NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

What happened between Lin Tian and Indiana fans on the day of the championship parade is destined to become another good story in the history of North American and even world sports.

Running towards each other, understanding each other, full of honor, and leaving in a graceful manner!
Lin Tian's seven years with Indiana, from beginning to end, are destined to become a story worthy of being recorded in the entire history of sports.

In the next 10, 20 or even longer years, there will surely be many people who will tell this story over and over again, talk about it again and again, and then write books of memoirs.

Of course, that is all matter for the future and not something Lin Tian needs to care about right now.

He now has only one task -

As for the men's basketball team, we hope he can return to the team as soon as possible and practice with the team, and then participate in the Olympics at the end of August.

The men's basketball team took a very humble attitude, using words like hope, possible, best, mutual support, and absolute understanding.

Lin Tian, ​​who is soft-hearted, naturally would not deliberately make things difficult for others. He promised to settle his contract as soon as possible, and then return to the team in early July to practice with the team.

It is worth mentioning that since Director Xin caused such a wave of trouble this year, the General Administration initially wanted to protect him because of the team's good performance, but Director Xin was too stubborn to learn to bend, so the higher-ups were helpless.

Fortunately, the mistake he made was not big or small, but at least it was not a mistake of principle, but just a common sense mistake. He was just transferred away from the powerful department and was allowed to study the shape of the earth happily.

As for the person who replaced Director Xin, Lin Tian was also very familiar with him.

Director Li Yuanwei.

What makes this guy completely different from some people is that he is a real basketball man. He has been majoring in basketball since school and has been dealing with basketball all his life.

He does not have any bureaucratic style. The famous "Wang Bugui" incident was also handled by him personally after he took office. After many communications with Dazhi, he finally succeeded in getting Dazhi to return to the men's basketball team.

During his tenure, his "North Star Reform Plan" was also called the most creative, courageous and most likely plan in the history of Chinese basketball to put Chinese basketball on the right track.

These include the professionalization of the CBA league, various packaging, investment promotion and new attempts for the league, and a five-year cooperation with the NCAA University of Memphis, which sends 5 Chinese coaches to the University of Memphis for study and further training every year.

He built Hope Primary Schools and basketball courts across the country, bringing basketball into remote campuses. It was also from him that the Chinese men's basketball team began to employ foreign coaches. Harris, the first foreign coach in the history of the Chinese men's basketball team, was recruited by him from the NBA.

It can be said that thanks to Director Li’s efforts, the influence of basketball in China is growing, and it has firmly become the second most popular sport in the country after football!

The only pity is that since he retired in 09, his "North Star Project" was directly torn down and all his efforts were razed by his successor. The league and basketball sport that had just been on the right track and developed well were unfortunately returned to zero again.

Although his North Star Plan actually has many shortcomings and there are many aspects that deserve scrutiny and discussion, his approach of developing the CBA by copying the models of North American leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and NHL may not necessarily be the best way out for Chinese basketball.

But at least, he is the person who dares to make changes and is most willing to make changes in the history of Chinese basketball.

But one thing is true: he is a true basketball man.

Lin Tian also believed that his cooperation with Director Li would definitely be happier than his cooperation with Director Li’s predecessor.

However, Lin Tian was not in a hurry to meet with Director Li. He had to settle his contract first.

Just as people speculated, at this stage the only teams that are willing to communicate and have in-depth discussions with Lin Tian are indeed those five teams.

At the same time, Bird's guess was not wrong. No one was willing to give a contract worth 5 million yuan for 2 years with an average salary of 4000 million yuan.

For example, Lin Tian’s old club the Bulls and Krause. No one knows how Krause talked with Reinsdorf, but this fat man who once planned such a genius plan to keep Lin Tian and trade Jordan and Pippen came to Lin Tian with full sincerity.

5 million in 1.2 years!
The starting salary is 2100 million US dollars, and the salary in the last year can reach 3000 million US dollars.

Considering how stingy Reinsdorf is, this contract is definitely huge!

However, Lin Tian didn't think much about it and rejected Klaus.

Because he only asked Klaus one question, and he completely stumped Klaus.

“Does the team have any plans to pay luxury taxes in the next few years?”

Just this one question made Klaus sweat profusely.

Klaus really wanted to paint a rosy picture for Lin Tian and let him know that the Bulls definitely had a bright future.

But unfortunately, Lin Tian knows these two guys from the Bulls, and Klaus also knows Lin Tian.

Not only does this guy not eat the cake, but if the cake he drew does not satisfy him, Lin Tian is likely to pull the cake down from the void and stuff it all into Klaus's mouth!

