This Forward is Not Serious

A very interesting thing happened in the league before free agency began.

The Knicks were fined a second-round pick by the league.

The reason is that they first contacted restricted free agent Jimmy Butler before free agency began. .

The Knicks appealed to no avail.

Riley was dumbfounded.

Lin Ying's home training center.

After seeing the news, both Lin Ying and Butler laughed.

Butler has decided not to go to the Knicks. This "backhand move" is very essence.

This is another stab at the New York Big Three who are about to break up.

"Lin, do you think LeBron will return to the Cavaliers?"

Butler has played for the Nets for four years, and now that he is restricted, he still regards himself as a "Net".

"It's possible, but the key is how they deal with James Harden."

"Um?"

"The compatibility between James Harden and LeBron will be very poor. They both need to hold the ball a lot to perform. If LeBron really wants to return to Cleveland, James Harden should be traded."

"Where do you think you'll be traded?"

Lin Ying shook his head.

He couldn't predict this.

He even felt that James would not necessarily leave New York.

According to previous rumors, Wade may return to the Heat.

To do this, the Heat are likely to send Anthony.

And once Anthony goes to New York, James' desire to stay will become stronger.

After all, Anthony who is still at his peak is much more competitive than Wade who has declined.

…

On July 1, the door to the free market officially opened.

No big signings were made.

But many restricted free agents received offers.

For example, Gordon Hayward of the Jazz received a four-year, 63 million contract offer from the Bobcats, which should now be called the Hornets.

For another example, the Nets... were dismantled!

Jimmy Butler received four maximum salary offers at the same time, from the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and Bulls.

Yi Jianlian received offers from many teams such as the Celtics, Wizards, and Suns, among which the Wizards offered a four-year, 32 million long-term contract.

Granger received a two-year, 10 million mid-level contract invitation from the Heat.

Crowder received a two-year, $9 million contract offer from the Cavaliers.

…

Walken Dean was caught off guard after the first day of free agency.

Although he had been mentally prepared, it turned out that he was facing a completely new situation.

Generally speaking, the value of players will increase after winning the championship.

Yet this is a player on a two-peat team.

Moreover, the Nets' players whose performance has declined are locked in big contracts, but those who have performed well have all expired.

This kind of situation is difficult for even top managers to deal with.

That night, Walken Dean invited Karl, Cole and Lin Ying to his home and talked about the team's selection for the new season.

The team's head coach is the core of the team. As for Cole, because Cole has served as the team's general manager, he can help in this regard.

After chatting for a while, Cole talked about his thoughts.

"I think letting Jimmy go, and then waiting until next offseason to deal with Joe's contract, when Lin jumps out of the contract and Tyson's contract expires, we will have a new luxury team with unprecedented lineup components."

Walken Dean nodded.

This is indeed the best solution for the Nets.

Because there are still two years left on Johnson's long-term contract, it will become an expiring contract next summer. At that time, there will be teams that fill the "poor line" and need him, and he can be directly exchanged for air.

Moreover, free agents will gather next summer. Aldridge, Gasol, Duncan, DeAndre Jordan, Millsap, Rondo, and Ginobili are all completely free agents.

Moreover, the contracts of the 2011 rookies have also expired, including Leonard.

In addition, Durant, Love, and Brook Lopez all have player contract options.

Like Cole said, there's a lot of room to maneuver.

"Can we give up the opportunity to challenge the dynasty?"

But Dean Walken then said something very realistic.

It seems that Cole said he should have considered it, but reality does not allow it.

Not to mention the players represented by Lin Ying, the fans outside will not agree.

"But no matter how we operate, our strength is declining."

Cole went on to talk about an equally realistic topic.

Lin Ying also resonated with Cole when he said this.

Because when they were still with the Suns, they encountered such a problem during the defending season.

In comparison, the situation at that time was better.

It would be even harder for the Nets to break the game now.

Because the Nets have exceeded the luxury tax for three consecutive seasons, this season the tax range of 1 million to 5 million automatically becomes 2.5 times, 5 to 10 million becomes 2.75, and so on.

