Bulls welcome back Pippen as a team ambassador

Scottie Pippen is back with the Bulls, this time in an all-encompassing role as team ambassador.

He will attend Bulls home games and spend time with fans and sponsors, while continuing to write a monthly column for bulls.com. Pippen has spent most of his time in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in recent years but is planning to move his family back to the Chicago area full time.

"To be part of the Bulls family again means a lot to me," Pippen said in a statement released by the team. "I am really looking forward to being more involved in the community and working with kids. That is an area in which you can never do enough."

It's possible this new role could eventually lead to an opportunity on the coaching staff. Pippen has expressed interest in coaching, and the Bulls would be receptive if they believe he's serious.

Pippen, who retired in 2004, will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Aug. 13 in Springfield, Mass.

Rose headed to camp: USA Basketball released a list of 21 players that have committed to attend training camp in Las Vegas from July 19-24 in advance of the FIBA World Championships in Turkey later this summer.

Highlighting the list are Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant and Boston point guard Rajon Rondo, who was officially added to the roster Thursday.

The other players planning to attend are Chauncey Billups (Denver), Tyson Chandler (Dallas), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Tyreke Evans (Sacramento), Rudy Gay (Memphis), Eric Gordon (Clippers), Danny Granger (Indiana), Jeff Green (Oklahoma City), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia), David Lee (Golden State), Brook and Robin Lopez (New Jersey, Phoenix), Kevin Love (Minnesota), O.J. Mayo (Memphis), Lamar Odom (Lakers), Amare Stoudemire (New York), Gerald Wallace (Charlotte) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).

All of the players from the 2008 Olympic team have backed out of the World Championships, but the coaching staff remains the same. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will be assisted by Jim Boeheim, Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan.