The rest is just noise

Louis gave Baylor some standards.

Taking Oakley's annual salary of $400,000 as an example, no one except Ewing should exceed this number.

As a result, he signed A.C. Green for 800,000 yuan in 4 years, Manute Bol with 600,000 yuan in 4 years, Gerald Wilkins with 400,000 yuan in 4 years, and Spot with 300,000 yuan in 4 years.

· Weber.

Baylor is very good at keeping prices down, probably because he worked for Sterling before.

Although he has poor vision and often short-circuits his brain, he is very stingy when signing contracts.

This is exactly what Louis wants to see. The NBA currently does not have a standard rookie contract. Phenomenal rookies can basically sign a near-maximum salary after entering the league, and lottery picks all have high-level contracts.

Someone like Ewing must be aggressive, starting at 1 million.

Belle did an excellent job at the dirty work Louis gave him.

As a result, he became Louis' true partner.

Last time Louis wanted to expand his staff, the headquarters approved him a US$400,000 amount of funding. Baylor used 200,000, and the remaining 200,000 he wanted to divide into two parts, one part to expand the management team, and the other part to the coaching staff.

They now desperately need a fitness expert to help players gain weight.

Louis initially thought Ewing was a player with a big physique. As it turned out, it turned out that Georgetown University allowed the inside to wear singlets and Ewing's majestic and rugged appearance made people think he was strong.

In fact, he weighs only 240 pounds (108KG).

This weight is far from enough to play as a center in the NBA. He will have problems with his positioning, rebounding, and defense.

Louis never thought he would be worried about the weight of a center who played four years in college.

"Don't panic, there is always a solution to everything." Baylor said optimistically, "I think Patrick has an old-school temperament."

Louis joked: "Are you trying to say he looks old?"

"No, I feel like he looks very much like my dead uncle." Belle said, "I miss him a little bit."

Louis smiled and said: "Okay, just take your sadness and anger and give him a good showdown later!"

Today is the day at the end of July when Ewing and his agent David Falk begin signing negotiations with the Knicks.

Before the introduction of standard rookie contracts, how to sign their own potential rookies decently was one of the headaches for many teams.

The Celtics almost fell out with Bird because the numbers didn't match up.

A rookie like Ewing has the capital to bid at will.

The two parties will go through many rounds of negotiations, and experience "The worst case scenario is that I won't play for a year", "Okay, then you won't play for a year", "Agent: Don't make it so ugly, let's discuss it again", "One shot".

Two breaks!", "Okay, one break, two breaks, and we're leaving tonight." Inexperienced fans will worry that the Knicks won't be able to sign Ewing, while experienced fans are already betting on Ewing's final annual salary.

It is expected that the Knicks will not be able to sign Ewing before the registration deadline announced by the league ends.

That's why Louie so desperately needs a "blue collar" guy.

He really couldn't waste his time on such things.

A few minutes later, Ewing and his agent Falk arrived at the Blue Palace.

"Hello, Mr. Falk, I'm Louis."

"I have long admired my name." Falk said meaningfully, "I heard that there are some differences between you and Patrick. I hope this will not affect the new season."

Louis said lightly: "Of course not, all Patrick and I want is victory."

Ewing, wearing casual clothes, gave Louis a cautious look.

"Coach, won't you participate in the negotiation?"

Louis opened a bottle of Coke: "Although I am the general manager, this is just a title hanging above my head. The real general manager of the Knicks is Elgin. I believe you must know him. Today's negotiations, and the future

In negotiations, you can treat me like air, and I have nothing to do with rain."

"Then let's get started." Baylor's words were like the first shot of the battle.

First, Baylor presented the contract drafted by the Knicks.

22 million in 10 years

This number dazzled Louis. Even if Falk didn't counter-offer, Ewing's contract alone was more than the other players on the Knicks combined.

Falk chuckled: "This is a good start, but we want more, Elgin, you must give Patrick more respect."

When Baylor raised the number to 24 million in steps of 500,000.

Falk shook his head and said: "You are still too conservative, Elgin, do you think this number will satisfy Patrick and his family?"

Baylor became angry on the spot: "Then how much do you want?"

"30 million in 10 years."

"Don't even think about it!"

In this way, a negotiation called negotiation, but actually a quarrel, began.

Seeing Baylor and Falk arguing with each other, Ewing began to feel a little uncomfortable.

He knew that Falk's price was too high.

"Elgin, don't you think Patrick is not worth 30 million? Do you believe that if he were to go to Los Angeles, Jerry Buss would offer him a 25-year, 60 million contract."

Baylor sneered: "I don't care how much money others offer, you can't get that number here!"