If the amount exceeds 5 million, you have to pay 12.5 million, and if the amount exceeds 10 million, you have to pay 26.5 million.

With this kind of luxury tax off the ground, even they can't unscrupulously exceed the cap this season.

So even if Joe Johnson is amnested and space is left for Butler to renew his contract, the team's overall strength will still decline.

Not to mention the core rotation that was offered.

"Lin, do you have any ideas?"

Walken Dean looked at Lin Ying.

Lin Ying shook his head.

After all, he is not a professional manager, so there is no good idea in this situation.

Moreover, it was not appropriate for him to say anything in this situation.

After chatting for a while, Walken Dean asked Cole and Lin Ying to go back first, and he then discussed countermeasures with Karl.

"There are foreseeable difficulties in the new season."

After leaving Warken Dean's house, Cole spoke.

“I’ve always believed what Coach Rick said, that difficulties bring opportunities.”

Lin Ying's mentality remained very good.

"Rick Barnes?"

"Um."

Barnes is now an assistant coach with the Mavericks.

After being fired after one year with the Nuggets, he didn't get another head coaching job.

However, he did not choose to return to the NCAA, but continued to stay.

"This sentence is very philosophical."

Cole nodded in agreement.

"I'm ready to accept the Warriors' invitation to become their head coach."

Cole then said suddenly.

"Um?"

Lin Ying looked at him in surprise.

Not because of this decision, but because of the occasion when I spoke.

Walken Dean also approached Cole before the meeting, which means that Cole has not told Walken Dean about this yet.

In other words, Cole should have made the decision now.

"I haven't told anyone else yet, but you know I'm a person who likes to challenge new things."

Cole continued.

Lin Ying also came to his senses. This was probably related to the meeting just now.

Next season for the Nets will be difficult at best and a mess at worst.

So there is nothing to blame. Cole himself came to the Nets as an assistant coach as a springboard.

Carr's absence in last year's playoffs gave him a stage to fully demonstrate his abilities, and other teams can naturally see it.

He should have received invitations from more than one team, and finally chose the Warriors among many teams.

“It’s a great place to be and they have a lot of potential.”

Lin Ying nodded.

In history, Cole also went to the Warriors this year, and then reached the peak of his debut, leading the team to win the championship.

The Warriors' lineup has not changed much now. It doesn't mean that Cole will win the championship if he leaves, but he is still very competitive.

"Come on, although I think it will be difficult for the Nets next season, but with you, I think everything is possible. Maybe we will meet in the finals?"

Cole said with a smile.

Lin Ying smiled and nodded.

Cole's words were not only confident in him, but also quite confident in himself.

…

On the second day after the free market opened, the free market finally made a big move.

The Mavericks offered Chandler Parsons of the Rockets a three-year, 2+1 maximum salary contract worth $45 million.

The Rockets gave up the match after weighing it, and the Mavericks finally used the contract space that Nowitzki jumped out of to complete the reinforcements.

Just after that, Nowitzki announced that he had reached a three-year, $25 million contract extension with the Mavericks.

This shocked the alliance.

The contract renewal meme was also born.

Kuban: “94 million in 4 years.”

Nowitzki: "Ten million in two years."

Kuban: "80 million in four years."

Nowitzki: "15 million in three years."

Kuban: "60 million in three years."

Nowitzki: "25 million in three years, deal!"

The owner-player relationship between Kuban and Nowitzki is unique in the NBA.

In this way, the Mavericks will still be very competitive next season.

Holiday, Courtney Lee, Parsons, Nowitzki, Yao Ming.

This starting lineup is still capable of competing for the championship.

On the same day, the Warriors officially announced that they had fired Mark Jackson and that the team's new head coach would be Steve Kerr.

Then at the same time, the Warriors offered Livingston a three-year, 16 million contract.

"Another Day the Nets Are Dismantled."

At this time, there were more and more rumors between the Cavaliers and James.

…

James Mansion, Manhattan.

