NBA: About Me Being Reincarnated As Yasuo, the Wind Walker

August 1st.

The Celtics officially announced that they traded five players and two draft picks to acquire the league's top power forward Kevin Garnett, and exchanged former All-Star Szczerbiak and potential rookies for the SuperSonics. Ray Allen of the team.

As a result, they used two All-Star players and the original star all-around small forward Paul Pierce to form the most luxurious Big Three lineup.

The league was a sensation.

Then the Sonics, who completely rebuilt and put all their players on the shelf, completed a sign-and-trade deal for Rashard Lewis with the Magic.

The Sonics received the Magic's second-round pick and a trade exception of approximately $9 million. Lewis signed a six-year contract worth $118 million with the Magic, becoming the 10th in NBA history. A billion-yuan contract.

The Lakers, who have been competing with the Celtics, almost failed to gain anything from this battle. They failed to trade up on the eve of the draft and failed to recruit All-Star players after the draft night. For a time, Los Angeles fans were furious. Media reporters also began to exaggerate the incompetence of the Lakers management.

A media reporter exposed the inside story of the trade between the Lakers and the Timberwolves. Originally, the Lakers were prepared to exchange Odom and Bynum plus a first-round pick for Garnett. Both parties in this proposal were basically All agreed.

However, before the transaction was about to take place, the Celtics' general manager used a wave of his hand to almost all the high-quality chips in the team. At the last moment, the Timberwolves asked the Lakers if they were willing to add another first-round pick. After being clearly rejected by the other party, he immediately completed the deal with the Boston Green Army at an extremely fast speed.

Although Garnett is 31 years old this year, which is a bit too old for an inside player, he is the Wolf King Garnett after all. The Lakers did not win him, which made Kobe disheartened. Submitted the transaction application.

"I heard that the Spurs were ready to move all the chips except Duncan, and the Bulls were even preparing to trade the entire team for Kobe. However, some media reporters reported that Lakers management and owner Jerry Buss had rushed to Kobe. 's home."

"I really don't know when this farce will end."

Aldridge likes to take advantage of me every offseason. Anyway, it's not his turn every time he's traded, so he's excited to watch.

Zhang Jun was not interested in these news at all. He also knew that Kobe had never thought about trading at all. He just wanted to use this method to force the team management to strengthen. On the contrary, the Lakers management wanted to trade Kobe for LeBron. James.

"Ade, how about we challenge each other again?"

After hearing this, Aldridge stared at Zhang Jun as if he had seen a ghost, and cursed: "If you ask me to fight you one on one every day, I will fight your uncle!"

"Do you have a sense of superiority when you abuse me or something? I'm just a second grader. If you have a temper, go challenge Kobe. I heard that guy is also a challenger."

Zhang Jun nodded. He also wanted to challenge Kobe Bryant, but he didn't have the opportunity. However, there was no sense of accomplishment in competing against Aldridge. He couldn't guard him at all. As long as Aldridge missed a ball, the game would be over. It's over.

Looking at the system level that had not been touched for a long time, Zhang Jun couldn't help but sigh.

"I originally thought that after entering the NBA and upgrading, I would be able to go faster, but I didn't expect that it would still be so slow."

At this time, Zhang Jun's phone rang, it was Diana.

"We have found some sneaker endorsement brands for you. This matter is very important for your career. Xia He and I will come over later. Some brand owners will also arrive tomorrow. You should be prepared in advance."

Zhang Jun agreed and hung up the phone, then said goodbye to Aldridge and left the training hall.

.........

It was already evening when Diana and Xia He arrived.

"Greg Oden signed a long-term contract with Nike yesterday. Although the contract amount has not been disclosed, it is estimated to be around US$3 million per year."

Diana said straight to the point as soon as she arrived.

Zhang Jun frowned and said, "Is this amount too low?"

Xia He echoed from the side: "This amount is indeed a bit low, but after all, big players do not sell shoes. Nike did not benefit from the previous signings of Duncan and Garnett. After that, Nike Decided not to sign big players anymore.”

"It's just that Oden was an exception this year. They really couldn't bear to give up the future potential of this talented man, so they signed him as an exception. In addition to Oden, Nike also signed Durant with a 7-year, 60 million contract. Sign."

This amount is very large, 60 million in 7 years. Apart from James, no rookie has ever been able to sign such a high rookie sneaker contract.

This is why Diana is so eager to help Zhang Jun win a sneaker contract. After all, he is the No. 1 pick and is even more popular among fans than Durant.

Zhang Jun said: "How many sneaker manufacturers are willing to offer me a contract now?"

