Seeing their silence, Lao Wang asked doubtfully: "Kevin, Dan, why don't you speak?"
The two looked at each other and Kevin Johnson smiled and said: "It's nothing. I'm thinking about how to cooperate with you and have another good season. But don't think that I can be the same as last season. I'm old and I'm not that monster like Jordan."
.”
Lao Wang reached out and patted Kevin Johnson on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I'm stronger than last season. Just leave the ball to me."
Dan Marley said at this time: "Danny Manning has been seriously injured, otherwise the Clippers would not choose to trade him. I don't know how much strength he still has now."
Kevin Johnson recalled it and said: "He played for two teams last season, and his overall scoring data should be 20. However, his physique is prone to injuries. It is hard to say how he will perform in the new season."
Lao Wang knows that Danny Manning, the No. 1 pick in 1988 and a talented inside player, suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his rookie season, which directly cast a shadow on this genius' future. He only played 82 games in one season, but as long as he
He is no longer injured and his strength should be pretty good.
Dan Malley said at this time: "The Bulls' Cobra Grant went to the Magic. The Bulls' strength has declined in the new season, but they are still quite strong."
"Grant is gone?"
Lao Wang's mind immediately came alive. This is the main power forward of the Bulls. He is good at cutting inside and playing without the ball. He has good rebounds and the ability to make long shots. Without the main power forward, the Bulls should not be as good as this season.
It was so strong last season.
Kevin Johnson immediately poured cold water on him and said: "Do you know Grant's European substitute? It's Toni Kukoc, known as the Magician of Europa. He is also very strong, but his rebounding ability and defense are worse. He can't score.
His assist ability is not inferior to Grant's, and his long-range shooting ability is better than Grant's, and his ability to pull away is also stronger.
Lao Wang was stunned and argued: "There is a loss, at least their bench is weaker."
"That's true." Kevin Johnson laughed.
"By the way, Barkley hasn't retired, has he?" he asked suddenly.
"No, I went back to Phoenix in the summer and asked Dr. Carter to do a check-up on him, and I'm going to stick with it a little longer," Kevin Johnson said with a smile.
"If Feizhu retreats, Dameng will be tricked to death by him." Dan Marly said with a smile.
"He can't fly now." Kevin Johnson joked.
The relationship between the two of them and Barkley has only been teammates for one year. In fact, it is only average. It is not as deep as the relationship with Lao Wang. The Suns are the home team of the three of them. They are truly our own people. Among the Suns, the three of them are
Our friendship is considered an iron triangle.
The next day, the 19th, Wang Tiejun went to the headquarters and found Colangelo to learn about the current team's lineup.
Colangelo gave him a lineup list, and he looked at it and found that there were a few old men missing and a few newcomers added.
Insider: Wang Tiejun, AC Green, Ost Thorpe, Danny Manning, Waiman Tisdale.
Forward: Robert Horry, Antonio Long (swingman), Danny Ainge (swingman)
Outside: Kevin Johnson, Dan Marley, Elliott Perry (point guard), Wesley Parson (shooting guard).
"Sir, isn't Thorpe leaving?" he asked after seeing Thorpe's name.
Colangelo nodded and said: "He wanted to leave, but the deal couldn't be completed. With the current lineup, I actually don't want to let him go.
Thorpe is 33 years old, and AC Green is 32 years old. I think their status will decline in the future. But before we can strengthen them, they still have some use."
"Sir, what do you think?" Lao Wang asked.
Colangelo smiled and said: "Old K, you are still young, don't worry, the team can't be strengthened just because it wants to be strengthened, it requires opportunities and time."
"I see."
Lao Wang nodded. He knew that if he wanted to strengthen a position, he really needed an opportunity.
Take the Bulls for example. After so many years, they finally found Clifford Robinson last year. This was because the original team couldn't keep up with the big contract offered by the Bulls.
The strong No. 5 position is helpless.
Jordan has been with the Bulls for so many years, and the Bulls' management has also spent many years building a championship-level team. Now that the Suns are building a team with him as the core, it also takes time, and it cannot be done with just one mouthful.
Colangelo added: "We are not sure about Danny Manning's health, but he joined as a free agent and did not cost anything, so it is very cost-effective.
In addition, I hope to gain something from the 1996 draft and complete reinforcements in two or three seasons."
"Two or three seasons?" Lao Wang nodded.
However, he said seriously: "Sir, I don't care how to strengthen the team, but I don't want it to be bad."
Colangelo was startled, laughed a few times, and then said: "Don't worry, how could I complete the team building in a bad way?"
He is the owner of the Suns, so he cannot choose to mess up the team, because that would be an absolute harm to the Phoenix market.
Moreover, although the team is aging, even if its strength is not as good as that of the Bulls and Mosaics, it is still considered to be the best in the league. It still has the strength to challenge for the championship this season. How can it fail?
In fact, Jordan is one year older, Dameng and Barkley are also one year older. The older they get, the more likely they are to suffer injuries and their condition will decline. The Bulls and Mosaics in the new season are likely to be not as strong as last season.
