The next day, Phoenix continued to celebrate, and for three consecutive days, the entire city was immersed in a sea of celebration.
On the morning of the 14th, Hawksman officially represented Wang Tiejun and held contract renewal negotiations with the Suns management.
On the morning of the 16th, the Suns held a media conference and completed the signing of a new contract with Wang Tiejun under the witness of dozens of media and TNT TV stations.
After the contract amount was announced, it immediately shocked the world.
"Old K, congratulations, you guy, with such a big contract, you deserve a treat."
After Buckley saw the news on TV, he immediately called Lao Wang, his tone full of envy and jealousy.
"Haha, Charles, where are you?" Lao Wang asked.
"I just returned to Houston and I'm going to Miami with Dream tomorrow. Michael invited us to play golf there," Barkley said.
"Jordan? Does he want to poach you?" Lao Wang asked.
"I'm afraid it's not me, it's Big Dream. The Bulls lost to the Suns because they lost a good center, not a power forward." Barkley said indifferently.
Anyway, he already has a ring, and he has no big pursuit in the coming season. He just wants to make money. He doesn't care whether his big dream can be realized or not.
After finishing the phone call with Barkley, Lao Wang received another call from O'Neal.
"Old K, tell me, how did you get that contract by defrauding me?" O'Neal shouted with envy and hatred.
"I told my boss that I was going to the Lakers, and he immediately gave me a big contract, and that's it." Lao Wang said with a smile.
"Damn it, I'm going to say the same thing next year. Hey, boss, give me a big contract of 100 million yuan and an annual salary of tens of millions, or I will go to the Lakers, go to the Lakers." O'Neal said excitedly.
"Then I wish you all your wishes." Lao Wang smiled.
Later, he received many more phone calls. Zhang Lili also called to congratulate him and made an appointment for an exclusive interview.
At this time, Jordan had already arrived in Miami. He was going to spend a month here on vacation and conduct some business activities, and then return to Chicago for additional training to maintain his condition.
David Frank also came with him. The two of them were shocked when they received news from the media and learned that Old K had signed the most expensive contract in history.
"David, can I get a contract like this next year?"
Frank thought for a while, shook his head and said: "Michael, your age is an obstacle. The Bulls cannot give you another long-term contract unless you agree to reduce your annual salary."
"Where are the other teams?" Jordan asked immediately.
He has no idea of sticking to the Bulls. The contract represents the value and status. Old K has got such a big contract. If his contract is smaller, doesn’t it mean that his status is not as good as Old K? For someone who even wants to win even when he drinks water and urinates.
For him, this was intolerable.
"Don't worry, Michael, even if you don't get a long-term contract, the Bulls have promised to give you a short-term contract worth 20 million. In your current state, there is no problem in getting such contracts continuously." David Frank said.
.
Jordan snorted coldly, even if he received a continuous annual salary of 20 million, it would not be as big as the contract of Old K. A long-term contract represents the team's recognition of the players.
But he was still calm and knew that there was no way to change his age, so he didn't dwell on the issue anymore.
"You urge me to go to K martial arts gym and arrange a massage therapist for me as soon as possible." He thought for a while and warned.
"OK."
…
"There is no doubt that this is the most expensive contract in the history of the NBA. Suns King K has become the most valuable superstar in the league." New York Times.
"The total amount is nearly 200 million U.S. dollars. According to statistics from the four major commercial sports leagues in the United States, this is also the most expensive contract, so Old K has become the most valuable star in the four major sports leagues." Washington Post.
"There is no doubt that Old K is already the most valuable sports superstar in the United States." Los Angeles Daily News.
"With a super contract that exceeds the team's market value, the Suns are making a huge bet on the future." Miami Sports.
The major media almost use the same words, such as the most expensive, the most valuable, etc.
"In 61, we will create a great Sun Dynasty under the leadership of the Sun King." Phoenix Sports.
"We will be a regular in the Finals for the next seven years." Arizona Telegraph.
Different from the envy and jealousy of the media in other regions, the media in Phoenix was enthusiastic and full of congratulations.
This contract has had a great impact on the media, but the greater impact is on athletes, especially NBA players.
"I can't imagine what this contract will bring to this league. The players' minds will no longer be on the court. They only think about what kind of big contract they want. I think the current salary cap is too high.
It’s too high, it should be lowered,” Alexander, the owner of the Mosaic team, complained when facing the media.
Like him, the Spurs' owner, Pete Holt, who took over the team less than two years ago, said dissatisfiedly when facing the media: "Such a contract will make this league full of money."
However, the attitude of the two bosses was not supported. Many media ridiculed it and many stars did not agree with their statement.
Even Mosaic's Optimus Prime Olajuwon personally stood up against his boss. He told a reporter from the Houston Chronicle:
"The NBA is just a commercial sports league. Do you want to talk about relationships without talking about money? If you want to lower the salary cap, then it's better to disband the league. Some people should do something serious and stop wasting my time.
I won't accompany you if you drag him on.
By the way, I'm in a hurry today, so let's stop here. Barkley and I made an appointment with Michael to play golf and we'll be leaving soon."
