Pippen Seems Happy to Be Trail Blazer

The Portland Trail Blazers were thrilled to get Scottie Pippen, meaning the Lakers probably won’t.

In a deal that had been rumored for days, the six-time NBA champion and seven-time all-star was traded from the Houston Rockets to Portland on Saturday for Kelvin Cato, Stacey Augmon, Walt Williams, Ed Gray, Brian Shaw and Carlos Rogers.

Trail Blazer President Bob Whitsitt said Pippen was “extremely excited” about the deal.

Pippen’s first choice for a new team was the Lakers, where he would have rejoined former Chicago Bull coach Phil Jackson. There was speculation that Portland might trade Pippen to the Lakers for Glen Rice, Robert Horry and Travis Knight, but Saturday the Trail Blazers were talking about Pippen being a part of their drive for a title.

“I talked with Scottie on the phone, and he said, ‘That L.A. stuff was blown out of proportion. I love Portland and I like what’s going on,’ ” Whitsitt said.

Pippen said nothing publicly from his home in Arkansas.

“Don’t read anything into that,” agent Jimmy Sexton said of Pippen’s silence. “After Scottie evaluated the situation in Portland, looked at their roster, what they did last year and the pieces they’ve added, he was excited. They’ll have a legitimate chance to win the NBA championship.”