Scottie Pippen is coming to Chicago?for personal reasons.

Whether Pippen's visit becomes professional remains to be seen.

The former Bull plans to spend part of the 4th of July weekend visiting friends in his former home city. Pippen is expected to return to Portland on Saturday to run his youth basketball camp, beginning Monday.

Bulls general manager John Paxson wouldn't comment on Pippen's imminent visit, which was scheduled before Paxson went public with his desire to sign Pippen. But it's likely the two former teammates will talk this weekend.

After all, a formal free-agent visit in which the potential signee tours the city and the Berto Center is unnecessary. This is Pippen. And Paxson sees benefits in pursuing him even if he signs elsewhere.

"More than anything, I want to make him feel welcome back here," Paxson said. "He's going to stop playing some day. I want all these guys to feel free to come back to games, to give us a call, whatever. That's just a natural thing."