"What a bastard!"
Alexander was so angry with his star that he almost vomited blood.
He has no choice but to let the dream go. If he lets the dream go, Mosaic's football market will shrink by half, and he will lose blood.
He took over the team to make money by selling tickets, not to lose money. Now that the stars are leaving, who will watch a few role players play? If the tickets cannot be sold, he will definitely lose money, and he can't stop feeling heartache.
In the past two seasons, due to his stinginess, the Mosaics have not used up their annual salary cap. For two consecutive years, they have taken a lot of money from the team's operating income into their own pockets. Now they have to pay for it.
I really couldn't bear it.
Moreover, the salary cap for next season will increase by at least six to seven million US dollars, which will require him to pay for it, which is like cutting off his flesh.
At noon that day, the Phoenix Suns officially announced that they hired Brian Colangelo as the team's general manager and Jerry Colangelo as the team president.
In the afternoon, Colangelo Jr. began to perform his duties as general manager. He first informed Danny Manning's agent that the team would not renew his contract, and then met with Drexler and his agent.
.
The two parties have communicated by phone. Drexler's idea is that if the Suns can give him a long-term contract, then he will stay. If not, he will have no choice but to leave. And he is already a completely free man.
The Suns have no ties to him.
Colangelo Jr. offered a two-year contract worth 10 million, but this did not meet Drexler's expectations for a new contract. He hoped to get a contract worth at least 20 million over three years, which was a bit different.
In the end, the two parties broke up amicably, and glider Clyde Drexler announced that he was leaving the Suns and entering the free market.
As for sign-and-trade, that does not exist. It is a transaction method for incomplete free persons. Glider is a completely free person.
After the news was announced, the first person to contact him was Dameng.
"Brother, come to Houston, right now."
"Hakeem, don't mess with me. You're going to Chicago to hug Jordan's lap. Why should I go to Houston?" Drexler said a little annoyed.
He and Jordan were sworn enemies and had been targeted by Jordan for more than ten years. Their relationship was very bad. Hearing that Dream might go to the Bulls made him uncomfortable.
"Who said I want to hug Jordan's thigh? If I want to hug Jordan's thigh, I might as well go to the Suns. I want to go to the Suns and sweep the Bulls next season." Dameng said angrily.
When Drexler heard this, he thought Dameng was right. If he and Lao K teamed up inside, they would be invincible in the universe!
"What does your boss mean?" he asked.
Dameng said excitedly: "No problem, he promised to get the money."
"Do you still have room now?" the glider asked.
He is a free agent. If he wants to join the Mosaic team, it is not a question of whether the boss can provide the money. The first question is whether there is space.
Speaking of this, Dameng said angrily: "Damn Alexander! Clyde, you don't know, it's not that we don't have space, we always have space. The contracts between Barkley and I are not big. It's because the boss is reluctant to pay.
Our salary cap has never been exhausted."
"What?"
Drexler almost bit off his tongue. Doesn't the owner of the Mosaic team want to win the championship without even using up the salary cap?
He thought for a while and said: "Well, Hakim, I'm waiting for news from my agent. If the Mosaics want to recruit me, they should call me."
"Okay, let's do this for now." Dameng said over there.
"Don't hang up yet, Hakim, your contract ends next year, right?" Glider asked.
"Yes, what do you want to know?" Dameng asked.
Glider asked: "I mean, if I really go back to Houston and there is no problem with the salary space next season, what will you do if you want to renew my contract next season?"
"You don't need to worry about this. Let's fight hard next season. Anyway, you have got your contract, and it won't affect you, right?" Dameng said.
Drexler was right. Anyway, he now has a ring. As long as he gets a pension contract in Houston, the future contract renewal of Dream has nothing to do with him.
…
At the Suns headquarters, Colangelo Jr. was contacting Spurs general manager Popovich to talk to him about the Big Crash deal.
Popovich was born in the military, advocated discipline, and had extremely strict requirements on players, while Rodman was a free-spirited and individual player. The two had completely different personalities, and they were incompatible.
Rodman proposed to renew his contract in advance last year, but Popovich refused because the big bug was not in his lineup plan at all.
After this season, there is only one year left on Da Chong's contract, and it's time to trade him, otherwise he won't get a dime back.
The bargaining chip he wants is a first-round pick, but the trouble is that the reputation of the big bug has long been ruined. After releasing the news for so long, not many teams asked for the news. Occasionally, someone asked, and the chips offered were not enough.
It's very low, at most a second-round pick, whether he wants it or not, this makes his psychological bottom line slip down step by step, almost to the point where he just wants to send away the big insect.
It's not that he doesn't want to come back with something new, it's because keeping Big Chong in the team would do too much harm to the Spurs.
Da Chong often does not participate in training, has a very poor training attitude, and does not cooperate on the field. He goes his own way, and there are gossips every day, which seriously affects the atmosphere of the team and causes considerable obstacles to his management work. This has forced him now
Eager to trade the big bug.
Just now, he received a call from Bulls general manager Jerry Krause about the trade of Big Chong, which made him very happy.
It's just that the chips are really small, and the Bulls are only willing to pay for backup center Wilperdo.