James is sitting on the sofa, opposite Rich Paul.

"Pat Riley contacted me and they're going to trade Wade for Melo, and the deal is close to being done.

The obvious reason he called me at this time was to use it as a bargaining chip for you to stay. "

Paul has a good feel for Riley.

"The king does not see the king."

James gave an answer.

Maybe this would be a reinforcement in the eyes of many people, but not in his eyes.

Anthony has a proud heart, not to mention that the two of them had an unpleasant quarrel because of "decision one".

Unless one of them is completely incompetent, it will be difficult for them to cooperate.

"What does Cleveland say?"

James is more concerned about the Cavaliers now.

The Cavaliers were third in the Eastern Conference last season. When he joins such a team, the competitiveness is there.

"They've agreed to trade James Harden, and Gilbert said he can be as committed as Ballmer."

"very good."

James felt very satisfied.

This is similar to what Lin Ying guessed, but not exactly the same.

In addition to the issue of compatibility, it is also the attitude of the Cavaliers.

Gilbert cursed him openly when he left.

So if he goes back, the attitude of the Cavaliers management is crucial.

As for the previous conflicts, they all focused on money.

Gilbert's attitude now speaks volumes.

Although the Cavaliers were third in the Eastern Conference last year, those people alone couldn't defeat the Nets.

Now it depends on what chips the Cavaliers' management can get in exchange for Harden. That will be the final factor in whether he considers returning to Cleveland.

Otherwise he wouldn't mind trying to get Anthony to surrender to him.

And he is confident enough to persuade Bosh to stay. Their Big Three will still be the most popular team in the Eastern Conference.

Even if he really abandons the principle of never seeing the king, he can go to Los Angeles to join forces with Kobe Paul.

These people, who helped the Dream Team return to the top in 2008, can easily reconnect with each other.

…

On the third day of the free market, Lin Ying was called to his home alone by Walken Dean.

Calling him alone at this time, Lin Ying knew that the management should have made a decision.

Sure enough, after a brief chat, Walken Dean got straight to the point and explained the management's decision.

"We are going to focus on next summer, so we decided to let Jimmy go."

Dean Walken is very direct. He has known Lin Ying for a long time and knows that Lin Ying doesn't like to beat around the bush.

"Jimmy, does he know?"

Lin Ying had foreseen this possibility, so he didn't seem too surprised.

"I have talked with Jimmy. He knows the current situation of the team and also has ideas about taking on a larger role in a new team."

Lin Ying nodded after listening.

Butler certainly doesn't object to staying, but he does have ambitions.

If he stays with the Nets, he will still be the third in charge, or at most the second in charge. It is unrealistic to become the boss of the Nets unless Lin Ying leaves.

But that possibility is too small. On the contrary, if he goes to a new team, he will have the opportunity to directly become the boss.

"So he's going to Charlotte?"

Butler didn't tell him where he was going before, so it was probably a decision he had just made.

The Knicks won't go, as Butler has been linked to Jordan.

And it's not necessarily a bad thing for Butler to play for Jordan.

It's not that there is any father-son drama, but there are few people in the league who can stand Jordan's harshness, and Butler will be one of the only few.

"no."

"no?"

"The Hornets withdrew their offer. They seem to still want to focus on next year's free market."

"...As expected of Michael."

Lin Ying thought of many possibilities, but never expected that it would end up like this.

You must know that Jordan's attention to Butler this time is visible.

But it turned out that he still underestimated Jordan.

"So Jimmy's going?"

"Boston."

"Boston?"

"This is the second thing I want to tell you. We are focusing on next summer, but we are not ready to give up this season, so we will use Jimmy's trade to bring back some competitive players. Jimmy also feels Going to Boston would be a great choice.”

Lin Ying thought for a while and nodded.

The personalities of the Celtics, except Howard, would be a good fit.

But this also means that the Celtics will not renew Pierce's contract.

"Who are we going to get?"

Lin Ying's curiosity was aroused.

Walken Dean followed up with that answer.

"Your junior brother,

Avery Bradley. "