As Scottie Pippen visit's Chicago for what many consider to be the final time as an NBA player, with Pippen previously stating that this will be his last hurrah, Scottie is hinting that he may just have more fuel left int he tank after all.

Ex-Bulls teammates Michael Jordan and Horace Grant both appear to be in their final seasons in the league - though with Jordan you can never be sure - Pippen believes that if he can continue to contribute he will continue to play.  Play where, however, is the question.

Pippen has not ruled out playing again in Portland, but their cap situation might prevent the six-time champion from returning.  But what about a reunion with Phil Jackson in Los Angeles?

"If I can contribute, yeah," Pippen said.  "If Phil wanted me and I could contribute, not be a 12th or 13th man."

"I don't regret going to Portland," Pippen said. "The only regret I have is going to Houston. I should have sat out the '99 season and then put myself on the market. I tried to push a deal [to the Lakers from Houston]. That's what pushed me out of Houston."

And of course there cannot be a Pippen-Chicago story with yet another dig at Jerry Krause and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, whom Pippen still feels were to blame for the dynasty break up.

"There's nothing for me to regret about that," said Pippen, who said he would have rejected a one-year $15M contract to keep the team together and left should Jordan have not retired. I didn't do anything wrong. It was not the players' fault. The regret should be for Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf. What they did makes what we did much greater. Because it's going to take that much longer for them to put any type of team together, a team that can just compete for the playoffs. The league is getting better, but they keep going back and trying to play catch-up."

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune continues his quest to single handedly rebuild the Bulls into an NBA powerhouse, and although the majority of his scenarios fail to adhere to the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement his latest piece points in the direction of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to Smith Cleveland are scratching their heads over what to do about young phenom Darius Miles whom the team acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers this summer for NBA assists leader Andre Miller.  With the emergence of rookie Dajuan Wagner at shooting guard and the prolific scoring of Ricky Davis at small forward Miles is being left out in the cold.  Cleveland trialled Miles at point guard but had little success.

Smith's solution?  Package Miles, who Krause coveted during the 2000 draft to Chicago for Jamal Crawford and a protected first round pick.  This would keep the Bulls in the LeBron James sweepstakes, give the Cavaliers a starting point guard and give the Bulls some much needed athleticism at the two guard position.

Miles was recently rumored to be heading north with center Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Vince Carter, a deal shot down by the Raptors.

K.C. Johnson breaks down the latest flare ups involving Bulls players Jamal Crawford, Trenton Hassell, Eddie Robinson and Eddy Curry, all centered around head coach Bill Cartwright.  And this is without even mentioning comments made by Jay Williams, Jalen Rose and others about the Bulls offensive sets.

Is Cartwright really the problem, or are these simply another example of spoilt atheletes?

According to Steve Aschburner of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, it is true that Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders had a conversation with Chicago Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause on Friday in Chicago before the two teams met, but Saunders laughed off reports that the two teams were about to engage in a trade which would see Jalen Rose become a Wolf and Wally Szczerbiak a Bull.

"You want to know what Krause was talking about?" Saunders said after practice Sunday. "Walleye fishing."

There has never been a conversation between Krause and [Wolves Vice President Kevin] McHale about Wally Szczerbiak," Saunders said.

After recording his first did not play - coaches decision of the season, Bulls toddler Eddy Curry believes his rapid fall and latest demotion is due to personal feelings by his coach towards him.

"I think it's personal,'' Curry said. "It's got to be personal.

"He kept looking right past me [on the bench]. I've done everything he's asked me to do, and I guess this is my way of getting paid back.''

Cartwright claimed that Curry didn't get into the game due to matchups, but when Eddy Curry is your only legitimate center on the squad and you are playing against the twin towers of the NBA in Tim Duncan and David Robinson how much water does this really hold?  

"I chose not to play Eddy, not because of anything Eddy did,'' Cartwright said. "I just felt it was a better matchup with Corie [Blount] on the floor.

"Eddy's doing a good job. He's working his butt off. I chose not to put him out there, simple as that.''

Chicago, we have a problem.  With Jamal Crawford already at Cartwright's throat over accused bias against him, one cannot help but wonder how long it will be before one of these 'future pieces' demand a trade out of the Windy City.  Curry may be the first, vowing to take the matter futher.

"I've got to go talk to him and to Jerry [Krause] and to my agent, [Arn Tellem]. I've got to get this straightened out.''

Steve Aschburner of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves have had trade discussions... yet again.  The trade includes, as it has every time over the last 24 months, Marcus Fizer and Wally Szczerbiak, but this time Chicago includes Jalen Rose and Jamal Crawford while the Wolves throw in Joe Smith and a first round draft pick.

Aschburner indicates that a report appeared in the Daily Southtown newspaper from the Chicago Suburbs and cited an anonymous league source who claimed that Wolves Vice President Kevin McHale and Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause have discussed the deal.  As expected, neither side would confirm a possible trade but already players are commenting.

"They have the ultimate All-Star in Kevin Garnett and a great coach in Flip Saunders," Fizer said. "Me, Jalen and KG together? That wouldn't be too shabby."

