Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

Chapter 168 Contract Renewal Pressure!Eight players' contracts expired!The main force is lost!Operate picks!
Lu Yong shook hands with Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy on the sidelines, and the mood at this moment is hard to describe in words.

Thinking back to when he first took over the Supersonics, this team still had the worst record in the league.

In just two years, he devoted himself to building the team, managing tactics, and staying up all night. All these fatigues were all worth it when the team won the championship.

The last time he helped the Grizzlies win the championship, he was only an assistant coach in name, and all the credit fell to Fratello.But this time is different, he is the savior who personally pulled the Supersonic from the abyss to the top of the league, and he is the hero of the city of Seattle.

No matter how dazzling Durant's MVP is, it can't hide the brilliance of his head coach. In the hearts of fans, Lu Yong is the biggest contributor to the team's championship.

The only regret is that the Sonics won the away game this year, so they couldn't share the joy with the fans.

Tony Brown, who followed Lu Yong from Memphis to Seattle and overcame difficulties all the way to win the championship, had tears in his eyes, standing on the sidelines and hugging Lu Yong vigorously. "Lu, we succeeded, we finally succeeded! The Sonics won the championship, we created a miracle, I am grateful for the decision I made!"

"Tony, you have to believe in yourself and believe that the future will be better. We deserve all of this." Lu Yong laughed.

"In my heart, you are a mountain that can never be climbed. I really hope that we can continue to cooperate in the future." Tony Brown said sincerely.

"Don't be stupid, buddy, it's two years at most. There must be a team poaching you to be the head coach. Be prepared at all times. A better tomorrow is waiting for us." Lu Yong patted Tony Brown on the shoulder and said with a smile.

As the chief assistant coach of the Sonics, although Tony Brown has not received as much attention as stars such as Lu Yong and Durant, he has long been labeled as a "Lu coach".With the strong rise of the Sonics, Tony Brown will leave Lu Yong to fly solo sooner or later, becoming the head coach of a team, and monopolizing power like Lu Yong left the Grizzlies.

It has always been Lu Yong's goal to spread out disciples 31 in the league. When that day comes, Lu Yong must sincerely wish Tony Brown and hope that he will not embarrass himself.

Supersonics owner Bennett and general manager Sam Presti also walked into the court one after another, hugging each other with coach Lu Yong.

Presti looked like he was ten years younger, and said excitedly: "Lu, you are the biggest contributor to the team's championship. Without your construction and training, it would be difficult for the Sonics to succeed. Thank you for your work for the team." everything of."

"This is what I should do. Next season we will join forces to defend the title!" Lu Yong laughed.

The happiest person on the Supersonics' championship coaching staff is not Lu Yong, but Quinn Snyder.

He was hugging his wife excitedly at the moment, with tears in his eyes, releasing all the blind eyes and grievances he had received over the years.

It's hard to believe that this man who looks like a gangster is actually the one who cried the worst in the Sonics. The reason is not difficult to understand. He almost rejected the invitation of the Sonics during the offseason last year. If Lu Yong didn't come home in person Persuasion, he may be just like Fratello, sitting in front of the TV and even regretting his bowels.

Sticking to the development league is nothing more than to become the coach of an NBA team one day. Lu Yong's appearance is like a shooting star in the dark night, allowing Snyder to see the sky and a different scenery.He firmly believes that the day he becomes the head coach is not far away, and with the success of the Sonics, he will realize his dream sooner or later.

The players are also very excited, especially Durant. He knows that he will soon become a double MVP, and his historical status has risen rapidly. He is the leader of the new generation of players in the league, even if James' historical status is not as good as him.

Veteran Francis was not much better, running around the field like crazy, shouting loudly.

Since he suffered a serious injury, even his old team, the Rockets, has given up trust in him, and other teams are even more unwilling to offer him a contract, even if it is only a basic salary.

During that time, Francis once felt that he was finished and his career had come to an end.But in the end, the Supersonics led by Lu Yong resolutely offered him a contract and let him sit back in the starting lineup. The trust and encouragement in him hit the heart.

