The NBA started with helping Iverson win the championship

Chapter 362 Paul joins the team
After watching the news, Pickled Pepper called Old Bird directly.

After getting an affirmative answer from Old Bird, Paojiao was filled with emotions.

He also didn't expect that such a good thing of bad luck would fall on his own head.

For the vast majority of players, joining the Knicks at this point in time is definitely a blessing.

Because the Knicks are the defending champions, and they are also a super big ball market. After going there, they have gained both fame and fortune.

Paojiao thought about calling Li Xun, but it turned out that the time was a bit late, so he simply waited until tomorrow.

Fortunately, I didn't call, because Li Xun was on the phone with an "uninvited guest" at this time.

James Harden.

Harden is also impatient now.

The Rockets aim at the championship every year, and every year in the playoffs, there are not many hairs left.

Especially this offseason, Howard has already decided to leave the team, and the Rockets now only have Harden as a polished commander.

Seeing that the teams in the league are getting stronger and stronger, Harden knows very well that the Rockets may not even be able to play in the second round of the playoffs, let alone the championship.

Under such circumstances, of course he had a wrong mind.

Since the Knicks can trade pickled peppers, why can't they trade themselves?
His own contract is not expensive, and the Knicks have full salary space to eat it.

The Knicks had a lot of junk contracts last season, but this season they were all cleared out in the pickle trade.

Even if it is not cleared out, these contracts are fully capable of implementing team options.

Nowadays, there are not many players in the Knicks who can get contracts.

That is, Li Xun's 2800 million, Ah Lian's 2000 million, Sun Yue's 1000 million, Afflalo's 600 million, Booker, Jokic, and Zhou Qi's three newcomers add up to almost 600 million.

This is almost exactly 7000 million contracts.

Then there is the pickled pepper contract. He signed the maximum salary earlier, so the maximum salary is 1700 million.

One counts as one, and now the Knicks' total salary is 8700 million, which is still far from the 9400 million salary cap.

It is impossible for a team like the Knicks to really only spend the salary cap.

Their salaries almost exceed the luxury tax line every season.

According to this year's salary cap, the luxury tax line is about 1.15 million US dollars.

Note that this is still just the luxury tax line. The Knicks are rich and powerful, and spending another 1000 million on the luxury tax line is not a problem at all.

In other words, the total salary available to the Knicks is 1.25 million, and their current total salary is only 8700 million.

At least there is still close to $4000 million in salary space.

With such a salary space, it is more than enough to get Harden, and he can also sign two blue-collar players by the way.

"Man, it's not like I don't want you."

"But do you think the rocket can let you go for nothing?"

"Our Knicks don't have much leverage to trade you."

Li Xun said helplessly.

If Harden can be obtained, then Li Xun will definitely not miss it.

Harden needs a lot of ball rights, but this problem is not a problem for Li Xun. Li Xun actually likes to play off the ball.

In addition, Pickled Pepper is actually a good player off the ball.

It just so happens that Harden is here and can play the first position. At that time, the Knicks' lineup will be Harden, Pickled Pepper, Ah Lian, Li Xun and Jokic.

This is really a peerless super five tiger general.

However, the team style of the Rockets who are stingy to the grandma's house, it is impossible to sell Harden to the Knicks at a low price no matter how you think about it.

To know the current Knicks, but what you want is nothing.

Because the record is so good, their draft picks must not be much higher.

In addition, there are good rookies in the team, but the Rockets are definitely not willing to exchange Booker for Harden. If they add more chips, Li Xun is not willing.

"It's easy to do."

"I heard from the gossip that you promised Old Bird that when you leave the Knicks, you will join the Pacers."

"You just need to promise the Rockets that you will join the Rockets after you leave the Pacers."

"I think they might send me to the Knicks overnight."

Harden said with a laugh.

Li Xun was speechless. I don't know who spread the gossip, but now everyone in the alliance knows it.

But join the Rockets?

Li Xun is not so elegant.

Any team in the league, even the Pistons, can consider it, but Li Xun will never consider the Rockets.