Obviously, the Bulls wanted to take advantage of the situation, but Popovich was eager to get rid of the big bug and verbally agreed to the deal. He only waited for the trade window to open before the deal could be completed.
But as soon as he put down the phone, he received a call from Colangelo Jr., the new general manager of the Suns.
"Hello, Mr. Popovich, I'm Brian Colangelo, and I'm here to seek a deal."
"Hello, Mr. Colangelo, what do you want from me?"
Time was tight, so the two of them went straight to the point without any nonsense.
"Rodman, I heard that you don't want that thorn? We are going to try it, and if it doesn't work, we will give up." Colangelo Jr. said.
Popovich's pockmarked face twitched and he pointed out the thorns, which was telling him to stop talking so much, everyone knows what the big bug is.
He wanted to hang up the phone, because in the past season, the Suns were too crazy. They even swept the championship in four rounds. An unprecedented record. In the end, even the Bulls were swept. This kind of team, and it was a Western Conference team. As the Spurs
It is impossible for the general manager of this team that is rushing to the championship to let the Suns complete the reinforcements on him. If he wants the Suns to complete the reinforcements, will the Spurs still have a chance to break out of the Western Conference?
But then I thought about it, the Suns have let go of the glider, which means that reconstruction has begun, which means that the current Suns are no longer that Suns team, and the threat is no longer so scary.
Moreover, few people ask about the big bug, which is very destructive to the Spurs' locker room. If it is thrown to the Suns, maybe it can also damage the Suns' locker room?
Thinking of this, he decided to listen to the Suns' bargaining chip and said, "What are you willing to pay for that business?"
"You no longer have your main power forward, so do you want the Iron Man?" Colangelo Jr. said.
"AC Green?"
Hearing the name, Popovich couldn't help but feel happy, but then he frowned.
The two have the same position, so they are indeed the most suitable, and AC Green is a player he likes very much. He is disciplined and has good strength. He can rebound, attack and defend, so he is very suitable to stay with the general.
The important thing is that Green plays all year round, playing 82 games this season, averaging 33 minutes per game. Although he is 32 years old, he has only missed three games in the ten seasons since he entered the league. He is a real iron man.
Moreover, if the Suns trade the Iron Man, not only the offensive ability of the inside will be reduced, but also the ability to open up will be lost. After acquiring the big bug, it will increase the chance of Old K being double-teamed in the low post. As for the Suns' combat power, he believes that it is not
It's not an improvement, but a decrease.
Big Worm will definitely improve the quality of the Suns' rebounding, but he will also occupy Old K's space and steal many of Old K's rebounds. Therefore, Big Worm is in the Suns, and the Suns' rebounds are not 11=2.
Mostly 11 is greater than 1.
Comprehensive consideration, he believes that the Suns traded Green for Big Worm. In terms of gains and losses, if you also include Big Worry's destructive power in the locker room, it will not be a gain. Otherwise, he would not trade a player who averages 16 rebounds per game.
Rebounding king.
"How much is left on his contract?" he asked.
Colangelo was overjoyed. It was obvious that Popovich was moved. He hurriedly said: "There is only a one-year contract for next season, 6.47 million."
"One year?"
Popovich pondered.
There is no doubt that AC Green is ten times better than the Bulls' Perdo. He has put aside the verbal agreement he just reached with Krause and is starting to consider a deal with the Suns.
A one-year contract is affordable given the Spurs' current salary space.
Moreover, using this transaction, you can also clear out several unnecessary contracts and free up some salary space.
"Mr. Popovich, we only need Rodman and the Spurs' second-round pick for next year. You can match the remaining balance as you like, including cash," Colangelo said at this time.
"No, I won't trade the pick." Popovich refused without hesitation.
Even if it's a second-round pick, he doesn't want to throw it away. Sometimes you can find treasures in the second round. He doesn't want to miss the opportunity, let alone the 1996 pick?
Colangelo Jr. opened the Spurs' lineup and took a quick look at it. They wouldn't give it to anyone he wanted, and he didn't want the rest either, so he asked, "Well, what can you give me?"
Popovich casually read out three names, all of whom were on the fringes of the team. Their contracts with the Big Chong could add up to six million US dollars.
Colangelo didn't want to say any more. Popovich was not easy to deal with, so he said, "I don't want your people, so let's just exchange them, and you will make up part of our cash."
Popovich failed to achieve his goal of clearing space. Although he was a little disappointed, this deal was much better than the Bulls' deal, so he agreed.
However, the trading window has not been opened, and trading can only be carried out in early July. It is only a verbal agreement and will not be announced to the public.
However, Popovich still informed the Bulls that the verbal agreement just reached was cancelled.
"Who did this bastard Popovich hook up with again? He has no credibility at all." Jerry Krause hung up the phone and said angrily.
If he couldn't get the big bug, he had to find another way. That's how transactions are, you can't get what you want, and he didn't have the confidence to complete the team's reinforcements. Everything depends on opportunity.
At this time, his phone rang. It was a mobile phone. When he saw that it belonged to David Frank, he quickly answered the call.
