Slam Dunk: My Study Abroad Career in Northern Hunan

Chapter 543 Hidden Lei, old enemy!
After two back-to-back games in two days, the Timberwolves successfully won two consecutive games at the beginning of the season.

Just as the Timberwolves players boarded a small plane chartered by the team from the airline on this day with 11.2 people, they set off for the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Minnesota fans were already in a frenzy because of an explosive news from the local media.

"The Timberwolves have won two consecutive games. The high school rookie scored 90 points in two games. God descended from the earth!" 》

With eye-catching large characters and sensational headlines, Minnesota's sports morning newspaper came out early in the morning and was sold out by noon.

The martial arts on the Timberwolf plane were unknown, but in just one morning, his popularity had become much greater.

Not only the local media in Minnesota, when Wu Dao hit 40+ in two consecutive games, the media in some other cities have also noticed this rising rookie.

After the NBA regular season begins, the most eye-catching people are of course the star teams and star players, followed by the high-ranking rookies selected by each team this year.

For the rookies entering the league this year, the NBA has also created a list. As the game progresses, the various data obtained by the rookies on the list will be updated in real time.

With a terrifying record of 45 points per game, Budao ranks first on the rookie list. Even his scoring data ranks first in the entire league.

It is obviously impossible for such a high school rookie to not attract attention.

Wu Dao actually doesn't pay much attention to those voices in the media. He is only focusing on the field now. The NBA is a very realistic place. As a player, you can only get other things after you show your value on the court.

Big contracts, reputation, wealth, these things are closely related to your strength and achievements.

Strength and achievements are the basis for obtaining those things. Otherwise, the more the media praises you, the harder you will fall when you fall from the altar.

Yi's failure in the NBA that year was related to his character, injuries, and the team he chose. It was also related to the cerebral palsy editors who boasted about "Yi Di" on various domestic platforms.

Timberwolves team bag on the plane.

"oh~"

"It's really uncomfortable. This seat is too small. Isn't there any way to make it longer?"

Not long after the plane took off, Garnett wanted to lie down for a while and rest, but the seats on the plane were designed for "normal people". Even the first-class seats were only a little over one meter apart from the front row. , Garnett is a tall man, and after adjusting the backrest of the seat, he felt that he couldn't stretch out and felt uncomfortable everywhere.

Not far away from him, Budao was sitting by the window, leaning sideways against the armrest of the plane, holding his chin while reading a magazine. When he heard Garnett's voice, he couldn't help but tilt his head slightly.

"Hey Kevin, calm down."

"This is not your first time flying."

Veteran Sam Mitchell just thought it was Garnett complaining, turned around and smiled at Garnett.After saying that, Mitchell handed over the fried chicken he was eating and asked Garnett:
“I bought a lot”

"Would you like some?"

"Or do you want a burger?"

It has to be said that compared to Hangzhou, which is a domestic food desert, Lao America can really be regarded as a food desert.On Laomei Street, the most common foods you see are barbecue, fried chicken or various pastries and sweets. Apart from these, the most common foods are various "ethnic foods" that cannot be named by martial arts.

For example, Ah Tan’s favorite thing to eat is Taco, which is Mexican food.

Mitchell is not that particular about food. A veteran like him at the end of his career often indulges himself.

Players like Sam Mitchell are already considered relatively self-disciplined in the league. It is precisely because of his self-discipline that he was able to become the coach of the Raptors after retiring and continue to play in the NBA in another capacity. The court is glowing.

In fact, there are many NBA players who were involved in pornography, gambling and drugs during their playing days, and they went bankrupt not long after they retired.

Sam Mitchell has somewhat of a "big brother" attribute in the team.

Facing Mitchell's kindness, Garnett shook his head, then punched the back of the seat hard, and couldn't help muttering loudly:
"I'm really fed up with these little planes."

"If possible, I must go to a team with a team plane!"

In the league, there are very few teams that have turned around. The Bulls where the "god" is, the Purple and Gold Lakers in Los Angeles, and one team, the Dallas Mavericks who will change their name to the Mavericks in the future.

