Jerry Krause's giddy proclamation that the Bulls have no chance of signing free agent Scottie Pippen didn't deter general manager John Paxson from calling Pippen on Tuesday, the first day teams could contact free agents.

Krause, who has turned into a media analyst, didn't like people analyzing his drafts or free-agent moves, but he chuckled on TV the other day about the Bulls' chances of signing Pippen.

Paxson, though, is serious about bringing back Pippen and, to a lesser extent, Horace Grant--and not just for the symbolism of reuniting players from the Bulls' glory years. Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has signed off on Paxson's plans.

"I never did a lot of things with Scottie, Horace and Michael Jordan off the court, but what was there was mutual respect,'' Paxson said. "When you go through things like winning championships, there's a bond that forms.

"I respect Scottie Pippen as a person and as a basketball player immensely. I look at our current situation, and it would be a real plus to have him here. It goes to the fact we do need veteran leadership, and he would be the perfect veteran leader. He's been through it all. He may feel he doesn't want to play anymore or go to a team that has a chance to win a championship right away. If that's the case, we don't fit in. But there's a place for him if he does want to come.''