5
7/20 Phoenix 5 7/24 Port. (ESPN) 7
7/21 San Antonio 5 7/25 N.Y. Knicks 5
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