NBA: Starting with James Harden

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Nowitzki and Caron Butler's injuries have basically recovered.

They can play 5V5 competitions.

But Carlisle didn't dare to take risks and let them rest.

The playoffs are coming, and what the Mavericks need to do is to keep their players healthy.

According to Li Zhen's current state and the future schedule, the team's record will not fall out of the top three no matter how much it drops.

Carlisle has also begun to adjust the playoffs tactics recently.

Entering the playoffs, the Mavericks' rotation personnel will be reduced, at most about ten people, and some marginal personnel will basically not play except in garbage time.

After defeating the Thunder, the Mavericks once again faced the challenge of the Grizzlies at home.

The last time the two teams faced off, the Mavericks lost to the Grizzlies, but this time the Mavericks regained their face at home.

Li Zhen started bombarding the Grizzlies basket at the beginning. His speed was as high as 90. Generally, after two changes of direction, Conley and Mayo could not defend him.

Marc Gasol has not evolved completely, and Randolph's defensive willingness is not strong. Li Zhen can always easily break in and score.

Terry also gave Li Zhen enough firepower support on the outside!

The Mavericks' offense was booming.

Then on the defensive end, Li Zhen and Kidd blocked Mayo and Conley, and both of them played with extremely low efficiency.

Mayo and Conley took a total of 30 shots, but their hit rate was only 33%. Their freezing led to the Grizzlies' loss.

98 to 110.

The Mavericks easily won the Grizzlies at home.

Li Zhen easily scored 30 points in this game, and also had 6 assists and 7 rebounds. Such performance overwhelmed Terry who scored 28 points and became the MVP of this game.

After winning this game, the Mavericks' record came to 50 wins and 25 losses, and at the same time, because of the Nuggets' loss, their ranking returned to the second place in the West.

Although they returned to the second place in the West, this ranking is not stable, and the Cowboys need to work harder.

April 2.

The Mavericks challenged the Clippers back to back away.

The Clippers' record this season is 26 wins and 49 losses. They have no hope of entering the playoffs. Their season goal is to strive for a higher draft pick.

In other words, they have to find a way to lose more games.

Such a game naturally does not have much suspense.

Li Zhen played an all-around performance in this game, and Baron Davis looked at his back many times and sighed that time flies!

The Clippers played without fighting spirit as a whole. In a semi-released state, the game was no longer suspenseful in the third quarter. The

Mavericks played very well as a team in this game. No one of them scored more than 20 points, but everyone scored.

Under the connection of Li Zhen and Kidd, the Clippers' defense was broken into pieces.

The Mavericks played a total of 12 players in this game, and 7 of them scored in double digits.

Kidd scored 12 points and 9 assists, Marion scored 13 points and 5 rebounds, Terry scored 19 points, and Haywood scored 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Li Zhen scored 18 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in three quarters of this game. His performance also made Los Angeles fans shout MVP!

The Clippers fans even put up a sign in the Staples Center saying"Lee, come to LA this summer!!" It was obvious that they wanted Li Zhen to come to the Clippers.

123 to 101.

The best player on the Clippers was DeAndre Jordan, who came off the bench. Jordan scored 28 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks today. This was Jordan's most exciting game of the season, but unfortunately the Clippers lost!

At the press conference after the game, Carlisle praised Li Zhen as usual.

Carlisle is now a real Li fan, and his love for Li Zhen can be seen on many occasions.

"Lee's performance is phenomenal, and he has become one of the best combo guards in the league."

Carlisle's boasting is not without reason. In the absence of Nowitzki, the Mavericks' record exceeded his previous expectations, and Li Zhen played a great role during this period.

After beating the Clippers, Nowitzki and Caron Butler finally made their comebacks!

At this time, there are only 6 games left before the end of the NBA regular season, and the Mavericks have reached the critical moment of the final ranking sprint.

However, at this critical moment, the media has raised the issue of Li Zhen's contract renewal.

As we all know, the Mavericks and Li Zhen only signed a 3 million contract this season, and the contract expires this summer.

According to market evaluation, Li Zhen's current worth starts at 15 million annual salary. If a weak team is willing to train with Li Zhen as the core, it is not surprising even if it offers a maximum salary.

In this case, can the Mavericks, which have limited salary space, keep Li Zhen in the summer?

Li Zhen's status as an undrafted player means that he will be a free agent as long as he enters the free market.

According to reporters, several general managers of teams aiming to rebuild have privately expressed their interest in Li Zhen, and they are willing to offer Maximum salary.

There are no restrictions on free agents like Li Zhen.

Li Zhen's one-year contract and his top-level salary are enough to make other rookies jealous.

Are there any undrafted players who can play with a maximum salary after signing a one-year contract?

Except for Li Zhen, there is no one. Being undrafted basically means strength, and only Li Zhen is so abnormal.

Some rookies who are dissatisfied with the rules have no way to deal with it.

However, the league has also noticed this loophole and is preparing to study whether it is necessary to introduce a limit on the size of the second-year contract for undrafted players next season.

Reporters found out the truth about Li Zhen's contract at the time. This was Li Zhen's initiative to sign a one-year contract.

Then it can't be blamed on the Mavericks management for their limited vision. After all, a rookie who can score 50+ triple-doubles twice in the rookie period is unique in history.

Donnie Nelson probably didn't expect Li Zhen's strength to be so awesome. Only Li Zhen himself has the confidence that he can play out his strength.

After an open training session.

General Manager Donnie Nelson was besieged by reporters about Li Zhen's contract renewal.

ESPN reporter asked:"Donnie, as we all know, Li will enter the free market this summer. Many teams have expressed interest in Li, and the Mavericks have already started paying luxury tax. Do you want to renew Li's contract to keep him this summer? Or use the sign-and-trade method to trade him out?"

Li Zhen's worth and where he will go this summer are the hottest news in the league recently.

Some teams that have no chance to play in the playoffs have already started preparing to poach him.

"Lee is the future of the Mavericks, and the boss and I will do our best to promote Lee's contract extension." Nelson answered firmly.

"So, what price will you renew the contract with Li? If it is not convenient to disclose the amount, can you choose a player as a benchmark?"The reporter continued to ask

"LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony!" Nelson said the names of these three superstars without hesitation.

Now, reporters clearly knew from the Mavericks management that the Mavericks would renew Li Zhen's contract at all costs this summer.

Li Zhen became another core figure besides Nowitzki.

He represents the future of the Dallas Mavericks.