Almighty Coach

"Hospital for the elderly, the weak, the sick and the disabled? The new season hasn't even started, yet we have another nickname!" Dai Li pointed to the magazine in his hand.

"You seem to be very happy. This is not a compliment to us... wait, what is 'again'?" Johnson asked with wide eyes.

"We were called the 'Los Angeles Overtime Team' last season, you must have heard of it?" Dai Li replied.

"I'm not in the mood to make fun of you right now. I'm the general manager of the team. I'm responsible for running the team. If the players we signed this summer perform poorly, I will be responsible. " Johnson continued.

"I know, what you mean is that if the players don't play well, you will take the blame for me. But haven't you seen the training of the players with your own eyes?" Dai Li smiled indifferently, and then asked again : "How is Ronnie's affairs going?"

"I inquired secretly, and there are indeed teams interested in him, but they are concerned about the price. Now there is no team with more than 20 million salary space. Those teams that can offer Ronnie, At most, we can offer a salary of 10 million to 15 million, but those teams are also worried, and we will match the offer." Johnson said.

"What about Ronnie? He still insists on a contract worth 100 million yuan?" Dai Li continued to ask.

"Ronnie's agent has relented and expressed his willingness to agree to a five-year offer of 90 million US dollars, but the request for the next two years is a player option." Johnson replied.

Dai Li thought for a while, then suddenly asked, "Do you think we can exchange Ronnie for a first-round pick next year?"

...

Back in time a few days ago, the Clippers had just announced that they had signed Osef.

The agent contacted Ronnie immediately.

"Ronnie, have you read the news? The rumors not long ago have become facts. The Clippers have really signed Osef." The agent said.

"I just found out. What? Do you think that addict can replace me?" Ronnie said with a look of disdain.

"Ossef certainly can't replace your position in the Clippers, but if Osseff can really enter the rotation, he will definitely take up your playing time. Imagine if you lose five or six minutes per game. time, so can you still get the current data?" The agent asked.

"Then what should I do?" Ronnie asked subconsciously.

"I think we should agree to an offer of 90 million for five years!" the agent replied.

"Damn it, you were the one who asked me to ask for a maximum salary contract, and then you were the one who asked me to cut the price. You swore that the Clippers would agree to our request, and you would help me fight for a high salary, but in the end, we still To accept their offer of 90 million for five years, everything is back to the beginning! Your agent is useless!" Ronnie scolded angrily, he felt that the agent had deceived him.

"I admit that I am blindly optimistic about this year's situation. You must know that in the past two years, many players have received big contracts, but this year's market conditions are not as good as the previous two years. But I am also a victim, you If I didn’t get the maximum salary, I would also get a lot less commission, wouldn’t I? And I didn’t expect the Clippers to be so cunning. They deliberately made an appearance that they would match any offer, so that other teams would not dare to You quote, but you are actually delaying the time." The broker explained.

"I don't care about that, what I want now is to get the contract done as soon as possible!" Ronnie took a deep breath, calmed down, and then said: "Okay, 90 million in five years is 90 million in five years, but the last two years I have to decide on the player option, and I will jump out of the contract in advance, and I must have a maximum salary!"

...

Two days later, news broke that Hall had signed with the Clippers. The agent contacted Ronnie again.

"I have communicated with the management of the Clippers, and they believe that the five-year price of 90 million is too high." The agent said with a guilty conscience.

"What? They offered me a five-year 90 million contract before, but now they've backed off?" Ronnie became completely angry.

"The Clippers just signed Hall. Although Hall is a shooting guard, he has a height of 6 feet 6 inches. He has comprehensive skills and is strong enough. He can be a guest striker. The Clippers believe that they are in There are already enough backup candidates on the front line..." the manager said helplessly.

"Do you believe what they say? Hall has lost the menisci of both knees. He is crippled when he is actually on the field! Just relying on him to replace me? It's a dream!" Ronnie said disdainfully.

"Of course I know what you said. The Clippers just want to use this as an excuse to force us to lower the price." The agent said.

"I won't lower the price! 90 million in five years, I'm already at a disadvantage, and I won't give up any more!" Ronnie snorted coldly.

"But in case, I mean in case, Hall is really able to play, even if a game only plays seven or eight minutes, it will take up the playing time of other players. The key is that the Clippers will play in terms of players. There are more choices!" The agent said.

Ronnie understood what the agent meant, he snorted coldly, and said, "You mean to ask me to lower the price again?"

The agent advised earnestly: "Ronnie, you have to understand that the NBA is a business, and business negotiation is a process of mutual concessions. I think we should lower the price a little bit more! My bottom line is 8,500 for five years. Ten thousand dollars."

"85 million in five years?" After hearing this figure, Ronnie was furious, and he said in a growling tone: "The Clippers offered me this price before the end of last season." , now I have waited for a few months, but the price is still the same, are you kidding me?"

"You have to know that this summer, the NBA's market is not good, and there are not many big contracts produced throughout the summer. The situation is like this, and we have nothing to do..." The agent began to persuade again with earnestness.

