LeBron James could be part of a spectacular NBA free-agent class this summer, but former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen doesn't see the Cavaliers star as the ideal player for the Bulls to pursue.In a recent interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Pippen was asked which player he would select if he had his choice of one star to build his franchise around.
"I'm going to probably go after the best player in the game and that's going to be LeBron James," Pippen said. "But I don't know if LeBron James fits with the Chicago Bulls. I don't know if I want Derrick Rose to give the ball up and let LeBron run the show.
Photo: Scottie Pippen says Derrick Rose's presence makes Chicago a less-than-ideal spot for LeBron James. (Brian Cassella/Tribune)
"There are some great free agents out
there. For me, you have to have the right fit. You just can't go and
get the best player. You got to have chemistry in this game."
It could be a moot point because Pippen doesn't think James will leave Cleveland.
"I'd like to see LeBron stay with the Cavs," Pippen said. "He's definitely brought a lot of equity to their franchise and he has a huge fan base. I think that he will ultimately stay there. I think that's the best place for him and I think he realizes that team has been assembled to help him win a championship. They have a good team now, so there are no excuses now to turn your back and walk out the door."
It could be a moot point because Pippen doesn't think James will leave Cleveland.
"I'd like to see LeBron stay with the Cavs," Pippen said. "He's definitely brought a lot of equity to their franchise and he has a huge fan base. I think that he will ultimately stay there. I think that's the best place for him and I think he realizes that team has been assembled to help him win a championship. They have a good team now, so there are no excuses now to turn your back and walk out the door."
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And if you want teams that have had superstars that haven't done much ... there are tons of examples.
Teams with individual ball hogging Superstars like Iverson and McGrady will never win a championship.
Teams with multiple superstars who still couldn't win it all need look no further than the Lakers. Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and Malone. Nevermind that Kobe and Shaq alone should have been able to win their 4th in a row, add the two others (I don't care how old they were, they were still more than capable) and you should have been able to just hand them the trophy. Oops.
Teams with multiple superstars who didn't even get a chance at a championship. Iverson and Carmelo should have been competing for championships ... oops.
But take out Iverson and put in Billups, who knows how to run an offense without having to BE the offense and look at what happens. At least now they can compete for it.
There are dozens more examples ... Steve Nash is a superstar? In his dreams. Stoudamire is a superstar? Keep dreaming. Put Shaq with the two of them and what happens? They barely make the playoffs. Oops.
Putting stars together means very little. It's about making a team, with players willing to play defense, play as a team, and play their roles.
Rush
You just proved my point ...
Name me one team to win the championship with two stars who needed the offense to run through them at all times.
Almost without fail, a good team has one person who runs the offense and makes the decisions. The other star usually is the beneficiary of the first.
We are trying to turn Rose into our leader out there on the floor ... not into some part time point guard who stands around and watches Lebron do his thing (like most of the Cavs do).
Could it work? Sure.
Jordan and Pippen are the closest example of making that kind of situation work. But Pippen was just as comfortable not running the offense as he was with the ball. So which one do you want to develop his game without the ball? Lebron? Not going to happen.
Rose? He won't be anywhere near the player he is now if you do that to him.
So unless you're going to tell me that you think Lebron would be happy coming here and being a 18-20pt, 10reb, 5ast guy every night, I don't see it working very well.
Maybe they make it work. But if not, then I still think Bosh would be a better way to build this team.
Are you guys serious????Please show me the team with two bonified superstars that did not work.You guys listen to the pundits too much,and you don't study history.Two superstars can't find a way to win?????In what country.Definitely not in this one.You couldn't get a more antagonistic realationship than the one between Rodman and Pippen before he came to the bulls;Kobe and Shaq.The list could go on and on.The bulls need another superstar and someone else down low.Lebron is the perfect combination of both.All of this analytical b.s. means nothing at all when the ball is thrown into the air and it is time to win.So no matter what people think when the ball returns to earth both Lebron and Rose will be fighting to make that happen on a daily basis.
I agree with Pippen, Rose will never blossom into a superstar with LeBron around. Bosh and Rose will fit together more.
I agree with Scottie. He should know what he's talking about since he saw up close how Micael Jordan help back so many NBA greats from being the best they could be. Corrie Blount could have been one of the best of all time, but selfish MJ just had to score 30 points a game and just had to have the ball when the game was on the line. Just imagine if he let Corrie touch the ball from time to time. He could have been a 20 point a game player and maybe even led us to the NBA finals. Too bad we'll never know how good Corrie Blount could have been. Thanks MJ.
All of you who keep saying that Lebron is unselfish are out of your freaking minds. He's got to be one of the most selfish players in the NBA, and as a result, you see how many championships he's even been in contention for. ONE.
Lebron is the most gifted athlete in the NBA right now, but he's not the best player. And he's yet to make his team better than it should be.
I'd take Wade over Lebron any day, and if you're talking about the very best fit to work with Rose and his style, you take Bosh, even though Bosh has a way to go to improving his effort and drive to be a champion.
Pippen is exactly right.
This comment is asinine. Rose + LeBron are both unselfish players (sometimes to a fault). I'm sure they could find a way to coexist. Not to mention that LeBron is the best player in the NBA. He would 'fit' with any team.
In this league, you win with stars. Plain & Simple.
And Pippen wants to be a coach? I thought Vinny was bad.
You have a chance to get LeBron James, you take him over anybody and deal with the adjustment process in the fall. Otherwise, i think the Bulls need to look towards a big man even over the likes of a Dwayne Wade. Noah, i'm afraid is not going to be reliable with this plantar fasciitis. Having it as severely as he has it, i'm really concerned this will be a reoccuring issue with him.
I agree with Scottie.just because LeBron Is the best player coming out doesn't mean that he's the perfect fit. I see other players that could be brought In to get this team to a championship quicker than If they did sign LBJ. In that AllStar game he didn't pass the ball to Derrick but once. maybe twice. Its like having two good looking woman. somebody will be very Insecured.
On paper, LeBron in Chicago wouldn't be an ideal fit with Rose in terms of Rose maximizing his individual numbers, no doubt. But from a team standpoint, LeBron is a good enough player - and both he and Rose are unselfish enough players - to make it work. I definitely wouldn't turn him away.
Just curious to see what others think.
If the Bulls were to get LeBron James (which I think is a major long shot), would he play at the power forward or small forward spot?
Given his abilities and 6'9", 270 pound frame, James could probably four positions on the floor.
I understand Pippen's point. For Rose the be at his best he needs to have the ball in his hands and he needs to run the team. Rose would not be the same off the ball. LBJ will run any team that he is on.
However, if you have any chance to get the best player in the game you would have to do it no matter what. LBJ would make any team an immediate contender. He will stay in Cleveland though.
I'm glad Pippen isn't the GM. Lebron likes to share the ball, so he'd be great with D-Rose. You'd then use Deng to trade for a high quality power forward.