legendary point guard

"Yes, they do have ideas for Vince. I think not only Orlando, but Vince deserves a big contract from every team. His ability determines everything, but currently our number one goal

In New Jersey, Vince lived a very happy life here." Carter's agent, Schaupler, said in an interview with the "New Jersey Star" that night.

During last offseason, Vince Carter once discussed contract renewal with the New Jersey Nets, but ultimately failed to succeed. In the past season, the Nets have been trying to reach a contract extension with Carter, but Carter's 3

The asking price of 60 million per year has discouraged the Nets, and the contract extension has also reached a deadlock.

The Orlando Magic, which now has more than 20 million in salary space, undoubtedly agrees with Carter's request in terms of salary space and team strength, and Magic general manager Otis Smith did not shy away but generously acknowledged the team's contact.

Carter.

"I flew to New York. Vince is the one we think. His addition will make Orlando a more competitive team, but it is just the initial contact. This is the NBA. I think everyone should know that contact and

It doesn't mean success, but we will keep working hard, and I think our sincerity will impress Vince."

However, in Otis Smith's mind, it is absolutely impossible to offer Carter a 20 million contract. Although Carter averaged 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game this past season, he was the top player in the league.

, but Carter is 30 after all. Otis Smith is not stupid enough to be willing to help Carter with his retirement.

In addition, once Carter is brought in with an annual salary of between 1,000 and 20 million, it will greatly restrict the Magic's operations in other aspects. After all, the team still has to renew the contracts of Grant Hill and Darko Milicic. In addition,

In addition, he also needed to add some capable substitute players, so Otis Smith wanted to lower the price as much as possible. However, his first contact with Schaupler was not very successful.

Schaupler not only refused to agree but also insisted that the Magic offer Carter a four-year contract worth around 80 million. The first negotiation between the two parties ultimately broke down.

Carter, as the biggest name on the free market this offseason, has been favored by many teams besides the Magic. Shaquille O'Neal, the core of the defending champion Miami Heat who was swept out of the playoffs, did not make it to the end of the season.

He was fined for openly showing affection to Carter. Now at the end of the season, O'Neal has once again extended an olive branch to Carter.

As Carter's owner, the New Jersey Nets are also trying to actively negotiate a contract extension with Carter. However, Vince Carter, the party involved, is on vacation in Hawaii and has not directly expressed any opinions. He has not even decided whether to opt out of the last year of his contract.

At this time, the famous American gossip "TMZ" reported that the divorce negotiations between Carter and his wife Ellen, which had lasted for 33 months, were still at an impasse. The unfavorable divorce was also the main reason why Carter failed to renew his contract. Because Carter had not renewed the contract before the divorce.

Then this income will be shared by Allen, but Carter doesn't want this so he has been avoiding renewing the contract.

"Damn it, we can't focus entirely on Vince Carter. If he delays for too long and a good player on the free market is signed by someone else, we will get nothing."

Otis Smith pounded the table and said that he did not consider the fact that Carter and his wife were divorcing at the beginning. Now that he knows the news, he has to treat it with caution. He does not want the Magic to end up waiting for Carter throughout the offseason.

Inactive.

The day before the draft, Otis Smith flew to Los Angeles to meet with Gerald Wallace's agent.

At the same time, various trade rumors were flying all over the sky. Linsen’s former boss Kevin Garnett made it clear that he wanted to leave the Timberwolves: “I don’t know how many years I have to wait. I am no longer young. I know I

Where I am, I'm approaching the end of my career.

I want a championship instead of endless waiting. I saw hope at the beginning. But Wooden Lin has left, and the original hope has become a phantom again. I can't see the hope of the team. I want to leave. I am here to stay.

Eleven years and my loyalty will not diminish just because I left Minnesota. It's time for me to leave."

Although Garnett has been rumored to leave the team in the past two years, this is the first time Garnett has spoken out clearly about his thoughts. Teams that were originally interested in Garnett have become active again.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, and Houston Rockets all expressed their welcome, and Lakers star Kobe Bryant once again forced his way into the palace.

"This is our opportunity. I am the same as kg. I don't know what to wait for. I have missed it and many people don't want to miss it again. I think we should act instead of being a bystander. Either reinforce or let me leave. I

I also want the O’Brien Trophy instead of being a spectator every June.”

In the past mid-season and before the season, the Lakers had reached agreements with the Nets and Timberwolves, but in the end they fell through because the Lakers front office couldn't bear to part with Anzu Bynum.

Kobe's attitude has always been obvious. He hopes that the front office staff will strengthen the team at any cost, even if it costs half of the team, so much so that the relationship with Bynum was tense for a time.