Boss Fu won the championship ring at the end of his career. He not only successfully realized his dream, but also brought him back to life. This day is the most unforgettable memory in his career. He is more excited than those young people in the team.

Michael Finley had the same idea, the only difference is that he was going to retire in the summer.

With the championship ring in hand, Finley has no regrets in his career and can be regarded as retired.

Teletovic is more excited. With his performance in this year's finals, he will definitely get a big contract in the summer.

Regardless of whether he can stay in the Sonics, Teletovic's fate has been rewritten and he has become a winner in life, enjoying the double treatment of high salary and core players.

People's ambitions and goals will continue to change. When he first joined the Sonics, Teletovic's dream was only to become a team's main rotation.Now, his dream is to become the core starter of a team and strive to be selected as an All-Star in the future.

Landry is also a free agent in the summer. He doesn't have much ambition or fantasy. What he cares about is what kind of contract he can get in the summer.

Although his statistics this season are mediocre, but with the status of a champion member, the next contract is definitely not small.After all, Landry is young, and there is still a lot of room for training in the future. Some rebuilding teams are willing to recruit him with high salaries.

Szczerbiak is definitely someone who will leave the Supersonics in the summer. He was not only selected as an All-Star in the Western Conference this year, but also won the championship with the team. At worst, he can get a maximum salary. The Supersonics want to keep people under too much pressure. Big, can only let go.

"Martial Saint" Jackson didn't think about leaving. He is a restricted free agent. Whether he can leave depends on whether the Sonics are willing to match the contracts offered by other teams. The initiative is in the hands of the management.

As for Bunch Wells, all he thinks about now is going to the bar at night to indulge. He has fallen out of the lineup rotation in this year's playoffs. The Supersonics will definitely not offer high salaries to keep people in the summer. Wells You can go to other teams to pursue big contracts.

After 15 minutes, the players stood in the middle of the court and put on their championship hats, and the league president David Stern came off the field to present the championship trophy.

Durant won the finals MVP as he wished, took the trophy with excitement, and began to give his acceptance speech.

"I am honored to be able to play under Lu Shuai after entering the league. If I hadn't joined the Supersonics, I might still be working hard to become an All-Star. Winning the championship is the result of everyone's joint efforts. The FMVP is also inseparable from the help of teammates. , I was very lucky to meet a good coach and a group of good teammates, and this will be an unforgettable experience.”

Durant said a lot and thanked a lot of people, from relatives to friends to the staff of the Sonics. Almost every year's FMVP winner said so, which is not new.

David Stern stood next to Lu Yong after presenting the award, and said in a low voice: "Lu, you did a good job. I hope the Sonics can become a model team that relies on offense to win. I think you should understand what I mean. "

"Don't worry, David, the alliance will definitely develop towards the trend of attacking and winning in the future. This is not due to me alone, but the general trend." Lu Yong and Stern shook hands and hugged.

Lu Yong knows better than anyone how much effort Stern has put into building an offensive alliance and how many rules have been changed.

Although the Sonics won the championship this year, although there is no secret operation, but there is no obstruction behind the alliance, it is already intermittent help.

Stern would like to see a few more offensive teams like the Sonics in the league. In addition to the guaranteed ratings, there are also a lot of revenue from tickets and advertisements, which is in line with the development of the commercial league.

"Hahaha, yes, no wonder you can build the Supersonics into a championship team in a short period of time. You have a lot of ideas." Stern patted him on the shoulder and smiled in a good mood.

Stern may not be touting the Sonics as a dynasty, but after this conversation, he certainly won't deliberately trip the Sonics.For Lu Yong, it is enough for the league to do this, fair play, and the Sonics are not afraid of any team.

After Durant delivered his acceptance speech, coach Lu Yong also accepted the reporter's interview. "I am very happy to lead the team to win the championship. From the day I joined the Sonics, I said that the team will stand at the top of the league sooner or later. I am honored that I did not break my promise. This championship is my gift to the Seattle fans. .”

Because there will be a press conference in a while, Lu Yong didn't waste time and walked towards the player tunnel supported by the photographers on both sides.

Back in the locker room, everyone let go of their hands and feet to celebrate.

