A young Scottie Pippen convinced former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause to trade up for him in the 1987 NBA Draft. While Krause and Pippen had an often-contentious relationship as time went on, the former detailed how the Central Arkansas product convinced him to make a deal to acquire him.
The Bulls legend had “the best workout” that Krause had ever seen, setting a record in the three-ball drill, one designed to measure lateral movement and desire.
Krause outlined the maneuvering the Bulls had to do to get Pippen in his memoir.
Via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
“We had the eighth and 10th picks in the draft. I learned that Sacramento, picking sixth, told everyone they were set on taking North Carolina point guard Kenny Smith. But I also found out they had cornered Pippen and asked him a bunch of questions and that Smith, who had a questionable knee in college, had taken (medical) tests for every team from Nos. 6 to 12 but us and Sacramento…
…Figuring Sacramento at No. 6 was lying and would take Pippen, I knew we had to move up to No. 5 owned by Seattle. The Clippers were picking fourth. Seattle general manager Bob Whitsitt had a player he wanted at No. 5. If the Clippers took that player, our deal — swap picks No. 5 and No. 8, give them a second-round pick in the 1988 draft, agree to switch a first-round pick at their option in one of the next two drafts and give them two free exhibition games — was on.
Jerry Reinsdorf was on the phone with the Clippers and I was on another phone with Whitsitt when Reinsdorf told me, “The Clippers are taking Reggie Williams, a 6-7 guard from Georgetown.” I told Whitsitt, who told me Williams was the guy he wanted and thus our deal was on. I told him to draft Pippen for us. I never knew what happened in the Sacramento draft room but they took Smith. At No. 8, we took Olden Polynice, a center from Virginia, for Seattle and called the league to say we had a trade.
The rest is history.”
Krause sure had to navigate a lot of smoke and mirrors for the Bulls to get Pippen, but ultimately that move changed the fate of the franchise.
Perhaps that is why Krause tried so hard to get recognized. He had some big shoes to fill after former Bulls GM Rod Thorn had drafted the gem of the decade in Michael Jordan. Krause sure gave him a run for his money, trading for Pippen, then drafting Horace Grant in 1987, acquiring Dennis Rodman, and surrounding Jordan with plenty of capable role players over the years.
Krause has been cast as a villain for his sour relationships with Pippen, Jordan, and Phil Jackson, which helped lead to the breakup of the dynasty. Still, the late Bulls GM deserves credit for identifying Pippen as an elite talent coming out of a small school.
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