Celtics Almost Landed Scottie Pippen in 1997 NBA Draft Deal

BOSTON, Mass. — In a significant turn of events during the 1997 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics, under Rick Pitino’s leadership, nearly orchestrated a blockbuster trade to acquire Scottie Pippen from the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics, fresh off a disappointing 15-win season, faced the challenge of rebuilding a competitive roster.

With a 27.5 percent chance to land the coveted No. 1 pick and select Tim Duncan, the Celtics were ultimately awarded the third overall pick and the sixth after trading with the Dallas Mavericks. Pitino, determined to turn around the franchise’s fortunes, explored trade options to secure Pippen, a key member of the Bulls’ dominant lineup that had just clinched its fifth championship.

“I got a call from the folks in Boston,” M.L. Carr, former Celtics coach and general manager, recalled in an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “They were asking if we could propose a trade to Popovich for the first pick.” However, their attempts to trade their No. 3 and No. 6 picks for the top selection were met with a firm rejection from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Undeterred, Pitino pivoted toward another ambitious strategy. Reports surfaced that the Celtics offered the two first-round picks and a future first-rounder to the Bulls for Pippen. On draft night, Pitino confirmed the interest, emphasizing Pippen’s stature. “You have maybe, arguably, a top-20 player of all time,” he said. “Our job is to bring the fans the best product… I felt Scottie Pippen was one of the best players in the game.”

Despite the Celtics’ efforts, discussions stalled as the Bulls sought more compensation than Boston was willing to offer. “We sweetened it a little bit, but then they wanted the whole sugarcane factory, and we could not do that,” Pitino explained.

With both Duncan and Pippen slipping through their fingers, the Celtics ultimately selected Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer with the third and sixth picks, respectively. Billups would later embark on a Hall of Fame career, although he was traded to the Toronto Raptors before fully realizing his potential. Mercer spent just two seasons in Boston before being moved to the Denver Nuggets.

During the following 1997-98 season, the Celtics improved their record to 36 wins. They eventually secured the 10th overall pick in the 1998 draft, which they used to select Kansas standout Paul Pierce. Had Pippen joined the Celtics, it might have altered the trajectory of the franchise, potentially preventing their opportunity to draft Pierce, who would later lead Boston to an NBA championship alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008.

Years later, Pitino reflected on his tenure with the Celtics, admitting that accepting the head coaching position was a miscalculation. “I took over a team with 15 wins, banking everything on the Tim Duncan lottery,” he acknowledged to 790 the Ticket. “Once we didn’t get Tim Duncan, I realized that leaving Kentucky was not a good move.” Pitino left the Celtics head coach role in 2001.

Pippen concluded his illustrious career in 2004, retiring after stints with the Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Celtics’ near miss in the 1997 draft provides a window into how different the franchise might look today.