NBA: I'm really just an ordinary coach

It was also on this day.

The four rookies of the Trail Blazers came to Portland one after another, bringing their respective agents to sign with the team.

Unlike free agents, second-round picks and undrafted players, the contracts of first-round picks are clearly stipulated. The starting salary of the contract is fixed according to the draft order, and can only be adjusted by 80%-120% under the standards set by the league.

The three rookies selected by the Trail Blazers in the first round this year were all signed according to the highest standards, and the contract years were all four years.

For the second-round picks, there are not so many rigid regulations.

Generally speaking, the potential of the second-round picks is not as good as that of the first round, so most teams sign two-year contracts with the second-round picks.

However, Tang Feng still instructed Pritchard and Boozer to sign a 2+1+1 contract, with the last two years as team options.

For now, this is a win-win contract.

Boozer's future is guaranteed, and for the Trail Blazers, they can get two more years of rookie contract dividends.

In addition to these four rookies, free agents who have already agreed with the Trail Blazers in advance have also come to Portland one after another.

Lagabell 3 years 2.7 million.

Between a two-year short contract and a five-year long contract, Billups chose the latter.

It took half an hour for Pritchard to finalize the contract with Billups on behalf of the Trail Blazers. A five-year, $63 million contract, of which $55 million is guaranteed, and the remaining $8 million depends on Billups' own efforts.

For example, incentive clauses such as being selected as an All-Star and entering the best team.

Larry Hughes' contract is $30 million for four years, of which $25 million is guaranteed.

As for Dazhi.

With the help and polishing of Su Qun and the other two, he wrote a sincere apology statement and rushed to Dallas to persuade the Mavericks to give up his priority renewal right.

At the same time, Dazhi also brought a verbal guarantee from the Trail Blazers.

In the future, if the Trail Blazers do not have a suitable candidate in the draft, and the Mavericks lack a first-round or second-round pick, the Trail Blazers will transfer it to the Mavericks in cash.

To put it bluntly, if you let Dazhi go to me, I owe you a favor.

This favor will be returned to you in the form of a draft pick.

This private guarantee is not bound by any terms and will not be known to outsiders, but it is also very binding.

This is a tacit understanding formed by everyone, or it can be said to be the rules of the game.

People who break the rules of the game are destined to be excluded by this circle, so no one will be stupid enough to ruin their reputation for a draft pick of low value.

Dazhi has decided to leave, and the Mavericks really can't give Dazhi too many opportunities. In addition, they also have connections in China, and know that the Trail Blazers played a key role in Dazhi's affairs, so they did a favor and agreed to give up Dazhi's priority renewal right.

The Trail Blazers also offered Dazhi a two-year, 6 million contract.

With Dazhi's performance in the NBA, such a contract is already a premium contract.

In fact, Tang Feng gave Dazhi two options, two years of 6 million and four years of 10 million, without team options.

In other words, these two contracts are fully guaranteed contracts.

Just as he said to Billups on the phone that day, both contracts are fine. Choosing a short-term contract can maximize his own interests, while a long-term contract is more secure.

Dazhi weighed it and chose to believe that he could play well in two years.

And that night, the Trail Blazers' official website announced these signings one after another.

Of course, Dazhi's offer was just an offer, and then Dallas announced that it would not match the Trail Blazers' offer.

After the process was completed, Dazhi became a member of the Trail Blazers.

On the first day of the free market, the Trail Blazers first made two trades, and then signed four players in the free market, making the Trail Blazers the most watched team of the day....

July 3.

Rose Garden Training Gym.

This day is the day when the Trail Blazers training camp officially opens.

The training arrangement for this day is also very simple, just to do some simple basic training, shooting training, which can also be said to be a warm-up for the three-month training camp.

Head coach's office.

As the head coach, Tang Feng did not go to the training ground immediately, but stayed in his office.

At this moment, in the huge office, in addition to Tang Feng, there is another player.

Rasheed Wallace.

Tang Feng smiled and said,"Rashid, I heard from them that you will come to the gym for training at 6:30 today."

Rasheed Wallace just nodded calmly.