Diana took out a list and said: "Reebok, Adidas and Nike have already squeezed their heads for you. In addition, there are a total of 6 brands from all over the world."

"Reebok is willing to offer us a seven-year, $60 million contract equal to Durant's. Adidas is offering us a four-year, $40 million contract with renewal conditions. Nike has some ambitions this year, except for Oden and Durant. In addition, they also want to capture us and capture the top three picks in this year’s draft.”

Zhang Jun looked at Diana in confusion and said, "I still don't know about such a huge endorsement?"

Diana smiled evilly and said: "I suppressed all their endorsements and made an appointment with them tomorrow. The matter will be concluded tomorrow."

"Your commercial value is greater than Durant. The more you push back, the more anxious the endorsers will be."

Zhang Jun couldn't help but give a thumbs up. Diana is really smart. She can get higher benefits by getting all the endorsement brands together and selling them at a high price. She is indeed a mature character.

Xia He reminded: "There is also a brand from China called Li Ning. You seem to have a good response in the Chinese fan market."

Diana nodded and said, "I have investigated this brand in advance. Even Nike and Adidas, the leading sports brand companies in China, will find it difficult to defeat each other in the Chinese market."

"However, this company does not have a high reputation in the world and national sports. Currently, they have only reached cooperation agreements with NBA players, Damon Jones and Shaquille O'Neal."

"O'Neal?!" Zhang Jun repeated in disbelief.

Diana nodded and said, "It is indeed the star of the Heat, Shaquille O'Neal."

"It can be seen that Li Ning is very eager to enter the NBA market. He may have chosen you because you look like an Asian player and because of your response in the Chinese fan market."

"By the way, I heard that you are the player that Chinese fans pay the most attention to in the NBA after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian."

Zhang Jun nodded and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. I believe you can help me choose the one that suits me best."

Xia He put his hands on his hips and said, "It should be left to us."

Zhang Jun couldn't help but pinched Xia He's little face and said with a smile: "Yes, yes, there is you, you are the soy sauce."

.........

A quiet coffee shop in Portland.

Diana attaches great importance to the comfort brought by the negotiation location. She likes that a quiet and comfortable environment can bring physical and mental relaxation to negotiators.

Diana is very American at this point. In her view, negotiation is a kind of cooperation rather than bargaining and yelling at street markets. Cooperation should be based on the willingness of both parties and the benefits, and should focus on the long term. cooperation rather than short-term interests.

The first person to arrive was the person in charge of the Nike brand. It was obvious that they were really eager to sign Zhang Jun and win the top three players in this year's draft.

"Is the environment here okay? If there is no problem, how about we start directly?"

The person in charge of the Nike brand met Zhang Jun in person and was very satisfied with the location of this negotiation and the presence of key figures.

"We are willing to give a 6-year, 60 million contract, which is a higher signing contract than Durant. We believe that Zhang Jun will be a very important investment target for Nike in the future. You will be our core, and we will even In the future, we will create exclusive personal boots for you..."

The negotiation process lasted for a long time, and Diana did not immediately agree to Nike's request, although the conditions offered by the other party were already very attractive, and were even close to those of LeBron James back then.

But Diana still wanted to meet all brand leaders before making a decision.

Subsequently, the arrival of the person in charge of Adidas also increased his bargaining chip, 45 million in 4 years, which is an amount that is equal to the record of the highest contracted sneaker endorsement by an NBA rookie.

In comparison, the people in charge of Reebok seem a little less sincere. They cannot compare with Nike and Adidas in terms of money. They have just been trying to make a fool of themselves and are willing to promote Zhang Jun as the core. Other than that, they have no other benefits. Actual actions must be taken.

Diana directly and decisively rejected Reebok in advance, and the other party was also the first brand to be eliminated.

Zhang Zhiyong, the head of Li Ning Group, was the last to arrive. He straightened his clothes and said, "Sorry, I came too late."

Diana guessed with a smile on her face: "Because you are not familiar with Portland's urban traffic?"

Zhang Zhiyong nodded to confirm this, but still explained: "We attach great importance to this interview and have completed all the details and regulations. We just didn't expect that problems would arise on the way here."

"I hope you won't leave a bad impression on Li Ning just because of this."

This is the third time Zhang Zhiyong has met with agents and players in the United States. He knows very well that people here value time and details, so he explained and apologized again and again.

Zhang Zhiyong spoke in Chinese, and a black man next to him always translated immediately after he finished speaking.

Zhang Jun saw the familiar skin color and naturally said in Chinese: "I also got lost when I first came to Portland."

