You'd better wrap me

Chapter 199

The next day on the 29th.

The old NBA labor agreement is about to expire. Representatives of the league and the players union held talks in Las Vegas. Su Yang, as a well-known player representative, participated with the chairman of the players union, Billy Hunter. Team.

Before the finals, the two sides had already had two rounds of talks. Apart from the relevant regulations on the luxury tax, the communication was very pleasant. This meeting is mainly to discuss issues related to the luxury tax. If everything goes well, an agreement can be reached.

In addition to the luxury tax, we also need to discuss the designated rookie player clause proposed by Su Yang, which is actually a way to help super rookies get a long-term maximum salary. Don't give them money.

Before the meeting started, Su Yang called Billy Hunter, the chairman of the union, and six committee members to surround him, and said, "Don't worry about the specific setting of the luxury tax. In fact, that thing can't limit the real rich teams, nor can it limit Players get high salaries. The purpose of our talks this time is to help players fight for more clauses like the Bird clause, so that players can sign above the salary cap, and strive to cover super rookies, peak superstars and powerful veterans three phases.

The bosses in the league haven’t realized how big a market we can create. They want to control the total salary amount to share more money. Our goal is to make them unable to control the total salary amount and create various The terms that are not included in the salary cap will help more players and brothers get higher wages in more situations, as long as they are strong enough.

In addition, for the rookies, strive for a guaranteed contract of three years instead of two years. This is the real benefit. "

As someone who has experienced it, Su Yang knows it all too well.

Not to mention the current ordinary luxury tax, even the super luxury tax in the future will not be able to restrict the bosses who make a lot of money, such as the Warriors and the Nets, the luxury tax is hundreds of millions of dollars, and it will not affect the team's market value. Profit growth.

And those teams that strictly control the luxury tax, like the Rockets, didn't get any farts in the end, they must both reduce expenditure and increase revenue.

Billy Hunter and the others expressed their understanding.

The talks turned to start. The six members of the players' union emphasized that the players will create great profits in the future and should be paid a salary corresponding to the market value. They strongly opposed the league's strict implementation of the luxury tax policy, which led to the team's only low salary.

The league stated that this is the only way to maintain the suspense of the championship competition, and the rich teams cannot be allowed to do whatever they want.

"Bullshit!"

Su Yang retorted loudly, "In 98, the OK team, which was booming, was swept by the Spurs 4-0. In 03, the OK team, which had already won three consecutive championships, lost to the Spurs. In 04, the Lakers, known as the BIG4, lost to the Pistons. The suspense has nothing to do with salary. .

Not to mention a team like the Knicks, whose salary next season has reached $[-] million, they have Marbury and Hardaway, they also have Houston, but do they have any chance of winning?You have no idea how to win the championship. "

After some rebuttals, the alliance became anxious.

Vice President Adam Silver said with a blushing face: "In the past 30 years, most of the winning teams have been the teams with the highest salary in the season. The two losses of teams like the Knicks and the Lakers are just survivor bias and cannot be used as a base case. Research…"

"Bullshit!"

Su Yang continued to refute Xiao Hua, "You can get that kind of data only because in the past 30 years, the champions were mainly concentrated in the Lakers and the Bulls. Your data statistics range is artificially focused, not to mention the changes in the 30 years. .

You think I have never studied statistics! "

Adam Silver was speechless for a moment.

The atmosphere became a little stiff.

Billy Hunter, the chairman of the union, immediately smoothed things over, saying that strict enforcement of the luxury tax is fine, but the rookie player designation clause proposed by Su Yang must be passed, so that the team can designate part of the salaries of the two rookies not to be included in the salary cap to ensure income.

Doing that way will not only allow superstars to get their due wages, but also allow small ball markets to better retain their own stars.

Between the pulls, the league thought it was feasible and harmless, and chose to accept the player union's proposal.

The topic turned to the guarantee period of the rookie contract. Su Yang said: "The guarantee period of the first-round contract must be three years and cannot be reduced. The second-round contract must also be guaranteed for at least two years. The minimum wage must also be increased, but it does not need to be included in the salary. Hats off, we can't have Hornacek's comedy of playing for the Suns in summer league while auditioning for accounting auditors.

Just like Anderson Varejao, the second-round pick in our Clippers team, his salary last season was only 78 US dollars, but he brought at least ten times the benefits to the team and the league, which can completely improve other ordinary second-round picks on average. average high wages.

And before he signed the contract, I strongly suggested that he be given a fully guaranteed contract. Just imagine if his contract is not fully guaranteed, can he be so invested when he dives to save the throw-in?Can so many fans cheer? "

After the words fell, everyone in the players union nodded.

