The rest is just noise

From the beginning of the season, the outcome was determined, and we all knew the championship would be won between New York, Miami and Portland."

Louis' words completely spoke to Stern's heart.

The wise president suddenly felt that if Louis could become an administrator of the league after retiring, he might be able to bring more changes to professional basketball.

But now, he is still the president and coach of the Lakers. This is his background. If Stern wants to get his support, he must give him benefits.

Now that Louis knows what the problem is, he must have a solution.

Stern asked: "Coach Lu, you are absolutely right. This has always been something we have tried our best to avoid. No one wants to see a professional league without suspense from the first day of the season, but the current situation is

, those teams are still in their prime, and will remain so in the next few years..."

Stern wanted Louis to come up with suggestions, but Louis had always been a master of the situation.

"Is there anything the Alliance can do about this?"

Louis kicked the ball back and would not help the league until Stern made a substantive verbal commitment.

Stern could only share with Louis some of the ideas coming up within the league: "We have discussed the possibility of a short-term salary cap."

"Short-term salary cap?"

This term sounds mysterious, but isn’t it just a replica of a hard salary cap?

Stern explained: "The salary cap for next season is $30 million, and we plan to set a temporary cap that requires any team's total salary to not exceed 250% of the salary cap."

"Then Miami must have surpassed it, right?"

"Yes."

"That means they won't be able to keep any players from next season?"

"If it passes."

Louis thought for a moment, what is the probability that this proposal will be accepted and passed by the players union?

The temporary salary cap means that it will increase every season as the league's salary cap increases. In theory, the players' income is not affected, but it puts shackles on the super teams.

Can unions understand this?

However, the salary cap of 250% is still quite high and is enough for a super team to operate.

In general, it is better to treat the symptoms rather than the root cause.

"The salary cap of 250% is too much. If we really need to limit it, how about 200%?"

"You can try..." Stern looked at Louis, "However, during the annual meeting, we must first pass this proposal internally. Only when all parties reach a consensus can the implementation of various new policies be possible."

"Yes, I believe that all teams will be sensible." Louis brought Stern back to where he was with one sentence, "As long as they support it, I will support it."

Stern narrowed his eyes, this coach Lu is really out of his depth.

If he didn't take the lead in supporting me, why did I bother to ask him to meet in advance?

"Coach Lu, please don't tell me secret words. I need your support in this matter."

Louis smiled and said: "I really want to support you, Mr. President, but I don't see what benefit it would do to us to adopt this policy."

"The Lakers are rebuilding, wouldn't it be a good thing for you to weaken the super team?"

"Is there a possibility that in a few years, the Lakers will become a super team under my leadership, then wouldn't I just shoot myself in the foot?"

There was nothing Stern could do against Louis.

He knows the weight of Louis.

Louis does not hold the decision-making power of the Lakers family. With his connections that have been rooted in the league for many years, as long as he raises his voice, he will have countless followers.

Those who tried to oppose him have almost turned into the dust of history.

To get his support and help, it's not enough to just expect the other party to love the league. Without providing tangible benefits, Louis will always stand aside and watch the league and the teams get entangled.

Thinking of the conditions Louis offered to Garcia Linn - next year's No. 1 pick - Stern felt very uncomfortable.

He personally hates the league's decision-making of lottery picks, but, hate it, the league does have such an ability.

Is there any difference between giving next year's No. 1 pick to the Lakers and creating a super team on the same spot?

Maybe the difference is that the Lakers have to wait a few more years to reach the top?

When the time comes, who can stop a team with Wilson, Garnett, and Duncan?

Stern only struggled for a moment.

Compared with the league's long-term plan, the ownership of the No. 1 pick in 1997 is only a small part.

Moreover, as long as Louis can help limit the super team, how many years can the Lakers lineup last? It is destined to be short-lived. It is impossible to dominate the league for a long time like the Knicks.

Stern said softly: "Coach Lu, I will not get your support in vain, nor will I let you help in vain. Moreover, I know that precious things are always difficult to obtain, but every item has its price.

So, I decided to do what you want."

As soon as Stern's words fell, the loud noise that exploded in Louis's heart was indescribable. The other party's statement meant that the Lakers got the No. 1 pick in 1997.

This means that Louis already has the conditions to assemble the NBA version of the Miracle Generation. He only needs to wait until next year for Duncan to return. By then, the Lakers will have an ultimate team with Wilson, Garnett, Duncan, Kobe and Nash as the core.

Luxurious historical lineup.

Although not everyone can reach their personal peak before 2000, Louis can have the confidence to make this team the first in history to find the perfect offensive division of "Zihuatanejo" before then.

.

Louis asked seriously: "Can I trust you, David?"

Stern quipped: "I'm a devout New Yorker and I can't afford to deceive the Messiah."

Louis felt that he could trust Stern.

Although their relationship is not that good, they know each other can be trusted.

Because of this, Stern simply agreed to Louis' request because he knew Louis could help.

And Louis also knows that for some teams, the No. 1 pick in 1997 may be an important draft pick that can rewrite team history, but if the problem is expanded to the scale of this league, Tim Duncan's ownership will be insignificant.

"Now that my request has been met, there is no reason for me to remain indifferent to the phenomenon of super teams increasingly ravaging the league." Louis showed that he is a loyal loyalist of the league. "In fact, setting a salary cap can only inhibit super teams to a certain extent.

The expansion of teams cannot fundamentally destroy them. To truly restrict them, what we need to do is not to restrict, but to increase the cost of operating a super team.”

Stern listened carefully: "Coach Lu, I know you must have a way."

"Yes, I thought of a way."

With a smile on his face and a high-spirited attitude, Louis introduced the concept of luxury tax to Stern, as well as the super luxury tax specifically designed to torture teams that "have a lot of money and are not afraid to spend it."

It only took a short time for David Stern's face to change from shocked to excited to excited.

This is really a forward-looking and amazing policy.

For wealthy teams like the New York Knicks, the super luxury tax may not be such a terrible thing, because they are the most profitable team in the league and have won seven consecutive championships. The top management has a strong willingness to invest.

But other teams are different.

Like the Portland Trail Blazers, their owner Paul Allen is equally rich, but has not collected any money for many years and has won nothing. Faced with the terrible super luxury tax, do they have the determination to fight to the end?

In the same way, the Heat are in a similar situation. They won two consecutive championships, but the team did not make much money. Maintaining the status quo can strengthen the brand image, but if the costs and prices paid are to be doubled, then their

The boss definitely needs to seriously consider this.

The same goes for the Lakers.

Although the old Buss was so arrogant in the 1980s, with the influx of capital, the Buss family, which started from real estate, can only be regarded as the second-class rich in the league. Faced with the super luxury tax that may reach the sky, they will also

I feel like I have more than enough energy but not enough energy.

This is the terrible thing about the super luxury tax.

Except for the Knicks, almost no team can withstand it.

However, whether you can withstand it or not, whether you are willing to pay the price, are two different things.

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