When pride still matters

Chapter 243

After the draft, the Bucks wanted to advance Yu Fei's contract extension negotiations.

But Yu Fei's team has no immediate intention to start negotiations.

Moreover, this was not Yu Fei's initial opinion.

When Yu Fei learned that the team wanted to negotiate a contract extension, he agreed, but his agent Arne Traim objected: "Now is not the time to renew the contract."

Yu Fei looked at him puzzled: "When?"

"Senator Cole has been trying to sell the team since last year, but he has never taken any action. Do you know why?" Traim seems to know his boss better than Yu Fei.

Yu Fei looked at the agent silently.

"Because you doubled the market value of the Bucks in two years, and led the team to two consecutive championships while paying only a negligible luxury tax while the team achieved substantial profits." Trelem elaborated. Said, "The Senator is a politician, and he is the kind of politician who only cares about results. If he can make money while watching the team's market value rise, it can also enhance his reputation and increase voters' confidence in him, and he doesn't need to Spending too much money, do you think he will sell the team?"

Even if Trime didn't need to explain this kind of thing, Yu Fei would still know it.

What he didn’t know was: “What does this have to do with my renewal?”

"Besides winning the championship, other things have nothing to do with you. Milwaukee is not the best place for you. I think you have heard this enough from the people at Reebok." "

Yu Fei nodded in disbelief. Reebok executives really wanted him to leave Milwaukee.

He understands the truth. Don't say he doesn't want to leave now. Even if he wants to leave, he can't help himself.

The rookie contract has not ended yet, and the Bucks can keep him within the rules if it ends, unless he breaks out and applies for a trade, but why do they do this?

Traim then said: "Since these so-called profits and increasing the team's market value have nothing to do with you, then you don't have to care about these things. What you really need to care about is whether the Senators are willing to continue to invest."

A bit interesting

Yu Fei asked: "You mean, our winning two consecutive championships at a small price may make him think that he can retain a championship team without spending too much money?"

"This is just one of them. Even if the Bucks no longer win the championship, he will not lose anything, because with you, the Bucks can still remain in the first echelon. This is enough for him."

Trem made it clear.

Although everything is fine for him in the Bucks, the premise is that the Bucks can still compete for the championship. If the Bucks can't compete for a championship, the return on playing here is too low for those behind Feiyu.

Therefore, instead of renewing the contract now, locking oneself with the Bucks for the next few years, and then praying that the owner is a generous and generous person who is willing to invest more money for the dynasty, it is better to wait and see the team's follow-up actions.

Yu Fei acquiesced to the team's approach, and his contract extension with the Bucks was postponed.

There are still 14 days until the free market starts, but ambitious GMs will get everything done before the signing day arrives.

Therefore, a verbal agreement is important.

Once a verbal agreement is reached, things are set in stone.

Those who violate verbal agreements are often scorned, and this year, the NBA experienced a breach of contract that was extremely explosive in history.

A few days later, Yu Fei was on vacation when he suddenly received a call from his little brother.

"Da Fei, I have something going on here."

At this time, LeBron James, who was preparing for the Athens Olympics with the Dream Team, made a consultation call to his brother Yu’s home.

"Larry Brown bullied you?" Yu Fei said, "Is that okay? Beat him to death!"

James explained: "No, it's Cleveland. There's something wrong with Cleveland."

Yu Fei couldn't help but ask: "What's going on in Cleveland?"

"You know, this is Carlos Boozer's third year."

Yu Fei listened patiently; "Well, what next?"

"I don't know exactly what happened, but management suddenly said it was going to waive his team option and use the mid-level exception to sign him to a long-term contract."

Yu Fei was stunned.

He only knows that if the Bucks suddenly do this to him, those behind him will do anything to persuade him to betray his promise and leave Milwaukee.

Are you kidding me? Players on rookie contracts are already locked up by the team. Boozer originally had a one-year child labor contract, but the Cavaliers gave up on it just to lock him up long-term with a mid-level contract?

"In this case." Although Yu Fei also felt that Boozer was going to run away, he still comforted his younger brother, "He should have reached an agreement with your management."

"Maybe."

James hung up the phone worriedly.

The development of things was not beyond Fei and James' expectations.

Boozer was a second-round pick in 2002. He originally signed a three-year contract with the Cavaliers and now has the last year left, but he has already shown his worth. In the season that just ended, he averaged 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He is a good helper for James in the future. However, Boozer was dissatisfied with his salary and went to team owner Gordon Gund personally to express his insecurities.