Garnett seemed to say something casually, but it attracted the attention of coach Flip Saunders sitting in the front row.

He stared at Garnett for a while, then turned around, sat in his seat, and exchanged glances with his old buddy Kevin McHale, who was sitting next to him reading the newspaper.

With the start of the new season, Kevin McHale has become the executive chairman of the Timberwolves. Under owner Glen Taylor, he can be regarded as one of the team's highest decision-making levels.

Like Phillip, he heard Garnett's complaints.

And he and Phillip both knew very well that Garnett's words were not unintentional at all, but were aimed at them.

NBA rookie contracts are generally four years. In the last two years, there are two team options. The team options need to be issued before 4 days after the first season and before 10.31 days after the second season respectively. Complete, if the team chooses to continue to implement, then the rookie will continue to play in the team. If the team is unwilling to want this player, then the rookie will most likely face a trade.

When the rookie contract reaches its third season, the rules will be a little different. Player contracts can be extended by "mutual agreement" between August 8 and October 1 after the third season.

Note that consent from both parties is required here.

Since Garnett entered the league in 95, he has played for two seasons in the 95-96 and 96-97 seasons. Of course, the Timberwolves chose to continue to execute the contract in these two seasons, but by Garnett's third season In his rookie season, the situation was different.

In other words, after the 97-98 season, which is the current season, Garnett will have more choices.

Garnett's agent is already negotiating with the team management about Garnett's salary. Garnett's thoughts and purposes are very clear. If the Timberwolves still want him to continue playing with the Timberwolves, He needs an offer worthy of his worth.

If this price does not make him feel "respected," Garnett will not stay with the Timberwolves and continue to play.

He currently earns a "child labor" salary of 211 million yuan per year.

Due to the relationship between martial arts, the labor negotiations between the Timberwolves management and Garnett's agent have not been officially finalized until now. Generally speaking, the team will often greet potential players in advance and will never wait until the contract period. Let’s talk about this kind of thing later.

From the beginning of the new season, every game Garnett plays will be related to his own value. Although his martial arts performance was very dazzling in the first two games, Garnett's performance was also at the All-Star level. Thinking that he deserves a big contract, of course, it is also true.But as far as the Timberwolves management is concerned, if you can give less, of course you have to give less.

Fortunately, the Timberwolves' current salary quota is still sufficient. They are still far away from the salary cap of US$3000 million. Therefore, when negotiating with Garnett's agent, the team management is very confident and has the data capabilities. As a supportive agent, Garnett's agent is also very confident.

However, the Timberwolves management's vision is long-term after all. While they must consider Garnett, they must also consider the development of the team and the vision of other people on the team.

Wouldn't it be a serious problem to directly give Garnett a big contract and let other newcomers follow his example?
For example, Wu Dao, who just joined the team this year, entered the team as the No. 5 pick in the first round and received a rookie contract of US$195 million.

If the current momentum of martial arts continues to develop, by the end of his rookie year, I am afraid that his net worth will not be a few million or even a few million, but will probably have to be a few million or even over [-] million.

While ensuring that the team is sufficiently competitive, the Timberwolves' management is thinking about how to use the most appropriate money to build a super playoff team and even a championship team.

In the NBA, there is no team that does not desire a championship. This is an honor and a "certificate" for selling tickets.

Kevin McHale and Philip, after seeing Wu Dao's two regular season performances, are actually now thinking about how to build a championship team.

Don't think that there are only two games and the sample is too small to represent anything.

In fact, for the Timberwolves' management, these two games are enough, one against the star player madman Latrell Sprewell, and one against the New York beast Anthony Mason Jr.

These two games are already very valuable.

While Budao was still focused on the court, the Timberwolves' management was already thinking about how to build a championship team around the internal and external combination of Budao and Garnett.

At the same time, the current "boss" of the team, Tom Gugliotta, has actually been put on the negotiating table by the Timberwolves without his knowledge.

The most important problem for the Timberwolves now is the distribution of ball rights.

