Chapter 578 [Three basic salaries, stirring up the situation]
Yang Jian looked at the list of insiders from each team sent by the scouts, and if he wanted to trade, he had to look for players from the fringes. Insiders with good statistics were not cheap, and even if the statistics were average, as long as they were talented, teams would not let them go easily.
Therefore, the Magic management is really awesome. They can directly run away the league's No. 1 center, Shaq O'Neal, leaving nothing for the team.
Yang Jian's primary target is Trail Blazers power forward Jermaine O'Neal. O'Neal Jr. entered the league with the 17th pick in the first round in 1996 and has played with the Trail Blazers for three seasons.
Last season, O'Neal averaged 8.9 minutes per game, 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.4 blocks, and shot 43.4% from the field. His performance in the playoffs was even worse, averaging 6.1 minutes per game, 1.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks.
, shooting 40%.
In the past two seasons, O'Neal Jr. did not perform well. He averaged 2 minutes per game in the playoffs in his rookie season and 3 minutes per game in the second playoffs. From a data perspective, he is undoubtedly a waste.
In fact, the SuperSonics wanted to trade for O'Neal last season, but the Blazers manager rejected it. This time when manager Wally Walker asked again, the other party directly refused and said there was no possibility of a trade.
Ever since Yang Jian scored 85 points in a single game against the Trail Blazers, he has been permanently on the Trail Blazers' blacklist. Even if the Trail Blazers refrigerated O'Neal to death and threw him from upstairs, they would not give him away.
Supersonic, and definitely not really fragrant.
Yang Jian is really to blame for this matter. If he hadn't beaten the Blazers to death in that game, the opponent would never hate him and the Sonics so much. What's more troublesome is that there are quite a few teams that Yang Jian has brutally abused. Jazz, 76
The Hawks, Bulls and other teams are also unwilling to trade with the SuperSonics.
Yang Jian remained calm after receiving the news over the phone: "If you can't trade, just sign someone in the free market. Terry Mills is a free agent. He's a bit slow but he can open up space and shoot."
Wally Walker said: "He only played one game with the Heat last season before being reimbursed. Is there a risk in signing him?"
"If you don't take the risk to sign him, it's impossible for a player with the same style to join with a minimum salary. We have no one at the 4th position, so we must have a substitute. He won't play a lot of time in the regular season. The only thing is to ensure that he is healthy and can play well in the playoffs.
"Let's sign Matt Blount again. I came here for a trial last season. He can make mid-range shots in open spaces, and his mobility is reasonable. He can follow the screen to eat cakes. These two insiders are enough." Yang Jian
He gave a list of what he wanted, three basic salaries.
Wally Walker asked: "The point guard you mentioned, Anthony Carter, has no NBA experience. Are you sure you want to sign this person?"
"Yes, just sign him. We need someone who can steadily dribble the ball across the half court and defend hard. His job is very simple, and his organizational skills are pretty good."
Anthony Carter, nicknamed "Stupid Bird", was an undrafted player in 1998. He had a bumpy career and played for many teams. He was just such an unknown little person, but he had a huge impact on the NBA landscape.
In the 2003 offseason in a parallel world, the 27-year-old Carter planned to exercise the $4.1 million player option to stay with the Miami Heat. Considering that he averaged 4.1 points per game and shot 35.6% from the field, exercising the player option was simply a necessity.
decision.
Unexpectedly, Carter's agent, Bill Duffy, forgot to notify the Heat that he would execute the contract before the deadline on June 30, which directly caused Carter to become a free agent. Duffy's mistake caused the Heat to
The son became rich and the salary space was released from 7 million to 11 million.
So the Heat signed Lamar Odom with a six-year, 65 million contract. The next year, the Heat used Odom as the main bargaining chip to trade for O'Neal from the Lakers.
The Anthony Carter incident caused a huge butterfly effect.
If Carter exercised his player option, the Heat would not be able to acquire O'Neal and they would not win the 2006 championship.
After joining the Lakers, Odom gradually grew into one of Kobe's most important helpers, helping Kobe win two championships and establishing Kobe's great career.
