Bulldozer of the NBA’s Restricted Area

Speaking of which, although the All-Star Game is a flashy event, it actually lasts only a few days.

For the fans, it is exciting to see their favorite top stars gathered together; for the participating players, it is also an opportunity to perform. After all, in a business league like the NBA, it is difficult to win unless they reach the season finals. This level of exposure, and the huge amount of exposure... often represents the money-making effect of players. Not only player contracts, but also commercial endorsements and other activities will benefit from this.

To put it simply...you have to be famous first, and then you can make money.

There is no doubt that the original motivation of almost all players is to make money, and the derived effect is that everyone likes to work for wealthy teams and very large football markets. After all, only large football markets have greater exposure opportunities. Only then can a higher contract be possible.

The same goes for Li Shengli.

From the Hornets, Jazz to the Mavericks, it stands to reason that players with top statistics will generally not and have no reason to be traded back and forth, but Li Shengli's life is too difficult.

Not even close to the three super giant centers Olajuwon, Robinson, and Ewing. These three have been playing for their respective teams since joining the NBA and have not changed. But Li Shengli... is completely a wandering type. Super giant, he also wants to choose a team and a city to live his whole life.

For now, the Dallas Mavericks meet Li Shengli's basic expectations.

Although neither Kidd nor Garnett was a top player when they debuted, his presence has effectively shortened their growth time. Coupled with the two old teammates Curry and Crotty, the Mavericks The new lineup is very competitive.

The lineup is basically complete, and the current results are also very good. Even though his contract is about to expire, Magic has already come to the door on behalf of the Lakers, but when he wants to come... As long as the Mavericks' contract to retain him is not too low, He is still willing to continue playing with the Mavericks. After all, his 26th consecutive winning streak, the second in history, gave him hope of a championship.

Big contracts and championships, it's not impossible to have both, but more often than not you have to face a trade-off.

With the rise of the Mavericks, Li Shengli has no reason to give up his nearest hope and chase a big contract. Even if the renewal contract offered by the Mavericks is smaller, no matter how small it is, it still cannot match his own data and performance. Ability to lead a team?

…

I wanted to think about this kind of thing, but Li Shengli came as promised by the Magician. He wanted to see what the Lakers wanted. The meeting place this time was relatively remote and far away from the hotel where the All-Stars were staying. It was probably the Magic. The teacher also deliberately avoided distracting eyes and attention.

However, originally they were talking about a dinner date, but when they got there, they discovered... The magician had no such idea at all, and took Li Shengli directly to a temporary apartment. However, if you think about it, you can understand that Li Shengli is eye-catching no matter how tall he is. Existence, if we really want to have a meal together and talk about a low-key meeting, it is basically covering our ears and hiding the truth from others.

But this incident made Li Shengli confused.

Where's the meal?

We agreed to eat, I want to eat!

Why don't you invite me to dinner? Do you want me to go to your apartment to play knitting or knitting with you? !

The magician probably didn't even think of this, but the conversation as soon as they met went straight to the topic without any hesitation, "Li, there's no one else here. I guess you've guessed why I'm looking for you, so we might as well be more direct." ... Your contract is about to expire, are you interested in coming to Los Angeles to play?"

The magician did not beat around the bush at all, and the words came directly to the point. There was no need for Li Shengli to hide it, "Senior, I'm sorry, going to Los Angeles... I don't have much interest."

"Have a seat first. You can just call me by my name!" The magician took the seat first and faced Li Shengli. "Also, don't refuse in a hurry. From a personal point of view, I appreciate you very much and don't want to do it this time." The conversation was too serious, so this time it’s just a chat between friends rather than a negotiation, and we can exchange our ideas.”

Is it a chat, not a negotiation?

Negotiations need to be intentional. If you don't have any intention, it's just chatting. However, the magician is still relatively polite. Li Shengli could only smile and said, "Of course, brother, you say it, I'll listen."

"No, no, no, today's protagonist is you." The magician faked a smile, "Seriously, don't you have any ideas? Don't tell me you don't, I don't believe it! And I'm very curious about the Mavericks' management. Did the boss talk to you about renewing the contract?"

"Not yet, it's too early to talk."

"Not early, not at all! If this matter had been left to the Lakers, we could have pinned you firmly to Los Angeles last season instead of waiting for others to come and create a passive situation. Think about it...I am a example!"