Marbury, Tom, Wu Dao and even Garnett are all good at holding the ball. Tom and Wu Dao can play without the ball and are capable, but this is too much of a waste of offensive firepower. Instead of doing this, it is better to It would be better to build a better 3D, which would be more beneficial to the team.

But if one puts Budo or Tom on the bench.
Not to mention how well they can play on the court, the team's locker room must have exploded.

Although Wu Dao is a rookie, Philip can see that if he dares to keep Wu Dao on the bench, Wu Dao will definitely leave once the rookie contract is over.

And Budo is not the kind of rookie who has yet to show his performance. Two consecutive games with 40+ points and an average of 45 points per game have already made Budao a player that has attracted much attention from fans.

For Wu Dao, even if the team wants to PUA him, it is impossible to PUA him in terms of playing time.

And Tom, who is an All-Star substitute and considers himself the boss of the team, how could he be willing to sit on the bench?

Garnett's labor issues and ball rights issues on the court are now major minefields buried under victory.

If any one of them is not handled well, the Timberwolves' current situation will no longer exist.

Garnett's complaint on the plane was just a small episode, but Garnett is not the only smart person. How could Wu Dao, Marbury and even Tom not know what Garnett meant? .

Tom didn't care about this. He was the boss of the team with 550 million US dollars per year anyway!

Marbury, on the other hand, is smarter. He was drafted in 96, one year after Garnett. Now he has a child labor contract of US$227 million. If Garnett wants to increase his price, he will also have to increase his price significantly in the future. The more Nate grows, the more he will grow in the future!

As for Garnett, he is a bit simpler. He only hopes to get the "due respect" from the team!
As for martial arts, it is a bit more pure than others. He is in the first year of his rookie season. The $195 million is not high or low. It is in line with his ranking but not in line with his strength. It’s just that In the first year of his rookie season, unless there is a truly irreconcilable conflict between him and the team, he will not break up with the team for money.

Rookies and teams have a falling out over salary. If such a thing really happens, in today's NBA public opinion environment that promotes "loyalty", it is very likely that martial arts will become unplayable.

As for the role players of the Timberwolves, their minds were wandering at this moment, each thinking about their own things.

The plane became extremely quiet and the atmosphere was somewhat depressing.

When the Timberwolves flew to the Rose Garden Arena, home of the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers players, who had defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 82-74 in an away game the day before, were also on the return flight.

The game between the Trail Blazers and the Clippers was quite tangled. The two teams fought fiercely for 4 quarters, and the winner was officially decided at the end.

The Trail Blazers also have a record of 1 win and 1 loss and are preparing to return to their home court to face the Timberwolves who have come from afar.

"Leder, you should be playing against your old team, the Timberwolves, in the game the day after tomorrow, right?"

"The injury should be almost gone. You didn't play in the first two games and the team struggled."

On the plane, Trail Blazers head coach Mike Dunleavy smiled at Isiah Leder.

Isiah Lederer was the Timberwolves' main player at the No. 2 position and was the No. 93 pick in the first round of the 5 Timberwolves draft.But then the Timberwolves management sent the former "team boss" away in order to correct Garnett.

Of course, part of the reason is that when Martial Arts went to the Timberwolves for a trial training, Leder was beaten to death. In order to be able to "unobstructed" on the road to Martial Arts, it was inevitable to send away Leder, the bombshell in the locker room. .

"Ok!"

"I want to play!"

“Not only do we have to compete, we also have to win!”

Ryder nodded heavily when he heard the coach's words and said.

Mike Dunleavy glanced at Leder with a smile, turned back, looked down at the newspaper in his hand, and sighed seemingly casually:

"Rookie from high school, 40+ points in two consecutive games."

"Excellent, isn't it?"

The Trail Blazers, starting in the mid-80s, have never fallen out of the playoffs for more than ten years.

The Trail Blazers reached the Western Conference Finals in the three seasons of 89-90, 90-91, and 91-92. Although they often missed the first round after that, it was not something that a team like the Timberwolves, which had never entered the playoffs, could compete with!
(End of this chapter)