Starve him to death.

Apart from Krause's disappointment, the contract offered by Cuban was considered very sincere.

5 million in 1.4 years!
This crazy guy's net worth in the NBA is actually only in the middle and lower reaches. He is a truly self-made rich first-generation person, which also means that he is really poor and cannot be compared with those big families.

The fact that he dared to do this even though he was very poor was enough to show how obsessed he was with basketball.

It’s just a pity that although this guy is crazy, he’s not that crazy.

The team plan he gave was actually quite bad.

The way he cleared up the salary cap space was very simple and crude: let Nash go, buy out Finley, and then trade Jamison for air, plus Walker, whose contract had expired.

In other words, after this guy's operation, the Mavericks' players except Nowitzki and Lin Tian will be in very bad shape.

That’s fine, at least we have Nowitzki to back us up, right?

More importantly... Cuban's behavior of buying out Finley and letting Nash go is really hated by the people of Dallas.

The simple-minded people of Dallas have been resentful of Cuban's two actions for many years for letting go of the team's meritorious players, local heroes and popular players in Dallas!
Although Lin Tian is confident that he can make the people of Dallas completely forget Finley and Nash and feel his greatness in half a month at most, what can he say?

Mr. Lin, I don’t want to suffer the grievances for half a month.

Of course there is a more important reason: Dallas’ offer was not the highest!

And Paul Allen!
Even a top money-maker like Paul Allen couldn't offer 5 million for five years, and he wouldn't be able to afford 2 million a year for Lin Tian alone.

After all, in the past few years when the Trail Blazers were spending the most money, their annual salary expenditure was only 8-9000 million. If they really wanted to give Lin Tian 5 million for years, then the Trail Blazers' annual salary expenditure would have to double to nearly million.

This was the beginning of the 21st century, when the salary cap was only around 5000 million!

It’s scary to think about it.

What's more, after the old man's crazy spending in the past two years, he has no longer been in the mood to spend money recklessly in the past two years.

It's always better to spend sparingly.

However, his wealth has not changed at all, and the salary he offers to Lin Tian is still very high!

5 million in 1.6 years!

The starting salary is 2500 million, and the average salary can still reach 3000 million. There will be a 10% increase every year thereafter, and the final year of the contract will reach 3500 million.

Again, in today's league, the total salary of one-third of the teams is 3-4000 million US dollars. The money Lin Tian earns alone is enough to cover the annual expenses of those bottom-ranked teams!
Of course, Lin Tian definitely deserves this money!

The offer Allen made to Lin Tian was basically the highest among the four teams.

Why four teams?
Because Lin Tian has already rejected Jordan.

Lin Tian had already rejected Jordan before he made the offer.

Only a fool would go to Charlotte and play hell mode with Jordan.

Unless Jordan gave him the position of general manager and promised that he would never interfere in any matters concerning the team's personnel and tactics and just be a mascot peacefully, Lin Tian would never go to Charlotte.

Jordan’s response to Lin Tian’s request was simple: Get out!
So why is Allen's offer basically the highest?
Because James Dolan hasn't made an offer yet!

This guy is sitting in Lin Tian’s villa now. Even the Knicks’ general manager Walsh is not there yet. There is only Dolan himself.

This guy was very outgoing. He went to the wine cabinet to get some wine, put his feet up on the coffee table in the living room, and said casually, "Do you have any leaves here? I really want to fly a few times. Maybe after flying, I can give you 5 million for 2 years?"

"What are you doing? What are you doing with the phone? You're not really planning on calling some drug dealer, are you? I'm kidding, FUXX, who are you calling?"

"I'm calling the police." Lin Tian showed the '999' on his mobile phone, as if he was ready to press the dial button at any time.

"FUXX! I'm kidding." Dolan quickly put his feet down, grinning to hide his embarrassment: "I've given up this stuff for many years, and I haven't touched it at all! By the way, I'm also the ambassador of New York!"

"I give speeches every month, telling about my drug rehabilitation experience and painful past. I am committed to pulling people out of the abyss of pain. I have always been a person who is passionate about charity! I have a shining and loving heart."

"Put that away." Lin Tian waved his hand impatiently and said, "How much? Name your price!"

"Can't we talk about something else about our relationship first?" Dolan looked aggrieved. He looked like he was about to shed a few tears. "I thought our relationship would be better. After all, we have had so many wonderful pasts."

"If you keep talking nonsense, you can go back to New York."

"Alright, alright." Dolan, who had had enough of playing tricks, raised his hands in surrender and said, "I'll make an offer right now."

It's just that, Dolan rolled his eyes and said with a wicked smile: "How much did they give you?"

