Sunday, Jan. 10 6:08pm ET
While the world awaits word from Michael Jordan as to
whether he'll retire or return, one other obstacle to a reunion of the
Chicago
Bulls suddenly seems surmountable.
Scottie Pippen, whose relationship with the Bulls' front office was so
bad that
many expected him to leave as a free agent, is willing to re-sign with
the
three-time defending champions.
"Scottie Pippen will be theirs to lose at
this point," his agent, Jimmy Sexton, said
on ESPN Radio 1000. "Scottie loves
Chicago, loves the team, and so if we can
work a deal out that works for Scottie, I
think he would like to stay there."
Though Pippen is still considered one of
the top free agents available, some teams
could shy away from him because of the back surgery he had this summer.
But Pippen's back is fine, Sexton said.
"For the last six weeks, he's been playing in Chicago, playing full-court,
full-speed and has been cleared by the doctors to play," Sexton said. "So
he's
ready to play a game tonight if he has to."
Jordan, meanwhile, remained out of the country.
"I hope Michael makes a decision he's comfortable with," agent David Falk
said.
The lockout will not officially end until the agreement reached Wednesday
is
put into writing, and training camps are not expected to open until Jan.
18. All
trades and free agent signings are on hold until then, too.
However, the league agreed Friday to permit teams to negotiate with player
agents immediately, the New York Times reported.
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