"Self-discipline, training day after day and year after year, these are the qualities that every successful player must have. I am very happy to see such qualities in you."Tang Feng smiled disapprovingly and continued,"During this period, the team has undergone a major change from management to lineup.

The arena is still the same arena, but there are only a few familiar faces left in our players and coaching staff.

To be honest, I even considered trading Pippen, but I couldn't think of any team that could take over a contract worth nearly 20 million, even if there was only one year left on the contract.

From beginning to end, I never considered trading you, you are not for sale. Do you know why?"

Rasheed Wallace said expressionlessly,"I don't know, and I don't want to know. If you don't have anything else to do, please don't affect my training."

At this moment, Tang Feng was choked by Rasheed Wallace's unconventional play.

Tang Feng realized that he could no longer continue according to the established routine.

He had no experience in the NBA. He could bluff those rookies, but it would not work when he met a peak star like Rasheed Wallace who had been struggling in the league for several years.

Tang Feng's face sank and he shouted coldly:"Are you willing to keep everything the same and continue to mess around in the team called the 'Portland Prison Team'?!! And then, be pinned to the ground by the Lakers as usual?!!"

"F***! Lakers! I will beat them to pieces!"After hearing Tang Feng mention the Lakers, Rasheed Wallace couldn't help but curse.

"Is it possible? That's the Lakers who won three consecutive championships! On that team, there is the best player in the league today, the most dominant big man, and on the outside, they have a top scorer who is still growing!"Tang Feng seemed not to see Rasheed Wallace's ferocious face, and smiled disdainfully.

"Why not! We were so close to defeating them! Making history!"Rasheed Wallace roared

"Oh, if you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot that in the 2000 Western Conference Finals, after losing the first three games, you stubbornly continued the suspense of that series to the seventh game.

In the seventh game, you had a 13-point advantage entering the fourth quarter, but were reversed by the Lakers.

It was also in that year that the Lakers started their three consecutive championships.

"Tang Feng laughed and said,"Then what? They became stronger and stronger.

In the next season, they were just one step away from winning the championship.

What about you? You never beat them in the playoffs again!

"

"you..."Rasheed Wallace suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed at Tang Feng angrily.

The posture was as if he wanted to eat Tang Feng alive.

The next second, as if he thought of something, Rasheed Wallace put down his hand, sneered, and said sarcastically:"Cunning Chinese, you are deliberately provoking me and tempting me to do some irrational actions in order to achieve your goal."

A flash of surprise flashed in Tang Feng's eyes, and he shrugged and said:"You are right to say that. I do have a purpose, but the word temptation is not appropriate. It should be said to persuade.

I am trying to convince you to stay in this team willingly.

From the current situation, I have failed.

You are full of resistance to everything about the Trail Blazers. You think that staying here is You are wasting your career, right?"

Rasheed Wallace said sarcastically,"It seems that you still have some self-awareness. If I hadn't promised you to come to the team training camp to see the results when I talked to you on the phone before, I wouldn't even be here today.

After the season ended, I trained with Zach. He is a very promising inside player. I saw hope in him.

I was helping him grow and sent a video of him to the team. Bob and Coach Morris even promised me that they would give Zach more opportunities in the new season.

Then, you and Kevin came and traded Zach to Cliff. Lan.

I am very dissatisfied with your trade, but you selected two centers in the draft, they have excellent physical qualities and are likely to play well, plus Camby who was traded from the Knicks, so I am not disappointed in you. However, look at your trade the day before yesterday.

You actually sent Bunch to the Spurs, and brought back a second-round pick who didn't dare to step into the NBA for three years, a water dispenser attendant and Steve.

I have every reason to suspect that Kevin, who came out of the Spurs, is expressing his gratitude to the Spurs in this way."

Tang Feng smiled indifferently and said,"Rashid, you are angry and disappointed, these I can understand that you, like many people, think that through this series of operations, the Trail Blazers have lost both the present and the future.

Under this preconceived notion, even if I say a lot, it will be of no avail.

Let me tell you that in the Trail Blazers, I have the power to decide the lineup I want, and all transactions and signings are led by me.