"5 million for 2 years." Lin Tian snorted unhappily and said directly: "Are you here to negotiate the price or to chat?"

"I don't believe anyone is offering you $5 million for five years! Even that idiot Paul Allen can't do that."

"I think compared to him, you are more like a sucker." Lin Tian was too lazy to talk nonsense with this guy, so he leaned on the sofa and said, "Hurry up and give me your final offer. I promise not to bargain with you anymore."

"Great! I knew you were my good friend." Dolan laughed. He stopped talking nonsense and said directly, "After our analysis and discussion, as well as very careful research, we have given you two contracts!"

"4 million for 1.4 years, starting salary is 3500 million, and the last year is also 3500 million! I am absolutely confident in this price. Although it is only 4 years, I think it is likely to be higher than the total amount of the five-year contract those bastards offered you!"

"There is another one, 5 million for 1.6 years. The average salary and the final year's salary of this contract are a little lower than the other one, but the total amount is 2000 million more. This is the price my family gave us after taking into account your competitive state, ability, and the team's expenses, budget, and other factors."

"But I think, given your personality and situation, you will most likely choose the 4-year contract!"

As soon as Dolan said this, Lin Tian immediately analyzed the reason why the Knicks would give an average-price contract instead of the incremental contract that is popular in the league.

What about the Knicks today?

The contract of Alan Houston, the only high-paid player in the team, has expired. Given his current condition, ability and injury history, his current market price is only at the middle-class level. Even if Houston renews a middle-class contract with the team, the second highest-paid player in the team is Charlie Ward, who earns 300 million per year.

The rest of the team, except for the rookies, are on minimum salary.

It can be said that judging from the salary level and salary situation alone, this Knicks team is definitely the shabbyest and most inconspicuous team in the entire history of New York.

But in this case, even if the Knicks gave Lin Tian this maximum salary contract, the team would not have to pay too much luxury tax at least before the contracts of Stoudemire, Anthony and others expire.

As for even if their rookie contracts expire and the team renews their contracts with high salaries, Lin Tian's average-priced contract will not increase, which can save the Knicks a lot of money.

After all, Lin Tian's contract comes with double luxury tax, an annual salary of 3500 million and 3900 million. If the team exceeds the luxury tax threshold, the luxury tax alone will be a difference of 800 million!

Dolan's contract with the same annual salary will save the team at least 1500 million in the next two years!
It can also be seen from this that this guy is indeed not the traditional pure big water hose.

This guy still knows how to save money when it's time to do so.

"I have received your contract and I feel your sincerity. Please go back and wait for notification, Mr. James Dolan."

“What do you mean?” Duolan became anxious when he heard that Lin Tian had ordered him to leave. The calmness he had just shown disappeared in the blink of an eye: “You can’t do this to me! I’ve been waiting for you for years!”

"I told you not to look like a nagging woman. I didn't say I wouldn't go." Lin Tian curled his lips and looked at the guy who once again showed his dog-licking nature and said, "Rob will contact you and discuss the details of the contract with you."

"So, you agreed?"

"No, I'm just going to bargain with you. I'll go only if you're satisfied with the price."

"But you just said that as long as I give you the bottom price, you will stop bargaining!"

"Yes, that's what I said." Lin Tian nodded and said, "So Rob will bargain with you, but I won't."

"You bastard, you tricked me!"

"Don't trust others easily, especially when interests are involved." Lin Tian patted Duolan on the shoulder and said, "You are also a senior capitalist, how could you fall for such a trick?"

"Okay, I have to pack my bags and go back to China to participate in team training. If you have any questions, please contact Rob. He can represent me with full authority. After you have negotiated, just bring the contract to me for signature."

Dolan shook his head helplessly, extremely disappointed, sighing continuously, with a look of regret and grievance on his face. He stood up swayingly and walked out of Lin Tian's villa reluctantly.

Then, at the moment when the door of the house behind him closed, the dejection and loss on this guy's face disappeared, replaced by a smug smile: "Fortunately, I still have some tricks up my sleeve, otherwise I would have been fooled by this kid!"

"You still can't escape from my grasp, so just come to the Knicks!"

At this point, Dolan jumped up high in excitement, then did a tap dance on the spot, muttering proudly: "Revival, revival! The Knicks are revived in my hands!"

"James, what are you so happy about?" The door opened again, and Lin Tian's head popped out from inside. Looking at Dolan, who was in a very embarrassed state and almost stumbled and fell to the ground, he pointed at a camera on the door and said, "I forgot to tell you, I have surveillance here, so if you want to celebrate..."

