My Name is Kobe Bryant

"Mitch Richmond signed with the San Antonio Spurs - 3 years, 75 million!"

The crazy signings and reinforcements continue!

When Houston gathered the Big Five, the Spurs, who ranked second among the top three in Texas and won the championship this season, quietly completed the biggest free agent signing in team history.

Rock Richmond!

Last year, Richmond was not happy with the Jazz. It was more about the team's status and tactical status. All outside ball rights were given to Stockton, and all inside offense was given to Malone.

Watching the pick-and-roll between Stockton and Malone, Richmond, a Hall of Fame defender, was actually used as a fixed-point shooter many times!

I can't bear it!

And Richmond is only 33 years old! He doesn't want to be a spectator at this age. Not everyone wants to be Pippen. Popovich promised that when he came to the Spurs, he would be the first choice for offense from the outside!

Richmond is excited!

Although the Spurs' contract was not the largest and the time was short, Richmond resolutely joined a team that only had him as an outside star, but also had two superstars, Admiral Shifo, on the inside!

And Popovich also felt it was a great deal!

75 million in 3 years!

Make perfect use of Duncan's rookie child labor contract. Wait until Richmond reaches the age of 35 and can no longer play, then look at his condition and give him a minimum salary.

Because of the skyrocketing salary cap, Popovich even has a lot of spare time on hand to strengthen role players!

Popovich happily drank two bottles of Bordeaux red wine! The Spurs found their most critical piece of the championship puzzle.

Popovich even has the confidence to give the Lakers a try! No one knows better than him how strong Duncan is now after a season of training!

next year! The championship is expected!

"Did they agree?" In the Hornets' office in North Carolina, countless people were pacing back and forth waiting for the final result.

Michael Jordan has reached an agreement with the team that as long as the Hornets can exchange for Hill, he will return to North Carolina!

Of course, there are other requirements - joining Jackson, signing a third superstar, signing Rodman, requesting the right to purchase team shares after retirement, 3+1 player options, and trade immunity.

These were all agreed to by the Hornets boss!

As long as Jordan joins the Hornets! Then the Hornets' market value will inevitably double, and those shares are really nothing.

Compared to the commercial value that Jordan can bring and the bonus from North Carolina fans, some shares are a small matter! As long as Jordan joins, the Hornets will be developed!

And if Jordan joins, it can bring a second or even a third superstar, and win the championship by the way!

Then the Charlotte Hornets, who have a shallow history, will instantly become a wealthy team that attracts the attention of the world like the Chicago Bulls! Jordan is now 35 years old. Even if his ability declines, he already has a super high ability to attract fans.

Looking at last year's finals, even if Jordan declines, he will not be much worse than a superstar.

So the most critical thing now is to trade for Grant Hill!

The tug-of-war over the trade with the Pistons lasted for a very long time. Larry Brown is not a fuel-efficient person.

In particular, the grievances between the Pistons and Jordan gave this transaction a lot of special meaning.

Hill's injury has reduced his trade value. If it was a year ago, the trading conditions would not be at the same level as now.

Even if Grant Hill strongly requested to be traded, the team's management had to consider trading Hill away. Can those Pistons fans accept it?

After all, trading Hill to Jordan is tantamount to tying up an enemy!

So much so that Charlotte Hornets general manager Del Demps raised the price several times in a row.

From the beginning of Anthony Mason Jr. + first round, it became Van Exel + Anthony Mason Jr. + first round, and now it has been upgraded to 2 first rounds + Van Exel + Anthony Mason Jr.!

Two star-level players, plus two first-round picks!

Larry Brown wouldn't have even glanced at this trade offer last year.

And now, Hill is out for the season, and the Pistons' rebuilding will take more than three years.

This deal will allow the Pistons to complete their reconstruction almost immediately and return to a playoff-level team immediately.

What Larry Brown wants is for the Pistons to quickly complete their reconstruction! He has no interest in leading a group of rookies to grow!

That’s combat power! Just what Larry Brown needs!

There is another deal placed in front of Larry Brown, and that is Ewing!

New York trades Ewing for Hill!

Larry Brown would have agreed if Ewing were ten years younger.

But now, even a fool knows that he cannot trade for the 36-year-old Ewing!

In the end, Larry Brown forced the deal to be confirmed under the unanimous disgust of the team management.

“Deal done!!!”

"The combination of Grant Hill + Jordan! is established!"

"Great! Great!"

Charlotte general manager Del Demps jumps right in! Pump your fist into the sky!

Hill is here! Can Jordan be far behind?

Not just Hill, at this time, Del Demps is trying to get a third superstar!

"Contact Chris and say we got Grant! If you want to win the championship, join us!"

On July 31, 1998, the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Hornets reached a deal.

Crazy Van Exel + Anthony Mason + 99 first-round picks + 00 first-round picks were exchanged from the Pistons for Grant Hill, the league's number one small forward.

The basketball world is shocked!

This shock amplitude is equivalent to Durant changing teams in later generations!

Deltemps shook his head. In the end, he still failed to get Webb.

Weber wanted to try leading the team alone and what it was like to be the boss. He's reaching out to teams on the fringes of the playoffs, not the favorites.

Everyone has his own ambitions, and Del Demps's dream combination of Jordan + Hill + Webber + Divac failed. This lineup is almost a natural restraint for the Lakers.

pity

This lineup is just a hair away from success.

Del Demps focused his attention on the most outstanding outside star in the 1993 draft - Isaiah Leder!

This perennial 20+4+3, offensive and defensive perimeter player has just expired this year with the Trail Blazers!

Signed Leder for 45 million in 2 years.

Signed Rodman with a minimum salary.

Signed Derek Coleman for 20 million in three years as a human shield against O'Neal.

Signed Zen Master Phil Jackson for 10 million in 4 years.

The Hornets gathered all the chips to summon the basketball gods.

On July 23, 1998, the long-lost basketball god suddenly appeared in North Carolina! ! ! Announced his decision!

Wearing a retro North Carolina No. 23 jersey, Jordan wore a baseball cap. Surrounded by the Charlotte Hornets management, Jordan announced his decision at a media conference.

Behind him is Grant Hill, the league's number one small forward! 93’s strongest defender Isaiah Leder! BJ Armstrong, the first member of the Bulls to win three consecutive championships! Rodman, the rebounding king! Point center Divac!

Jordan raised the five fingers of his left hand and pointed his right hand at the fans in the audience.

“I’m bringing talent back to North Carolina!”

In the audience, the North Carolina fans cheered and burst into tears.

The man who once led them to victory was back.