Chapter 709 [Extraordinary scandal, veteran hugging his legs]
Jordan's fans only denounced Yang Jian for a few days before they were forced to shut down because a huge scandal broke out about their idol.
In early July, the U.S. federal government banned a striptease venue called the "Gold Club" and imposed a heavy fine on the club's director, Kaplan.
This incident caused a great sensation because many celebrities visited this club and received x-services. In addition to Jordan, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, movie star Bruce Willis, singer Madonna, King Gu of Sweden, etc. Stef and others were involved.
In order to make money, Kaplan did all sorts of crooked things. He improved various measures of the club and launched the "3S" service - sex, secrecy and security, which was widely praised.
Thanks to these considerate services, the Gold Club has gradually become famous far and wide, attracting a large number of "distinguished guests" to patronize.
In addition, Kaplan also used his crooked brains to instruct the strippers to take out the prepared credit card statements when the customers were drunk, ask them to sign, and directly transfer the amount in the credit cards to their own pockets.
He also provides credit, loan and other services to customers who cannot afford to spend. The interest rates are exorbitantly high, basically above 50%, which is even higher than usury.
The club was investigated and banned because Kaplan was involved in the underworld. Kaplan runs some businesses that are not on the table and needs the support of the Gambino family. In return, he will provide a steady stream of money.
Kaplan admitted to organizing prostitution, racketeering, credit card fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, etc. and was sentenced to 16 months in prison and a $5 million fine.
Kaplan provided several pages of client lists, including a group of NBA stars. This is simply an NBA player's club.
It is worth mentioning that Ewing testified in court as a member and talked endlessly about how happy he was at the Gold Club and explained all the details clearly. But Jordan only admitted that he had gone to see a striptease. Performed and received no other services.
Then Jordan was ridiculed by the crowd, and almost no one believed that Jordan just went to watch a striptease show.
You lived in Chicago most of the time, and after buying shares of the Wizards, you lived in Washington. You said that you flew all the way to a famous brothel in Atlanta just to watch a striptease. Are you treating everyone as a scumbag?
You know, there are normal strip clubs everywhere in the United States and they operate legally. The media has previously revealed that Iverson likes to go to strip clubs to throw money. He is a bunch of idiots.
Jordan couldn't see striptease in Chicago and Washington? His excuse is purely insulting to people's intelligence.
In order to maintain the glorious image of their idol, Jordan's die-hard fans started a heated debate with the "black men" and had no time to question Yang Jian's inappropriate remarks about Jordan.
It's amazing. In the parallel world, there is a Chinese editor who thinks that if Jordan comes back to play in the regular season, he will save the U.S. economy. Obviously he can't even save the Wizards, and he has turned all the young people in the team into CBAs. teammate.
Yang Jian stayed in Los Angeles for two weeks. Before going to France, he communicated with SuperSonics manager Wally Walker and finalized some teammates for next season.
First of all, the SuperSonics renewed small forward Bruce Bowen's contract for three years and $5 million. In the free market, no team offered Bowen a high salary, including the Spurs, who were very interested in him.
Of course, the SuperSonics have to renew Bowen's contract, which is a bargain price. His offense is terrible, but his defense is very hard.
The SuperSonics did not renew last season's fringe point guard Troy Hudson. Hudson's performance was terrible. As a convulsive guard, he could only win once every 10 games.
The team needed a backup point guard as insurance, so Yang Jian suggested signing Tyronn Lue, whom no one wanted in the free market.
Tyronn Lue, who is 183cm tall, has been a marginal player with the Lakers for three seasons. He did not reach the finals and did not get a contract extension.
In a parallel world, Tyronn Lue became famous because he defended Iverson in the Finals, and was known as "Iverson's nemesis." Now, the most important game of his career has been missed by Butterfly, and Iverson has not taken away from him.
Cross over.