So, if you want to leave the Trail Blazers, you must get my consent, and I don’t want to give up on you now.

Of course, I don’t want to be too stiff with you, which is not good for both of us."

When he said this, Tang Feng stopped, just like that, looking at Rasheed Wallace.

At this moment, the surprise on Rasheed Wallace's face has not disappeared.

During this period, there were many speculations about the Trail Blazers.

The mainstream view is that it was Pritchard who was inexperienced and messed up everything, and Tang Feng, at best, was just a puppet, destined to take the blame for Pritchard's series of operations. It was not until this time that he knew that all transactions and signings were led by Tang Feng, and Pritchard, as the general manager, was the puppet.

The surprise soon faded away, and Rasheed Wallace looked at Tang Feng again with a complicated look.

There was contempt, anger, helplessness, and a little solemnity.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Hearing this, Tang Feng said,"I'll give you half a season.

One month before the mid-season trading deadline, if you think that this team really makes you see no hope, I will no longer force you to stay, and I will trade you to a team that has the hope of winning the championship.

Before that, you have to put aside all prejudices and regard yourself as a part of this team.

Together with other players, participate in the team training camp, listen to the arrangements of the coaching staff, and prepare for the new season.

After the start of the season, fight side by side with your teammates.

At the same time, as a core player of the team and a veteran, you have to help young players grow and create a new locker room culture.

If you have no objection, we can make a written agreement in duplicate, one for you and one for me, and we can also stamp Kevin's general manager seal on it, which is enough to ensure that when you want to leave, the team will not stop you."

At this moment, there was not much surprise on Rasheed Wallace's face. Instead, he frowned and stared at Tang Feng, as if he wanted to see through Tang Feng.

About ten seconds later, Rasheed Wallace said in a low voice:"Okay, let's do as you say, but Kevin's seal is not needed. I believe you won't cheat."

When Rasheed Wallace left the office with the written agreement, Tang Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter what, Rasheed Wallace was finally settled.

With Rasheed Wallace, the Trail Blazers veteran and the star player, as a role model, the effect of the training camp can be maximized.

As for whether Rasheed Wallace will leave in the middle of the season, Tang Feng is not worried at all.

Unlike those problematic players in the 'Portland Prison Team', Rasheed Wallace is an extremely self-disciplined player. Although he has many technical fouls, he is a very low-key person off the court and has no trouble.

Such players have high requirements for their careers.

As long as they see the potential of this team, at that time, let alone actively requesting a trade, they can't be driven away even if they are driven away.

Soon, another player came

""Chauncey, come and sit down." Tang Feng greeted him with a smile.

Tang Feng had talked with Billups in Denver before, and they were quite familiar with each other.

Therefore, Billups was not shy, walked in quickly, sat on the sofa, and asked in a low voice:"Coach, how was the talk with Rasheed?"

"I have convinced him to stay." Tang Feng said with a smile:"How is it, are you used to coming to Portland?"

"No problem, people here..."At this point, Billups smiled awkwardly and continued,"Well, although they are not very enthusiastic, it is only temporary. I believe that their enthusiasm will always return."

"If you have any problems or troubles, report them to the team."Tang Feng said slowly:"Now let's talk about the training camp.

Although Rashid is the star player of this team, his personality is not suitable for being the brain and leader of the team.

This responsibility is up to you.

During the training camp, you must take the initiative to assume the responsibility of the team leader, lead by example, which is the most basic, help our newcomers adapt to the rhythm of the NBA, help young players grow, and cooperate with the coaching staff to complete daily training."

""Coach, I will try my best to do it well." Billups promised.

After a slight pause, Billups added:"I will also handle the relationship with Rasheed well and establish a tacit understanding with Rasheed as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Tang Feng smiled and nodded.

It is indeed easier to talk to smart people.

Before the young players of the Trail Blazers grew up, Billups and Rasheed Wallace were the two core players of the Trail Blazers.

If there was a problem between these two core players, it would be a huge blow to the team.

Tang Feng called Billups to give him some advice.

Unexpectedly, before he said anything here, Billups was already mentally prepared for this.