"Jerry and I gave him his going-away present - When Jerry Krause gave Scottie Pippen a $20 million parting gift

While from the outset it may seem like Scottie Pippen had a fairytale stint with the Bulls as he won six championships, played alongside MJ, and even returned to Chicago for his farewell season. His stay had its own share of challenges, both personal and professional. Towards the end of the first stint with the franchise, the 7-time All-Star's relationship with GM - Jerry Krause became so strained that they rarely saw eye to eye.

However, when it mattered to honor Pip's efforts and contributions, Krause never hesitated to give him a parting $20 million gift.

Jerry's gift to Pippen

Entering the NBA from a family that had 11 children, with both his father and brother being disabled, Pippen had plenty of responsibilities as a 22-year-old. His initial four-year, $ 2.8 million with the Bulls reflected his lack of leverage as a rookie. However, after establishing himself as the reliable No. 2 co-star and a seven-time All-Star, Pip sought a more lucrative multi-year deal in the range of $10-$15 million per season .

However, with the Bulls front office already deciding to part ways with coach Phil Jackson and Jordan refusing to represent any other coach, Pippen, too, believed that leaving Chicago after the 1998 championship triumph would be a fitting end to his time there.

In January 1999, Pippen's wish for a better deal was granted through a sign-and-trade agreement with the Houston Rockets. Surprisingly, despite their differences, Krause chose to acknowledge Pip's contributions to the Bulls in a significant way. Krause arranged for the 6'8" forward to receive a substantial $20 million parting gift as part of the sign-and-trade deal.

"In January, when the league was about to resume and free agents could be signed, Pippen's agents asked us to do Scottie a favor. By doing a sign-and-trade with Houston, Scottie could get more than $20 million more than he could by just signing a straight-out contract," Krause said . "Jerry (Reinsdorf) and I gave him his going-away present."

Krause was always honest with his players

If Jerry's words are to be believed, his actions made Scott gain immensely financially. Put simply, during the latter's time in Chicago, he never earned more than $3.5 million per season - with most years him earning less than even $3 million per season. However, the sing-and-trade helped Pip earn a seven-figure yearly salary.

More importantly, Krause's consideration went beyond the Arkansas native. He even advised Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler about the impending changes in the Bulls organization. He encouraged them to take the first good contract so they could leave the storied franchise and play elsewhere.

Related: "I just don't see how you would get equal value" - Michael Jordan believed the Bulls could never get anybody as valuable as Scottie Pippen