Phil Jackson's Replacement Tim Floyd Advised Bulls Owner Not to Break Up Team

As he was poised to replace Phil Jackson as the Chicago Bulls' head coach, Tim Floyd apparently wasn't fully aligned with Jerry Krause's plan to dismantle the team's veteran-laden roster.

The first two episodes of The Last Dance lay out how the Bulls front office and ownership made it clear the 1997-98 season would effectively be the last of Chicago's dynasty. In an interview with ESPN 104.5 Baton Rouge (h/t Andrew Lopez of ESPN), Floyd explained how he thought the run should have ended more organically:

"Anyhow, I told Jerry Reinsdorf that day. I don't think Jerry [Krause] understands that these guys are basically the Beatles. This is the most popular franchise of all time. I said, 'If I'm you, I would not do this. Not even the following year. Let it die a natural death because there are certain teams and players that you just don't break up. I think these guys have earned the right to let it die its own death.'"

Floyd hit on one of the more frustrating aspects of how the Bulls' dominant run unraveled. The key pieces responsible for the franchise's last three championships didn't have a chance to either win a fourth or get dethroned on the court.

Contrast Krause's approach with how the Golden State Warriors are currently operating.

Coming off the 2019 NBA Finals, the Warriors could've decided to pivot in a new direction. Kevin Durant's future was in serious doubt, and he eventually signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Klay Thompson was a free agent and recovering from a torn ACL.

General manager Bob Myers could've let Thompson walk and maybe even make Draymond Green available to interested suitors. Green has a four-year, $100 million extension set to start next season, which—combined with his on-court value—would make him a good trade asset.

Instead, Thompson got a five-year, $190 million max contract and Golden State is keeping its core together.

Purely in pragmatic terms, one could argue giving Thompson such a massive contract is too much of a risk and letting him sign elsewhere was the smarter move.

For any heat Krause receives about alienating Scottie Pippen to the point Pippen was out the door after the 1997-98 season, Pippen was never an All-Star after he left Chicago. He provided steadily diminishing returns over the remainder of his career.

But the fanbase would've pilloried Myers and the Warriors front office if they had done something similar with Thompson. Golden State wouldn't feel the same without one half of the Splash Brothers.

Perhaps Krause doesn't get enough credit for surrounding Michael Jordan with the kind of talent that could reel off six titles in eight years. It's a luxury LeBron James didn't have during his first run with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But Krause's steadfast desire to be so proactive about ousting Jackson and triggering a rebuild remains inexplicable.