The Crows are still working with the Swans on achieving a good outcome for the club, and are hopeful one can be resolved in the Gillette AFL Trade Period.
But if they can't strike a deal, Adelaide says Tippett could end up at the mercy of the NAB AFL Draft or pre-season draft.
"We've got rid of a bloke who doesn't want to be at the footy club; that's already a win," Crows list manager David Noble told the Adelaide Advertiser.
"It would be bad luck and it would be an unfortunate situation.
"But that can happen.
"We saw that with Nick Stevens (who left Port Adelaide without the Power receiving compensation)."
Stevens left the Power in 2003, and nominated Collingwood as his preferred destination. When the Power and Magpies failed to reach an agreement, Stevens was recruited by Carlton in the pre-season draft.
The Swans are the only club Adelaide has spoken to so far regarding Tippett.
Hawthorn free agent Clinton Young's decision to stay with the Hawks or leave the club is looming, with the free agency period ending on Friday.
Although Collingwood and Port Adelaide have made the biggest plays for the 26-year-old, the Herald Sun reports Essendon and the Brisbane Lions are also a chance to snare the long-kicking left-footer.
The Herald Sun also reports Cats forward Mitch Brown is weighing up his future at the club.
Injuries have restricted Brown to only five senior games since being a first-round draft pick in 2008.
"We spoke to him a while ago and he wasn't saying, 'I must go', or anything like that, but he was questioning whether he was going to get opportunities," Cats football manager Neil Balme said.
"Our response was: 'You are contracted and we want you to stay, but if you want to talk to other people, we would consider it.' "
Meanwhile, Tom Hickey might not end up at St Kilda as expected, with Essendon and North Melbourne interested in securing the ruckman.
The Age says the Gold Coast ruckman would prefer to go to St Kilda, but the Bombers and Kangaroos have shown they could be willing to boost their ruck stocks.
Follow Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
