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Jordan had long known about the Knicks' situation from David Frank, and he said in detail: "The contracts of Alan Houston and John Starks are over. They can sign and then trade them out. The Knicks definitely have no room for them."
.And trading me also requires a lot of chips."
O'Neal and Oakley nodded. With Jordan, Alan Houston would definitely be out of position. But without John Starkton, there would be a shortage of a backup shooting guard.
Jordan continued: "Point guard Chris Childs is of average strength. His annual salary next season is US$3.12 million. To keep him, it is better to poach Jason Kidd from the Suns. Kidd's annual salary next season is US$5.22 million, although it is more expensive.
, but the strength is several levels stronger.”
"Will the Suns trade Kidd?" O'Neal and Oakley said in surprise.
Jordan smiled and said: "His agent is secretly contacting some teams, and David has received the news."
"The Suns are short of a main shooting guard. Alan Houston signs and then trades, just in time to trade Kidd." Oakley nodded.
"It's just a little more expensive. Kidd occupied 5.22 million, leaving only 800 yuan of space." O'Neal said.
Oakley said: "Kidd is very strong and was suppressed by the Suns. In fact, the annual salary is very cheap, which is considered a child labor contract. The team really has no room, so it is best to find a veteran with a minimum salary."
He was worried that after all, he wouldn't have a chance to stay. He didn't want to leave the Knicks. He was used to living in New York.
Jordan is a little regretful. Chris Mullin just rejected him. If this veteran can be fooled with his basic salary, the Knicks' main lineup will be in order and they can definitely beat old K.
He then said to Oakley: "Charles, next season is your contract year, 2.85 million, right?"
"Yes."
Oakley nodded nervously.
Jordan smiled and said: "You stay and help me. We still have 5 million yuan left to fill the remaining main position of small forward and substitute lineup. Although it is a little difficult, but after finding a few basic salary veterans to come in, there should be no problem."
Big problem."
"Awesome!" Oakley breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where's the head coach?" O'Neal suddenly asked.
His relationship with Nelson is not very good now, because Nelson plays small ball and pursues fast-paced offense and defense, which makes him very difficult to play.
"We have already negotiated with the management and Phil Jackson will take over the Knicks." Jordan said with a smile.
"Awesome!" O'Neal said excitedly.
He likes positional warfare, especially the triangle tactic, which is specifically designed to serve stars.
Jordan said: "No. 5, Shark, No. 4, Charles, No. 3, find a decent veteran, No. 2, I, No. 1, it would be best if we can get Kidd, if that's the case
The main lineup..."
When he said this, his eyes lit up, he stared at a certain point in the void, as if it was Old K, and said: "At this time next year, I will beat Old K's team."
…
"Old K?"
"Chris, it's me. I have something to do with you."
At this time, Chris Mullin's cell phone rang again. It turned out to be Old K looking for him.
"You want to recruit me?" he asked.
"Hey, are you predicting this?" Lao Wang said in surprise.
"Haha, old K, Jordan called me just now." Mullin laughed.
"Ignore him. Even if he goes to the Knicks, the Knicks' salary space will explode. What kind of contract can they give you? A basic salary?" Lao Wang said disdainfully.
"Exactly the basic salary."
Mullin smiled bitterly and explained: "I have played for 12 seasons and am now at the end of my career. The highest annual salary I have received is US$3.33 million. The last seven seasons have been US$2.84 million each year.
Although I also want to win the championship, I hope that the next contract cannot be lower than this level, do you understand what I mean?"
"Understood, people die for money, and birds die for food. Although the championship is good, but you can't make a living, making money is the first priority. Am I right?" Lao Wang said with a smile.
"Yes, Old K, that's what you meant." Mullin also laughed.
Lao Wang thought for a while and said: "We have a lot of people here. We have enough space at the moment, but we can't give you a long-term appointment because you have to stay to prepare for future appointments with those young people. You understand this, so
You can sign a short-term contract, such as one year, and your annual salary will definitely remain at your original level. Do you want to give it a try for the sake of the championship?"
"One year?"
Mullin thought about it and felt that in his current state, after one year of playing, he should still be able to sign a contract in the NBA, so...
"OK."
"Great, the management will contact your agent and you can sign the contract when the trade window opens."
…
After getting Chris Mullin, Wang breathed a sigh of relief. It can be regarded as filling the gap after Horry left. And although Mullin is old, he is a veteran with more comprehensive functions than Horry and still has strength.
Now he needs to use his influence to help the management recruit veterans, save some salary space, and facilitate the management to renew the contract of Rashid Walais in advance.
