He has only played 23 games all year due to chronically sore knees, but could a guaranteed $5.4 million he would collect playing next year lure Scottie Pippen back to the Chicago Bulls - and the NBA - next season?  Management have been working under the impression that Pippen is set to retire at the end of the season, but according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune he has been telling friends he might want to play and collect his money.

Pippen, who has been renoun for changing his mind in the past, said on January 31 in Portland that "I can pretty much assure you that was my last trip to the Rose Garden."

How times can change.

"I haven't made a decision yet, to be honest," he said. "I'm going to wait and see."

If Pippen does play it could affect Bulls GM John Paxson's ability to make offseason moves.  The Bulls were hoping Pippen would agree to a buyout of the last year of his contract should he retire.

Pippen also said he still hopes to play "maybe the last game" of this season. He traveled to Toronto, but said he didn't expect to be activated.

"I always want to play," Pippen said. "I still miss the game. I have ups and downs. My body feels good some days. Some days it feels terrible. I answer to how I feel. Right now, I feel all right."