"You..." Li Shengli cried when he heard this, because the whole league knew that the Lakers gave Magic a super weird 25-year long-term contract, which expired in the distant year of 2009. It basically even included Magic's pension. Including it, if it weren’t for the HIV test, the Magic could still play for a long time. “Brother, you don’t want me to go to the Lakers to retire, do you?”

Lakers pension?

At such a young age, what do you want to do for retirement? The magician broke into a cold sweat and said, "No, where are you thinking about? As for contracts, too long may not be a good thing, but too short is also unstable, so we can provide You have a lot of room for free choice, but there is only one principle. As long as you are willing to come, we will try our best to meet all your requirements!"

"Ahem... Brother, thanks, I don't have this idea yet!"

"No, you should have. Ask Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He will definitely give you a loyal and reliable suggestion. The same goes for me, because a market like Dallas cannot retain people. You can simply understand that it is you. The management wants the team to perform well, but is unwilling to spend more money. In the end, they are just a factory to cultivate superstars, and we are the final consumers."

"I know what you are thinking. The Mavericks' current lineup is indeed very competitive, but have you ever thought about how high your new contract will reach? When your contract reduces the team's remaining salary space, you are unwilling to What will the Mavericks do if they overpay, is it to suppress your contract or free up space elsewhere?"

"If it's the former, would you like it? Or the latter, how else do you think the Mavericks can release it? First reduce allocations and give up players to be renewed, and then use one of your Kidd and Garnett operations to supplement them. Staff, but you don’t want to do this, right?”

"Believe me, no matter what, the beautiful scene you see now is only temporary, and conflicts will break out when you don't expect it. Think about it from another angle... If the Mavericks give you a big contract, then the lineup will need to be reduced. , the meaning of staying is gone; the Mavericks suppressed your contract, but Ewing's starting salary for this season's contract is 18.7 million, and they cut it in half to give you 9 million. Don't you think they are a bit bullying?"

…

The magician's beeping output made Li Shengli sigh that this magician is really all-powerful. He is even outstanding as a lobbyist... 'Your prospects are worrying' is coercion, 'We have a big contract here' 'It's a inducement, a combination of lobbyists and punches, and Li Shengli was stunned.

think carefully……

Although it is not ruled out that Magic's words are exaggerated, the problems he raised do exist, and what really worries Li Shengli is... Ewing, a veteran super giant center who always suffers in his hands, is almost 1900. If my annual salary is 900, regardless of whether I earn more or less, my face will be gone anyway.

"Impossible. Although I don't know how to speak loudly, I will not accept a contract with an annual salary of 900." Li Shengli's face darkened, "But... brother, don't stir up trouble with me here. Our management hasn't found anyone yet." I've talked about a 900 contract, are you trying to lead me astray?"

"Are you kidding?" Magic pretended to be angry and said angrily: "Let me tell you the truth, the contract extension the Magic is going to offer to Shaq is 7 years and 65 million, which is equivalent to an annual salary of only 10 million. Do you think if Shaq If the negotiation is over, Mavericks will give you more?"

"How is it...impossible, the damn Magic is so bullying?" Li Shengli was dumbfounded and felt a pang for O'Neal, "That's not right, Shaq didn't even tell me, and I haven't heard of this recently. How did you know this news?"

"Ahem... You don't have to worry about this, and Shaq probably doesn't know about it yet. Even if he knows, what nonsense does he say? Do you think Shaq has the nerve to tell you such an embarrassing thing? He will tell you that he was You look down on him and then ask you to laugh at him?" Magic felt happy when he saw that Li Shengli was finally angry. He pretended to share the same hatred and continued to curse: "Facts have proved that the Magic are a short-sighted team with no future. , but we Lakers are different. We are willing to take over Shaq and pay a contract amount that matches his ability. Of course this is just a digression... If you are willing, our first choice will be you, not Shaq, and Your situation should be the same as his."

Am I the first choice?

Brother, are you asking me to eat from my brother’s bowl? Did you and O’Neal say the same?

Li Shengli still looked bad. Let’s not talk about himself or Ewing. He would just talk about Juwan Howard, who is friends with Chris Webber and was one of the top five Michigan Tigers. His rookie contract in 1994 It's more than 100 million in 7 years, and even Mourning's new contract is also for 7 years, with a total contract value of 110 million.

This shitty Magic management!

If you really want to offer O'Neal 6,500 for seven years, which is less than 60% of Mourning's, that's not shabby, that's forcing O'Neal to get out.