"Let's forget about the rocket."

"Even if the league goes bankrupt, I won't consider the Rockets."

"It's up to you to figure out a way for yourself. If you can come, I welcome you with my hands up."

"If I can't come, then I can't help it."

Li Xun said with a sigh.

Harden could only smile wryly, he could think of a way, it seems that this matter is out of the question.

Not long after Li Xun hung up the phone with Harden, the phone rang again immediately.

This time it was Curry calling.

However, the purpose of his call was not to join the Knicks, but to ask Li Xun about choosing the Pacers next time.

"Boss, are the rumors out there true?"

"Will you really choose the Pacers next time?"

Curry said disappointedly.

"Yes, this is a deal between me and old Byrd."

There is no need for Li Xun to hide from Curry.

Curry is not the kind of person with a big mouth, and he certainly won't talk about it.

"Hey, I'm still looking forward to coming to our Golden State when you leave the Knicks."

"It looks like I'll have to wait a few more years."

Curry said in great disappointment.

Since building a dynasty with Li Xun in the Pistons, Curry's solo situation in recent years has not been good.

Even with Durant by his side, he has not been able to win the championship again.

Seeing Curry so disappointed, Li Xun felt a little guilty, mainly because he was the main culprit for the Warriors' inability to stand up now.

Clay and Green, the two core generals of the Warriors, were cut off by Li Xun.

If these two are still in the Warriors, plus Durant, winning the championship will not be a big problem.

At least in the season that just ended, with the strength of the Knicks, it is unlikely to be the Warriors' opponent.

"Don't worry, we are still young."

"And a long career ahead."

"Sooner or later there will be a day when we get together again, don't worry, before I retire, I will definitely join forces with you again."

Li Xun said with a smile.

With Li Xun's guarantee, Curry's mood improved a lot.

After chatting for a long time, we talked about life and family. Now Curry has two children, and Li Xun is still alone.

Li Xun was not in a hurry.

To be reasonable, even if I retire at the age of 40, it will not be too late to get married and have children.

It's just that Li Xun is still a little envious of Curry's wife and children's hot days.

But after thinking about it, there are a lot of people who have unhappy lives after marriage, and there are many NBA players who have been abused by their wives. Li Xun is not very envious.

After chatting with Curry, Li Xun just wanted to take a rest when the phone rang again.

"What the hell, what day is today?"

Li Xun reluctantly answered the phone.

This time it was Chris Paul calling.

"Li, I called you almost twenty times, and you were always on the phone."

"God, it's killing me."

Paul just answered the phone and said directly in a hurried tone.

"Huh? What's the matter, Chris, what happened?"

Li Xun asked curiously.

"I'm worried that you traded another top-salary player in addition to Paul George."

"So I've been calling you."

Paul said hastily.

This made Li Xun wonder, whether the Knicks are trading or not, it doesn't seem to have much to do with the Clippers.

"What's the matter? Chris, why do you feel weird today? What happened?"

"Nothing happened, I just wanted to tell you good news."

"What good news?"

"I can join the Knicks. Our boss Ballmer has agreed to this, and you don't even need any chips from the Knicks."

Paul said excitedly.

Li Xun was taken aback, there is such a good thing in the world?
Without giving any chips, you can directly get a point guard of Paul's level?
"What happened? Mr. Ballmer didn't say anything?"

"For example, let me choose your Clippers next time?"

Li Xun asked incredulously.

He doesn't believe that there is such a good thing in the world. Paul's transaction value is very, very high, and the Clippers will give it away for nothing.

"Nothing, nothing."

"But you should also know that this is definitely a way for Mr. Ballmer to show his favor to you."

Paul said with a smile.

Li Xun nodded, that's right, Ballmer is also a wealthy boss.

It can even be said that he is a fool.

He may have realized that in such an environment in the league, it is definitely unrealistic to want to win the championship with the existing Clippers lineup.

The Clippers' lineup is not bad, with the Big Three of Griffin, Anthony and Paul.

