Jerry Krause explains why the Bulls’ dynasty unraveled, in his words

[Roundball_Rock]

FWIW but interesting since his side of the story wasn't covered lately. For more information, Woj's pod has an episode with Krause from 2017 still up. He makes the same points about the break up but covers other aspects (e.g., the emphasis on building around defense) of his tenure as GM.

During the last championship run in 1998, cracks in the foundation of the teams we’d built began to alarmingly show up at inopportune times. To the adoring public, the age that was showing on Dennis Rodman, the lack of movement by Luc Longley, the slowdown in efficiency after playing over 100 games per year in two of the previous three seasons, was not apparent. The lack of recovery time in the summer, where beaten-up legs could have enough time on (strength and conditioning coach) Al Vermeil’s summer program to gain back the strength they’d lost in playing far longer than any other team in the league, never struck the fans or the media.

But to the fans and media, we had Michael Jordan and he could overcome anything. He could play without a center and a power forward for a capped team with little or no flexibility and still win by himself. Or Scottie Pippen, with two operations in the previous two years, could rise to the occasion and win with Michael and a declining supporting cast.

The first question I asked was how much did people think we could get out of Luc Longley, a free-agent-to-be who we’d had to rest periodically over the last few years because of unstable ankles. Al and the doctors thought he would break down quickly.

Next question: Rodman? Each person in the room was concerned that Dennis’ off-court meanderings had caught up with him, that he was playing on fumes at the end of the season.

OK. No center, no power forward, very little (cap space) to sign anybody of any quality to replace them. Who defends in the middle if Jordan and Pippen do come back? Who rebounds?

We go to Pippen. He’s had two major surgeries in two years, one of them late in the summer to purposely defy our instructions to do it earlier and not miss regular-season time. He wants to rightfully be paid superstar dollars. Is he worth the risk, especially if we can’t find a center and a power forward, and he and Michael have to carry the load for a new coach? I seriously doubt it.

Can Michael continue his greatness without a center, power forward and possibly Pippen? Could Bill Russell, the greatest team player ever, have won without great players around him? No. Michael has said publicly that he will not play for a coach other than Phil. Phil has told us he’s gone. What does Michael do?

Could we get Phil to coach without a proven center, power forward, probably Pippen, a basically new bench and crazy expectations that “in Michael we trust” can win without help? Not a chance.

Put yourself in our shoes as we walk out of that room. What would you do? Did we break up a dynasty or was the dynasty breaking up of age, natural attrition of NBA players with little time to recuperate and the salary-cap rules that govern the game?

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bu...eled-his-words

[Uncle Drew]

Krause was a terrific GM and he was on the money when he said players don't win championships, but organisations do. He constructed and was the main reason the Bulls were successful. Lastly, what so many teams and organisation get wrong is knowing it's over. Krause knew exactly that '98 was the last of the Bulls and prevented an embarrassment. You have to give props to the guy, one of the best GM's there has ever been.

[light]

"OK. No center, no power forward, very little (cap space) to sign anybody of any quality to replace them. Who defends in the middle if Jordan and Pippen do come back? Who rebounds?"

This is not a problem if you have LeBron James.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Luc Longely sucked for all 3 rings and they still won, oh well.

Rodman still led the league with 15 rebounds per game in 1998, so i think he could of lasted until 2000

Pippen had a great run in the 2000 playoffs, so he obviously could still play.

The two things that caused the dynasty to break up were: 1) Lowballing Scottie Pippen's salary and never renegotiating
2) Phil Jackson & Jerry Krause's relationship falling apart

Number one: A lot of people felt bad for Scottie Pippen's salary but even a guy like Larry Bird was only paid 22 million during his career. Jordan was a massive draw and increased revenue through the 90's. So by around 1994-1995, Bulls should of done the right thing and renegotiated Pippen's contract

Number two: Nobody knows why Krause\Phil began to feud since Krause hired him in the first place. There was even a rumor in 1996 that Krause wanted Phil Jackson fired already. How would any coach feel if he won 6 championships and he still had a general manager breathing down his damn neck? Phil was going to get the hell out of there. Jordan refused to play without Phil, so Krause\Phil relationship is probably the biggest reason the bulls dynasty broke up.

[theman93]

"Could we get Phil to coach..."

No. Because he ruined the relationship going in to the 98 season. Pippen also could have been re-signed. Both of those things are Krause's fault. Also Longley was a whatever, so replacing his 6 rebound/g - which apparently what the concern was - would be easy for any competent GM to replace. Replacing Rodman would be the only main concern, but he could have been brought back for stupid cheap as well. The break up falls on nobody else's shoulders but that weasel and Reinsdorf.

[Roundball_Rock]

Krause was a terrific GM and he was on the money when he said players don't win championships, but organisations do. He constructed and was the main reason the Bulls were successful. Lastly, what so many teams and organisation get wrong is knowing it's over. Krause knew exactly that '98 was the last of the Bulls and prevented an embarrassment. You have to give props to the guy, one of the best GM's there has ever been.

Good points. People don't realize how they couldn't afford to pay for everyone with MJ likely making $35-36 million (assuming he would want another raise). Pippen wanted a max contact. Rodman, Longley, Kerr were all free agents.

