When pride still matters

Chapter 433 Losers Alliance

Chapter 433: Losers Alliance

The first big news of the 2008 NBA offseason belongs to the SuperSonics.

It is worth mentioning that this big news has no direct relationship with Yu Fei.

Fourth-year forward Josh Childress, who won last season's championship with the Sonics, has his rookie contract expired.

The Sonics offered him a four-year, $4 million contract extension.

From the perspective of the SuperSonics, this contract is even premium.

Because Childress is the seventh or eighth man on the team.

But after all, this is a lottery pick that I selected and trained. He is still young and has room for improvement, so the premium will be a premium.

But Childress was not satisfied with the contract.

But the fact is that Childress really left the NBA.

The former captain of the Mavericks, Michael Finley, who played diligently with the Suns in the past few seasons, rejected the Spurs' invitation. He had missed the peak of the 05 Spurs. In the following years, the Spurs' best honor was to become The final ghost of the Bucks' second consecutive championship. Then, Yu Fei came to the West, just like he did in the East, announcing the end of other Western teams' dreams of hegemony.

Afterwards, Presti admitted that he preferred this to keeping Childress for five years and $5 million.

Since they all have a basic salary, of course he has to pick a promising team.

When Yu Fei heard that Childress was not playing in the NBA and was going to play in the European League, he didn't believe it.

Since there are many NBA players in the players union, they will threaten to leave the NBA when they ask the management to restore this rule.

Presti was confused, why did things go so well?

Finley has also understood that the hammer will not appear.

Although Finley likes the Spurs' family atmosphere, admires Popovich's coaching philosophy, and is familiar with the Spurs' masonry spirit, everyone knows that he is here for the last shot of 101.

The European team's offer to Childress was equivalent to providing Childress with a three-year, $3 million contract in terms of taxes in Washington state, where the Sonics are located.

As a result, Childress issued a thought-provoking argument that "the future of professional basketball lies in Europe" and became the first person in NBA history to choose to leave the NBA and join the NBA despite being still competitive and with broad living space not because of contract disputes. American players in overseas leagues.

Moreover, Presti found that after the players decided that the Sonics were a champion, there were many people who wanted to ride in the car.

Eagles general manager Billy Knight couldn't walk when he saw the long-limbed Spider-Man, and his old illness relapsed, so he actually gave Childress a five-year, $5 million mid-level long-term contract.

Childress found herself worthy of a higher salary.

Who knows, I won’t know until I come out, but I will be shocked when I come out.

As a 3D striker who is a tough guy, he is underrated.

Presti quickly found his remedy.

This is another painless and risk-free option.

Therefore, after bidding farewell to everyone in the Suns, Finley asked his agent to contact the SuperSonics and sign a two-year, $2 million contract with them.

Presti decided to rip off the Hawks and force them to sign and trade. Since the Hawks don't know the reality of the Sonics, Presti is likely to succeed.

Barnes signed a one-year minimum-salary contract with the SuperSonics.

You know, Kwame Brown also makes $700 million a year in the SuperSonics.

Matt Barnes, who played for the Celtics last season, entered the free market.

In recent collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the players union has always been committed to allowing the league to restore the "unlimited player salary" clause that was canceled during the 1998 lockout. This clause is the reason why Jordan could get an annual salary of 1997 million in 3000. It was also the employer's biggest victory during the lockout in 1998. It took them fourteen years to finally fix the vicious bugs left behind when the salary cap was introduced.

The Sonics have reason to be calm, because Childress is a restricted free agent, and as long as no other team goes crazy to offer a huge premium contract, they can match outside offers.

Therefore, Barnes came to the free market and was unanimously underestimated by the market. Every offer he received was the veteran's minimum salary.

But threats are threats, and Childress was the first to take advantage.

Last season's eighth-oldest team in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks, had a hallucination after seven bloody games with Green Kai in the first round.

This is a loss for the Sonics, who lost a backup wing who could have brought a lot of energy without getting anything in return.

Three years have passed, and the last hammer has never appeared.

Since he looked helpless like a sheep against the Flyers, the Celtics had no plans to keep him.

Presti said: Please start your show.

This made Childress determined to test the free market.

Moreover, the new offer does not come from another NBA team, but from European Basketball Champions League club Olympiacos. They offered Childress a three-year, after-tax contract with a total value of $3 million. It should be noted that this is an after-tax amount, while the NBA's official contract figures are all pre-tax amounts. Taking into account various tax deductions, the actual amount players receive is not even half of the total contract value.

