The rest is just noise

Under normal circumstances, Louis would have to find an agent and then negotiate his new contract with the Celtics.

Auerbach is a man who wants to take the initiative, so he started negotiations before Louis even signed an agent.

"We are so familiar, is there any need to talk?" Louis said politely, "I believe you will offer me a fair price, and I can sign it after just one look."

Auerbach couldn't believe what he said, even the pause between words, "Sure, come on."

Auerbach handed the draft contract to Louis.

This is a four-year contract.

The amount made Louis frown.

360,000 in 4 years.

Moreover, it says that after signing this contract, several previous contracts he signed with the Celtics will immediately become invalid.

"How about it? Just sign it if you think it's okay?"

Louis put down the contract and said with a stern face: "I don't think it's possible."

"Where can't it be done?"

"360,000 in four years, Reid, is there a problem with this number?" Louis pointed to the amount and smiled, "Now the average salary of coaches in the league has reached 200,000 US dollars. Is there a problem with the team's financial situation?"

"There is indeed a problem."

Auerbach said: "Mr. Mandrian decided to sell the team."

"Why?"

"He had a conflict with the owner of the garden."

"The conflict between them must involve millions, but what does this have to do with my contract?" Louis pushed the contract back to Auerbach. "It is difficult for me to accept this contract. It is far lower than the contract."

The market price is not in line with my worth."

"How much are you worth?"

"OK."

A minute ago, Louis, who kept saying, "You can sign it just by looking at it," took out the fax sent to him by other teams.

And he specifically marked the numbers of the contract amounts offered by each team.

The Knicks' 700,000 made Auerbach's eyes wide open.

Then there's the Lakers' 500,000, Philadelphia's 450,000... Looking at it all the way, there is no contract with a bid lower than the Celtics' 360,000.

"How many do you want?" Auerbach asked, putting down the fax.

"Just follow this contract from New York?"

"Impossible!" Auerbach said, "I can't give you such a big contract to someone who has never coached before!"

His stingy look made Louis helpless.

What is such a big contract? Even based on the Knicks' contract, it only reaches the minimum standard of the average market price.

"If you are unwilling to offer me a big contract because you are worried about my insufficient resume, then I have an immature idea."

"tell me the story."

"500,000 in two years, don't worry, just listen to me."

Auerbach was about to roar, because in terms of annual salary, 2 years and 500,000 yuan is bigger than the contract the Knicks gave Louis.

"500,000 in two years, but the guaranteed amount is only 300,000. For the remaining 200,000, you can set some conditions. I must meet those conditions to get the number I want. In this way, it is fair to you and me.

Of course, you can't set conditions that are impossible."

Auerbach thought about it seriously. Although he wanted to lower Louis' price, he knew that this boy could not back down on the issue of money.

Put morality aside, just for a little money.

The conditions proposed by Louis were feasible in Auerbach's view, so he set two conditions for Louis.

If the Celtics have the league's best record, he can get an extra $50,000. If the Celtics win the championship, he can get the full annual salary of $250,000.

Louis had no objection, but he made another request that made Auerbach scold him again.

"I hope this is a 1+1 contract that gives me the right to get out of this contract next summer."

"Don't push your fucking limits!" Auerbach roared, "I can give you more money, but you can't act haphazardly. If someone gives you a bigger contract tomorrow summer, do you have to jump out and negotiate with me again?

?”

Auerbach's reaction was predictable.

He is very calm.

"Reid, if I really lead the team to win the championship with the best record in the league, is this contract suitable for me now?" Louis asked gently.

Louis obviously doesn't have an agent, but he brings more trouble to Auerbach than some agents.

He wants money and a controllable future.

"If you want to break out of the clause because of this, you should bind this clause to the other two clauses! You can only activate this clause if the other two clauses are reached."

Auerbach never regarded Louis as a toy that could be manipulated casually. He knew that they could not sign Louis without an exit clause.

However, as soon as he said the words, he regretted it.

"That's it." Louis said confidently, as if next year's championship has fallen into his hands, "Hurry up and get the new contract, I can't wait to sign it."

Auerbach quickly asked Jan Wolk to get a new contract.

Louis picked up the contract and read it over and over for half an hour, carefully considering each paragraph.

"What are you looking at? Hurry up and sign it!" Auerbach felt more and more that this kid was disgusting.

Just like before 1979, he thought about Bird joining the team as soon as possible every day, but when his agent offered an annual salary of 1 million, he just wanted to kill him and his agent together.

Maybe only 0.0000001% of people can maintain their face in front of money.

Looking at it this way, it is both remarkable and unrealistic for Wang Duoyu to give up 10 billion for the four-eyed Taiwanese girl he has known for a month and has mediocre looks.

"Spencer Haywood's lessons learned are there, and I can't afford to suffer the same consequences."

Louis was very satisfied after reading it.

"It's so comforting to not see a clause like splitting my salary in half and paying me the other half when I'm 100 years old."

"You really treat me sincerely, Reed."

Auerbach was so angry that he almost choked on the cigar smoke in his mouth.

"Stop talking nonsense, sign your name and get the hell out of here!"

After checking the contract and finding no problems, Louis happily signed his name on it.

Then, Volker asked Louis and Auerbach to laugh because the contract must be signed with a smile.

Louis smiled, and it could be seen that he was happy from within. Auerbach's smile had another meaning - "I want to kill this bastard" - if you know him well enough, you will

can read this meaning.

"Today, the old championship team ushered in a new era - they signed 23-year-old 'Little Lu' to lead the team forward as the new head coach of the Celtics.

Little Lu was born in Hong Kong, originally named Louis. He came to the United States with his family when he was three years old... Although he is young, he has a high reputation in the professional basketball circle because he can always find high-quality rookies.

Famous. He started serving as an assistant coach to Bill Fitch in 1980. In the legendary 1981 Eastern Conference Finals, he contributed the key strategies that Red Auerbach talked about, helping the Celtics win the championship.

O'Brien Cup in 3 years.

He is a top scout, an excellent assistant coach, and considering he is only 23 years old, he has a wonderful future like a top-three pick. He temporarily served as the Celtics' agent in this year's Eastern Conference Finals.

Coach, led the team to two wins and one loss, allowing the Celtics to leave the playoffs with dignity.

Now that the Celtics have signed him, Auerbach is looking forward to him reshaping the ancient dynasty.

Boston stands ready.

And Little Lu just said, 'I want this team to be what it should be.'"

——Bruce Newman, published in Sports Illustrated on May 19, 1983.