Four years after joining the Heat, O'Neal was traded to the Suns for Shawn Marion. The next year, the Heat traded Marion for O'Neal Jr.
In 2010, O'Neal Jr. left the team, freeing up a lot of salary space. The Heat were able to sign James and Bosh, which almost brought Miami 1, 2, 3, 4... and even 6 and 7 championships, all of which came from
Since Anthony Carter's one signing mistake.
Yang Jian feels that signing Anthony Carter can change the trend of the league in the next 15 years. This is a person who can stir up troubles.
Wally Walker smiled and said: "Isn't this too weak? Maybe there is a strong man in the free market who wants to cut his salary and join."
"Of course it would be better if someone with quality is willing to join. I can accept it without me as long as the lineup remains reasonable."
The two chatted for a few more words and hung up the phone.
Yang Jian has studied the free agent list and does not expect the team to sign an inside star at all. Things like joining Barkley with a minimum salary are rare. If Barkley can maintain self-discipline, the SuperSonics may have won four consecutive championships last season.
, this is why plans are not as good as changes.
Yang Jian is a person who likes to attack and win, and the salaries of big men who can shoot in the league are very high. For example, Robert Horry's contract extension with the Bucks has an average annual salary of 5 million.
Horry averaged 6.8 points, 6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season, and his 37.4% three-point shooting percentage and 0.9 field goals per game are nothing special. How can someone better than him cut his salary and join the SuperSonics?
Ben Wallace is leaving, and the team has no big-name players to join. Yang Jian is confident about next season, because Anthony Mason Jr. will come back. Brad Miller will make some progress, which will be enough.
On July 1st, the NBA free market officially opened.
Ben Wallace joined the Pistons for free for 40 million in 5 years. Osela Harrington joined the Wizards with weak inside strength in 4 years for 16 million. The SuperSonics management did not retain anyone and had no interest in giving Harrington 4 million.
Annual salary.
The media reported the two signings, and many Sonics fans were immediately dissatisfied, believing that the Sonics' inside strength had become weaker. They couldn't defend the Spurs' twin towers this season, and they won't be able to defend them next season without Ben Wallace.
The Sonics' signings in the free market went smoothly. Terry Mills, Matt Blount, and Anthony Carter were all willing to join with a minimum salary, and Stephen Jackson also completed a three-year low-salary extension.
After consideration, the Sonics also signed veteran Darle Ellis for one year at a minimum salary. He is not a good defensive player, but he can also help the team on the offensive end and has a high shooting percentage when catching the ball.
The SuperSonics quickly determined their 15-man lineup for next season, with at least three players rotating in each position. The management did not introduce big names and used multiple signings to strengthen the lineup.
Center: Anthony Mason Jr., Brad Miller, Matt Blount.
Power forward: Detrev Schrempf, Stephen Jackson, Terry Mills.
Small forward: Bruce Bowen, Rashard Lewis, Dale Ellis.
Shooting guards: Yang Jian, Dell Curry, Cuttino Mobley.
Point guard: Gary Payton, Damon Jones, Anthony Carter.
The SuperSonics have the strongest perimeter lineup in the league, Payton has enough energy to play for a long time, and Yang Jian can serve as a point guard.
Yang Jian playing point guard is a trump card for the Sonics. He, Curry, and Mobley can play together to launch fast breaks, and the formation can be very open.
Signing Anthony Carter is for added insurance. If the team encounters injuries, it will be difficult to find someone in the middle of the season.
Yang Jian asked Lewis to spend time at home during the holidays to practice shooting. If he can make progress, he will be very strong at the small forward position next season.
Schrempf can only play power forward. Last season, he didn't move fast enough at the 3rd position and was easily passed by. The Spurs' Sean Elliott took too many free throws in the Western Conference Finals and it wasn't just the referee who whistled.
With a partial whistle, Schrempf couldn't guard him.
Schrempf, who plays power forward, can still perform well and has an obvious role in clearing the air.
Fans all feel that the SuperSonics interior lineup is pretty bad, with either newcomers or veterans. But Yang Jian is very satisfied with the lineup. He is confident that he will lead the team to win the championship again next season!