However, it's a headache for Kidd to leave. I thought he would leave, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. He has only played for one year. Is it so painful to play next to him?
But think about Kidd's data. He has to score but not score, he has to provide assists but not assists. It is not as good as the data in the Mavericks, and his status is not as good as the Mavericks. He doesn't want to complain. It is true that his presence suppresses the opponent's performance.
If you don't care for yourself, you will be punished by heaven and earth. Kidd chose to leave for the sake of his own development, and he must accept this result.
However, in this case, the team must find a main point guard. The Lightning really cannot support the No. 1 position.
There is still a shortage of players at the second position, and we really can't find a good one. This season, Kobe can take over. Last season, he focused on defense. Next season, it is time to strengthen his offense.
In addition, the quality of black people is stronger. With Kobe's physical fitness and endurance, he should be able to gain weight again this offseason, reaching 96 kilograms. Kobe's confrontation ability will be greatly improved.
On the afternoon of the 21st, Wang Tiejun and Hawksman flew to Los Angeles.
He will stay here for a while, conduct some commercial activities, sign some sponsorship and endorsement contracts, shoot some advertisements, attend some events, and support the premieres of some celebrity friends.
For example, in Nicolas Cage's "Face", he not only had to attend the premiere on the 27th, but also agreed to book the venue.
After Phineas gave birth to his baby, he no longer needed the house in Los Angeles. He had already disposed of it and stayed in a hotel this time.
"Da Zhi, where are you now?"
After settling down, he called Da Zhi and asked about the situation.
"Brother Tiejun, in New York, is participating in the official rookie trial camp." Da Zhi said.
"Oh, how is your English?" he asked in English.
He couldn't quite understand it, so he said it twice more before he stuttered back: "Not yet, not quite yet."
There's no need to ask. I haven't heard that my ability has passed the test yet, but the time is short and there's still time. He switched back to Mandarin and said: "Don't worry, you don't want to go back to China after the draft. Just stay here and practice listening while training."
Talk about ability. If you miss your family, call your parents and tell them."
"Okay, Brother Tiejun." Da Zhi said.
"Dazhi, let me tell you, communication skills are very important. If you can't pass this level, you won't be able to survive in the NBA, so you must speak more, listen more, practice more, and talk to others when you have nothing to do. Didn't you hire a translator?
If you keep talking to him, you will be able to pass the test in listening and speaking skills in a few months. This is how I got here back then," Lao Wang said.
"I understand, Brother Tiejun." Da Zhi said quickly.
After chatting for a few more minutes, the two ended the call.
When he arrived in Los Angeles, he was naturally reported by the media. At four or five o'clock in the afternoon, he received a dinner invitation from Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
Being so kind, I couldn't refuse this.
"Old K, I really hope you can come to the Lakers." Halfway through dinner, Buss said with regret.
"Jerry, Tim Duncan would be great." Lao Wang smiled.
Bass shook his head and said: "He should indeed be very good, but what I want most is you. You should be the king of Los Angeles."
…
At 9 a.m. on the 22nd, Jordan and David Frank secretly came to the Knicks headquarters.
"Michael, I'm so happy to see you!" James Dolan greeted Jordan personally. After the meeting, he gave Jordan a hug with a very warm attitude.
"Mr. Dolan, I'm glad to see you too." Jordan smiled.
Dolan said: "Michael, you are from Brooklyn. You should come back. The Knicks are your hometown team. I look forward to you putting on the Knicks jersey."
"I also hope to fight for my hometown." Jordan nodded.
Jordan came here today because the Knicks are negotiating a trade with the Bulls. As the subject of the transaction, of course he has to care about his own transaction situation.
On the Bulls side are Jerry Krause and owner Reinsdorf, as well as several senior executives.
On the Knicks' side are new owner James Dolan, new general manager Scott Layden, and several executives, as well as Jordan and David Frank.
However, Jordan and David Frank could not directly participate in the negotiations. They just sat in the next room and waited for news. If the transaction was uncontrollable, for example, the Bulls' asking price was too high, he would need to participate in person.
The Knicks did not have a general manager before. After Dolan took over, he immediately created this position and took some power from President Dave Chalcot. In the future, the team's transaction affairs will be in charge of the general manager.
Dolan was also anxious to get rid of Jordan, fearing that he would have long nights and dreams, so he paid an extra 20 million just for Jordan, so after taking over the Knicks, he hurriedly started negotiations with the Bulls.
After the phone call was connected, and after a brief greeting, the negotiation began.
"First, we want three unprotected first-round picks, but not including the first-round picks from the Knicks, Pacers, Suns, Jazz, and Lakers." Jerry Krause proposed the first one.
trading conditions.