...

The sports news across the United States has been slaughtered by the news of Raymond's comeback.

Raymond is different from Hall. Hall’s main position on the field is shooting guard, while Raymond is a swingman. He can really play small forward, and the news also broke the news that the Clippers promised Raymond A starting position, that's why he chose to come back with the Clippers.

"Give Raymond a starter, so what position should I play? Do you want me to play as a substitute?" Ronnie said angrily.

"Raymond can also play the 2nd position, maybe he will appear in the starting guard position..." The agent comforted him, and when Ronnie calmed down, he said: "I have another bad news, 8500 in five years Wan's, was also rejected by the Clippers!"

"What?" Ronnie's anger that had just subsided was ignited again. He was very angry, and then asked: "What is the price given by the Clippers?"

The agent hesitated for a moment, but still answered: "45 million for four years, and the team's option for the next two years!"

"Damn, they did it on purpose, the Clippers must have done it on purpose! This is an insult to me, well, tell them, I won't sign this contract! Don't say it's 85 million in five years, it's 90 million in five years , I won't sign anymore!" Ronnie burst into anger.

"Ronnie, calm down. You have to understand that you are a restricted free agent now. Even if you don't accept the offer from the Clippers, according to the rules, after October 1st, the qualification offer will also take effect. You can only Continue to play for the Clippers. Unless they take the initiative to withdraw the qualification offer, this is tantamount to giving up your signing rights and making you a completely free agent. But they will never do this." The agent continued to persuade.

"Damn it! It's so hateful! I won't stay in the Clippers any longer. You can contact other teams to see if anyone is willing to offer me an offer. I'm leaving the Clippers!" Ronnie Said viciously.

"I think there should be teams interested in you, but I'm afraid they won't offer a big contract." The agent said.

"I don't care, even if I lose some money, I will leave. In short, I don't want to stay in the Clippers any longer!" Ronnie said resolutely.

...

According to NBA rules, if a player who has just fulfilled his four-year rookie contract wants to become a restricted free agent, the home team needs to make a qualification offer before June 30 in order to obtain the player's priority matching right. If this qualifying offer is not made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. If the parent team withdraws the qualification offer, the player will also become a free agent. The amount of qualification quotation is 125% of the previous year's contract, or the basic salary plus 200,000, whichever is higher.

After the home team makes an offer, the player becomes a restricted free agent. At this time, he can negotiate with the home team to renew his contract. Other teams can also give him an invitation offer, and the home team has the right to match any invitation offer.

If no team makes an invitation offer to the player, and the home team does not reach a new contract with the player, then the previous qualification offer will take effect on October 1. The qualification offer is a one-year contract. After the player signs the qualification offer contract, his identity is still a restricted free agent. Until March 1 of the following year, other teams can still offer him. The team still has the right to match.

After March 1, the player becomes a free agent in the true sense. After the season is over and the player has fulfilled the contract of the qualification offer, he can sign with any team without restrictions.

If the player never accepts any offer, including a qualifying offer, then one year later, the home team can offer him another qualifying offer, and the player is still a restricted free agent. That is to say, if the player does not get a big contract, but does not want to be wronged to accept the qualification offer, then he will always be a restricted free agent, and the home team will always have the priority to match.

...

The Clippers conference room.

"The general manager of the Nuggets contacted me. They want to get Ronnie. They want to offer Ronnie an invitation contract, but they are worried. We will match the offer. So ask me to talk about it." Johnson said .

"How much are the Nuggets willing to spend?" Dai Li asked.

"60 million in four years, an average of 15 million a year. With our salary space, we can match this figure. We are still some distance away from the luxury tax threshold." Johnson replied.

Dai Li frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "What I want to know is, if we match the offers from other teams, can we still trade Ronnie?"

"Yes, but Ronnie's consent is required." Johnson replied.

"I think that the Nuggets' shot-blocking king" Calabi is very good. He is tall and long-armed, and has a good jumping ability. His footwork is very flexible, and he can switch guards. His technical characteristics are very suitable for the current small ball style of play." Dai Li said.

"Are you describing Calabi five years ago?" Johnson shook his head, and continued: "He is 35 years old, and now he is only tall and long, and he can no longer jump, and his feet are not so flexible. Moreover, he has often been injured in the past few years. In the past three seasons, he has not been able to stay healthy in one season. Now he is more concerned about completing the last two years of his pension contract."

"In other words, the current Calabi is considered a garbage contract? Then let the Nuggets get a pick for next year! With a pick, a garbage contract can be dealt with, and a timely combat power can be obtained. , I guess the Nuggets will agree." Dai Li said.

"I know what you're thinking, you want to match the Nuggets' offer, and then trade Ronnie to the Nuggets to earn a draft pick, right?" Johnson asked.

Dai Li nodded, but Johnson shook his head: "Your thinking is not allowed by the league. According to the league's rules on the veto power of transactions, by matching the restricted free agents left in the contract, the team If you want to trade him during the current season, you must get the consent of the player, and the destination of the transaction must not be the team that signed the player before. That is to say, if the Nuggets offer Ronnie, after we match , Ronnie will have the right to veto the trade next season, and even if Ronnie agrees to the trade, he cannot be traded to the Nuggets. So your idea will not work."