The champagne prepared before the game was sprayed all over the place, and Lu Yong was poured into a drenched chicken from the beginning to the end. The status in the hearts of the players is self-evident.

At the press conference, Lu Yong was the well-deserved focus.

He is the biggest behind-the-scenes contributor to the Supersonics championship. Even team owner Bennett thanked Lu Yong for his contribution to the team.

The reporter asked: "Lu, how do you feel now, can you talk about your feelings after winning the championship?"

"I am in a good mood now. I am grateful to the Sonics for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach. Their trust and gamble made this championship journey. Everyone, including the Seattle fans, is very happy tonight."

The reporter asked again: "How do you evaluate these players who played for the Sonics this year?"

Without even thinking about it, Lu Yong said with a smile: "They are a group of very talented children. Since I took over the Supersonics, I believe that the future belongs to them. As the team coach, I set a good example for this team. We have introduced a new winning culture and instilled confidence in the players, but in the final analysis, the players are very talented, and with a little guidance, they can explode with great energy in the game. This championship is the best compliment to them."

Another reporter asked: "Who do you think contributed the most to the Sonics winning this year?"

"Kevin, Mark, Jokin, Taylor... They are all important figures in the team's championship." Speaking of this, Lu Yong deliberately paused, and said with a smile: "So, of course, I have the greatest credit for the Supersonics winning the championship this year, because They are all newcomers trained by me.”

"Ha ha ha ha."

The reporters in the venue were all amused, and everyone applauded vigorously. No one questioned that Lu Yong was boasting, because what he said were all facts, and there was no need to take credit from the players.

It is impossible for any team to win the championship due to one person. Lu Yong's humorous answers made the atmosphere of the press conference particularly relaxed, which was much more interesting than those old-fashioned people who only responded to questions in an official tone.

Durant also talked about his feelings in an interview: "This is definitely the most memorable day in my career. The last time I had this kind of excitement was in the draft. I will probably lose sleep when I go back tonight."

A reporter compared him with James in the same position. Durant smiled and waved his hand: "LeBron is a very good player. Although he has no MVP, no championship, and no FMVP, in my heart he The strength is very strong, and I still need time to catch up."

The reporters were stunned when they heard the words. Although Adu's words sounded very modest and low-key, why did they always feel a little strange?
Emphasized that James has no MVP, no championship, no FMVP, it sounds like he is in Versailles!
Other players were interviewed, and the most asked question was about whether they would stay in the Sonics in the summer.

Except for Michael Finley who made it clear that he would announce his retirement in the summer, Szczerbiak, Teletovic, Francis, Wells, Landry and others all gave ambiguous responses, making Seattle fans only Capable and anxious.

Only "Martial Saint" Jackson expressed his firm attitude and expressed his loyalty to the Supersonic management in advance. "I love the city of Seattle. If I have the opportunity, I hope to continue to play for this team. I am very happy to play here. Lue is an amazing coach."

Tucker is also a loyal master. Although he doesn't have a high sense of presence, he also expressed his thoughts. "Compared to joining other teams, I want to play under Lu Shuai. He gave me the opportunity to prove myself. I am willing to renew my contract with the team in the summer."

Jackson is loyal because he has a serious criminal record and is a restricted free agent this year. The decision is not in his own hands. He is more open than others in this regard.

PJ-Tucker is completely a person who values ​​love and righteousness. As long as the contract extension offered by the Supersonics is not much different from other teams, Tucker will definitely choose to stay on the team. Live a wandering life.

Players who have been abandoned many times always lack a sense of security. Tucker is more happy playing in the Sonics. There is not enough temptation. He still wants to play for Lu Yong.

At the end of the press conference, the Sonics held a celebration party in Orlando.

Boss Bennett, general manager Presti and others attended the event one after another, spending a lot of money on the stage.

Originally, this kind of celebration party should wait until Seattle, but everyone was very excited after the team won the championship, and they didn't want to wait for a quarter of an hour, so they simply booked a hotel in Orlando to have a good time first.

On the night of winning the championship, everyone let go of the pressure and released it. They drank, sang and played like crazy.

From the very beginning of the party, Lu Yong was drunk by the players in turn. Even though he was drinking well, he was still dizzy after two hours, and even walked a little frivolously.

