If it's not in-house bickering between management and the team, and especially the coach, it's Scottie Pippen's requiring foot surgery and missing the season's first two months. And it is not a good sign when Dennis Rodman, the league's fearless rebounding king, is worried about tying contract incentives to team performance a week before the season begins.

''I can't remember when there has been this many distractions,'' Bulls Coach Phil Jackson said last week. ''The only thing might compare is perhaps the year Michael was retired. There was bickering during training camp with Horace Grant. Injuries. Everything seemed to be going wrong. But that does not compare to this.''

Jackson said reports that Toni Kukoc would need foot surgery were erroneous. He added that the forward has been struggling this preseason only because he is out of shape. Kukoc has said his foot, which limited his effectiveness in the post-season, is at least 90 percent healthy.

Still, two starters, Ron Harper and Luc Longley, have chronic knee problems. And on it goes. Even Jordan recently had ingrown toenails removed and was forced to cut short the exhibition season. Saying he will retire if Jackson does not return after this season -- the Bulls and Jackson have agreed he will not coach next season -- the game's greatest player is nearing the end.

''I really don't know how long I'm going to play,'' Jordan said recently. ''I couldn't give you a concrete time frame or whatever. I like to think that each and every year we keep winning championships and I keep playing. Knowing at some point that management is going to change direction and I don't feel it's favorable in my direction, then I won't have a problem walking away.''

His sentiments literally open the door to a new era. As to who's got next, O'Neal and the Lakers would be a strong choice. They beat out New York, Atlanta and Cleveland in the Rick Fox Sweepstakes, paying a pittance for the free agent small forward. Eddie Jones and Kobe Bryant are a year older and wiser.

If the rebel-rouser Nick Van Exel and Coach Del Harris can coexist for the next six months, Los Angeles would be a dangerous finals opponent for Chicago.