Scottie ranked 4th on the Bulls’ payroll during the 1994-95 season.
Scottie Pippen’s contract issue was one of the distractions the Chicago Bulls faced during their second three-peat. It was never resolved as the Bulls refused to renegotiate Pippen’s deal, and it ended with him getting traded after their “Last Dance.”
Pip signed a five-year $18 million contract extension in 1991, but it did not erase the remaining two years of his original deal with the Bulls. Since the agreement was inked during the 1991 NBA Finals, it was essentially for eight years, leaving the Central Arkansas product grossly underpaid after a couple of seasons. When that started to happen, Scottie began complaining.
“I feel complimented when people tell me I’m one of the best, but it’s hard to think that way when they’re not paying you that way,” said Pippen in 1994. “At this stage of my career, I’ve done a lot for the team and the organization. If I’m deserving of the treatment I’m getting, someone tell me why. If not, get me out of here.”
Pippen was the 74th highest-paid player in the NBA during the 1995-96 season
Scottie fell to fourth on the Chicago payroll behind Toni Kukoc ($3.26 million), B.J. Armstrong ($2.8 million), and Ron Harper ($2.4 million) at a measly $2.225 million during the 1994-95 campaign. He was also just fourth on the team behind MJ, Kukoc, and Harp during the 1995-96 season, with his $2.925 million salary making him just the 74th highest-paid player in the NBA that season despite making the All-Star, All-NBA first team, and All-Defensive first team.
And so Pippen tried to renegotiate with GM Jerry Krause. However, Krause almost traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics for Shawn Kemp instead of granting his wish. Luckily for Pippen, Jordan told “Crumbs” that he wouldn’t make a comeback if Scottie was traded. But staying in Chicago only infuriated Pip even more.
“For $8 million a year, I still don’t think I’d be happy here,” he says. “This is because of the bridges that have been burned,” he said. “Them trying to trade me and things like that. My hard work and work ethic aren’t enough for management. That shows right there that I’m not appreciated.”
Jordan tried to help resolve Pippen’s money issue
Aside from Jordan blocking the Kemp trade, MJ also acknowledged that Pippen was undercompensated with his contract. Mike even went to the point of trying to find a way to help Scottie get the money that he deserved.
“I wish there was some way legally that I could give him some of the money he deserved as a player,” said Jordan. “He Is underpaid. For years, I was underpaid, but I played it out. And I think he’s going to play it out, too. At the end of three years, I hope they reward him with a just and fair contract.”
The Bulls never blinked, and Pippen ended up playing out that disastrous deal. Impressively, they accomplished a second three-peat. Scottie finally got his new contract in 1998, but the five-year $67.5 million deal was a sign-and-trade to the Houston Rockets, which ended Pip’s 12-year tenure in Chicago.