However, Eric Pickles, an expert commentator of "Basket World", published an article shortly after, saying that the Lakers must be cautious in pursuing Garnett and not be too "generous".

"There is indeed a lot of possibility for kg to leave the team. The Lakers are also the team that the legendary Wolf King likes, but there is a big problem with the price. The Lakers' starting point may be Odom plus Bynum. Such a price is obviously not enough.

To satisfy the Timberwolves, the price was actually enough but not enough to satisfy the Minnesota front office.

Obviously, the Minnesotans thought they had acquired a lot of outstanding players with Wood Lin, but now they have turned from a smart decision that everyone praised into a laughing stock, so they hope to kill a big player with kg.

Bryant+KG looks perfect. They are both the top players in the league, but basketball is a sport of five people. Having Kobe and Garnett means that the Lakers can go further than next season. But I think

To win a championship, you must have the right supporting cast. Even if you can bring in Mike James, Ricky Davis or Jaric, it won't be enough for Bryant and KG to become the championship.

So the fantasy team built around Bryant and LG is just a fantasy, but giving up two important players for this fantasy is a bit not worth it.

The Lakers actually have better options. The key is Bynum's value. His youth and talent, coupled with some other players, are enough to exchange for Gasol or O'Neal.

Is a Lamar Odom + Pau Gasol, or Lamar + O'Neal definitely worse than a kilo? What if Lamar and others could be exchanged for Jason Kidd or Mike Bibby?

What about the point guard?

So Los Angeles should calm down first!”

At the same time, the big-name players who did not leave the team in the past season include O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers, Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, Ray Allen of the SuperSonics, and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics.

Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets and Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings, who has player options, have both made calls for trades.

In addition, there are first-line stars such as Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Gerald Wallace, Anderson Varejao, and Anson in the free market.

Practical players such as Des Noccioni, Maurice Williams, James Posey, Antonio McDyess, and Maurice Peterson. Such players are undoubtedly expected by teams competing for the championship.

own.

There are also Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic and Darko Milicic, who is coveted by countless teams.

This summer is destined to be extraordinary and full of storms.

All the drama will begin with the arrival of the draft. Linson and Stan Van Gundy, who had finished meeting with Phil Jackson the night before the draft, followed Otis Smith.

New York prepares for the draft.

On this night, the Houston Rockets took the lead in kicking off the offseason. Daryl Morey, the general manager who had been in the job for less than four months, sent away Juwan Howard, who was known as Uncle Huo on the team.

He went to Minnesota in exchange for former Timberwolves guard Mike James and forward Justin Reed.

The Detroit Pistons sent the team's backup Argentinian guard Delfino to the Raptors in exchange for two second-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010. These two transactions will officially take effect after the trade market opens on July 3.

Two relatively small transactions made the market boil like cold water dripping into boiling water. At this time, Lin Sen welcomed an important guest into his home.

"KG, you know what I'm thinking. I'm very grateful for your taking care of me. I have another idea besides inviting you to dinner today."

"What do you think?" Garnett looked at Lin Sen in front of him. Lin Sen's growth was completely beyond his expectation. He still remembers his attitude before meeting Lin Sen and his attitude after meeting him for the first time.

.

"Would you like to come to Orlando?"

Garnett stared at Lin Sen: "Are you sure you're not joking?"

"No." Although Lin Sen is very willing to have Garnett come to Orlando. As for Garnett's level, Lin Sen believes that Orlando will have a qualitative upgrade as long as Garnett joins, but a big problem is that there is no very suitable player.

The price tag and Linsen from another perspective do not want Milicic to be the price tag to leave.

It was Otis Smith and Stan Van Gundy who made the decision to invite Garnett. It turned out that they did not consider Garnett at all, but after Carter's side temporarily reached a deadlock, Otis Smith only took action after seeing the report.

Got this idea.

Although Darko Milicic's future is unlimited, there is no doubt that there is a gap compared with Garnett. If Garnett and Howard can be traded, then this insider's strength will definitely be enough to dominate the league.

Milicic showed his strength in the playoffs this season, and he is still very young. He is a good choice for the Timberwolves who want to offset. Of course, in addition to Milicic, the Magic also need to balance this transaction.

The contract cost almost 12 million, but this is not easy to achieve.

But Otis Smith, who had an idea, decided to let Lin Sen try it to see if it was possible.

That's why Lin Sen spoke. Lin Sen looked at Garnett, who was frowning and thinking.

"To be honest, this idea makes me excited, and I also like to play with you. But do you think this is realistic? And you are willing to let me be the boss and you be the second boss? Even if you are willing, do you think the Timberwolves will still compete with Orlando today?