"Jalen and KG on the same team? Wow. That's the inside-outside [combination] right there," added Jamal Crawford.

[RealGM Note:  Since Szczerbiak recently signed an extension but is still on his rookie contract for 2002-03 he becomes what is known as a "poison pill player" (PPP).  This affects his trade value much like base year compensation, making a trade like the above almost impossible if both teams are over the salary cap.]

After recording eight DNP-CD's (did not play - coaches decision) in twelve games earlier this season, and handling the situation professionally, Marcus Fizer has been one of the huge factor's in the Bulls sudden reversal of forms over the past month.

Entering Friday's game, Fizer was averaging 15.3 points on 53 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds over his last 10 games.  He has regained the form from late last season which saw him compared to Detroit's Corliss Williamson, the reigning Sixth man of the year.

Fizer is currently fulfilling that role for the Bulls, and has thus far been a suprising spark.

"I think now we're seeing what we thought Marcus was when we got him," Cartwright said. "Sometimes it takes guys a while to find themselves and where they fit in and what their roles are. There's an acceptance.

"Marcus is a unique player in this league because of his size and ability. He's quicker than most power forwards and bigger than most small forwards. He's got an advantage either way. That's what makes him valuable."

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bulls have a problem on their hands. Jamal Crawford?s fight for playing time has increased tensions in the clubhouse. And the tension isn?t likely to go away any time soon.

In the middle of October when coach Bill Cartwright kicked Crawford out of practice after an argument, Crawford was quoted as saying: "I told my teammates I was sorry. But I also told them that it could happen again."

It happened again earlier this week when Crawford had some choice words for Cartwright after being pulled from a game.

Johnson writes, "There are positive aspects to Crawford's latest outburst--the leadership of Jalen Rose and Fred Hoiberg, Cartwright's willingness to forgive, Crawford's competitiveness. But the dominant story is this: It's yet another reminder of the volatile situation general manager Jerry Krause has handed Cartwright."

"And that situation won't go away unless Krause deals Crawford, which he has declined to do when able and repeatedly has said he won't do in the future."

The latest contraversy arose on Christmas Eve, exactly 12 months to the day when Tim Floyd suddenly resigned as Bulls coach after never truly being placed in a position to win, making way for Cartwright to take over the reigns.

Cartwright is shaking the newest situation off, suggesting this is simply another bump in the road to success.  He also said that unlike the majority of other coaches in the league he does not hold grudges against his players.

"Confrontation is part of basketball," Cartwright said. "Guys play at a high emotional level. Guys express themselves differently. I had an opportunity to talk to Jamal and I told him, `Nobody wants you to do as well as I do.' He'll learn. I'm not worried about him at all."

"I will say I'm one of the few coaches in the league who won't hold it against him. I'll give him another opportunity. If he's going well, I'll leave him. If not, he's coming out."

Thus far Crawford is averaging just 0.3 minutes more per game than during his rookie season, a fact that Crawford is upset about.  

"I feel like nobody's really seen anything yet," Crawford said. "I'm not complaining, but I know I'm better than somebody who plays breather minutes. I guess my true game will come out sooner or later."

"At times it's easier, at times it's tougher," he added. "I'll always be a team player. But you ask Jay, Jalen, whoever, they want to be out there playing for the team."

Mark Montieth of the Indianapolis Star reports that Ron Artest has recovered from the stomach ailment that caused him to leave Friday?s Chicago game. He returned to play a controlled and complete game against the Hawks.

Even though he wasn?t feeling 100 percent, he scored 24 points with 8 rebounds, four assists and just one turnover in 37 minutes. "I had to focus," he said. "I wasn't out of control. I was doing whatever it took to win."

Artest began feeling ill on Friday. He started that night?s game against the Bulls but had to leave the game as his stomach pains increased. After the game he went directly from the fieldhouse to an area hospital, where he underwent tests and received intravenous fluids. He left the hospital at 5 a.m., went home and climbed into bed.

He thought about going to Chicago for Saturday?s game, but didn?t feel well enough to make the trip.

Artest said tests revealed nothing serious. But no matter how well he plays while sick, he doesn't want to make a habit of it. "I don't want to feel like that ever again," he said.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bulls are trying to keep it together. After losing to the Nets in East Rutheford, team captains Jalen Rose and Fred Hoiberg took time out to council Jay Williams and Jamal Crawford.

After a heated exchange between Jamal Crawford and coach Bill Cartwright during the game, Rose and Hoiberg gathered Crawford and fellow point guard Jay Williams for a post-shower meeting to air frustrations and boost confidences.

"It was just a meeting of the minds, making sure we're pulling in the same direction at the same time," Rose said.

Crawford took exception to being pulled in favor of Williams after committing a turnover midway through the second quarter. Crawford yelleed at Cartwright as he left the floor, Cartwright fired back. Crawford only played one minute in the third quarter, but played all of the fourth as the Nets had build a 24-point lead.

"It's frustrating," Crawford said. "I want to play."

"It wasn't a big deal for me," Cartwright said. "We'll see if it is for him."