Bishop of the Devil

Richard's draft picks have always been unconventional.

For example, in 1996, this guy picked two high school students...

This year, it is even more exaggerated, choosing two European players!

Old and American fans actually really look down on foreign players, regardless of titles like the King of Europe, they just look down on them.

Except for the NCAA and NBA, other basketball players are scum in their eyes...

At least in this era, when there are not many foreign players emerging in the old American professional league, this is how these fans feel!

Now Richard directly selected two foreign players, which made them unacceptable...

Are there no players left in the United States? !

…

The draft has come to an end, and now comes the next thing Richard has to face.

That's the issue of contract renewal.

Bowen has already confirmed his departure from the team, so Richard no longer has to worry about Bowen...

In fact, a player like Bowen can thrive no matter where he is. He has a job on his hands. He will never be unemployed in the NBA just by relying on defense.

So there is no need for Richard to worry about Bowen. It is better to deal with other people's contracts first.

After thinking about it, Richard contacted Rashid directly.

Auburn Lacob, among these five people, Bowen and Rasheed are not included in Richard's team building plan for next season...

"Rashid, has any team contacted you?" Richard asked Rashid with a dry smile.

This question also allowed Rashid to roughly understand what Richard meant.

He can see clearly. In fact, Richard introduced so many power forward players in last season's draft, and he had already expected today.

"Coach, I just wanted to ask you to help me give advice, but many teams have invited me!" Rashid said with a smile.

He is a mature player, he is almost 26 years old now, and he did not say anything that he shouldn't have said.

"Oh? Tell me, which teams are they? I can help you give advice!" Richard said with a smile.

"Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Rockets, Clippers..."

Rashid directly reported a long list of team names, which surprised Richard.

He didn't expect that the teams were so hungry and started hooking up with Rasheed.

But it's normal to think about it. In the three years since Rasheed came to the Trail Blazers, his strength has been obvious to all. He is an extremely powerful two-way forward who can attack and defend well. It is not difficult to understand that various teams are chasing such a player.

"Which teams gave them maximum salary?" Richard asked.

It is impossible for all these teams to provide Rasheed with a maximum salary offer. For example, the Bucks are unlikely to offer Rasheed a maximum salary because they just announced that they have renewed Ray Allen's contract with a six-year, $70.9 million contract. …

Stars like the 1996 generation who have already played are all facing the problem of contract renewal, and people like Iverson, Ray Allen, Marbury, Raheem, etc. are all signed with maximum salary contracts, which is six years. $70.9 million.

As for No. 2 Camby, his contract is much smaller than these people...

Considering that Rahim has signed a maximum salary contract, Rashid's strength is no worse than Rahim's, and his defense is even better. He must be looking for a maximum salary contract.

Therefore, Rashid probably won't consider a team like the Bucks that cannot provide a maximum salary.

"The Bulls, Raptors and Cavaliers all provided six-year, $70.9 million maximum salary contracts..." Rasheed said with a smile.

Richard nodded, "Then which team do you prefer to join now?"

"I don't know, so now I want you, coach, to give me some advice..." Rashid said distressedly.

He can't make up his mind now, mainly because there are too many teams to choose from...

If only one team offered a maximum salary, then he wouldn't have to ask Richard for advice.

"Bulls, I think it should be the best choice. After all, Laimbeer is an acquaintance, so he can't treat you badly. The Brand they won this year is very good. If he forms an inside combination with you, the two of you still have a lot of potential." It’s a chance to achieve some results in the Eastern Conference!” Richard analyzed.

"Okay! I actually think the Bulls are good, but I can't make up my mind. Since you recommend the Bulls, coach, then I'll join the Bulls..." Rashid was also very happy. When Richard recommended the Bulls, he didn't say anything. He identified the Bulls as his franchise target.

In fact, there is nothing to pick. The strength of these three teams is average in the Eastern Conference, and they all offer maximum salary contracts...

No matter which team you join, it actually makes no difference.

Now that the Bulls have familiar faces, joining the Bulls will make Rasheed more comfortable...

At least there won't be any quarrel with the head coach. Laimbeer is one of his own and is unlikely to find irritation with Rashid.

Moreover, Brand, the Bulls' top pick this year, is also from West Lafayette. If Rasheed and Brand join forces, who in the Bulls team would dare to say no...

…

After Rashid left, it didn't take long for Ranbir to call and thank Richard.

He admires the player Rashid very much, so even if he knows that the Trail Blazers may have better players leaving, he spares no effort to promote Rashid to join his team.

Maybe the main reason is that these two people have something in common...

…

Rasheed has definitely left the team, and Artest has not been able to get it. The Auburn Hills Palace combination originally planned by Richard did not succeed, which is quite a pity...

After dealing with Rashid's matter, Richard got more and more headache.

Because the next step is to deal with Oubenko's contract...

Ben's current strength is actually far beyond the normal level!