"I think it's okay."

Louis, who claimed to be a man of air, suddenly spoke.

Ewing was petrified, Falk thought he heard wrong, and Baylor looked at Louis in disbelief.

"Coach Lu, what did you just say?" Falk asked in surprise.

"I said, you can sign for 30 million in 10 years." Louis smiled lightly, "My only question is, apart from this, you don't have any other requirements, right? If I were Patrick, I wouldn't have any other requirements.

, you should know that once this contract is signed, it means that Patrick's annual income will rank among the top three in the league. For a player who has not played an NBA game, this is enough to show our respect for him, right?

?”

"Wait, Lu." Belle felt his head was in confusion, "Lu, are you serious?"

Louis did not reply to Baylor, but pressed Falk: "Are there any other questions?"

"This" Falk has become a first-tier agent in the league since he signed with Jordan. He has never seen any team negotiate like this.

He also knew that it was impossible for the Knicks to agree to the numbers he reported. How could he have imagined that Louis, who just said he treated him like nothing, would immediately settle the matter?

"Patrick, 30 million in 10 years, is that okay?" Seeing that Falk didn't know how to respond, Louis asked Ewing instead.

Ewing didn't know how big a number 30 million was, so he looked at Falk for help.

"Coach Lu, are you serious?" Falk took a deep breath.

Louis laughed at himself: "What's wrong? I am also the general manager of the Knicks, so I still have this power. If you have no other requirements, I hope to reach an agreement now. I will contact the media and we will get it done today.

How about setting an example for other teams in the league?"

"No, Coach Lu, don't worry, I still have a request."

Louis agreed to an offer of 30 million, which made Falk a little less confident in his next request: "If in a certain year in the future, Patrick's annual salary does not rank among the top five in the league, he should have the right to step out of the current situation."

Contract signed new contract.”

"Absurd!" Baylor slammed the table angrily, "I have been playing professional basketball for decades and I have never heard such a request!"

Louis asked with a hint of obvious anger: "Patrick, is this your opinion or David's?"

At this moment, Ewing actually felt a little guilty.

"I have satisfied your figures and given you enough respect. If you insist on proposing such unreasonable terms, then we should also have corresponding stop-loss clauses." Louis said coldly, "If Patrick is the first

If he cannot be selected as an All-Star in 2016, only 80% of his annual salary will be guaranteed; if he cannot be selected for the All-NBA Team in the next three years, only 70% of his contract will be guaranteed; if he cannot make the Knicks in the first five years of his career,

If brought to the semi-finals, his contract will only have 60% guarantees."

It was Falke's turn now that he couldn't accept it: "This is definitely not in compliance with the relevant terms of the alliance!"

"You only consider what is best for you, but do not want to bear the adverse consequences. When you proposed this clause, do you think that Patrick in the first year has the strength of the top five in the league? If he is the top five in the league, will he be selected for the All-NBA Team?

Star, All-NBA team, is it difficult to take the Knicks to the semifinals? If he is truly a top-five player in the league, it's not difficult at all. If he's not, then why does he get such ridiculous terms?"

Louis shouted and asked: "Tell me, why?"

Ewing's face became extremely ugly. He didn't know whether it was shame, anger from Louis' words, or fear of the situation in front of him.

Baylor didn't expect that Louis would take control of the negotiation.

At the end of the negotiation, Louis said to Ewing and Falk: "We have agreed to 30 million over 10 years. I can tell you clearly that we will not make any more concessions or accept other additional terms."

, either sign this contract or never! Don’t forget, we have the exclusive rights to sign Patrick!”

This was David Falk's most frustrating day.

His goal has never been 30 million in 10 years. This number is indeed huge now. If Ewing signs it, he will immediately become one of the richest players in the league. However, next summer, the league will sign

With a new broadcast contract, the income will be doubled, the salary cap will be greatly increased, and 30 million in 10 years will no longer be an astronomical figure.

His real purpose was that ridiculous-sounding clause.

However, before he could start the lengthy wrangling tactics and finally settle on the terms with the Knicks through short-term financial losses, Louis completely sabotaged it.

The point is, Falke has no idea whether Louis has seen the future of skyrocketing salary caps, or whether he simply believes that Ewing is worth 30 million in 10 years. If it is the former, it is too insidious; if it is the latter, his

Generous enough to make Ewing obey him.

"Let's sign it, David."

When he walked outside the Blue Palace, Ewing suddenly said.

"Patrick, absolutely not!"

"Louis is right." Ewing said confidently, "I have to prove that I am worthy of so much before asking for more. If I were the general manager, I would do the same."