Why Did Jerry Krause Want to Dismantle the Bulls?

Why Did Jerry Krause Want to Dismantle the Bulls?

Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls because he believed the aging roster was on the brink of a sharp decline and he wanted to rebuild while the team still had trade value. He famously prioritized the long-term health of the organization over the immediate success of the veteran stars, believing that "organizations win championships," not just players alone.

The "Rebuild" Logic vs. The "Dynasty" Reality

Jerry Krause's primary motivation was a fear of the "ugly decline." He watched other dynasties fall apart slowly and wanted to avoid that fate for Chicago.

Krause's View	Aging stars, high salaries, no future scouting.
The Team's View	We keep winning until someone beats us on the court.

Krause's View

Aging stars, high salaries, no future scouting.

The Team's View

We keep winning until someone beats us on the court.

Visualizing the conflict between management and the locker room.

To understand why Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls, we must look beyond the six championship rings. While fans saw a dominant force, Krause saw a ticking time bomb. He believed that a general manager's job is to look three years into the future, while players only look at the next game. This fundamental disconnect created the tension that eventually broke the greatest dynasty in NBA history.

The "Organizations Win Championships" Philosophy

Krause is often remembered for the quote, "Players and coaches don't win championships; organizations win championships." Although he later claimed he was misquoted, the sentiment remained. He felt his role in scouting and drafting players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant was undervalued by the media and the stars themselves.

1. He wanted to prove that his scouting system could build a championship team without the "crutch" of Michael Jordan.
2. Krause felt disrespected by the constant mocking from Jordan and Pippen regarding his appearance and social skills.
3. He believed the "Bulls" brand belonged to the front office, and the players were merely assets to be managed.
4. By dismantling the team, he could clear the books and use his scouting genius to find the "next" Jordan.
5. He was tired of being the "villain" in a story where he felt he was the primary architect of success.
6. Krause sought validation from his peers that his management style was the true engine of the dynasty.

In short, the ego played a massive role. Krause felt that as long as Jordan and Phil Jackson were there, he would never receive the full credit he deserved for building the roster. Dismantling the team was his way of hitting the reset button to start a new chapter where he was the undisputed lead.

The Fear of the Aging Roster

A significant reason why Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls was purely biological. By 1998, the core of the team was entering their mid-30s. Krause was terrified of being stuck with massive contracts for players who were no longer productive. He often cited the decline of the 1980s Celtics and Lakers as examples of what happens when you hold on too long.

1. Physical Wear and Tear 📌 Michael Jordan had played thousands of high-intensity minutes. Krause feared a sudden injury would destroy the team's trade value.
2. The Dennis Rodman Factor 📌 Rodman was becoming increasingly erratic. Krause believed the "Rebound King" was a liability that could explode at any moment.
3. Scottie Pippen's Surgery 📌 Pippen delayed his foot surgery in 1997 as a protest against his contract. This convinced Krause that Pippen was no longer reliable.
4. Declining Bench Strength 📌 Key role players like Ron Harper and Steve Kerr were also aging. Krause felt the supporting cast was crumbling.
5. Asset Management📌 Krause believed in trading players "one year too early rather than one year too late." He wanted to get draft picks while the stars still had aura.
6. Lack of Youth Development 📌 Because the Bulls were always picking late in the draft, they weren't adding elite young talent to balance the veterans.
7. The Speed of the League 📌 Krause noticed the NBA was getting faster and more athletic. He felt the "Triangle Offense" veterans couldn't keep up much longer.
8. The 1998 Finals Strain 📌 Even though they won, the 1998 Finals against Utah showed a team that was exhausted. Krause saw this as the final warning sign.

By looking at the ages of the 1998 roster, it is clear why a manager focused on "future-proofing" would be nervous. The following table illustrates the age of the key players during the "Last Dance" season.

Player	Age in 1998	Seasons in NBA
Michael Jordan	35	13
Scottie Pippen	32	11
Dennis Rodman	37	12
Ron Harper	34	12
Luc Longley	29	7

The Broken Relationship with Phil Jackson

The relationship between Jerry Krause and Phil Jackson was perhaps the most toxic element of the Bulls' front office. Krause had originally discovered Jackson and brought him in, but as Jackson's fame grew, so did the friction. Krause felt Jackson was ungrateful and that he was poisoning the players' minds against management.

• The 0-82 Ultimatum Krause famously told Phil Jackson that even if he went 82-0, he would not be back for the 1999 season. This set a definitive end date for the dynasty.
• The Scouting Jealousy Krause felt Jackson took all the credit for "managing" personalities, while Krause did the hard work of finding them.
• Communication Breakdown By the final season, the two men were barely on speaking terms. Jackson openly mocked Krause in front of the players.
• The Tim Floyd Shadow Krause had already picked Jackson's successor, Tim Floyd, and was seen spending time with him while Jackson was still coaching.
• The Last Dance Theme Jackson used the "Last Dance" theme specifically because he knew Krause was determined to fire him.
• Loyalty of Michael Jordan Jordan stated he would not play for any coach other than Phil Jackson. By getting rid of Phil, Krause knew he was effectively forcing Jordan into retirement.

This power struggle was a primary driver in why Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls. He wanted his team back. He wanted to walk into a locker room where the coach and players respected his authority. To Krause, the 1998 championship was a secondary concern compared to reclaiming control of the organization.

Financial Pressures and the Salary Cap

Beyond the personal drama, there were cold, hard financial facts. The NBA's salary cap structure was changing, and the Bulls were becoming incredibly expensive. Krause was an "old school" negotiator who hated overpaying for talent, even if that talent was the greatest player of all time.