But thinking about this, he also thought that Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley in his team were also a year older, and the team's outside strength this year should not be as good as last season.
In his future reinforcement plan, he also hopes to find two good rookies on the outside to fill the positions of Lightning and Thunder.
There is also Danny Ainge, who is almost 36 years old. The new season is the last year of his contract. He has already said that he will retire after this season. The bench also needs to add a pitcher. I don’t know whether Wesley will be selected this time.
Can Parson step up?
Of course, if Danny Manning can play 20 All-Star performances, the new season will be more promising.
Thinking of this, he suddenly thought of Wilkins.
Wilkins has not renewed his contract with the Clippers, and there has been no news about his next club. Do you want to contact him?
Wang Tiejun took a look at the list and evaluated the strength of this year's lineup in his mind. He felt that it was not weak, but already very strong.
Of course, this is strong only when the players are healthy. If injuries occur, it will be trouble.
For example, if Danny Manning, a guy with a ruptured cruciate ligament, injures his knee again, it will be a big hidden danger for the Suns.
However, as long as Danny Manning stays healthy, he feels that this year's lineup can even defeat the Mosaics.
You must know that Barkley's physical injuries are increasing, his condition will definitely decline, and the Mosaic team's strength will also decline.
On his own side, he and Manning are the main players in the post, and AC Green and Thorpe are the substitutes. The overall strength is even stronger than the Mosaic team's post.
On the outside, the Mosaic team is mediocre to begin with. Although Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley's condition will decline, they should not be weaker than the Mosaic team.
So in comparison, this year is actually a very promising year to reach the finals.
The only three questions are whether Green and Thorpe can stay, and whether Danny Manning can stay healthy. These three people are crucial.
He discussed his ideas with Colangelo, who agreed with him.
After sending Wang Tiejun away, Colangelo immediately asked people to check Wilkins' information and began to analyze it.
Wilkins, nicknamed Human Movie Essence, Slam Dunk King, No. 3 draft pick in 1982, swingman at forward and guard, 35 years old this year, with 2662 statistics last season, 9-time All-Star, one-time scoring champion, and one-time All-NBA Team
Four times in the second formation, two times in the third formation, although he is old, his strength is still there.
If Wilkins is acquired, it can make up for the Suns' lack of outside firepower.
And Wilkins, like Danny Manning, is a free man and does not cost anything.
The only thing to consider is whether the Suns' salary can bear the burden of a superstar like Wilkins.
Wilkins' salary last season was 3.25 million. Based on his performance last season, if he is signed, he must at least maintain this level.
The salary cap for the new season is US$16 million, and he calculated the total salary of the team.
Old K is 2.36 million, Kevin Johnson is 2.75 million, AC Green is 6.47 million, Thorpe is 2.58 million, Danny Manning is 1 million, Dan Marley is 3 million, Waiman Tisdale is 850,000, and Horry is 1.5 million.
, Antonio Long 330,000, Danny Ainge 2.08 million, Elliott Perry 250,000, Wesley Parson 650,000, a total of 23.82 million.
Among them, Suo Xian needs to be traded. After subtracting his salary, the total salary is 21.24 million, which is still more than 5 million.
"Green?"
He muttered, the player with the highest salary in the team was the team's fifth scoring point last season, averaging 128 points per game. With this performance, the salary is a bit high and the price/performance ratio is too low.
We must know that superstars such as Barkley and Pippen, who are now big dreams, only earn 2 to 3 million a year. Ewing will only earn more than 4 million in the new season. David Robinson will only earn 7 million in the new season. The three major superstars
The tallest center.
He thought that in the playoffs, the partnership between Thorpe and Old K was also very effective, and Green and Thorpe were also old. He also got Danny Manning, an All-Star insider. Should he trade Green?
It's not that he is reluctant to pay the luxury tax, it's just that Green's performance is not worthy of his salary, and Green is also old.
In addition, Danny Manning will definitely play the main power forward, and Green can only sit on the bench, but he is the highest-paid person on the team. The Suns do not have that luxury to let such a person sit below.
However, it is difficult to trade Green because the salary is too high and few teams are willing to take over. Moreover, tactical coordination issues need to be considered, which needs to be discussed with head coach Westphal.
But even if the trade fails, he still wants to bring Wilkins in. Although he has to pay a luxury tax of 10 million a year, he can maintain his impact on the championship.
A good record, combined with Phoenix, a city with reasonable spending power, can make the ball market better, ticket sales will be higher, and the ticket and advertising revenue from the playoffs will also be considerable, and it can also bring in a little more
Sponsors, as well as gaining more live broadcasts across the United States and the favor of regional broadcasters.
When all kinds of benefits are added up, good operating income can completely offset the huge luxury tax, allowing the team's operations to enter a good state, which is much better than a bad situation.
A big ball market will never rebuild by ruining the market. Only small ball markets, when the market is hopeless, will rebuild by ruining the market and hurting the market.
Not only the Suns, but also the Lakers, for example, never perform poorly. No matter how much money they spend, they must build a competitive lineup, just because they don't want to hurt the ball market.
After thinking it over, he immediately contacted Wilkins' agent.
"What? That's such a shame!"
