Break Up the Bulls? They Tried That in Chicago

The dynasty teeters anew.

As usual, the Chicago Bulls have no one to fear but the Bulls themselves. Once again, it’s the emperor--in case you’re wondering, that’s owner Jerry Reinsdorf--who almost pulls the plug.

In a weird week, even for them, Coach Phil Jackson and his staff were ordered out of the practice facility while General Manager Jerry Krause held a “secret” workout of high school star Tracy McGrady; Michael Jordan refused to return

Reinsdorf’s calls, and a phalanx of off-duty Chicago cops swarmed through the team’s offices on draft day, presumably hired to deal with angry fans if Scottie Pippen were traded.

In fact, the Bulls had worked out a deal, sending Pippen to the Boston Celtics for three No. 1s-- and perhaps persuading Jackson to leave--but backed away from it.

The Bulls were to get the No. 3 and 6 picks plus Boston’s first-round selection in 1999.

With the top pick, the Bulls would take Keith Van Horn. If he was gone, they would swap it for Denver’s No. 5 and 10 choices, giving them four No. 1s--the fifth, sixth and 10th picks in this draft and the 1999 selection.

With Nos. 5 and 6, the Bulls would take Ron Mercer and McGrady.

By then, Reinsdorf assumed, Jackson would have decided not to return. Despite all of Jordan’s threats to retire if his coach goes, Reinsdorf believed Jordan wanted to return so badly, he’d back down.

Assuming Jackson wouldn’t return if Pippen were traded, the Jerrys figured it wasn’t any of his business what they’d do with the picks they got for Pippen.

Therefore, Krause, who has feuded publicly with Jackson for a year, was allowed the satisfaction of banishing his coach while he worked out McGrady.

Jackson, however, was allowed to attend the workouts of players they might get with their No. 28 pick. Honest. I’m not making this up.

There were reports Jordan, hearing the trade rumors, phoned Reinsdorf to protest and killed the deal.

Insiders say it was the opposite: Reinsdorf tried to get Jordan’s assurance he’d return if they made the deal but, hearing only an ominous silence, backed out.

Why is Reinsdorf hell-bent on breaking up a team that has won five titles in seven years? Apart from ego considerations, there are economic ones. The five-year leases on 200 of the United Center’s luxury suites expire in the summer of 1999, and Reinsdorf doesn’t want to try to re-sign his corporate fat cats, one year into a rebuilding program.

It is his hope, or his conceit, that in two years, he could break up the Bulls and get them back on their feet, by landing, say, a Kevin Garnett next summer.

For the moment, however, Reinsdorf has his old championship crew together, although the dynasty looks wobbly.

“It is correct that Phil was told he was not needed at the Berto Center on several occasions,” Jackson’s agent, Todd Musburger, said from Chicago.

“Whoever they worked out, or whether they worked anyone out, he doesn’t know since he wasn’t there. . . .

“Phil is a very unique type of human being. His tolerance of unusual behavior, unusual circumstances, these are all things he’s accustomed to. He’s not getting mired in anger or revenge. . . .

“If he returns to coach the Chicago Bulls, it will be in large measure because of his very great attachment to these players. If management does anything that horrifies you and me and the sports press, Phil is not going to get sidelined by that.”

According to a newspaper report, Reinsdorf said he plans to discuss a new contract with Jackson this week and is willing to limit it to the one year Jackson wants.

“Phil has said that he wants to do one of two things,” Reinsdorf was quoted as saying in the Chicago Sun-Times’ Saturday editions. “He either wants to take a sabbatical and get [hip] surgery or coach just one year. . . . I’m willing to sign him to a one-year deal.”

People close to Reinsdorf say he’s ready for the annual reconciliation, but at the moment, nothing is certain.

Have a great summer, Bull fans.

DRAFT REVIEW: THE WINNERS

SAN ANTONIO SPURS-- They get Tim Duncan. No way he/they won’t be great.

