When pride still matters

Chapter 271 You know, Da Fei is my brother

Greg Oden became the MVP of the first Frye National High School Star Invitational with his unparalleled dominance.

After watching Oden's performance live, Yu Fei felt that those who said he was better than James at the same time still had some truth.

Oden is not yet 18 years old. He is 2 meters tall and weighs 13 pounds (250 kg). He can run at full speed on both ends of the court. His speed is not inferior to that of guards. Every time he confronts high school-level opponents, he gives people a sense of excitement. It's like an adult hitting a child.

There is no doubt that, like James, he already had an NBA-level figure in high school.

If the NBA had not restricted high school students from participating in the draft starting next year, he would have entered the draft in 2006.

"Fry, our MVP would like you to give him a piece of advice."

Before Yu Fei personally handed the MVP trophy to Oden, the host asked with a smile.

"Stay healthy." Yu Fei said, "No matter how much potential you have, only health can allow you to achieve your goals."

This sounds like correct nonsense, but in the near future people will realize that it is part of Auden's fable.

Maybe many sports writers will quote Yu Fei's words to write an article about Oden.

After the invitational tournament ended, Yu Fei went to Los Angeles to conduct personal business activities while establishing his own club and inviting other players to join.

The NBA offseason has officially begun.

This summer is different from last year in that there are not many big-name players.

The two biggest free agents are both former Bucks players, namely Ray Allen and Michael Reed.

However, both of them are the kind of people who just muddle along and won't change teams easily unless they really can't stay any longer.

Ray Allen said his first choice is to renew his contract with the Kings.

And Reed believes he will end his career in New York.

Although the Cleveland Cavaliers have listed Reid as their number one target in the offseason. They believe that this outstanding marksman next to Yu Fei will become James' right-hand man. However, Reid, who has enjoyed the prosperity of the metropolis, is unwilling to go back to his death. Playing in a remote place like Cleveland.

He has had enough of this kind of life in Milwaukee.

Seeing that Reid couldn't come, the Cavaliers turned their attention to their second target-Larry Hughes.

Also pursuing Hughes is the Bucks.

The salary cap for the new season is US$5000 million. Although the Bucks have two maximum salaries for Yu Fei and Sprewell, due to the departure of Ray Allen and the processing of Ostertag's contract on draft night, And Mobley's contract expires. After all, they actually still have salary space for a near-maximum salary and a mid-level exception.

However, compared to the Bucks, the Cavaliers' offer is more attractive.

They could offer Hughes a standard five-year, $5 million max contract.

Just as the Bucks and Cavaliers launched a bidding war for Hughes, Larry Brown once again announced a team change after two years.

You know, Brown has three years and $3 million left on his contract with the Pistons, so this termination is undoubtedly a surprise for Detroit.

In the days leading up to his release, Brown gushed to the media about his love for the Pistons and how much he wanted to stay in the Motor City, but less than ten days after the release, he took over in New York.

Mark Stein, Yu Fei’s friend at ESPN, wrote: “You can expect Larry Brown to lead different teams to the playoffs, but you can’t expect them to win the championship, nor can you expect Larry to get a warm welcome when he leaves. Farewell. Just like the chaos in Detroit. For Larry, he's going to get a dream job in New York, but it may not turn out the way he wants. In two years, or three years, maybe we'll see him leave again. .”

A wave of unrest, a wave of up again.

Just as the outside world was teasing Larry Brown for another "cheating" in various ways, big news from Phoenix grabbed the headlines.

Joe Johnson announced that he would accept Atlanta's five-year, $5 million offer, and he asked Suns owner Robert Sarver by name not to match his contract. He no longer wants to play for the Suns.

Judging from the actual effect, Joe Johnson does not feel like leaving a 62-win championship team, but more like escaping from a 26-win weak team.

What had the Suns owner done to offend him so much?

具体情况要从上赛季说起，当时，乔·约翰逊希望和太阳达成一份6年5000万美元的续约合同。而太阳的报价是6年4500万美元。因为新老板萨弗刚刚花了4亿美元买了球队，他不想在短期内送出另一笔大钱。尽管乔·约翰逊所要求的数字只比他们提供的多500万美元。

Then last season, Joe Johnson further evolved. As a 24-year-old All-Star player, every team will give him a full maximum salary, but the Suns still want to save money. What they offer is 5 for five years. million dollar contract extension.

Even if the situation reaches this point, the Suns still have the initiative, because Joe Johnson is a restricted free agent, and as long as they match the Hawks' contract, they can keep him.