A deal? They are under considerable pressure on your deal, and the key is that you don’t have a suitable price yet. Let’s talk about this later, today we are just catching up on old times between friends.”

Lin Sen's words from Garnett were undoubtedly a kind of polite rejection. Lin Sen didn't say anything more, but used his own skills to entertain Garnett well.

"You can sleep here today."

"Am I sleeping here? I said why are you alone today? It turns out you are alone tonight." Garnett joked with a smile.

Both Carolina and Natalie Portman did not come to New York with Lin Sen due to work, so Lin Sen was temporarily alone tonight.

"For the sake of your pity, I promised you, but now we should rest for a while, how about we go to a bullfight?"

"Of course it's okay, but you're not allowed to post up."

"I can beat you without posting up," Garnett said with a smile.

"Tch. Just blow it!" Lin Sen shot back disdainfully.

This mansion is not Lin Sen's original home, but he spent 7 million US dollars to purchase another one in the second half of the year. In addition, he also spent 7 million US dollars to buy a house in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

Judging from the real estate alone, Lin Sen belongs to the wealthy class, and now this mansion has 8 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, an above-ground wine storage center that can accommodate 1,000 bottles of wine, and a large indoor parking lot of 5,000 feet.

In addition, it also has an indoor cinema that can accommodate 100 people, an outdoor and indoor basketball court, a billiards room, an outdoor swimming pool and a gym.

When night fell, the uniform staff also entered the final sprint, and Garnett, who was one room away from Lin Sen's bedroom, also received a call from Kevin McHale. Turning off the phone, Garnett stood in front of the window and looked out the window.

Sighed.

June 28, 2007, is the day of the 2007 draft.

The eyes of the United States and even basketball fans around the world are focused on Madison Square Garden in New York on this day.

And all kinds of trade rumors have reached unprecedented levels. Memphis, which was rebuilding after trying to get the first pick by drafting Oden, ended up becoming a joke. With no hope of getting Oden, the Memphis Grizzlies made a mistake before the draft.

At that time, he made an offer to Milicic worth 32 million over four years.

An hour later, Madison Square Garden ushered in the 2007 draft.

The phones kept ringing in the temporary draft meeting rooms of various sports teams. The Orlando Magic, which only owns the No. 12 and No. 26 picks in the second round, are also making final preparations.

"Damn Memphis people!" Otis Smith hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" Stan Van Gundy asked.

"The guys in Memphis made an offer to Darko." Otis Smith gritted his teeth. At this time, Smith was a little annoyed that he didn't act earlier. He always thought that Milicic's agent was also David Falk.

You will definitely not be able to run away.

But only then did he realize that an agent is an agent and does not represent the consciousness of the players. After all, players also work for playing games. Although the contract of 3,200 for 4 years is not big, it is definitely not small, and the Memphis Grizzlies are destined to rebuild, so the Grizzlies

The signing of Milicic must be for reconstruction. The status given to him must be higher than that of the Magic, so Otis Smith is very worried that Milicic will be tempted.

Although Smith had previously considered signing Milicic with a similar contract and then trying to trade with the Timberwolves, the premise of signing this contract was for Garnett. Now he already knows that Garnett rejected him.

So on this basis, he wanted to sign Milicic at the lowest possible cost. After all, the team also wanted to strengthen other aspects.

"How big a contract did they offer?" Stan Van Gundy immediately asked.

"32 million in four years, with player options in the last year." Otis Smith said coldly.

Lin Sen, who was looking at the draft list, raised his head and said: "Actually, we can match, but we still have to look at Darko's attitude. Maybe Darko will agree to our renewal with a lower offer than this contract. After all, he is here."

I had a great time, and we are better than Memphis."

"This is definitely what we have to do, but I didn't expect Memphis to do it so quickly. It seems that we are going to move quickly. Houston just contacted me. They hope to use this year's first round to get Devin Brown and our first round next year.

"Otis Smith said as he looked at Linsen and Stan Van Gundy.

Before Stan Van Gundy and Linson made a decision, Otis Smith said again: "In addition, the Golden State Warriors also hope to get Kelana. They can renew Mark Barnes' contract first and then trade with us."

"No, this is absolutely impossible. Although Kelana's talent is limited, everyone knows his efforts. He is a puzzle piece that the championship team needs. And Mark Barnes is a free agent. We have the opportunity to compete for why.

One for one." Stan Van Gundy immediately put forward his idea.

Azubuike is a player he likes very much, and he is not willing to let Azubuike go.

At this moment, David Stern walked onto the stage set up in Madison Square Garden, and everyone temporarily stopped talking and looked at the big screen.

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