"So that's how it is." Dai Li thought for a few seconds, with an old fox-like smile on his face: "Since we can't directly trade with Nuggets, we can ask a third party for help!

...

"Ronnie, I just received an invitation contract from the Kings, 60 million for four years." The agent said excitedly.

"It's only 60 million in four years!" Ronnie seemed very dissatisfied.

60 million for four years, an average of 15 million a year, which is far from the maximum salary he asked for before.

"However, the guarantee part is only 52 million." The agent continued.

"What? You need to subtract 8 million?" Ronnie seemed even more dissatisfied. He shook his head directly and said, "No sign!"

"Ronnie, let's consider the king's offer. It is estimated that this is the highest invitation contract we can receive so far." The agent then persuaded: "If you don't accept it, then we can only wait until October." 1 day qualification quotation takes effect."

"Then wait until the qualification offer takes effect. Anyway, before March 1 next year, other teams can still offer me an invitation contract!" Ronnie said with a look of dissatisfaction.

"By that time, do you think other teams will have cap space?" the agent asked rhetorically.

"I can endure with the Clippers for a year, and next year, I will become a free agent, and I will get a maximum salary!" Ronnie said confidently.

"The premise is that next season, the Clippers will give you enough opportunities." The agent sighed, and then said: "Last season, you were the core of the Clippers, and your statistics have also improved a lot. This season, the Clippers know that you will leave, will you become the core of the team? Will they continue to give you so many possessions and shooting rights?"

"This..." Ronnie knew that what the manager said was true. If you don't get enough ball rights and unlimited fire rights, it is impossible to generate such high data, and asking for a maximum salary is even more impossible.

"Ronnie, you are still young, and you have plenty of opportunities. We might as well agree to the king's offer first. When you make your next contract, I will help you fight for the maximum salary!"

...

After a restricted free agent receives an offer from another team, the home team has three days to look at it and consider whether to match it.

However, the day after Ronnie accepted the Kings contract, the Clippers matched the offer.

"Ronnie, the Clippers matched the King's offer," the agent said.

"So, I will stay in the Clippers for the next four years? No, I ask for a trade, I don't want to play for the Clippers! They are a bunch of liars, a bunch of bastards who don't keep their promises! Even if they give me 60 million, I will I don’t want to stay in the Clippers any longer!” Ronnie showed resistance.

"It's not 60 million, but 52 million." The agent sighed, and then said: "According to the league rules, the Clippers need to match the guarantee part of the contract, which is 52 million!"

"Bastards, those bastards! They scammed me for another 8 million, and I won't sign this contract!" Ronnie shouted.

"Ronnie, there is only one person in NBA history who chose to repent after his home team matched the offer. In the end, he lost his foothold in the NBA. Fortunately, he is a Rockets player, so he can go to the Chinese basketball league The league will never allow such a thing to happen. The signing and offer process is flawless. If players do not abide by the rules of the league, the restricted player market will become a mess. You don’t want to fight with the NBA for Enemy?"

"But I just don't want to stay in the Clippers! Well, you go and tell the Clippers to trade me!" Ronnie said.

...

The next day, the agent came to Ronnie's house again.

"The Clippers have agreed to trade you to another team. However, as a matched player, you have the right to veto transactions for one season, so the Clippers need your transaction authorization. In addition, they also told me that they can currently There are not many people to choose to trade with," the broker said.

"No matter where you go, as long as you don't stay in the Clippers!" Ronnie signed the transaction authorization letter without hesitation.

...

On this day, two pieces of news appeared in the media, both about Ronnie.

First, the Clippers matched the King's offer to Ronnie, and then they traded Ronnie to the Nuggets, and the Nuggets paid veteran Calabi for this, and the first-round pick in the following year (top five pick protection), and 4 million in cash.

...

"Coach Li, I really didn't expect you to use this method to complete the transaction. First let the Kings give Ronnie an invitation contract, set a guarantee of 52 million, and then we match the offer. You guessed that Ronnie didn't want to stay in the fast Ship, will inevitably ask to leave, and then came along and traded him to the Nuggets, we exchanged for a first-round pick. And it is also good for the Nuggets, the Nuggets originally planned to spend 60 million in four years Get Ronnie's, and they're only paying $52 million that way," Johnson began.

"That's why in this transaction, the Nuggets are willing to pay us an additional 4 million in cash. This is our reward for helping them save money." Dai Li said.

"And the king, thanks to their help, offered Ronnie an invitation contract." Johnson said.

"The king is returning our favor. We helped them with the second-round pick in the draft before." Dai Li replied.

Johnson suddenly remembered that in the draft not long ago, the Kings took a fancy to a second-round pick, and then exchanged a second-round pick with the Clippers to get that rookie. Because of this incident, the king owed the Clippers a favor, and now, the king happened to repay the favor.