However, Sarver actually thought this was a good opportunity to get rid of Joe Johnson.

Because he asked the team not to match, so he can't blame me for not matching, right?

The Suns gave up the right to match, and incredibly gave a 24-year-old All-Star player who is extremely suitable for the S.S.O.L system to the Hawks. After last season, Yu Fei always felt that the S.S.O.L Suns were the original version of the future Warriors that would usher in the small ball era, but now it seems that they may be the reverse Warriors team.

If the Warriors drafted Curry in 2009, chose to replace Mark Jackson with Cole in the summer of 2014, and then embarked on the road to success until the summer of 2016, if every step was correct, then the Suns signed Every step after Nash was wrong.

The Suns letting go of Joe Johnson is equivalent to the Warriors agreeing to trade Klay Thompson for Kevin Love. If this trade happens, not only will the splash no longer exist, but Green, who conflicts with Love's style and position, will not have a chance to rise. Iguodala will continue to be the starter, and then you can imagine this Warriors doing everything after 2014. ?

After watching the Suns' operation, Yu Fei felt that the Bucks boss had become more handsome.

I’ve seen people save money, but I’ve never seen people save money like this.

Bucks owner Cole also wanted to save money, but after feeling the pressure from Yu Fei, he also paid all the luxury tax that was due. Anyway, Yu Fei is not required to form a team with the highest salary in the league. The luxury tax he paid can be easily earned back.

And Sarver seems to have never considered the potential benefits of maintaining a strong team, and just wants to gnaw at the old (bitter Nash). If you have a championship, you can have it, and it doesn't seem to be a loss if you don't have it.

Yu Fei could only be glad that he had not met such a boss, otherwise he would not be able to escape for a while.

Now, all he can do is put the Suns on his blacklist.

These days, although Yu Fei is active in Los Angeles, he is not idle either.

Because the team also wanted to use the existing salary space to bring in some immediate combat capabilities, Yu Fei was organizing special training sessions for the club in Los Angeles while also helping to make phone calls to recruit players.

There's nothing wrong with Larry Hughes ultimately committing to Cleveland for more money.

After all, for non-star players, championships are not as valuable as real money.

With Ray Allen, Michael Reed, Joe Johnson and others having landed, there are no max-salary players on the free market.

The Bucks then focused their attention on immediate combat capabilities that could help the team.

One of them is Kwame Brown, who has a close friendship with Yu Fei.

Brown has just completed his rookie contract. Although he is recognized as the number one draft pick, if you look at him as a blue-collar center, he is still good.

As Mutombo gets older and older, 10 minutes per game is already the limit. Pachulia also seems more suitable for about 20-25 minutes per game. Therefore, the Bucks actually need someone who can stably play the starting lineup. center.

Competing with the Bucks for Brown is the Lakers.

In terms of salary, both teams offered a three-year, $3 million contract, but the Bucks obviously respected Brown more and gave him an additional player option in the third year.

This option could make Brown more secure.

If Yu Fei leaves Milwaukee after two years, Brown can leave too.

For Brown, whether it is the Bucks' caring level or the desire to renew their relationship with Da Fei, it is far stronger than joining the Lakers and being a teammate with a lunatic who imitates Jordan in all his words and deeds.

He has been teammates with the genuine Jordan for two years, so there is no need to try the quality of the fake one again.

The Mavericks did not match Brown's contract because their salary cap was already full. Although Cuban was willing to spend money, one share was enough for this kind of wasted money (Dampier).

On July 7, the Bucks officially signed Kwame Brown.

"You know, Da Fei is my brother. When he needs me to come here to help him, I know I have only one choice in Milwaukee." Yu Fei likes Brown's confidence in the press conference, just like him It was equally convincing when he stated during the trial that he wanted to beat Jordan. "I will bring a championship to Milwaukee!"

Kwame Brown is by no means a game-changing player, but his arrival is important to the Bucks.

Just like after the Spurs acquired Nazr Mohammed last season, everyone felt that their lineup was impeccable.

The Bucks aren't invulnerable yet, but Brown's arrival completes them.

Moreover, they have a middle class exception.

In theory, it could also capture a capable player on the free market who could help.

This is the significance of Yu Fei's establishment of a special training club in Los Angeles, because the members of the club not only include Kobe, but also a man named Raja Bell, who is the high-quality 3D that Yu Fei desperately wants to bring back to Milwaukee.

PS: Chapter 2 hasn’t been finished yet, more like it’s been postponed to 2 p.m.

(End of this chapter)