In fact, the Clippers can still sign Howard during the offseason.

It's just that Howard played with the Clippers for a while before and had an infighting with the Clippers, so they were not very interested in Howard.

The lineup of these three giants looks luxurious, but in fact their combat power is not very strong.

In the playoffs last season, they couldn't even beat the Spurs, let alone a team at the level of the Warriors and Mavericks.

Because they have salary space, they can also be strengthened through transactions.

But now the question is who will sell them top players?

There are only a few free top players, and Durant, the biggest player, has now gone to the Cavaliers.

In this case, winning the championship really looked hopeless.

That being the case, it might as well take a gamble and let the Knicks borrow Paul for a year or two to win Li Xun's favor.

With this relationship, at least the Clippers have a higher chance of winning Li Xun in the future than other teams.

And as long as Li Xun is won, is it still worrying about not being able to win the championship?

As the most valuable owner in the league today, Ballmer still has some courage.

Sacrificing the team's immediate combat power for a year or two in exchange for a 100% championship future, if this deal is done a hundred times, he will definitely do it all.

Li Xun smacked his lips, it seemed unreasonable not to eat the fat that was brought to his mouth.

But if you eat it, you really owe Ballmer a favor.

In addition, this incident seems to have cheated Anthony again.

After he left the Knicks, he couldn't come back.

Now I went to the Clippers, just played for a season, and the most powerful teammate around me was poached by Li Xun again.

It was just too miserable.

"You're welcome, Chris."

"Welcome to become a member of the New York Knicks. I think the championship next season may already be in our pocket."

"I think we can let James Dolan prepare champagne and cigars in advance, yes, and prepare the championship ring in advance."

Li Xun said with a big smile.

This is definitely a person sitting at home, and the pie falls from the sky.

Who would have thought that the Knicks would pick up a top point guard for nothing.

Now Paul may not be able to say that he is the number one point guard in the league.

But there is nothing wrong with saying that he is the league's number one traditional point guard.

And Li Xun's team has always played a relatively traditional style of play, so Paul is quite suitable.

Although Li Xun's team shoots a lot of three-pointers, their lineup has always been a serious five-position.

The top center has always been an indispensable and important role in Li Xun's lineup.

Paul was overjoyed, unknowingly, he has played in the league for 12 years.

He didn't know how long he could fight.

Now, while he is still at his peak, being able to win a championship can be regarded as his wish.

The Cavaliers are very strong this year, but in Paul's view, after the Knicks got himself and pickled peppers, what can the Cavaliers use to compete with the Knicks?
Even Paul can confidently say that this Knicks team is the strongest team in NBA history.

none of them.

Li Xun is definitely No.1 in NBA history.

As for Paul, he is almost the top five point guards in NBA history.

The main reason is that there are too many legends at the point guard.

For Pickled Pepper, the ranking is definitely not high, but later when the NBA ranked 75th star, many fans quarreled over Lillard's ability to make Pickled Pepper unable to get in.

It can be seen that pickled peppers are almost in the top [-] in history, and there must be a top [-] small forward position.

As for the UAE, at least it has won a championship now, and its personal data is not bad. If there are more championships, the historical ranking will definitely not be lower.

It's just that many people put him in the position of power forward.

The historical ranking of the power forward position is very competitive.

If there are only three consecutive championships and no other special honors in hand, then the UAE may not even be able to make the top ten.

Jokic is amazing. If he follows the normal trajectory, he will be the MVP consecutively. As long as he leads the team to win even one championship, he will immediately become the top ten center in history.

Paul, Paojiao, Ah Lian, Li Xun and Jokic.

Such a starting five tiger general is absolutely fantastic.

After talking on the phone with Paul, Li Xun told the Zen master the news.

The Zen master was also very pleasantly surprised. Who would have thought that such a good thing could happen in the world.

Looking at it this way, what did the Cavaliers count for taking Durant?The Knicks are even stronger here, and they directly got Pickled Pepper and Paul in a row.

(End of this chapter)