During the 1995 NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix, Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen expressed his willingness to be traded to the host team. A month earlier, Pippen demanded a trade after general manager Jerry Krause refused to renegotiate his 1991 contract.
When reporters asked Pippen about the rumors that the Philadelphia 76ers had offered Dana Barros, Clarence Weatherspoon and a first-round pick for him, he said he did not want to be traded to an Eastern Conference team. When asked if he would agree to play for the Suns, his eyes lit up.
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“Phoenix would be paradise,” said Pippen. “It would be great. The Suns are a very competitive team. They’re very experienced. It would be great for me. It would be wonderful to come here and play.”
The Bulls faced the Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals
Heading to the All-Star break, the Bulls were struggling with a 23-25 record, so aside from his gripe about money, Pippen wasn’t used to playing for a team with a losing record. Meanwhile, the Suns’ 38-10 mark at the All-Star break was the best in the league, so Phoenix was a tempting destination for him.
The 1994-95 Suns were a well-balanced team that had seven players average in double-digit scoring. Two seasons earlier, the Suns challenged the Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals, losing in six games. The Suns’ best player was also Scottie’s former Dream Team comrade – Charles Barkley – so Pip would have another superstar with him in the desert compared to his solo act in Chicago since MJ’s retirement.
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“I’m hoping,” added Pip. “I’ve heard everything, from Milwaukee to Phoenix. I can see the Suns maybe pushing to make something happen. Charles isn’t getting any younger. I can see them trying to push for a title.”
Pip and Charles finally teamed up in Houston in 1998
But the Bulls held on to Scottie as the February 23 trade deadline passed because Jordan declared that he would not come back if Pippen was no longer there. With MJ and Pip together again, the Bulls went on to achieve a second three-peat from 1996 to 1998.
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Meanwhile, Pippen finally had the chance to play with Barkley in 1998 when he was traded to the Rockets after the Bulls’ “Last Dance.” However, he was disappointed with Chuck and Scottie ended up criticizing Barkley for being out of shape.
“I probably should’ve listened to Michael Jordan a year ago when he said that Charles will never win a championship because he doesn’t show any dedication. He’s a very selfish guy. He doesn’t show the desire to win. That’s my reason for wanting to get away from playing with him – because he just doesn’t show the dedication,” Pippen said, as reported by the L.A. Times.
Scottie’s comments ignited a feud between him and Charles. Although it’s not as deep and bitter as the MJ-Isiah beef, the two former Dream Team members still have not reconciled 26 years later. Although Barkley wasn’t out of shape in Phoenix, it makes us wonder if it would’ve really been paradise if they played together back then. Probably not, as their egos would’ve crashed, as it’s often the case with historically great players.