Especially those veterans who want to get a ring before retiring.

However, a dramatic thing soon happened, which ruined the Sonics' plan and saved the Eagles from being taken advantage of.

"You're kidding me, right?"

In fact, Childress's departure to Europe is a potential trend in the current NBA.

No pain, no risk, no cost.

If the Sonics match this contract, it will not be a question of premium or not, but a problem with the team's internal salary structure.

The defending champion Sonics were the natural choice.

Of course he hopes that the Sonics will become a dynasty under his leadership, but he hopes that when people mention the architect of the dynasty, his name will be the first thing mentioned.

But last season, Yu Fei single-handedly saved the Sonics.

This summer, it was Yu Fei who reminded Presti to pay attention to DeAndre Jordan in the draft - and they actually selected this problematic rookie.

Although Childress' departure cannot be said to be Presti's dereliction of duty, the subsequent remedial work is what he should do.

As a result, the remedial work was accomplished with ease.

One Childress left, but there was a group of veterans waiting to buy tickets and get on the bus at the door. They all wanted to hug the lap of the chosen one.

When the presence of one person can represent an entire team, what is the significance of the existence of management?
Presti believes that he still has the power of his position, but the problem is that even if Yu Fei is not in this position, he still has these powers. It's just that he can choose not to use it, but he can't live without it.

This is the problem.

When a player is far above the management, how to treat him becomes a science.

As the Spurs' best-developed line, Preston highly admires the Spurs' team-building model. It was a family model, where the management was like the elders and the players were capable and obedient juniors.

This is actually a variation of the NBA's patriarchal model since ancient times. Managers only use a warm and gentle way to manage the team, but they are still the patriarch.

Tim Duncan can accept this because his father entrusted him to Popovich before his death.

Once Duncan accepts it, the remaining Spurs players can only accept the Spurs' so-called concept of "we need to train seriously, go home after the game, and play honestly", otherwise they will get out.

To Presti, it seemed as unreal as a soap opera.

However, Seattle is not San Antonio.

Yu Fei is not Duncan.

Presti could almost foresee that scene. When he and Yu Fei had a disagreement and the two sides were at loggerheads, the other party could directly skip his level and ask Clay Bennett for instructions. To Bennett, Presti was the expert he paid to do the job, and Yu Fei was the one who made him a lot of money. It’s self-evident who to support.

Presti's brainstorming progressed to this point before he put away those thoughts.

In any case, the most terrifying illusions have not happened yet.

He shouldn't assume what would happen if it happened.

Then, George Carl, who was working as a consultant in Las Vegas, gave Presti a call.

"Sam, I heard about Michael Finlay. Congratulations. After signing him, our lineup depth is even better!"

Presti smiled bitterly, was he really the one who signed Finley?
The most powerful thing Finley said to him before signing was "I know I can help Frye."

Look at other people's attitudes, how self-conscious they are.

Everyone who comes to play in Seattle knows who's in charge here.

"I'm glad he's here, too."

Presti responded casually.

Carr added: "After signing Matt Barnes and Michael Finley, we have reliable substitutes at the second and third positions. Do you know what the last step is?"

"Reinforce the number one position?"

"You're smart, kid."

Karl played a meme that was popular with Team USA.

Ever since Yu Fei called Curry "kid," Team USA players have called each other kid.

Presti said: "I had wanted to get the rights to sign Goran Dragic from San Antonio before, but they were determined to retain the rights to sign the Slovenian." Right now, there are not many point guards suitable for us in the free market. "

⑴Because the Spurs are short of point guards, Dragic will stay in the Spurs.

"Yes." Karl said, "Tyron Lue is very suitable."

Because Tyronn Lue was close to Yu Fei, after Yu Fei was traded to the Bucks, he was also purged by Jordan. Over the years, he has fed rookie Howard and also lobbed the ball for Yao Shuan. He has lived a stable life in Atlanta for a few years. However, as a short point guard who only relies on speed and hard work to stay in the NBA, once he surpasses At the age of 30, the talents that helped him stay in the NBA will be taken back by time.

This year, Lu is 31 years old. He has become a homeless man again, and now he is a scrap that no one pays attention to in the free market.

"Is that what Fry meant?"

Presti asked.

"You know, Frye is a nostalgic person." Carr said, "But this matter has nothing to do with him, it is my idea. We need a stable veteran to stabilize our backcourt."

