Legendary star

Chapter 419 Crazy Free Market

"Malone? Who is Malone?" On July 2002, 7, on the first day that the NBA lifted the restrictions on free agent signings, the Lakers officially announced that the core of the former Utah Jazz team, the two-time regular season MVP, was selected to the All-NBA 16 times. The star power forward Karl Malone joined the Lakers as a free agent. The two parties will sign a two-year contract with a contract value of 14 million US dollars. Just two hours before the Lakers announced the news, Karl Malone’s agent just announced that Malone will jump out and join the Jazz. For the last year of the contract, it seems that Malone and the Lakers have already contacted each other.As for Stockton, who was far away in Miami Beach, after hearing the news from the reporter, he was obviously taken aback for a moment, then shrugged at the reporter who interviewed him, and said sarcastically.

"You bastard, you clearly agreed to retire together, and you clearly agreed to win the championship together for Salt Lake City, you bastard, you bastard." After hearing the news that Malone joined the Lakers, Stowe, who was basking in the sun on the beach, Ke Dun lost his mood immediately, and returned angrily to the seaside villa where he was staying, grabbed everything he could grab, slammed it to the ground, and vented frantically, "Bastard, you bastard, Ditch me, Ditch Jerry, Ditch Salt Lake City, I curse you never win a championship, ever."

After venting, Stockton sat down on the ground as if he had lost his soul, still muttering in his mouth: "Bastard, you bastard, isn't 17 seasons of fighting side by side worth a little bit?" ring?"

"I'm sorry, John." Malone, who was holding a Lakers jersey to accept photos from the Los Angeles media, said softly in his heart. Originally, as his age gradually increased and his strength with the Jazz became worse and worse, Malone moved away. Jazz, the mind to chase the championship.And when Malone saw Reggie Miller's face full of tears after winning the championship, and the excitement and satisfaction when he lifted the O'Brien Cup, Malone, who was still a little vacillating, immediately made up his mind to bring a A championship ring before retiring.

"Larry, it's not good, it's not good..." As the office door was slammed open, Lester Conor rushed into Larry Bird's office in a panic.

"Lester, why are you panicking like this?" Larry Bird, who was sitting on the sofa, touched his chin with one hand, and turned his head very calmly to look at the bewildered Lester Conor. The TV not far away In the middle, the general manager of the Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, is playing a picture of a press conference held in Los Angeles. Kupchak is introducing the new member of the Lakers, Karl Malone, to the media in Los Angeles.

"Lakers, Lakers..." After seeing the picture on the TV in Larry Bird's office, Lester Connell swallowed the words again.

The Lakers, who originally had O'Neal and Kobe, were already one of the strongest teams in the league. The Pacers were able to beat the Lakers in the finals. Apart from Meng Xu's performance that was almost against the sky, there was also some luck. Now with the joining of Payton and Malone, it can be said without a doubt that the Lakers are the strongest team in the entire league. Perhaps in the entire history of the NBA, the Lakers with O'Neal, Kobe, Malone, and Payton , is the most powerful one.

Malone and Payton, although both of them are no longer at the top, but last season, Malone averaged 22+8.6+4 per game, and Payton averaged 22+9+4.8 per game. These two are still the top players , so when Malone and Payton join the Lakers, plus O'Neal and Kobe, the Lakers' starting lineup will have 4 players averaging 20+ points per game, especially O'Neal and Kobe, who averaged 30+ points per game. .

"Carl is a great player. His arrival made us all feel unbelievable. I still feel a little unbelievable until now. Shaq, Kobe, Carl, Gary, maybe we can imagine the championship now, of course all of this We have to wait until June next year to settle the dust, but we have such strength and foundation, so we have only one goal for next season, and that is the championship." Continuous signing of Payton and Malone made Mickey Kupchak can't calm down now. This guy who has been Jerry West's errand boy for more than ten years, after becoming the general manager of the Lakers, he is eager to prove himself and prove that he is no better than Jay West. Rivest is poor, so Mitch Kupchak, who has completed two great signings after only one month in office, is obviously a little ecstatic now. In the live broadcast press conference, he announced in advance that the Lakers declaration of victory.

