Top Nine Scottie Pippen Trade and Comeback Rumors of All Time

Scottie Pippen heard his name come up in several trade rumors throughout his 17-year NBA career in which he spent with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers.

The rumors began in 1994 after he refused to re-enter a playoff game against the New York Knicks because he was upset that Bulls coach Phil Jackson designed the last play of the game for Toni Kukoc.

Rumors surrounding Pippen later came up around the trade deadline in '95 and before the '97 draft as well. However, he stayed put in Chicago until '99 when he was shipped to Houston in a sign-and-trade deal.

After being traded to Portland, where he spent five seasons, and returning to Chicago for a year, he retired in 2004.

In 2007, Pippen announced he wanted to make a comeback. Several teams were rumored to be interested in the future Hall-of-Fame forward, including the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, he never set foot onto a NBA court again.

Here is a list of the top nine trade and comeback rumors that have ever been associated with the name "Scottie Pippen."

9. Pippen to Golden State for Joe Smith (1997)

The deal: Bulls send Pippen to Golden State Warriors for Joe Smith and eighth overall pick in 1997 NBA Draft.

Pippen in Golden State? That's hard to imagine. Since he had won multiple championships in Chicago, he would have hated every minute that he spent with the lowly Warriors and likely would have demanded a trade quickly.

The Bulls would have picked up Smith, who was the first overall pick in the '95 draft, and then possibly used the eighth overall pick on high-school phenom Tracy McGrady.

Would the Bulls have won that sixth title with the additions of Smith and McGrady? No, because Michael Jordan surely would have retired if the deal had went through.

8. Pippen to Join LeBron and Co. in Cleveland (2007)

The deal: Pippen signs with Cleveland Cavaliers for remainder of 2006-07 season.

Many people feel LeBron James won't win his first NBA championship until he finds his "Scottie Pippen," or in other words, a superstar wingman.

If the 41-year-old Pippen had joined LeBron's Cavs, he wouldn't have been anywhere close to the level he was at when he was helping Jordan win six titles in the '90s.

Pippen definitely wouldn't have helped the Cavs win a title, however he may have served as a knowledgeable mentor to the much younger James.

7. Pippen to Philly for Stackhouse (1997)

The deal: Bulls send Pippen to Philadelphia 76ers for Jerry Stackhouse and the second overall pick in 1997 NBA Draft.

Pippen and Allen Iverson together? That would have been pretty interesting to say the least. It wouldn't have worked though because A.I. wouldn't have liked sharing the spotlight with another superstar, especially one who had five championship rings at the time.

The Bulls would have drafted Keith Van Horn with the second overall pick and teamed him with "The Next Jordan" candidate Stackhouse and Toni Kukoc.

And of course, the real Jordan would have retired. He wouldn't have wanted to play with the new youngsters, instead of his buddy Pippen.

6. Pippen to Join Perennial Title-Contending Spurs (2007)

The deal: Pippen signs with San Antonio Spurs for remainder of 2006-07 season.

When Pippen announced he wanted to make a comeback, he stated he preferred to play for a contender, which instantly brought San Antonio into the conversation of possible destinations.

Pippen, always known as a great defender, would have fit in nicely with the defensive-minded Spurs in his limited role of the bench.

He would have helped his new teammates, however they would have won it all in 2007 with or without his services.

5. Pippen to L.A. for the Clippers' Future (1995)

The deal: Bulls send Pippen to Los Angeles Clippers for first-round draft picks in 1995, 1997, and 1999.

Pippen undoubtedly would have been the greatest player to ever don a Clippers uniform—sorry Bill Walton and Elton Brand.

Would Pip have helped the Clips become a respectable franchise? No, because he wouldn't have stayed long.

Chicago would have probably received several chances to draft a star and rebuild for the future. They may have come away with the likes of Kevin Garnett and Steve Francis.

4. Pippen to Phoenix for Thunder Dan (1995)

The deal: Bulls send Pippen to Phoenix Suns for Dan Majerle, Wesley Person, and a draft pick.

Pippen and Charles Barkley together would have been a fun to watch in Phoenix, although the duo eventually didn't get along when they played in Houston.

The Suns would have been a much improved team with the addition of Pippen, but wouldn't have had enough firepower to get past Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets in order to reach the finals.

Majerle and Person wouldn't have brought much to Chicago besides their deadly long-range shooting.

3. Pippen to Lakers in Sign-and-Trade Deal (1999)

The deal: Bulls re-sign Pippen and send him to Los Angeles Lakers for Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Tony Battie, and two future first-round draft picks

According to sources, Bulls GM Jerry Krause initially requested that Kobe Bryant be put into the trade instead of Jones. Lakers GM Jerry West probably quickly hung up the phone. Krause then took Kobe's name out of the talks.

Pippen would have joined forces with young stars Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant, and eventually been reunited with former Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

The trade of course never went though and Pippen ended up going to the Rockets in a deal that sent Roy Rogers and a 2000 second round pick, which turned out to be Jake Voskuhl.

There's no question that Bulls fans would have rather had Jones or Campbell.

2. Pippen to Boston for Lottery Picks (1997)

The deal: Bulls send Pippen and Luc Longley to Boston Celtics for third and sixth overall picks in 1997 NBA Draft

Pippen would have become the Celtics' first superstar since the Larry Bird and Kevin McHale days. The All-Star duo Pippen and Antoine Walker likely would have led Boston to the playoffs even though they would have lost in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Bulls said they would have taken Keith Van Horn and Tracy McGrady with the picks that they acquired from Boston, however, Van Horn wouldn't have been available at No. 3.

According to sources, Michael Jordan nixed the deal.

1. Pippen to Seattle for Kemp

The deal: Bulls send Pippen and Bill Cartwright to Seattle SuperSonics for Shawn Kemp, Ricky Pierce, and a draft pick

The trade was basically Pippen for Kemp. Nothing against the old vets Cartwright and Pierce.

Pippen would have returned to the team he was originally drafted by and teamed up with fellow All-Stars Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf to lead the Sonics to a Western Conference powerhouse.

The Sonics probably would have faced Chicago in the finals a couple of times, but wouldn't have been able to stop the one-two punch of Jordan and Kemp.