"Better go far away."

"FUXX! Lin, FUXX!" Dolan felt that this moment was the most shameful and humiliating moment in his life. He cursed all the way and then quickly got into his car. The driver who had been waiting in the car stepped on the accelerator and the luxury car disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Looking at Dolan's embarrassed back, Lin Tian couldn't help but laugh.

This time's team selection journey was much easier than the last time, and the decision was basically made in the blink of an eye.

As for the final result, it depends on what kind of contract Pelinka can get for Lin Tian, ​​and how many cards Dolan, the old fox, has hidden!
However, Lin Tian didn't worry about these things. He called Pelinka directly and told him the specific situation and his requirements.

As for Lin Tian’s requirements, there are simply two points.

1. The higher the contract amount and average salary, the better.

2. The annual salary must exceed 4000 million for at least one year.

The first 3000 million man was taken by Jordan, so Lin Tian will become the first 4000 million man in NBA history!
Although with the changes of the times and the development of the league, Lin Tian's record of 4000 million man can only be maintained for more than ten years.

In less than 20 years, there will be many 5000 million and 6000 million men in the league.

But, let’s talk about the future later.

Anyway, Lin Tian wants this now!

He felt that only in this way could he be worthy of his identity and status.

Lin Tian's task was assigned. As for how Pelinka would negotiate and Dolan would bargain, that was up to the two of them. Professionals should do professional things, and Lin Tian would be responsible for signing and seeing the results.

After giving instructions to Pelinka, Lin Tian casually packed his clothes and fell asleep.

Then early the next morning, Lin Tian boarded a plane to China.

It’s time to practice with the national team. Everyone is waiting for me!
To be honest, the Chinese basketball team is now at its absolute peak!

There is Lin Tian, ​​the number one player in the NBA, Yao Ming, a top five center in the league, and the players who have already established themselves in the league and proved that they have the strength to be a main rotation player, plus the big bus who has also made it to the NBA. The three Great Walls plus Lin Tian are the basic foundation of the Chinese team.

With these four people establishing the team's basic foundation, the Chinese team has also made bold changes in blood in the past two years. In the past two years' Asian Cup and Asian Championships, they have gradually begun to use young people more boldly, allowing the veterans to rest more.

Veterans such as Liu Yudong, Sun Jun, Zheng Wu, Hu Weidong, and Gong Xiaobin, who were active on the court from the 90s to the early 21st century, have gradually faded out of the national team without being noticed.

If we only look at the age of the current Chinese national team, Lin Tian has become one of the oldest people. Lin Tian couldn't help but sigh that time flies.

I'm actually starting to become a veteran.

Coupled with his ability, status and leadership qualities, this year Lin Tian legitimately became the team captain for the first time.

After Lin Tian arrived in China, he rested for a few days in the imperial capital as usual, met with the two old men, and then met up with the team to start training.

Here, in addition to meeting his Chinese teammates whom he had not seen for a long time and his old acquaintance, former Lakers head coach "Silver Fox" Harris, Lin Tian also met the new generation leader of the Basketball Association, Director Li, for the first time.

Director Li seems to be a somewhat contradictory person. He looks gentle and refined, with a bookish air, a typical "scholar". But whenever he talks about basketball, the development of domestic basketball and his grand ambitions, his eyes will immediately burn with fighting spirit and enthusiasm.

He really can't play basketball and is a pure theorist like Jeff Van Gundy Jr., but he absolutely loves basketball. He has spent all his energy and thoughts on basketball and dedicated them to basketball.

I just don't know if his "Polaris" plan can be truly completed this time.

After nearly half a month of joint training, the team set off to Europe again for a series of training camps and warm-up matches, during which the Chinese team naturally won all the way.

Except for some games to examine role players and the last few spots on the team's official roster, in which Harris made a large number of player rotations to see each person's condition and game temperament, in all other games in which the Huaxia team played with all its main players, the Huaxia team once again won all the games!

They continue to dominate the international arena.

As the days progressed, when it was mid-August, Harris finally announced the team's official 8-man roster after a game!

This is a lineup that has obviously undergone a blood transfusion and introduced many young people!

This is a set of players that not only takes into account the strongest combat power at the moment, but also absorbs many young forces that may become the new pillars of the team in the future.

The main theme is I want both the present and the future!
The final roster of the Huaxia team is as follows.

Center: Yao Ming, Daba
Power forward: Dazhi, Du Feng, Yi Jianlian

Small forward: Chen Ke, Zhu Fangyu
Shooting guard: Li Nan, Zhang Jinsong

Point guard: Lin Tian, ​​Liu Wei, Zhang Yunsong
As for this lineup, except for the two backcourt players Zhang who were born in 1973, Daba who was born in 75 and Dazhi who was born in 77, the rest of the players were born in the 80s, including Yi Jianlian, who claims to be born in 87 and is only 17 years old.