BOSTON CELTICS--They didn’t get Duncan or Van Horn, but Chauncey Billups and Mercer are fine.

TORONTO RAPTORS--They got McGrady at No. 9. As with Kobe Bryant, there may be a lot of general managers sitting around in a few years, lamenting the day they passed up this prep star.

SACRAMENTO KINGS--They got Olivier St. Jean (10) and Anthony Johnson (40), a good-looking point guard from the College of Charleston. One thing about this draft, it wasn’t strong (aside from Duncan, no one would probably have gone above No. 9 a year ago) but it was deep.

CLIPPERS--If Maurice Taylor (14) looks as good in the league as he did in workouts, as opposed to how he looked at Michigan, this pick will be a coup. Guard James Collins (34), acquired for a future No. 2, has a chance. Bill Fitch, whose recent frame of reference is Stanley Roberts, Kevin Duckworth and Dwayne Schinztius, thinks Stojko Vrankovic will help. If Fitch can find a pulse, he’ll be the first on this side of the Atlantic to locate it.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS-- Derek Anderson (13) and Brevin Knight (16) are well thought of. The situation is fluid, though. Coach Mike Fratello seems to have triumphed in a power struggle with General Manager Wayne Embry. Star guard Terrell Brandon, who has one year left at $7 million before becoming a free agent, was shopped.

ATLANTA HAWKS--Scoring machine Ed Gray (22) was a fine pick. “He’s probably more ready to play than 15 players who went ahead of him,” one general manager says.

UTAH JAZZ--Jacque Vaughn (27) almost went in the lottery to the Milwaukee Bucks, almost went 14th to the Clippers, got a bad break and slipped. The Jazz got a great break and nabbed him. With free agent Howard Eisley likely to go, it has a top prospect to back up John Stockton.

AND WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE

NEW JERSEY NETS--Many people think Van Horn will be a star. Since fledgling honcho John Calipari took on three 76ers’ salaries to get him, adding $7.7 million to his cap and taking him out of next summer’s running for premium free agents, Keith had better be.

Next to depart: Jayson Williams, who did a hilarious diary for GQ magazine, insulting Calipari every third paragraph, to ensure he’d be traded.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-- Larry Brown, genius coach, is off to a slow start as a franchise builder. Remember Jerry Stackhouse, the big, post-up guard who didn’t complement penetrating Allan Iverson and had one year left on his contract?

They just got Jim Jackson, another big post-up guard with one year left on his contract. Also talented/disappointing Tim Thomas (7). Next to depart: Derrick Coleman, off to a rocky start with Brown, having informed him this team will never win; Clarence Weatherspoon, whom Brown already has traded once.

DALLAS MAVERICKS--Don Nelson, continuing his inexplicable run, takes Kelvin Cato (15) and trades him to Portland for Chris Anstey (18), a 7-0 Aussie project, and cash. Ross Perot Jr. needs cash? Maybe Ross Sr. was late with his allowance.

You may remember, Nelson recently traded half his franchise for Shawn Bradley, a 7-6, still-unrealized Utah project.

“As usual,” a general manager says, “no way to figure this one.”

MILWAUKEE BUCKS--To quote an old colleague, Jack Kiser of the Philadelphia Daily News, they needed a center in the worst way. And Ervin Johnson, whom they got from Denver for Danny Fortson (10), is a center in the worst way.

DENVER NUGGETS--The good news is they got six new players, including promising Tony Battie (5), Bobby Jackson (23) and Fortson. The bad news is, the holdover six all want to leave, especially Antonio McDyess, a free agent next summer.

HOUSTON ROCKETS-- Rodrick Rhodes in the first round? Most people around the league didn’t have him in the second.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS--Opinion is divided on top pick Adonal Foyle (8). New Coach P.J. Carlesimo has been told he could clean house and shopped everyone, including upcoming free agent Joe Smith, Latrell Sprewell and Chris Mullin. Look for lots of departures before next season’s trade deadline.