The call got through, and as soon as he explained his intention, the other party told him that Wilkins was in Boston now and had just signed a one-year contract with the Celtics.
Hanging up the phone in disappointment, he complained: "What did Wilkins think that he would defect to the Hawks' mortal enemy? How much does he hate the Hawks? How much salary can a stingy team like the Celtics give him? And the Celtics
The Celtics are in the process of rebuilding and will not value a veteran like him at all."
This side was disappointed, and Wilkins and his agent on the opposite side were also disappointed, and even more disappointed, looking at each other.
Because the Celtics only gave him a one-year contract of more than 2 million yuan, it means that they don't value him too much, and the Celtics are rebuilding. He can only be a stepping stone for newcomers here. If they had known that the Suns would want
He went to the sun.
Although the Suns are also rebuilding, they are rebuilding on the basis of having the cornerstone for reconstruction and the ability to win the championship. With nothing left, he would rather go to a championship-level team.
Wilkins hated the Eagles with all his heart.
After he was selected by the Jazz with the third pick in the first round in 1982, he was immediately traded to the Hawks. He never played in a game with the Jazz, and the Hawks were his home team.
He played for this team for twelve seasons, but the team abandoned him for Danny Manning, a glass man.
"Anyway, we only have a one-year contract. How about finishing this year and then we go to the Suns next year?" said his agent Murphy.
Wilkins smiled bitterly. He will be another year older next year. How can he be in better condition?
If they sign with the Suns this time, with him and Danny Manning on the outside, plus Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley, the Suns' outside scoring ability will not be weaker than the Bulls at all, and can crush the Mosaic and Spurs. Maybe the Suns can
Win the championship.
Wrong choice, time is destiny, maybe God is destined to be without a crown for the rest of his life, he sighed in his heart.
…
For the Suns, after failing to acquire Wilkins, Colangelo decided not to move AC Green for the time being to avoid weakening the team's strength. In the current market of the Suns, a luxury tax of several million is still completely acceptable.
bearable.
The new season starts on November 4th. On the 23rd, the preseason ends. On the 24th, the Suns return to Phoenix. On the 25th, the entire team gathers. The pre-game training for the 94/95 season begins.
At 8:30 that morning, Wang Tiejun rushed to the team headquarters.
I said hello to the coaching staff first. There are no changes to the coaching staff in the new season. However, Danny Ainge has begun to participate in the coaching staff. After retiring this season, he is preparing to join the Suns' coaching staff. This is the only change.
He also greeted his new and old teammates, and there were no newcomers who were dissatisfied with him. After all, strength and violence are here. In today's NBA league, even the three super centers, even Jordan, would not dare to act wild in front of him.
Even Danny Manning, the former No. 1 pick, was polite to him and didn't put on any airs of being a No. 1 pick.
He observed the situation of his teammates and chatted with them.
"Robert, have you practiced your shooting?" Horry was the first one to come to him.
Horry nodded and smiled: "Don't worry, Old K. I practiced extra throughout the offseason. Especially the three-pointers, I'm already very accurate."
Lao Wang nodded and said: "That's good. Don't give you the ball. You won't be able to hit the open shot."
"certainly."
Horry nodded awkwardly.
"AC, what are you thinking about?" Lao Wang found that Green seemed to be in a bad mood and was a little depressed.
AC Green glanced at Danny Manning, shook his head and said: "It's nothing, old K, I'm fine."
He knows his own business. The team has introduced All-Star insiders like Danny Manning. He understands that it will be difficult to get a starting position this season, so he is not in a good mood.
Moreover, his salary is the highest in the team. If he cannot play the main role, the team may sell him and will not let a person with the highest salary in the team sit on the bench.
On the other side, there is Otis Thorpe, a fellow sufferer. He didn't get many starts last season. This season, there is an extra Danny Manning. His mood is ten times worse than Green's.
What's even more annoying is that he asked for a transaction, but it was not completed, so he had to stay reluctantly.
But he has proposed a trade to the management again through his agent. He is almost 33 years old and really doesn't want to stay here. While he still has some fuel, he wants to go to a team where he can play as the main player.
The main position will allow him to get a bigger contract after this contract ends. This is the most practical benefit and must be fought for.
Lao Wang chatted with the two of them for a few words and then walked away.
He understands the situation of the two of them, but the NBA is a place where the strong survive and the weak are eliminated. He has no way to help them, and it is impossible to help them.
Now he is worried that these two people will ask for a trade. In fact, Thorpe asked for a trade during the offseason, but it was unsuccessful.
Once Green and Thorpe leave the team, the Suns' bench will definitely decline, and this season will be very troublesome.
This is also a difficult problem in team building. The interests of the team and the players are inconsistent, the interests of the main players and the substitute players are inconsistent, the interests of the players and the coaching staff are inconsistent. Under various conflicts, if you want to build a stable and strong team, even
It’s really difficult to build a championship-level team.
Colangelo was also observing the players on the side. The outside was aging. Apart from Old K, the cornerstone of the team, the others on the inside were also very old. They were still asking for trades. He said in his heart that reconstruction would not be easy.