Adam Silver shrugged slightly: "If he is a first-round pick, he will get more guarantees. The previous salary system has given every player an equal opportunity. If our second-round pick must be fully guaranteed for two years, it is equivalent to Sending money to the whole people..."

Su Yang frowned slightly when he heard this, and thought to himself, capitalism is involuntary, isn't it? As the team owner who should be responsible, hide it and let the workers and players compete with each other, just like eliminating the last place, invisibly forcing Employees are involved.

"Bullshit!"

Su Yang yelled loudly, "The so-called equal opportunities are true, but the benefits and risks are not equal. All the risks happen to the players, and they don't get any external benefits, but the team owners don't have to take any risks. , It’s not that starting a company will lose money, the NBA’s income is increasing every year, and it can fully afford the salary of 30 second-round picks every year.”

Adam Silver once again had nothing to say.

Seeing this, Stern interjected: "The two-year guarantee for the second-round picks can be further discussed, but since the players enjoy more benefits, they also have to assume more obligations. The dress code and drug testing need to be strictly enforced. After all, it will also affect the league's revenue. .”

Su Yang didn't respond, mainly because he was not interested. It was nothing more than whether super-casual players like Iverson were happy or unhappy.Billy Hunter immediately took over the topic, and the conversation continued, and then talked about the 10% salary third-party commission and the longest contract period.

The meeting ended at six o'clock in the afternoon.

Both parties basically achieved their goals.

A rookie player clause will be launched to help super rookies obtain a five-year starting contract renewal clause, which can get up to 25% of the salary cap salary, without honor restrictions, and a clause named after Su Yang will also be introduced to designate players who want to be rookies On top of that, get 30% of the salary cap, but there are certain honor restrictions, and at least two best team starts.

Su Yang led the members of the players union to directly record a video and upload it to YouTube to inform all the players of the progress of the meeting.

Early the next morning, the players union continued to negotiate with the league, and Su Yang flew to New York.

Pepsi's championship promotional video was shot in one morning, and Su Yang flew to Oregon again. After a night's rest, he and the Nike team shot the second-generation personal signature sneaker promotional video, and finally flew back to Las Vegas to talk to the players union. Represents confluence.

In the early morning of July [-]nd, the league and the players union officially announced that they had reached a brand-new labor agreement, and Stern sold Su Yang a face and made a debut on YouTube. Although it didn't bring much real benefits, it could show the value of YouTube. importance.

As the news was released, various discussions ensued.

Commentator Kevin Pelton commented on the ESPN program: "The designation of rookie terms, Su Yang's terms, and the first round of three-year guarantee contracts remain unchanged, and the second round of at least two-year guarantee contracts is mostly due to Su Yang. Thanks to Wade, Anthony and LeBron, their strong performance has given the league great confidence in future revenue growth, so it is readily accepted.

If there is no accident, two years later, LeBron will become the first player to enjoy the benefits of Su Yang's terms. "

The news gradually spread.

Su Yang has received thank-you text messages and emails from many players one after another, and many players expressed their opinions through interviews.

Kenyon Martin said in an interview with the "Denver Sentinel": "I hate Su Yang's arrogance, but I admit that he brings more benefits to NBA players, and even high school and college players. Now there are many college players through their portraits and Making money with his name is something Jordan failed to do, as long as Su Yang accumulates enough honors, he will replace Jordan as GOAT."

Isaiah Thomas said in an interview with The New York Times: "Thank you Su Yang for thinking of those compromise terms, which fully prove the rationality and necessity of my various operations. A lot of demand, it's just never been justified before, and I must say that Su Yang has surpassed Michael Jordan as the greatest player."

LeBron said in a telephone interview with FOX TV: "It's a pity that I can't seek more benefits for the players this time with my brother Su Yang. His move is groundbreaking. He provides more players for our generation. Possibility, if I become the first player to enjoy the benefits of Su Yang's terms, I will give him a bottle of red wine as a thank you after the contract extension is completed."

Bill Simmons wrote in his blog: "Su Yang really does not stop at the concept of athletes. I admit that he can reach the same level as Michael Jordan in a similar way. If he can further expand the influence of basketball, And he won two three consecutive championships in the Clippers, I would also like to call him GOAT, I must say that he is beyond my cognition."

Between various compliments, Su Yang flew back to Los Angeles.

According to Pelinka's plan, he filmed several new endorsements, earned a small 1000 million US dollars, and asked Ivanka to buy three villas.

The Clippers’ summer league kicked off immediately, and Su Yang started his trip to the Nike training camp at the same time. The first stop was in Los Angeles, inviting young players such as Paul and LeBron to participate. The main trainees included Westbrook, Harden and Germany. Rozan et al.

(End of this chapter)