After dealing with a lot of trivial matters these days, Bruce is also planning to have a small meeting with the team's general manager Mitch Kupchak and head coach Paul Westphal to understand the current situation of the team.

After all, they are about to participate in the draft, and it is time to tell them their draft goals. Then there is the issue of contract renewal within the team, which is the top priority.

Although Bruce still controls the team, he understands the specific details of the team. Apart from paying them wages, Bruce has a blind eye on the team's internal salary structure and knows nothing.

Anyway, he is only responsible for paying.

In this meeting, Bruce just wanted to have a thorough understanding of the team's salary structure.

…

In the study room of Bruce's private villa on Long Island.

"Here we go, please sit down."

Bruce, who had been waiting for the arrival of "Second General Heng Ha" for a long time, saw them entering the study and immediately arranged for them to sit down.

Bruce also personally made a cup of strong coffee for the two of them. As a person in power, sometimes you still have to consider the mood of your subordinates.

"Mitch, let's talk about the current situation of the team first."

As soon as Bruce arrived, he met with team general manager Mitch Kupchak to understand the situation and would discuss tactical arrangements later.

"Prince, the current situation of the team is a bit bad!"

As the general manager of the team, he naturally understands the specific situation of the team.

As for why it's a bit bad, it's not because of the salary.

"Oh, tell me more specifically..."

"After the end of this year's season, the team's veterans Charles Oakley and Ron Harper have announced that they will no longer renew their contracts with the team and will leave the team as free agents."

"At the same time, the team also has two players, Doc Rivers and Kenny Gadison, announcing their retirement."

Bruce gestured to please continue.

"In addition, the team's chief assistant Alvin Gentry has left, but that's not all. He also took away Doc Rivers, a veteran who just retired. Prince, you also know Doc...

Rivers has played less games in the past two years and has served more as an assistant coach for the team, and he is very prestigious in the locker room."

At this point, general manager Mitch Kupchak looked at his prince with a rather resentful look. I said to you, Boss, you should always be patient. Last year, the chief assistant coach Doug Collins left. This year,

You sent Alvin Gentry to Seattle again, but he was so nice that he kidnapped one before leaving. Prince, it’s really hard for me. If the team’s chief assistant coach can’t retain him, he will

It means I have to apply for another job.

You are only increasing my workload, do you know?

Of course Bruce knew that Alvin Gentry was called to Seattle by him, but he never thought that he would do this. After all, the Seattle SuperSonics are now the worst team in the league to find a coach.

, and it is the first time for Alvin Gentry to be the head coach of a defending championship team, so it is reasonable to lead a direct team of his own.

Forget it, just leave if Doc Rivers is gone. A "chicken soup" coach is not of much use. There are a lot of people behind him, but they don't have the famous "chicken soup" coach Doc Rivers.

"The coach is just great.

"Okay, I understand, Mickey, please continue."

Bruce touched his little nose and said a little embarrassed.

"..."

"Finally, the contracts of many players on the team are about to expire, either this year or next year, so I think the top priority is to renew their contracts."

General manager Mitch Kupchak is quite responsible and told the team's boss Bruce the details of the team's situation.

After receiving the team's salary schedule from Mitch Kupchak, Bruce thought for a moment.

There were many players who asked to renew their contracts. Except for Mourning and Kidd, the league limited the number of years for each team after the end of the labor negotiations in 1994. Bruce gave them two more years to sign, that is, in 1995.

Garnett, the unlucky guy, now has no worries about renewing his contract. Everyone else is stuck in the dilemma of renewing their contracts.

It's very simple, these people either want to leave if they want a big contract, or they want to stay with the team and think about extending the team for a few more years.

After all, you still have to face competition when joining a new team, so except for those who want a big contract, the rest basically want to stay.

"Sam Perkins should renew his contract as a veteran player, just for four years. After four years, Sam will almost retire from the team directly. The team still has to take care of the old man."

After speaking, Bruce watched general manager Mitch Kupchak take a notebook to record it.

Bruce nodded with slight satisfaction, that's right!

The reason why Sam Perkins should be extended for four years is very simple. Four years later, in 2000, the Blues are planning to let Yao Ming join the New York Hans in advance. When Sam Perkins retires, he can directly join the team.

Coach Yao Ming.

