Pippen is not someone who wouldn't give his all on the court, as long as the Bulls gave him a new contract.
During the regular season, when Pippen went on strike, Jerry Krause quickly drafted a new contract and put it in front of Pippen.
After some struggles and thought, Pippen accepted the Bulls' terms and decided to sign the long-term deal to secure his financial future.
However, even by the time the Finals began, the signing of the contract was still not finalized. Jerry Krause delayed the signing due to tax-related reasons.
The main reason for Krause's delay was his lingering hope for Toni Kukoc and his strong desire to bring Kukoc to the Bulls next season.
Krause was betting—betting that the Trail Blazers would make it to the Finals and that Kukoc's Croatian compatriot Petrović could inspire Kukoc to pursue his NBA dream.
