Keep in mind. Jordan didn't really care about his Salary. He was even more underpaid than Scottie, based on value that is, before his last three years.

Jordan could have held the bulls for ransom, but he was making so much endorsement money that he didn't care about his nba salary. Before 1996, Jordan was never the highest paid player in the league, not once.

However, I think jordan knew that had he demanded top dollar, the bulls wouldn't have been able to bring other players in.

Fun fact, in 1996 Jordan and Horace grant were top 2 in NBA salaries....Jordan was making 30 million a year. Horace was making 15 million a year. Also, Rodman came in at number 10 making 9 million a year. Scottie was making 2 million a year. So it wasn't that the Bulls were not willing to pay players or didn't want to pay players. Scottie just had a terrible agent, who allowed him to sign a terrible deal.