<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> In low-key fashion, the Bulls welcomed Ira Newble to Chicago in an attempt to prove to the free-agent forward that their interest isn't limited to Scottie Pippen. Management even has envisioned a scenario in which Pippen signs for the midlevel salary-cap exception of approximately $4.6 million and Newble comes on board for the $1.8 million medical exception that should be awarded because of Jay Williams' injuries. But Newble is drawing interest from Atlanta and three other teams that will drive his price beyond that. Newble made slightly more than the league minimum last season and is believed to desire a multiyear deal in the $2 million to $3 million range. The Bulls could be forced to choose between Pippen and Newble. Newble ate dinner with general manager John Paxson, coach Bill Cartwright and Trenton Hassell on Tuesday and toured the Berto Center on Wednesday. He spoke favorably of the Bulls and "got the sense that they would like to sign me." Newble then boarded a plane Wednesday afternoon and flew to a city he loves but one with an uncertain basketball future. Atlanta is going through an ownership change, leaving its basketball decisions in limbo. Here's an example of how much: Newble turned a corner at the Berto Center on Wednesday and ran into Terry Stotts, who was interviewing with Paxson for a vacant assistant position. That would be Terry Stotts, the interim head coach in Atlanta. "There's real chaos down there right now," Newble said. "It's confusing. That is the team I played with the past two years and I would like to be there too. But the situation doesn't seem too positive. They may want me, but their hands might be tied with the ownership." How long will the Bulls wait on Pippen? How long will Newble's camp wait to see what Pippen does? How long will Newble wait to see what Atlanta does? And the machinations of free agency continue. "There is one scenario in which we don't use much of the [midlevel] exception because we have a pretty full roster," Paxson said. Team officials got a boost for their chances to sign Pippen when Portland laid off 88 front-office and arena workers, almost one-third of its staff. It's the first money-saving step by new team President Steve Patterson, who added that he would cut team payroll as well. Portland can offer Pippen more money than the Bulls. But any offer would cost twice as much because Portland will pay a dollar-for-dollar tax when luxury tax penalties kick in this summer. Newble, for his part, said he would prefer to sign as close to the July 16 signing date as possible. Signing Pippen and Newble may seem like overkill at the small forward position, especially to incumbent and seemingly somnolent Eddie Robinson. But management sees Pippen becoming a role player, someone who can play 60-65 games at any of three positions. Newble could start. "I can bring toughness, energy and I'm a defensive-minded player," Newble said. "If they double-team Eddy Curry, who will demand a lot of attention now, I can score too." Newble is an unselfish player who took 6.4 shots per game while shooting 49.5 percent. He's also friends with Jalen Rose, having run in similar circles while growing up outside Detroit. The Bulls have had luck signing players who have paid their dues to get to the NBA, players such as Kevin Ollie and Rick Brunson. Newble, who wasn't drafted out of Miami of Ohio, understands that dynamic. "I know what the other side is like as far as being in those other leagues where you're traveling on buses and not making much money and going to small towns," he said. "I value [the NBA] more." </div> http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...bulls-headlines i haven't really seen him play.. but if we can't get both him and Pippen, i dont want him