The rebounding strength reached 96 points, which is the top level in NBA history!

In addition to his rebounding ability, Richard also spent some time on Ben...

That is a famous spot, an extremely precious famous spot!

Thanks to Richard's "effort", the value that Big Ben now plays on the court has far exceeded the concept of blue-collar work.

Therefore, no matter what, Richard must sign the contract no matter what.

If you don't sign it, you will be sorry for yourself and the team!

The most important thing is that it won't work without signing a big money. Without the big money, Richard will not be able to find a player who can replace the big money. Even Rodman, who is at his peak, in Richard's opinion, is not as good as he is now. The book is valuable!

After improving his free throw ability, Ben has no shortcomings on the court!

…

Big Ben will definitely sign him, but now Richard is worried about Ou and Kobe.

Kobe is doing great right now. In the season that just ended, he won double MVPs!

Not only that, winning the regular season MVP at the age of 21 directly broke the historical record, making Kobe the youngest regular season MVP in the entire NBA history!

Even Rose of the Windy City in later generations actually won the regular season MVP at the age of 22, setting a record for the youngest MVP!

It is almost certain that no one can surpass the record that Kobe has set now for at least the next twenty years!

As for the FMVP record, Kobe is not the youngest to win the FMVP at the age of 21. This record is currently held by Magic Johnson, who won the FMVP at the age of 20...

But even so, Kobe is the second youngest player in history to win the FMVP, second only to Magic Johnson!

With these two honors in hand, one can imagine how popular Kobe is right now!

He is directly praised as the man closest to God, the first shooting guard under Jordan!

The current number one shooting guard in the league!

If you were the head coach of another team, I'm afraid unless you have sulfuric acid in your head, you would never have the idea of ​​not renewing Kobe's contract...

And now Richard really has the idea of ​​not renewing Kobe's contract.

Richard is not the head coach of other teams, he is a time traveler who has opened his eyes...

Kobe is naturally strong, especially now, under Richard's training, he is ridiculously strong!

However, in Richard's opinion, Xiaoao's value is not weaker than that of Kobe...

This is definitely not Richard's brain, but based on the analysis of the draft situation in recent years and the next few years.

Xiao Ou entered the league in 1996, which was the starting point of time. To this point in time, it has been exactly three years!

In the past three years, among the powerful insiders that have emerged in the league, who can be comparable to or better than O'Brien?

There is only one Duncan, and there is no more...

Although Brand's strength is good, he is still slightly inferior to Xiaoao due to his height.

At least his offensive and defensive capabilities at the basket are not as good as those of Xiaoao...

In the 2000 draft, let alone O'Neill's level, there wasn't even an insider who could help Brand.

Swift can be ranked second, and Przbilla can be selected in the top ten.

In 2001, there might be a Pau Gasol...

As for Pau Gasol's strength, he is actually on the same level as O'Brien.

Of course, what I’m talking about here is when we were at the same peak...

From 1996 to 2001, in five years, insiders of Ou's level were a Duncan and a Gasol...

Then, it's gone.

Even if Richard has extraordinary abilities, he cannot conjure up a rookie player out of thin air that is comparable to O'Neill.

If Richard lets O'Brien leave, the Blazers' strength in the penalty area will simply not be able to maintain their current competitiveness.

The reason why the Trail Blazers have been strong in the past two years is because of their strong inside competitiveness. If they cannot maintain their inside competitiveness, they will not be able to beat the Spurs or the Lakers.

As for the loss of the team's outside firepower after Kobe left, Richard already has a plan to deal with it.

One is the newly acquired Ginobili...

The second is Tracy McGrady, who is ready to be traded from the Raptors...

…

Let Ou go, and the Blazers' overall strength may drop from 10 points to 8 points.

Letting Kobe go, because of the supplement of subsequent players, although it is difficult to reach Kobe's level, the Blazers' strength will probably drop from 10 points to 9 points.

One eight points, one nine points, this is an account that can be easily settled.

…

"Boy, come to my office this afternoon, let's talk..." Richard called Kobe.

"Don't go..."

As soon as he received a call from Richard and heard that Richard wanted him to go to the office, Kobe simply refused to go.

He is very aware of the current situation...

Bowen went to Richard's office and then officially announced his departure from the team.

Rashid went to Richard's office, and then it was officially announced that he was leaving the team...

Now it's Kobe's turn!

He really doesn't want to leave the Trail Blazers, not at all.

Even though he has considerable confidence in his own strength, he also knows that everything he has now is given by the Trail Blazers.

He didn't want to leave, and he couldn't bear to leave...

"Boy, now is not the time to be willful. Come over and have a chat..." Richard said to Kobe somewhat guiltily.

…

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Kobe reluctantly appeared in Richard's office, with a look of reluctance.

"Why did you let me go? Why didn't you let Ben and Jermaine go!" Kobe asked Richard with a stinky face...