You know, Gunder became blind many years ago, so he relied heavily on his ears. It was probably because Boozer said a lot of things in tears that day that he succeeded in convincing Gunder that he would sign a contract after the team gave up the option. Return with a middle-class contract.

In any case, they reached a verbal agreement, and the Cavaliers announced that they would not exercise Boozer's team option, making him an unrestricted free agent, and then sending him a six-year, $6 million contract extension. contract.

Boozer immediately rejected the contract and accepted the Jazz's six-year, $6 million offer.

Moreover, Boozer cleverly stuck a BUG here.

Since Boozer only played for the Cavaliers for two years, the Cavaliers cannot force a matching contract regardless of the salary cap. If the Cavaliers wanted to match this contract, they needed to clear space within 15 days, but in the end, they gave up.

This is the legend of Boozer in the summer of 2004, when he deceived a well-intentioned blind wealthy man and added $2800 million to his income (before taxes) over the next six years.

James, who was playing in a warm-up match at the time, said with a shit-eating mood: "I believe Carlos made the best decision for his family."

布泽尔以一己之力创造了“Pull a Boozer”这个名词，并为2007年的布兰德、2009年的特科格鲁、2012年的基德、2015年的小乔丹和2019年的马库斯·莫里斯打了样。

After Boozer's case was finalized, Yu Fei sent James a text message expressing regret.

Now, Yu Fei believes that "God hates Cleveland" is true.

After finally waiting for a talented man like James, Boozer, the "twin brother" with great talent, ran away from home.

How could the team's remaining bastards possibly reverse Cleveland's sports fortunes?

James' unfortunate summer has just begun, and it won't be long before he laments Yu's foresight.

After Yu Fei rested for a few days, he also started calling to help the team with recruitment.

Mason retired and Shanton Anderson was selected in the expansion draft, but the Bucks, who lost two contracts, didn't have much space, so they couldn't rush to the free market to recruit high-profile players in this crazy summer.

The Bucks are not lacking in attractions and have won two consecutive championships here. It is an excellent place for some veterans who want to win the championship.

The Lakers are preparing to trade O'Neal, and Payton, who originally chose to hug O'Neal's thigh, now looks back on his face when he rejected the Bucks last year and regrets it. Therefore, he hopes to have a chance to correct his mistakes.

George Karl would like to see Payton join the team.

But Yu Fei refused to join forces with Payton.

Because this person already rejected him last year, and he proved in the Lakers that he is not a veteran. As a point guard, he likes to hold the ball and is inaccurate from long range. If he is used as Fisher, They will make the same mistake as the Lakers.

Compared with Payton, Yu Fei is more interested in another free agent.

That man's name is Brent Barry, the son of the famous general Rick Barry. Unlike his prematurely bald brother Joan Barry, Brent has inherited more of the old Barry in terms of talent and touch.

Yu Fei doesn't understand the "white people can fly" trend brought about by Brent in the mid-to-late 90s. What he cares about is the current Brent, a 198cm combo guard who has excellent passing, organization and vision. good. The most important thing is that Brent's three-point shooting percentage last season was as high as 43%, ranking second in the league.

Players like Brent are role players that strong teams need, so the Bucks are not the only ones pursuing him.

Finally, the Bucks' reputation for two consecutive championships gives them an advantage in recruiting.

Brent has entered the late stage, and he values ​​the chance of winning more than the team status.

Therefore, the Bucks stood out and successfully picked up Brent Barry and reached a four-year, $4 million mid-level contract with him.

Just when Yu Fei was happy that the team successfully signed Barry, the New York Knicks made a high-profile offer to Quentin Richardson for $6 million over six years.

Teacher Big Q's rookie contract has ended, but he is a restricted free agent. As long as the price is not outrageous, the Bucks can force a match regardless of the salary cap.

6 million in six years is actually a middle-class price. Considering Big Q's skills, it is a bit of a premium, but for the Bucks, Big Q has a rare ability to fight immediately. This is the price that has to be paid in order to remain competitive.

Just when Yu Fei no longer cared about this matter, ESPN's WOJ suddenly broke the news: "Due to salary structure considerations, the Milwaukee Bucks will not match Quentin Richardson's six-year, $6 million contract extension. ."

Yu Fei watched the TV and fell silent.

"Fry, what are you thinking about?"

Christina asked softly when she saw that Yu Fei was thinking about something.

"It's nothing." Yu Fei gently touched Christina's shoulder, his gesture pointing downwards, "I just suddenly felt that only the people around me would truly care about me."

All other sweet words and so-called long-lasting promises are just empty clouds.

Believe it, and you lose.

(End of this chapter)