"This anti-bone boy is too arrogant!" Seeing Mitch Kupchak's arrogant expression on the TV, Lester Conor directly exploded. As time went by, Jerry West The inside story of Jerry West's resignation has also gradually leaked out. The intrigue with the Bass brothers and sisters, the suppression of Phil Jackson, and the loss in the finals are not the key to Jerry West's resignation. The key to Jerry West's resignation is precisely It was because of the betrayal of Mitch Kupchak who had followed him for sixteen years, and Mitch Kupchak switched to the Bass brothers and sisters camp, which was the key to Jerry West's resignation, although from the boss's point of view, Kupchak's choice is normal, the Buss family is the owner of the Lakers, they are the masters of the Lakers, Jerry West is only working for the Buss family, but in the circle of NBA managers, Mitch Kupchak was still labeled as a rebellious boy, and Lester Conor was obviously very shameless for what Kupchak did.

"Lester, this is normal. As far as the current lineup of the Lakers is concerned, I really can win the championship with Nainai, so he still has the capital of arrogance." After Larry Bird said my Nainai, he couldn't control it. Laughing out loud, Larry Bird grabbed a cigar casually, but instead of lighting it directly, he put it under his nose and sniffed it.

"So, Larry, what should we do? We can't just wait like this?" Compared with the calm Larry Bird, Lester Conor was obviously very anxious. From the beginning, the Pacers were preparing for the defending championship, so, as the Lakers continued to strengthen, the Pacers naturally couldn't sit still.

"4 million in 3800 years, starting salary of 1250 million, and 650 million in the last year, you go and call DiBacon's agent." In this year's free market, apart from Mutombo, there are really no big fish , so the Pacers can only increase the price of Mutombo. After Larry Bird called Mutombo himself, Mutombo expressed his willingness to join the Pacers, but regarding the specific details of the contract, the two parties have already quarreled. It has been almost a month, and Mutombo's agent said that the annual salary can be reduced, but it must be signed for 4 or 5 years, and the average annual salary should not be 1500 million, but also more than 1000 million.

But the Pacers are unwilling to give Mutombo a too long contract. On the one hand, Mutombo is too old. He will be 4 years old in 40 years, and after next season, the Pacers will Facing huge salary pressure, the contracts of Jermaine O'Neal and Hamilton will both expire next season. According to the performance of the two last season, as long as there are no injuries and no significant declines this season, Jermaine O'Neal will be able to continue for 7 years. 1 million, and Hamilton's 6 million in six years is considered a friendship price.Mutombo, with an annual salary of tens of millions, may be a poison contract after two seasons. At that time, Meng Xu, Jermaine O’Neal, Hamilton, and Mutombo will cost at least 7000 million, and Meng Xu’s contract will be When it expires, a new contract larger than Jermaine O'Neal will definitely be signed. According to the current salary cap level, the 4 million luxury tax cannot be beaten at all.

However, the continuous reinforcement of the Lakers is tantamount to pushing the Pacers to a dead end, and Mutombo is not as conscious as Malone and is willing to join with a basic salary. Therefore, Larry Bird can only choose to increase the price now. The year is increased to 3 years, and the total contract amount is correspondingly increased to 4 million. However, unlike the previous contract of 3800 million per year, the new contract provided by Larry Bird for Mutombo is a decreasing contract. For 1000 seasons, 4 million in the first year, 1250 million in the second year, 1050 million in the third year, and 3 million in the last year, this will greatly reduce the salary pressure on the Pacers.

“4届最佳防守球员，8届全明星迪坎贝-穆托姆博加盟印第安纳步行者。”2002年7月17日，就在湖人组成F4的第2天，举着步行者55号球衣的穆托姆博就出现在了各大媒体的体育板块上。

　Thank you for the monthly pass, which is okay even in time, thank you.

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　　Thanks for the relatively silent q monthly pass, thank you.

　　Thanks for the monthly pass for -8°C, thank you.

　　Thanks to Li Bai for the monthly ticket that may not be too white, thank you.

　　Thank you for the monthly pass of Northeast BBQ, thank you.

　　Thank you for the two monthly tickets that I am Mu, thank you.

　　Thank you Yishi Zhixun for the monthly pass, thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)