I still have to praise Bruce here. Although everyone knows that Bruce has his own selfish motives, Bruce's superficial skills are quite touching.

"Jamal Mashburn and Aaron McGee signed five-year, max-salary contract extensions as rookie players, with specific numbers for Mickey and their agents."

Here I want to explain why Bruce wants the team to renew the contracts of these two people. In fact, to put it bluntly, he has no interest in Jamal Mashburn. After Kobe is selected this year, all the team's shooting rights will belong to Kobe.

, and Jamal Mashburn has such a strong offensive ability. If he is here, Kobe will have half the power to take action. However, it cannot be seen that way. It depends on whether they can coexist. If they really can't coexist, Bruce doesn't mind.

Sending Jamal Mashburn away.

As for Aaron McGee, he is a good substitute for the team's shooting guard. He does not fight for power. If he is asked to serve as Kobe's substitute, he will work hard without complaining. Why doesn't such a person extend his contract for a few more years?

"Then there are Bruce Bowen and Darrell Armstrong. They should renew their contracts for three years as mini-mid-level players. The specific numbers are Mitch and their agents."

To be honest, Bruce Bowen is definitely worthy of being able to get a mid-level contract extension, or even a maximum salary, but it is a pity that one of them is a second-round pick and the other is an undrafted player, so they are not enough.

Rookie players like Jamal Mashburn have to renew their contracts, otherwise the Blues will follow the contract.

"Finally, Mike Brown and Ricky Pierce are two old players. Ask them. If you want to stay, you can stay. If you don't, you can leave. Mickey, you will not sign another contract with them."

After Bruce finished speaking, he also felt thirsty. He got up and went to the freezer to get a bottle of Pepsi, opened it and drank it.

Ah, it's really refreshing. It tastes more comfortable when drunk cold.

"My lord, Ricky Pierce signed a contract with us until the end of the 1997 season. I asked him about it, and he said he was ready to retire after the contract ended. Mike Brown only had this year's contract left, and he also said he would retire after the contract.

Ready to retire."

After general manager Mitch Kupchak finished recording, he looked at the contents of the record and said.

"Okay, no matter what, a team still has to have a few old people. Let them leave after the contract expires."

"By the way, Coach Paul, how is the situation of the team's coaching staff?"

Well, now Bruce asked about the team's coaching staff.

"The situation is getting worse. Some members who are not the coaching staff have already left."

Haha, it’s true that if you don’t belong to the same family, you don’t enter the same house. All the messy things are arranged together.

"Where's Rick?"

Bruce doesn't care about the others. The main thing is that Rick Carlisle should not be let go again. He is the future head coach candidate of the team.

"He is okay. He and Li are the only ones left in the team."

The Li mentioned here is the coach of Li Qiuping. Hua Guo specially arranged for him to come to the Blues team to learn from it. He cannot leave without authorization.

"Let's do this. Coach Paul, you arrange for Rick to be the chief assistant coach and Li Qiuping to be the offensive coach. Mitch, you will recruit a few more members of the coaching staff."

Bruce thought for a moment and said to "Second General Heng Ha".

"OK!"

"Hum ha, two generals" said in unison.

"Oh, by the way, the team's Chinese broadcast host Xu Jicheng and editor Su Qun will return to China. You also know that the Chinese CBA has begun. The person in charge of the Chinese Basketball Association found me and wanted me to arrange them

When I return to China to commentate on CBA games, I was originally offered guidance by Zhang Weiping, but I rejected it, so I will now let Director Zhang Weiping commentate on the game with a commentator who can speak Chinese. Mickey, you and Director Zhang will be responsible for recruiting together. After all, Zhang Weiping will be the one to commentate on the game.

The instructor must explain it together with the other party, and the most important thing is that they must get along.”

Hey, Bruce can't help it. You said that you hired two of the best basketball commentators to come to the United States. How can you embarrass CCTV and the Basketball Association?

It's definitely okay to make friends, but you have to leave one for me, right? Bruce insisted to keep Zhang Weiping, and Kobe will be here soon. With your combination of Zhang Weiping and Kobe, isn't Weiping Blair good?

Well.

"Okay, I will handle it with Zhang."

General manager Mitch Kupchak nodded on the surface, but in his heart he was not calm at all. After all, Bruce is an old man who has been with the team since it was founded. It is inevitable that everyone will have feelings for him over time.
Chapter completed!