Tyronn Lue and Karl have no old relationship, so Presti is sure that this was Yu Fei's idea.

But since Yu Fei asked Karl to come forward, it shows that he still respects the management.

Players intervening in the management's recruitment and the coaching staff suggesting the management's recruitment are two different things.

The former is ultra vires and is a symbol of the player's GM, while the latter is just fulfilling his obligations.

Presti had no choice.

Tyronn Lue is an insignificant figure. Whether he comes or not will not affect Seattle's overall situation, but this face must be given.

A few days later, the Sonics reached an agreement with Tyronn Lue on a veteran's minimum salary.

This was Presti's last move of the offseason.

DeAndre Jordan and Anthony Morrow were selected in the draft, but they took advantage of the SuperSonics' championship prospects to sign Matt Barnes, Michael Finley and Tyronn Lue at a low price. The SuperSonics only lost one of their core members. Childress' case strengthened the depth of the lineup.

There are still a few months until the start of the new season, but the Sonics have strengthened every position with perfect operations.

This allowed ESPN to select the SuperSonics as the top championship contender for the new season before the lineups of other teams were determined.

Aside from the Sonics' desperate signings, this summer isn't strictly a free-agency year.

Because the top two free agents are Gilbert Arenas and Elton Brand.

What remains is a group of role players and restricted free agents.

Therefore, the player movement of each team mainly relies on transactions.

Although Brand shockingly let go of the Clippers' pigeons, he demonstrated to Jordan, who still didn't understand it in the summer league, "Kid, a verbal agreement is just a fart." He tore up his promise to stay with the Clippers and switched to the Philadelphia 76ers. It looked like Andy escaped from Shawshank Prison.

"In my opinion, the air here is very fresh and there are symbols of hope and freedom everywhere."

Elton Brand, the top star in Clippers history, said this after signing with the 76ers.

Brand was the only bigger free agent move of the summer, with the others either staying with their original teams or having no impact.

But on the trading floor, some teams are still doing their best.

The Lakers acquired Ron Artest from the Cavaliers for Jeff Foster and a 2013 first-round pick.

Why do the Lakers want Artest? On the one hand, they have to do something, and on the other hand, Artest was known as a flying killer in his early years. Although this stereotype has long been broken, the Lakers know very well that if the status quo is maintained at the third position, next season He will still be beaten up by Yu Fei.

No matter how you calculate it, compared to Luke Walton, the addition of Artest is an obvious reinforcement for them.

At the same time, the Cavaliers also need to do something.

James has the last year left on his contract, and they have clearly felt the anxiety that the King is leaving.

So they traded Jeff Foster, Ben Wallace and the Lakers' first round pick from the Suns for Shaquille O'Neal.

The Seattle Times wrote sarcastically: "What is this? Did the Cavaliers feel that Frye didn't hurt them enough last season, so they put two of Frye's most hated players on the same team?"

Bill Simmons commented on this deal: "Cleveland made a deal with LeBron. Although you can't beat Frye, you can make Frye hate you even more. As long as you and Shaq work together, Frye will hate you even more." The hatred will be magnified a hundred times, but what does it matter, him hating you means we did the right' deal. Basically, they were just trying to make Frye angry, and the consequence of Frye's anger is that LeBron will be happy and... Increase the possibility of staying on the team. As for Shaq? He better play his role."

It wasn’t all of the Cavaliers’ efforts.

Afterwards, the Cavaliers introduced James's classmate Mo Williams through a three-party trade.

With the Cavaliers' lineup and resources, finding O'Neal and Momo for James is all they can do this summer.

"I will be the emperor's bodyguard."

Time will always make proud people understand that they are not the protagonist forever.

When O'Neal said these words, he was no longer the shark who slapped Kobe and made all the centers in the league doubt their lives and confident that they were invincible.

He is already a veteran who knows himself.

At the same time, another veteran who recognized himself declined a one-year minimum salary contract.

In early August, PJ Brown, who failed to make his last dance a perfect finale, held a press conference to announce his retirement.

At the same time, the Dream Team set off for Europe for the last warm-up match before the Olympics.

When the plane landed, European reporters asked Yu Fei what he thought of James and O'Neal joining forces.

"I think two losers staying together will only lead to greater failure." Yu Fei said with a smile, "So, you might as well call them an alliance of losers."

(End of this chapter)