All-round Athlete

Chapter 799 The Probe from the NBA

Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Kupchak looked at the big old man in front of him with a wry smile.

"Phil, I didn't lie to you. I really didn't have any contact with Zhang Guan or his management team. This report is nothing." Kupchak pointed to the "New York Times" on the table explain.

This big old man is naturally the head coach of the Lakers, "Zen Master" Phil Jackson. After he saw the news in the newspaper, he rushed into Kupchak's office immediately and asked Kupchak to give explain.

"That is to say, what the New York Times said was false?" Phil Jackson believed eight points. He felt that there was no need for Kupchak to lie to himself on this matter.

"Phil, you are the head coach. If I really want to introduce players, how could I not ask for your opinion first? Besides, it is a big-name player like Zhang Guan. We have worked together for so many years, don't you know me well?" What!" Kupchak let out a long sigh, and then said, "To be honest, Zhang Guan is a hot potato now!"

"Why do you say that?" Phil Jackson asked.

"Recently today, I received a total of twenty-nine emails, asking about the possibility of trading Zhang Guan's signing rights." Kupchak paused, and then said: "Yes, you heard that right, twenty-nine Feng, there are only 30 teams in the NBA, which means that everyone is interested in Zhang Guan! Including our old enemy Celtics..."

"The Celtics are strong enough!" Phil Jackson then asked, "Then what are you going to do?"

"What else can I do? I can only tell them that Zhang Guan's signing rights are not for sale! One person has killed the entire US team. If this kind of player falls into the hands of others, it will be a catastrophe for us!" Ku Puchak said here, and sighed again: "If there is no Kobe in our team, I will definitely find a way to get Zhang Guan to the Lakers."

"That's right, as long as Kobe is on the court, he is the leader of the team. He must be... Maybe when he is no longer the leader of the team, that is the day he retires." Phil Jackson silently nodded.

"I can't wait for someone to stir up the flames!" Kupchak pointed to the newspaper on the table and said, "I think this is a test, a test for us, a test for Zhang Guan, and a test for other teams. Temptation. And the manipulator behind it is likely to be the Boston Celtics, or the New York Knicks!"

When talking about the New York Knicks, Kupchak glanced at Phil Jackson inadvertently, but when Kupchak was disappointed, Phil Jackson's expression did not change at all.

...

New York, next to Fifth Avenue, the Olympic Tower building is magnificent. Since this building is next to New York Central Park, you can have a panoramic view of Central Park.

The headquarters of the NBA is located in the Olympic Building. At this time, NBA Commissioner David Stern is looking at the New York Times with an indecipherable smile.

Vice President Xiao Hua stood not far away, and he asked: "President, there is no movement from the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kupchak's reaction is also very calm."

"Sure enough, as I expected, the Lakers already have a Kobe, and it is impossible to accommodate another Zhang Guan." David Stern sighed.

"Mr. Chairman, I don't understand why you use this method to test the Lakers?" Xiao Hua asked.

"I am not only testing the Lakers, but also testing Zhang Guan." David Stern's face flashed with worry, and he continued: "Eight years ago, Dayao came to the NBA and opened up a world for us. The largest market in the world. Now, we have to prepare for how we can maintain this market if we lose Dayao.”

"Lost?" Xiao Hua was taken aback for a moment. With Dayao's level, it is obviously impossible to be dismissed by the team like other cat and dog players. The only possibility for the so-called "lose" is to retire.

After reaching a certain age, I really can't play anymore and then retire, or I have to retire early because of injuries!

Silver knew that David Stern's "lost" must be referring to the latter.

After thinking of this, a wisp of cold sweat couldn't help but break out on Xiao Hua's bald forehead. He thought about it, Dayao should only be 30 years old now, if he retired due to injury, it would indeed be a bit early.

30 years old is the peak youth for many NBA stars. Many big-name players do not retire until they are 35 years old. Some players who maintain good condition can even play until they are 40 years old. And like Dayao, if he is willing to accept the basic salary of a veteran, it is estimated that even if he is over 40 years old, there will be teams vying for it. After all, the commercial value behind him has far exceeded a team spot or a team. The value of a veteran's basic salary.

Since entering the NBA, Dayao has brought too much commercial growth to the entire NBA, and according to previous calculations, this kind of commercial value addition brought by Dayao can last at least until 2016, but if Now if Dayao retires, it will obviously be a big loss for the entire NBA.

The NBA is a business, and in the eyes of those who do business, no profit is a loss, and even less profit is a loss.

"Mr. President, what do you mean?" Xiao Hua asked softly.

"Yao's leg injury is not optimistic." Stern hesitated, and finally told Xiao Hua the news.

Xiao Hua's eyes widened. Since Stern said that he was not optimistic, he must be in a very bad situation.

Silver did not inquire about the source of Stern's news, nor did he ask whether the news was reliable. Stern has been the president of the NBA for nearly 30 years, and has developed the NBA into the most successful professional sports league in the world. The relationships and contacts behind him are beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Stern must have had his own unique and accurate sources.

I only heard Stern continue to say: "So we must plan ahead and find Yao's replacement, and Zhang Guan is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate."

"Zhang Guan said two years ago that he would not enter the NBA for the time being. So this time, you plan to test Zhang Guan through the mouth of the media?" Xiao Hua said.

"Yes, I really hope that Zhang Guan can change his mind. Zhang Guan's reputation is enough to drive the growth of our NBA around the world." Stern said

"Then what about the Lakers?" Xiao Hua continued to ask: "If Zhang Guan really decides to enter the NBA, what should the Lakers do? The Lakers have Kobe, so are they going to choose between Kobe and Zhang Guan?" What? Besides, Phil Jackson is also a tough guy."

"If Zhang Guan has the will to enter the NBA, then we need to urge the Lakers to trade Zhang Guan's signing rights. We can give the Lakers appropriate compensation, such as draft picks, such as special cases of injuries." Stern said Said.

Of course Stern knows that the Lakers will not trade Zhang Guan's signing rights, so when necessary, the league can only put pressure on the Lakers, and then give the Lakers some benefits. It is Stern's best method to use both kindness and power, and to give the two dates a stick. For example, the Cavaliers traded away James and got the compensation for the No. 1 pick.

I only heard Stern continue to say: "New Yorkers will definitely be very interested in Zhang Guan. They are not short of money. Even if they give Zhang Guan a big contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, they will not be stingy. What's more, for a top player in the world For superstars, only big cities can be worthy of their fame and worth! It is also in the best interests of the league."

When Stern said this, his eyes flashed coldly: "Of course, if any small city team wants to cut off the Hu, don't blame me for being rude!"

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