It wasn't until everyone was crazy and a little tired that Lu Yong found an excuse to go to the bathroom to hide from alcohol, came out and washed his face with cold water, and his mind was much clearer.

Seeing the general manager Sam Presti standing at the door of the bathroom, Lu Yong knew that this guy was waiting for him specially, handed him a cigarette, and walked over with a smile.

"What's the matter, Sam, just now I saw you were absent-minded, and the contract renewal is not going well?" Lu Yong asked.

Presti didn't want to be a disappointment tonight, but in the summer, many players' contracts expired and the management was under too much pressure to renew their contracts. He couldn't make up his mind. When Lu Yong brought it up, he had a wry smile on his face.

"This year the team will probably bleed a lot if they want to renew their contracts. With the blessing of the championship ring and the league's first record, other teams will definitely not want to miss the opportunity to poach people with high salaries. Taylor and Sczerbiak will definitely leave. Jackson and Tucker want to stay in addition to spending money and have to negotiate a good number of years, which is really a headache." Presti sighed.

Lu Yong nodded. He can only provide some opinions in this regard, and the specific details of contract renewal have to be decided by Presti himself.Even he himself doesn't know whether he will leave the Sonics after the contract expires, and it is meaningless to help players get the maximum salary.

If this team can stay in full this year, Lu Yong is confident to lead the Sonics to establish a dynasty. Unfortunately, the poaching of the defending champion is a problem left over from history, and no team can avoid it.

This is why there are championship teams born in the NBA every year, but there are only a handful of teams that can establish a dynasty. In the final analysis, it is still an internal problem. No team can retain a complete championship framework.

If you want to keep all the core players, you need to pay a lot of luxury tax as a price, let alone keep the role players.

Presti asked: "Lu, I want to hear your opinion. Which players must be kept during the offseason? I will try my best to negotiate a contract extension."

Lu Yong thought about this matter a long time ago, and suggested: "Taylor and Szczerbiak will definitely leave. The team does not need to offer a premium contract to keep people, but Stephen Jackson should stay as much as possible. If he leaves, It's going to be hard to find someone to replace him in the offseason."

"Martial Saint" Jackson's personal ability is not top-notch, but his playing style is perfectly qualified for the role of the second leader. It is difficult for the Sonics to find a suitable second leader after letting him go, especially among players of this value. Jackson was a bargain.

Presti nodded and said: "No problem, but it is difficult for the team to sign a long-term contract with him. In two years, the team will face the problem of renewing the contracts of Kevin and Jokin. I will talk to Stephen about the details. , I hope there will be a good result.”

"I know, you can watch this matter."

Lu Yong is very clear that it is impossible for Presti to seal off the future of the team in order to renew the players. After all, Durant is the hope of the Supersonics. No matter how he operates this summer, he must consider the future salary space .

It is never the championship that attracts and retains fans, but the stars who help the team win the championship. If the championship team all leave, the Sonics record will drop rapidly next year. Few fans will really follow.

"What do you think about this year's draft? The team's reinforcements and signings in the summer will be according to your ideas." Presti knows that Lu Yong has a good eye for people, and he unconditionally delegates power to him in this regard.

Lu Yong thought for a while and said: "The overall quality of this year's draft is good, but our first-round pick is too late. You can talk to other teams to see if you can trade the first-round pick down. Come back for two second rounds, it is best to be in the front and middle position."

In the 2009 draft, several strong players were picked in the second round. The Supersonics’ second-round pick this year was sent to the Warriors in the deal of “Martial Saint” Jackson. Now the team only has one No. 30 pick in the first round.

Instead of hesitating who to pick with the pick at the end of the first round, it is better to trade down and exchange for two second-round picks, so that Lu Yong will have more room for maneuver in the draft, and he is confident that he will lead the Sonics. Return two outstanding potential rookies to fill the vacancies in the lineup.

Presti agreed without any hesitation. "No problem, leave it to me. Both the Pistons and the Trail Blazers have three second-round picks this year. I believe they must be very interested in the first-round pick. I will contact you as soon as possible."

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(End of this chapter)