Michael Jordan was making over $30 million per year in his final seasons, which was more than the entire salary cap of some teams. Scottie Pippen was demanding a massive raise after being underpaid for years. Krause knew that to keep the team together, owner Jerry Reinsdorf would have to pay astronomical amounts in luxury taxes.

Krause argued that instead of paying $100 million for an aging team that might lose, they should pay $30 million for a young team that could grow. He saw the "rebuild" as a way to gain financial flexibility to sign free agents like Tracy McGrady or Tim Duncan (both of whom he targeted).

Important Note: Jerry Krause was not just acting alone; he had the backing of owner Jerry Reinsdorf. While Krause was the "face" of the dismantling, the financial decisions ultimately had to be approved at the very top.

The Scottie Pippen Contract Dispute

Scottie Pippen’s situation was a catalyst for the team's demise. Pippen had signed a long-term, low-paying contract early in his career to ensure his family's security. By 1997, he was the 122nd highest-paid player in the league despite being a top-five talent. Krause refused to renegotiate the contract, leading to a complete breakdown in their relationship.

Krause tried to trade Pippen multiple times, most notably for high school prospect Tracy McGrady on draft night in 1997. Jordan famously blocked this trade, but the damage was done. Krause saw Pippen as an asset that was "expiring" and wanted to cash in before Pippen could leave for nothing in free agency. This cold, business-first approach is why Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls before the players could walk away on their own terms.

"Jerry Krause had a vision of the future that didn't include the people who created the past. He was obsessed with the idea that the system was bigger than the stars." - NBA Analyst Insight.

Scouting vs. Star Power

Jerry Krause began his career as a baseball and basketball scout. He loved the process of finding "diamonds in the rough." To Krause, the most exciting part of the job wasn't winning championships with established stars; it was finding the next star that no one else saw.

• The European Connection Krause was an early advocate for international scouting. He brought in Toni Kukoc, which caused significant friction with Jordan and Pippen.
• Draft Obsession He believed that high draft picks were the only way to sustain a franchise. Because the Bulls were winning, their picks were always low.
• The Rebuild Plan Krause had a folder in his desk detailing how he would rebuild the Bulls post-1998. He planned to use the salary cap space to sign three young stars.
• The "Crumbs" Nickname Jordan nicknamed him "Crumbs" because of the donut crumbs often found on his jacket. This constant bullying reinforced Krause's desire to move on from the Jordan era.
• Validation He wanted to win a title with "his" guys—players like Elton Brand and Tyson Chandler—to prove he wasn't just lucky to have Michael Jordan.

The Aftermath: Was Krause Right?

History has not been kind to Krause’s decision. After the 1998 dismantling, the Bulls became one of the worst teams in the NBA. Michael Jordan retired (for the second time), Scottie Pippen was traded to Houston, and Phil Jackson went to the Lakers where he won five more titles. The "rebuild" that Krause promised took nearly a decade to produce even a mediocre playoff team.

While Krause was correct that the players were aging, he underestimated the "will to win" that Jordan and Jackson possessed. Many analysts believe the Bulls could have won at least one more title in 1999, especially given the lockout-shortened season. Krause’s insistence on a total rebuild instead of a "retooling" remains one of the greatest "what ifs" in sports history.

For more on the Chicago Bulls' historical timeline, visit the official team history page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Did Michael Jordan like Jerry Krause?
No. Jordan openly mocked Krause for his weight, his height, and his social awkwardness. This bullying was a major factor in the tension between the front office and the locker room.

2. Could the Bulls have won in 1999?
Most experts believe so. The 1999 season was shortened by a lockout, which would have helped the aging Bulls stay fresh. Michael Jordan was still the best player in the world at that time.

3. Who did Jerry Krause want to replace Phil Jackson with?
Krause wanted Tim Floyd, a college coach from Iowa State. Floyd was a personal friend of Krause, but he struggled significantly in the NBA, winning very few games.

4. Did Jerry Reinsdorf try to stop Krause?
Reinsdorf generally supported Krause's "business first" approach. While he offered Jordan a one-year contract, he did not fight to keep Phil Jackson or Scottie Pippen.

5. What was the "organizations win championships" quote actually about?
Krause claimed he said "Organizations help win championships," emphasizing that the front office provides the tools (scouting, travel, medical) that allow players to succeed.

6. What happened to the Bulls after 1998?
They went from being champions to having the worst record in the Eastern Conference. They did not return to the playoffs until 2005.

Conclusion: A Vision Misplaced

The answer to why Jerry Krause wanted to dismantle the Bulls is a complex mix of scouting philosophy, financial pragmatism, and personal resentment. He was a man who lived for the future and grew tired of living in the shadow of his own stars. Krause wasn't "wrong" that the end was coming; he was just wrong about how to handle it.

Instead of allowing the dynasty to fade naturally on the court, he chose to execute it in the boardroom. This decision protected the team's long-term finances but broke the hearts of millions of fans. It serves as a permanent lesson in sports management: sometimes, the chemistry and spirit of a team are worth more than the logic of a spreadsheet.

Jerry Krause died in 2017, but his legacy remains tied to the end of the Bulls. He was a brilliant scout who built two separate championship cores, but his inability to manage the human element of the game eventually led him to destroy what he worked so hard to create.

Explore the statistical decline of the post-1998 Bulls to see the impact of the rebuild.

Final Thought: Success in the NBA requires both talent and management. When those two forces stop working together, even the greatest team in the world cannot survive. Jerry Krause’s decision to dismantle the Bulls is the ultimate proof of that reality.