Scott Layden looked at Dolan and said: "Boss, the conditions are not too harsh. Michael is still in his prime. Three unprotected first-round picks are worth it. It's just the conditions set that limit our transaction.
The range is a bit troublesome, they want a higher pick."
"Can it be done?" Dolan just wanted to get Jordan and asked immediately.
After thinking about it briefly, Scott Layden said: "Alan Houston was the 11th pick in the first round in 1993, and now that he has been selected, he can get one or even two lower lottery picks, plus
John Starks, those two guys plus some backup, should be able to get three unprotected first-round picks."
"Then agree to them." Dolan said decisively.
"Second, we want Alan Houston."
After the Knicks agreed to the first condition, Jerry Krause proposed a second condition.
This time, Scott Layden was a little irritated. He grabbed the assistant's microphone and said seriously: "This is impossible, Mr. Krause. It is impossible for us to conjure three unprotected first-round picks out of thin air for you, Alan Houston."
It's a bargaining chip for trading picks. You either want a player or a signing. He's worth two first-round picks, so you can only choose one of the two."
Klaus over there also knew that his request was excessive, so he immediately changed his mind and said: "Then we don't need anyone, but we want four first-round picks?"
"Four?"
Scott Layden has a toothache. Where can he find four unprotected first-round picks? And the scope of the transaction is limited, which is very troublesome.
"Mr. Klaus, after all, Jordan is almost 35 years old. I don't think he is worth so much." He began to counteroffer.
"Mr. Layden, you can take a look at his performance in the past finals, so this is our bottom line. As the number one active player and the number one person in history, this is the value he should have, otherwise he is right.
A humiliation for him."
Jerry Krause's attitude was very tough, he refused to back down even a step, and even raised the banner of Jordan.
The Knicks can only discuss it first, and the negotiations are temporarily suspended.
Jordan and David Frank were invited over. After learning about the Bulls' conditions, he was a little angry. He didn't care that this transaction would overdraw the Knicks' potential. What he was angry about was the Bulls' attitude, which wanted to completely squeeze out his value.
ah!
But it's hard for him to say anything. This transaction bargaining chip has not yet exceeded his bottom line. After all, it is impossible for him to think that he is not worth even four first-round picks, right?
"Can we raise four unprotected first-round picks?" Dolan asked.
Layden shook his head and said: "If the deal is completed, our first-round picks in the next few years will be worthless and cannot be used for transactions, and can only be sold.
Alan Houston, John Starks, Chris Childs, Charlie Ward, and Oakley, apart from the five of them, everyone else has little trade value and can only be used as a backup."
"Oakley better stay," Jordan interjected.
Layden nodded and said: "Then there are only four left. Houston and Starks have to sign and trade first. With four of them, plus our own first-round pick, we should be able to trade four.
However, not being protected is a bit troublesome, as you have to pay a higher price, and it is difficult to trade with the bottom teams, further limiting the scope of transactions."
"Then agree to them, and then you immediately go to raise the first-round pick." Dolan said immediately.
"When I talk to the Bulls again, they don't have any trump cards. Michael has made up his mind and the asking price is too high. Once the talks collapse, they won't be able to withstand the pressure from the league and Michael," Layden said.
"Then let's talk." Dolan said.
Layden nodded and signaled his assistant to contact the Bulls again. After the call was made, he took the phone and said: "Mr. Krause, three other teams' unprotected first-round picks, maybe two other teams' unprotected first-round picks."
Protecting the first round pick and adding Alan Houston is our bottom line. If you refuse, then we will abort the transaction and Michael will choose to retire, you know this."
His words also put great pressure on the Bulls. Jordan went to sign with the Knicks. They knew this attitude very well. If the deal really fell through and Jordan was forced to retire, then they would really gain nothing.
The key is, if Jordan retires and then comes back, he will still go to the Knicks, but they will lose everything.
Of course, they can not buy out the contract and pay him one year's salary, restricting Jordan from returning next season, but that would be meaningless.
First of all, Stern would not allow it. They had promised Stern in person that they would make concessions in Jordan's deal, and that would offend Jordan and his fans to death, so this method was not advisable.
In the end, the Bulls agreed to the Knicks' counteroffer, Alan Hughton + two unprotected first-round picks. The restriction for the two picks was to exclude the Suns, Knicks, Lakers, Jazz, and Pacers.
The team's first-round pick.
After the deal was negotiated, all they had to do was wait for the trading window to open. Once the ice had passed, the transaction could begin, and both parties breathed a sigh of relief.