Well, as for Lin Tian’s age, it cannot be said, it cannot be said!
Anyway, if you ask, Mr. Lin is just an 18-year-old young man, about the same age as Yi Jianlian.

But no matter what, the personnel composition of the Chinese men's basketball team is quite healthy!
While they maintain the team's top level, they are also unknowingly undergoing a blood transfusion.

The only pity is Yi Jianlian. This guy originally wanted to try out Lin Tian’s training camp to see if he could beat up a bunch of his peers like his predecessor Yao Ming, and then find enough confidence to enter the NBA.

But unfortunately, the schedule for this Olympics is too tight, and given Al-Suwaidi's position in the team, he really doesn't have time to take a month off to train elsewhere.

However, Lin Tian also comforted his younger brother and said that he would definitely open a back door for him next year.

In addition to the fact that the players of the Chinese team have made all preparations and have already gone to Greece to prepare for the new Olympic Games, a lot of major events have also happened in the NBA during these two months.

For example, the draft was held at the end of June. The Bobcats, who got the first pick in the first round, lived up to expectations and won Emeka Okafor, who led the University of Connecticut to win the NCAA championship this year and was named MOP, and is known as the last hope of the American interior.

Well, coincidentally, the Celtics, who were ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference and had no chance of making any waves in this draft, had a burst of luck just one year after their reconstruction and successfully won the second pick in the first round.

Then they selected another talented newcomer who was known as the last hope of the United States in the interior.

Dwight Howard!

Rumor has it that when the team drew the second pick, Auerbach not only did not celebrate, but was so angry that he almost exploded!
This guy spent the next 20 minutes cursing Stern for being a good-for-nothing and not giving them the No. pick, causing them to once again miss out on a super rookie who could help the team rise and become one of the league's top teams.

Then, when the Bobcats selected Okafor, Auerbach repeatedly asked his assistants in disbelief whether he was dreaming or whether Stern had mispronounced his name. After learning that it was not Stern who mispronounced his name but Jordan who was stupid, Auerbach raised his arms and shouted.

"If that damned Stern doesn't give me the No. 1 pick, then I don't want it! I'll just pick the No. 1 pick even if I'm the No. 2 pick! FUXX!"

Apart from the small matter of the top two picks, there is not much else worth mentioning in this draft.

If we have to talk about it, it's that the Knicks, with the 13th pick, took a high school student.

Josh Smith!
The reason for choosing Smith, in Dolan's words, is: this guy can run, dunk, fly, fan and jump, that's enough!
It will definitely be a good match for our Lin if it suits us!
Um...our Lin!
After a long period of haggling with Pelinka, and after rounds of bargaining and repeated requests from Pelinka and Lin Tian, ​​the two sides finally reached a new contract.

A huge contract that will go down in history!
4 million in 1.5 years!
Lin Tian and Pelinka rejected the five-year contract offered by the Knicks, and also rejected many other proposals from Dolan and the Knicks.

For example, helping Lin Tian find endorsements and giving him money from other sources.

Simply put, Lin Tian will get an annual salary of 4000 million!
If you don't give it to me, I'm going to go find Paul Allen.

In the end, Dolan was defeated, and all his previous plans were in vain. In order to capture Lin Tian, ​​whom he had been thinking about all the time, this guy finally chose to surrender.

The Knicks and Lin Tian signed this super contract with a first-year salary of 3300 million US dollars, which will increase by 300 million US dollars each year thereafter, reaching 4200 million US dollars in the final year, a total of 4 million US dollars in 1.5 years!

3300 million, 3600 million, 3900 million, 4200 million!
This is Lin Tian’s salary for the next four years. For comparison, in the 2003-2004 season, the Clippers’ total salary was 3800 million US dollars, and the Nuggets’ total salary was 3700 million US dollars!
In addition, the market value of the Memphis Grizzlies this season is 2.2 million US dollars, and the Bobcats, who just joined the league, have a market value of only 2.1 million US dollars.

It is very clear how exaggerated Lin Tian’s contract is and how crazy the salary of 4000 million in the last year is!
But no matter what, this year's "Where's Lin Tian Going?" series did not last too long, and there was almost no drag. Lin Tian was even the first top player to sign a big contract during the entire offseason!
In addition to Lin Tian, ​​the second player who has confirmed his next home is... Tim Duncan! (End of this chapter)