Pippen Admits to Thoughts of Retirement

Scottie Pippen says he wants to play at least two more seasons, but injuries and a preseason that drags on and on have caused him to ponder life after the NBA.

Asked Wednesday in Portland, Ore., how much he thinks about retirement, the Portland Trail Blazer forward smiled and said: “All the time.”

Pippen, about to begin his 14th season, has played sparingly during the exhibition season because of an injured right thumb. Also, two fingers on his left hand are chronically sore.

“It crosses my mind here and there, especially when you get a nagging injury,” Pippen said of retiring. “It brings you down a little bit. I look forward to a long, healthy season, but that hasn’t been working in my favor so far.

“I would like to play at least a couple more years, but I look at it year by year. We’ll just see how I’m feeling.”

Pippen, who turned 35 last month, has three years left on a contract that will pay him about $16.4 million this season.

Pippen views preseason games with general disinterest, but he knows the last two--against Denver at home tonight and at Sacramento on Friday night--will be his last chances to get ready for Tuesday’s regular-season opener against Lakers.

“Hopefully, my hand will heal a little bit, so I can feel a little more confidence and a little more strong out on the court,” Pippen said.

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Charlotte Hornet forward Derrick Coleman surrendered to police on traffic-violation warrants in the city.

Coleman paid $800 bond Tuesday and was released from the Mecklenburg County jail a few hours later.

Coleman, 33, was wanted on charges of driving with a revoked license and using an out-of-state license while his North Carolina license was revoked.

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Atlanta Hawk forward-center Lorenzen Wright will be sidelined two to three weeks because of partially torn cartilage in his right knee.

Wright was injured in Tuesday’s exhibition against the Boston Celtics.

The Hawks are already without center Dikembe Mutombo, diagnosed with a mild case of malaria last week.

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The Toronto Raptors claimed seven-foot center Vladimir Stepania off waivers from the New York Knicks.