Without guarding Iverson, Tyronn Lue is just a fringe guard who averaged 8.7 minutes, 1.9 points and 0.7 assists in the playoffs. He is a defensive black hole with a shooting percentage of 34.5%.
How could any team be willing to offer a contract to such a player? If Yang Jian didn't propose signing him, Tyronn Lue would have no choice but to participate in the summer league and work hard to get a basic salary.
Yang Jian feels that Tyronn Lue is still somewhat capable. He does a good job defending small guards. He is very fast and very sensitive. He can shoot three-pointers and his shooting rate is not low, otherwise he would not be in 1998.
Selected with the 23rd pick in the first round.
Although Tyronn Lue's performance in the NBA was mediocre, he also had success in college. In his junior season, Tyronn Lue averaged 21.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2 steals per game, which was the performance of a superstar.
The most important thing is that Tyronn Lue is a point guard who doesn't mess around. The way he organizes the offense is to bring the ball across the half court, pass it to the core of the field, and then wait for opportunities to catch the ball and shoot.
Even if he only gets a one-year minimum salary contract, Tyronn Lue is very happy because he may win a championship with the SuperSonics.
Anthony Mason Jr. is also a free agent, and the Heat poached him with a three-year, $15 million contract. This contract is a premium because Mason is already 35 years old.
After Mourning's kidney disease, the Heat lacked inside players. Mason has mid-range shooting and support capabilities, which is what the Heat desperately need. Mason has already won three championship rings with the SuperSonics, and he wants to make more money next.
The management respected Mason's decision and did not retain him. Rashard Lewis has replaced Mason as the team's starting No. 4. Re-signing the young Lewis next season is the key.
Detrev Schrempf retired and Mark Blount was poached by the Celtics. The Sonics urgently need to strengthen their interior lineup.
The team signed veteran center Patrick Ewing in the free market with a low salary of 1 million. "King Kong" has reached the end of his career and is no longer a star. The only thing he wants to do now is to win the championship.
The Magic offered Ewing a two-year, $5 million contract, but he rejected it. Ewing knew that if he went to the Magic, he would never win a championship in his life. Only by joining the SuperSonics could he hope to realize his dream.
Wally Walker also signed "The Rock" Mitch Richmond with a one-year low salary.
Like Ewing, Richmond was brought in by himself and only received an annual salary of 1 million.
He only played 37 games with the Wizards last season due to injury, and his physical fitness declined significantly and he was almost unable to play. He is 36 years old this year, but he is ready to retire. In the last season of his career, he longs to win a championship ring.
39-year-old veteran big man Kevin Willis also wants to join the team, but is not favored by the management.
At this time, the SuperSonics already had too many big men inside. Together with rookie Dalembert, who was selected at the end of the first round, there were already three big men over 210cm tall, and Willis was the fourth.
Forwards Lewis and Danny Ferry are also 208cm tall, which seems to be inconsistent with the SuperSonics' idea of playing fast break.
Therefore, Wally Walker did not want to sign Willis. After Yang Jian found out about this, he asked the manager to sign Willis. Next season, the SuperSonics can also use a twin-tower strategy. The big man lineup will suffer from the pick-and-roll and provide cover for his teammates.
The quality is relatively high.
Yang Jian feels that the substitute lineup does not need to be very reasonable and can defeat the opponent by relying on offense.
The most important thing is that Willis has been selected as an All-Star and does not have a championship ring. Yang Jian is willing to help some veterans realize their dreams. Anyone without a ring can come to the SuperSonics as long as they do not need a high salary.
It doesn't matter if the veteran can't play anymore, as long as he can play for a while in the regular season. Yang Jian doesn't need his teammates to do too much, he can take on more tasks.
He has too much physical strength and is often unable to use his strength.
However, people with mental problems, even if they want to join with a minimum salary, Yang Jian will not agree. For example, Ricky Davis proposed to join the SuperSonics, but Yang Jian asked the manager to refuse.
At this time, the team had gathered 15 people, and Yang Jian thought it was enough to defend the title.