"Rashid and Bowen are leaving too. Boy, I think you are itchy. You dare to talk to me with such an attitude!" Richard gave Kobe a white eye.

"I don't care!! I won't leave!"

Kobe sat down on the sofa in Richard's office and started acting rogue...

"Be mature, man. If you really want to stay, it's not impossible. We can probably offer you an annual salary of three million. Are you willing to stay?" Richard chuckled.

"Uh, okay..." Kobe straightened up on the sofa.

"Seriously, coach, if you let me go, you will regret it. Aren't you afraid that I will join the Jazz?"

"Let me make it clear to the coach first. If I leave the team, I will not join those weak teams. I want to continue to compete for the championship!"

"As you said, winning is addictive. I am addicted to winning now. I will not join a team that loses every day!"

"I just want money now, and I also want to compete for the championship..."

…

Richard rolled his eyes, why don't you want to go to heaven...

"That's not right, coach, you have to understand. I was the double MVP last season. If you let me go, do you believe the fans will scold you bloody..." Kobe suddenly laughed evilly...

Richard waved his hand angrily, "Just stop talking, and don't worry about this."

"Do you have a favorite team now? Don't tell me, you kid has never thought about this day..."

Kobe smiled shyly at this time and did not answer Richard's question directly.

He must have thought about such a day, especially when he first joined the Trail Blazers...

Although he doesn't want to leave the Pioneers now, he actually has an idea in his subconscious that he wants to go out and try something new.

just in case……

What if we kill the Trail Blazers in the playoffs? Just thinking about it makes me feel energetic.

"What are you thinking about?" Richard looked at the strange expression on Kobe's face and asked involuntarily.

"I'm thinking, maybe in the playoffs next season, I will lead the team to kill the Trail Blazers..."

"Young man, I'm just thinking about this now..." Richard said speechlessly.

…

Until the end of the conversation, Kobe did not disclose his joining target, but according to Richard's estimation, there are only a few teams that Kobe can join.

Early the next morning, Kobe held a press conference alone and released a piece of super news that shocked the basketball community.

"I'm ready to leave the Trail Blazers..." This was Kobe's opening statement at this press conference.

Many reporters were shocked. Just after winning the double MVP, are you ready to leave the Trail Blazers? !

"Kobe, are you having trouble with the Trail Blazers?" the reporter asked.

Kobe waved his hand quickly: "No, absolutely not. I have a very good relationship with the Trail Blazers. Even if we leave the Trail Blazers, we are still very good friends!"

"Is that because of the salary issue?" another reporter asked.

Kobe nodded, isn't it just a salary issue...

…

The press conference was relatively simple, and Kobe didn't say much. However, such a simple press conference caused an uproar in the league!

Kobe is leaving the team!

Last season's double MVP is leaving the team, and the youngest MVP in history is leaving the team!

Countless teams are red-eyed. This is the best time for them to rise. As for the maximum salary, it is not given to anyone, but if it is given to Kobe, it has a completely different meaning!

Kobe has the ability to lead them to become a strong team in the league...

Countless people called Richard, begging Richard to intercede and let Richard persuade Kobe to join their team.

However, Richard simply refused...

It is Kobe's freedom to choose which team to join. Now I feel a little sorry for Kobe. If I designate Kobe to join a certain team, it is nothing. It is really too much.

…

Both Ben and Xiao Ao breathed a sigh of relief.

They stayed...

…

The door to the trading market is open, and Ben and O'Neill have received six-year maximum salary contract extensions of US$70.9 million.

Although Ben is only a second-round pick, he is qualified to sign a contract with a maximum salary.

The Arenas clause is actually a problem that occurred at the end of the one to two-year second-round draft contract, which led to the emergence of the Arenas clause...

Now that Ben has been playing for three years, the Trail Blazers can give him a contract with a maximum of 6 years and US$70.9 million.

…

Sitting in his office, Richard breathed a sigh of relief.

It's pretty good, and the team's contract renewal problem has basically been solved.

Big Ben, O'Neill, Nowitzki, Kirilenko, Warriors Jackson, Robinson, Ginobili, Harrington, Lewis, Mobley, Curry Sr.

Eleven players are still two players short of the mandatory requirement for a team to have 13 players.

And this still includes Kirilenko. Richard is not sure whether he can directly get Kirilenko in the new season.

There isn't much of a problem with Ginobili, it's not very difficult...

However, Richard is not in a hurry right now. There is still some time before the start of the new season, and there may be some transactions in the future. It will not be difficult to gather the minimum number of 13 people by then.

…

Speaking of which, Richard was at a huge loss by letting Kobe go for nothing.

If the team has salary space, it can actually sign and trade Kobe. In that case, Kobe will definitely not refuse.

The main reason now is that there is no salary space, which means that there is no way to sign and trade, and we can only let Kobe go for nothing.