Back to the Last Dance: Jackie McMullan (one of the people on the ESPN show Around The Horn) said that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf didn't want the dynasty to go on too long like the Celtics dynasty did (when they won 11 of 13 from 1957-69). So, instead of going for another, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if they broke it up after the fifth title.
First, let's look at what Jerry Krause may (or would) have done. I know that he wanted to trade Pippen to the Celtics for the sixth pick in the 97 draft (and take Tracy McGrady with that pick). In this world, he has the OK to. Then, he would have brought in Tim Floyd to replace Jackson as HC. A young T-Mac and Toni Kukoc would have been his two best players, and Ron Harper, Bill Wennington, Randy Brown, & Dickey Simpkins may have also stayed (they did stay for the lockout-shortened 99 season).
T-Mac only averaged 7 ppg in his first year with Toronto, but he only averaged 18.4 min. per game. With Chicago, it may have been 25-30 because they would have had a worse roster. The Bulls probably don't win any more than 25 games in 98 with that roster, giving them the sixth-worst record in the NBA.
In reality, Sac-Town had the sixth-worst record, and they got the seventh pick in the lottery. Let's say the Bulls get that, instead. They probably don't get Nowitzki (and I don't think that Krause would be interested in an undisciplined Jason "White Chocolate" Williams), but Paul Pierce is available, and they take him (they put him at SG, with Kukoc at PF and T-Mac at SF). Those are the three players that Krause starts to re-build around.
As for Phil Jackson and the other Bulls, MJ "retires" and takes at least a year off. Jackson probably takes a year off as well, and I could even see Rodman doing the same thing. Kerr probably joins someone like the Spurs, but maybe only commits for one year just to see what Jackson does. Then, in 98, Jackson ends up in NY or LA, and Rodman and Kerr join him (I don't think MJ does. Maybe he stays retired, or he joins the Celtics to team up with Pippen).
First, let's look at what Jerry Krause may (or would) have done. I know that he wanted to trade Pippen to the Celtics for the sixth pick in the 97 draft (and take Tracy McGrady with that pick). In this world, he has the OK to. Then, he would have brought in Tim Floyd to replace Jackson as HC. A young T-Mac and Toni Kukoc would have been his two best players, and Ron Harper, Bill Wennington, Randy Brown, & Dickey Simpkins may have also stayed (they did stay for the lockout-shortened 99 season).
T-Mac only averaged 7 ppg in his first year with Toronto, but he only averaged 18.4 min. per game. With Chicago, it may have been 25-30 because they would have had a worse roster. The Bulls probably don't win any more than 25 games in 98 with that roster, giving them the sixth-worst record in the NBA.
In reality, Sac-Town had the sixth-worst record, and they got the seventh pick in the lottery. Let's say the Bulls get that, instead. They probably don't get Nowitzki (and I don't think that Krause would be interested in an undisciplined Jason "White Chocolate" Williams), but Paul Pierce is available, and they take him (they put him at SG, with Kukoc at PF and T-Mac at SF). Those are the three players that Krause starts to re-build around.
As for Phil Jackson and the other Bulls, MJ "retires" and takes at least a year off. Jackson probably takes a year off as well, and I could even see Rodman doing the same thing. Kerr probably joins someone like the Spurs, but maybe only commits for one year just to see what Jackson does. Then, in 98, Jackson ends up in NY or LA, and Rodman and Kerr join him (I don't think MJ does. Maybe he stays retired, or he joins the Celtics to team up with Pippen).