Luc Longely sucked for all 3 rings and they still won, oh well.

On the Woj pod he said they couldn't get anyone comparable to Longley (who he said did a few things very well but nothing else) or Rodman in free agency, given their cap situation.

Rodman still led the league with 15 rebounds per game in 1998, so i think he could of lasted until 2000

Rodman played only 35 more games in his career. 23 with the Lakers in 99' and 11 in 00' with Dallas. Both teams waived him. They were right in their assessment that Rodman was done.

Pippen had a great run in the 2000 playoffs, so he obviously could still play.

He could still play at a borderline all-star level but no longer at a superstar level and he would be getting a superstar salary.

Pippen also could have been re-signed.

Could they afford both Pippen and Jordan's salaries?

[guy]

What they did was unprecedented. Sure, you don’t bring back every single player but you bring back the core as long as they are willing to come back and let them ride it out at least until they lose. You don’t tear down a current champion to rebuild. How has that worked out for the last 20 years for this team? You retool around the star player. You don’t break up the whole squad cause you can’t bring back Luc Longley. He just sounds like he’s trying to bring up every little reason to cover the fact that he wanted the credit and resented Phil and MJ for it, which is obviously the real reason he wanted to break up the team.

[97 bulls]

I think there's a little truth in both sides. As long as the Bulls were willing to sign a short term contract, managment shouldve allowed them the opportunity to see it through.

Saying that, is it wise from a business standpoint for the players to sign a 1 or 2 year deal when this might be the best opportunity for to be taken care of for life? What if they had a major injury during this run? Nobody would sign them. Its easy for Jordan to say he was willing to sign short contracts because he didnt need the money. If he was so serious about winning, he could allowed the Bulls to spread that 35 mill he got to the team and he sign for the minimum.

[light]

The truth is somewhere in the middle, and, frankly, what I think Reinsdorf is concealing is the fact that he took great pleasure in firing all of them.

[guy]

The whole objective of rebuilding is to eventually get to a championship level cause you’re not there currently. You rebuild to eventually get to the point the Bulls were still at. it’s absurd that they did this.

[Roundball_Rock]

What pisses me off the most is the Bulls never even attempted to try to bring the band back. If they tried and it didn't work for salary or other reasons fine but they threw in the towel--before the 98' season even began.

I remember Wade talking about how one reason he didn't sign with the Bulls in 2010 is how the Bulls' (mis)treated their past stars.

[Phoenix]

MJ was very clearly on the last legs of his prime in 98. Scottie after his back injuries was never the same. Rodman in the finals was 4/8 which isnt enough production to overlook his off-court shenanigans. Free agents like Longley and Kerr, replaceable spart parts but still important for continuity, had nothing to gain legacy wise from being bit players in helping MJ go for #7. A one year contract versus a multiyear one as a journeyman? I know which I'd take. Harper was getting up there at 34. The relationship between front office and coach, and front office and core players broke down. The Bulls demise was a death by 1000 cut situation. I agree that the team had earned the right to defend their title until someone beat them, though.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

What pisses me off the most is the Bulls never even attempted to try to bring the band back. If they tried and it didn't work for salary or other reasons fine but they threw in the towel--before the 98' season even began.

I remember Wade talking about how one reason he didn't sign with the Bulls in 2010 is how the Bulls' (mis)treated their past stars.

Zero finals appearances in the last 22 years will tell you all you need to know about their ownership. They were lucky to have Krause/Jordan but ownership has clearly shown themselves to be incompetent over the years. Even that Wade signing you mentioned was idiotic.

[Roundball_Rock]

If it weren't for the Derrick Rose lottery the Bulls would have done nothing this century. Karnisovas has a good track record, though, so hopefully he can turn things around.

[PoutinPippin]

Sounds like stupid excuses. As others have pointed out.

Losing Longley meant that much to you? Lol ... Wennington was just as good to me. Always hit clutch jumpers.

Pippen was a selfish malcontent with a broken down back and needed to be moved.

Mike was still the best player in the league. Maybe not if all time but the best in the league. And would’ve been for a least another 2 years until a motivated Shaq finally put in full work and snatched it.

The relationship between PJ and Krause was beyond repair. And Mike only specifically by that point wanted PJ going forward. He was done w/ Pippen bitch issues and dipping productivity and eroding game, physical health.

They very easily could’ve defended one more year, especially in a lock out shortened season to help rest the aging core playing so many games deep into June three years in a row, would’ve helped.

And that Spurs team was nothing special. In an atrocious season. Where an 8th seed Ewing less Knicks got to the Finals. Those Jordan’s Bulls teams had San Antonio’s number anyways. Move Pippen for a younger piece as planned for the picks for T-Mac and Mercer is what they should’ve done.

Mike always stood up for Scottie Quittin, especially in that second 3 Peat, giving him Ferrari cars, giving him all kinds of public credit. Only for Scottie to selfishly attempt to sabotage the 98 season and no plans to resign to defend the title.

Jordan’s Bulls would’ve won their 7th in 1999 and sailed off into the sunset again, PJ working his way out to LA.