Transportation services in the Portland metropolitan area are similar to other large cities in the United States. However, Oregon emphasizes on predicting land use and transportation development within its urban growth boundaries, so citizens often have very convenient public transportation and only use private cars. The traffic on the bus is much more complicated and congested.

This is very similar to Los Angeles. If you want to drive a private car in the center of the city, you will be blocked at any time.

Zhang Zhiyong was a little surprised that Zhang Jun could speak Chinese so well, and he also had a familiar southern accent, he said happily.

"No wonder Chinese fans like you so much. Li Ning's senior executives are saying that you are definitely Li Ning's best spokesperson in the NBA."

"Because of your skin color and your language, you naturally make Chinese fans feel more at home."

"We really hope to work with you."

Diana said: "Then what kind of sincerity is Li Ning Company willing to give us?"

Zhang Zhiyong took a deep breath and said: "40 million U.S. dollars in four years."

Diana frowned and said: "Li Ning's reputation and market in the NBA are not as good as those of big brands like Nike and Adidas. If you don't have an advantage in terms of money, it will be really difficult for us to lean towards you."

Zhang Zhiyong nodded in agreement and said: "I know that this amount may be difficult to compete with other brands, but this is indeed the largest endorsement contract that Li Ning has offered so far."

"This is a bargaining chip that we have almost given our all, and I have said from the beginning that we have indeed shown the greatest sincerity."

"If we don't have an advantage in terms of amount, then we have other options."

Diana and Zhang Jun looked at each other at the same time, looking forward to what was going to happen next.

This is the 17th year of development of Li Ning Company. From its successful establishment in Sanshui in 1990 to its successful listing in 2004, Li Ning has made a counterattack and become one of the best local sports brands in China.

However, in recent years, a large number of foreign products have poured into the Chinese market, with Nike and Adidas bearing the brunt. This has a lot to do with Yao Ming's landing in the NBA. His presence has made all foreign brands aware of China's huge market.

It is precisely because of the addition of these brands that Li Ning's company is facing great difficulties. The sales performance of sneakers has declined year by year, and the stock price has suffered a serious setback.

This is also an important reason why Li Ning has quickly adjusted its strategic positioning in the past two years and adjusted its identity as a local Chinese brand to an international brand. They want to become competitors at the same level as Nike and Adidas, so they signed Damon one after another. Jones and Shaquille O'Neal.

But it's not that easy to break into the NBA market. Even if he wins over O'Neal in his twilight years, Li Ning has almost no status in the NBA, and even still faces a very severe competitive environment.

Therefore, Zhang Zhiyong decided to adjust his strategic goals again this summer and adjust the NBA signing and endorsement targets to rookie players.

"We are willing to create exclusive shoes for Zhang Jun in the first year of his career, and create a new industry chain and sub-brand named Zhang Jun's Way."

"We will indicate in the contract that as long as the performance of the year exceeds a certain amount, we are willing to allocate part of the profit to Zhang Jun. If we maintain a certain proportion of profit growth for several consecutive years, we are even willing to give this Shares in new industrial chains and sub-brands!”

"Give me shares!" Diana couldn't help but look at Zhang Zhiyong in shock, and then looked at Zhang Jun.

There are many rookie players who have signed large-dollar endorsement contracts in their first year, but there is only one rookie in NBA history who has obtained an exclusive brand and industrial chain and the opportunity to obtain shares in his first year.

It has to be said that Li Ning is making a big gamble now. They have put all their future on Zhang Jun. As long as he can grow up smoothly in the NBA and become an All-Star player in the future, then their big gamble will be It's not a loss, and it's even possible to directly enter the big market of the NBA.

But if Zhang Jun’s investment fails, Li Ning will almost certainly not be able to get involved in the NBA market in a short period of time. At least it will be difficult to carry out new strategies until this tone is relieved.

Zhang Zhiyong nodded and said: "This is indeed a big gamble. We have found a successful method that we can learn from the growth history of Nike."

"The good thing is that we are much stronger now than Nike back then. After all, they were on the verge of bankruptcy at that time."

"We hope that Zhang Jun can become the most dazzling star on the NBA court like Michael Jordan, and then Li Ning will successfully enter the NBA market in the shortest time and most convenient way at the maximum cost like Nike did back then."

"Zhang Jun will not only become our sneaker spokesperson, but also the image ambassador of Li Ning as a whole."

"We are not just a contract, we are partners on the same front. This is our common cause."

Zhang Jun couldn't help but think of the most memorable sentence he heard in his previous life. The best way to cooperate is not mutual benefit, but to pull the other party on board and become partners in the same trench.