NBA: I am a master dealer

While I was thinking this, my cell phone suddenly rang.

Upon seeing it, Xue Liancheng was stunned.

If you really say Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be there.

The caller was none other than Kupchak.

Xue Liancheng recovered his thoughts and pressed the answer button: "Hello! Hello!"

Kupchak smiled and said, "Xue, did you watch the draft? What do you think of our operations today?"

Xue Liancheng responded calmly: "It's okay."

Kupchak: "Xue, when will you come back? I think we should really talk in person."

Xue Liancheng hasn't answered yet.

Kupchak continued, "How about...I can fly to your place."

Hear this.

Xue Liancheng smiled slightly. It seemed that Kupchak was really anxious!

Obviously.

The Lakers' infighting has reached a fever pitch, and Kupchak is eager to make results to show off his achievements.

But Xue Liancheng said, "Don't worry, I haven't thought about it yet."

Since Kobe didn't tell Kupchak the result of their bet, he obviously didn't want to make Kupchak feel secure and use this to manipulate him.

Kobe still considered this very carefully.

In this way, he can take the initiative in the dialogue with Kupchak.

otherwise……

I know that your coming to the Lakers is a sure thing, so why should I be anxious?

really.

Upon hearing this, Kupchak said anxiously: "Xue, we have no doubts about your personal ability and leadership ability, but the free market is about to start, and we need to build the team around you. If you can't If implemented, all that will become a fantasy.”

Xue Liancheng: "Okay, then I want to hear your ideas for team building."

Kupchak: "We have a lot of great young people. I believe that in the next two to three years, they will grow into your right-hand man. In this way, we will be very competitive in the next ten years."

Hearing this answer, Xue Liancheng couldn't help but frown: "So, what is your goal for next season?"

Kupchak: "Go all out for the playoffs."

Xue Liancheng: "Sorry, there may be an insurmountable gap between our expectations."

Knew it.

Kupchak still wants him to accompany young players to grow up.

But the problem is that for these people selected by the Lakers, it will take a few years for their style of play to stabilize and mature.

The most incomprehensible thing is that Kupchak really thought that everything in his hands was a treasure, and he was reluctant to let it go.

There is no doubt that this view is absolutely wrong.

Only when your core players grow up and have the potential to become cornerstones can the reconstruction be completed.

As for the Lakers, their combined effect may not be as great as that of a mature Oladipo.

If Kobe hadn't agreed to join the Lakers, he wouldn't have considered it at all.

Kupchak's eyes lit up, "Xue, what are your expectations?"

In fact.

He has indeed been under tremendous pressure in recent years, especially as the Lakers' record has become worse year by year, and Jeanie Buss has continued to put pressure on the board of directors.

Before Kobe didn't retire, he could have an excuse, saying that in order to support Kobe in his retirement, the record didn't matter.

But now, Kobe has retired.

So fans naturally hope that the Lakers can regain their strength and set sail again.

Therefore, the Lakers' rookie picks in the past two years are all newcomers with extraordinary physical talents and high ceilings.

The same goes for Russell, and the same goes for Ingram.

So they have no excuse now.

At this moment, Kobe conveyed Xue Liancheng's intention to test the free market.

Kupchak immediately sensed an opportunity.

As long as Xue Liancheng is signed, the Lakers will have the cornerstone for building a team, and everything else can be repaired.

The most important thing is that as the leader of the Lakers, he successfully stole people from New York and brought the league's first appearance to Los Angeles. This is enough to make him invincible. Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson want to It is almost impossible to seize power again.

because……

The person coming is Xue Liancheng!

He was born out of nowhere, the first person in the league who has never suffered a defeat!

A superstar who is only 21 years old but has won a series of honors such as 2 championships, 2 FMVPs, 2 MVPs, 2 assists titles, and 1 scoring title.

A true interpretation of what it means to emerge from nowhere and suppress a group of superstars as soon as they enter the league...

The Lakers have acquired such a super giant, and they can immediately turn over the Lakers.

After minor repairs, Xue Liancheng's influence was used to attract other superstars to invest.

in this way.

Isn’t the team building completed?
There are superstars on the team, there are also potential new stars who will shine brightly in the future, and they can also make a run for the playoffs.

As the general manager, he will once again be promoted to the altar.

On the other hand, if Xue Liancheng cannot be taken down and still maintains this desperate moral character, then it is really possible for Jenny Buss to lead the small shareholders to overthrow Jim Buss.

Once Jim Bass falls, he, the pawn, will also be in trouble immediately.

Therefore, striving to capture Xue Liancheng is a crucial step.

Now Xue Liancheng is interested in listening to market quotations and even talked to him about team building ideas and expectations. This is a good signal.

Xue Liancheng answered very firmly: "The championship has always been my goal."

of course.

The goal is to win the championship, but whether it can be achieved is another matter.

Kupchak smiled and said, "No wonder Kobe likes you so much. You and he both have a fierce spirit. You are the same type of person."

After a pause, Kupchak finally seemed to have made up his mind, "Xue, if you inherit the glory of the Purple and Gold Army, it will definitely be the warmest talk in the history of the NBA. If you have any conditions, I will definitely do it." I will fully cooperate to satisfy you.”

Xue Liancheng teased: "Aren't you afraid of fetching water with a bamboo basket?"

The last time we talked, it was really rhetorical.

I compliment you on your track record.

You marvel at my emergence.

There is little in-depth communication.

But now Kupchak is digging into his heart, and it's obviously Jenny Buss who is pushing him harder.

Kupchak: "In order to get a phenomenal or even historical superstar, I think it's worth taking any risk. I just need to be ready to welcome you. As for the rest, I don't think about it for the time being. Within the range.”

These words are quite sincere.

Xue Liancheng finally had a smile on his face, "I entered the free market to test the waters. In addition to verifying my own value, the most important thing is that I also want to challenge myself. All teams have opportunities, and the prerequisites for my joining are Yes, I need to see your competitiveness, your determination to make changes, and your courage to fight for the championship trophy at all costs. You can let me see it first..."

This time the communication was much smoother.

Basically, a consensus has been reached, that is, the Lakers will comprehensively improve the team's competitiveness. As for whether Xue Liancheng will join?

of course……

But Kupchak doesn’t know!
So the next day, the Lakers immediately released their big move.

"Kupchak: Will go to Oklahoma in person to formally recruit Durant"

"Kupchak: Chasing DeRozan"

"It is reported that the Lakers are also interested in Batum"

"The Lakers are actively contacting other teams, the transaction is open, and no one is for sale"

"The Lakers make big moves and prepare to form the Big Three in the offseason"

There is really endless news about the Lakers.

Many fans think these are rumors, but they are actually true.

As the free market approaches, Kupchak's calls with Xue Liancheng have become increasingly close.

Xue Liancheng also provided a list on the free market that is more suitable for small lineups, including his old teammate Batum.

Batum's personal offensive ability may be a problem, but there are only a handful of forward players who can defend, break through, shoot three-pointers, and organize.

There is absolutely no problem with Batum's adaptability in a small lineup.

Then there's his old rival Harrison Barnes.

Barnes was not impressive during the Warriors period, but there is no doubt that Barnes is definitely a qualified 3D player and can make outstanding contributions on both offense and defense.

Then there's Courtney Lee and Marvin Williams.

The former is only 196cm tall, but he is not afraid of confrontation, defends fiercely, has excellent air-cutting ability, and his three-point accuracy is also quite good. He is a very good functional player.

The latter has outstanding physical talent. He is 206cm tall, can jump up and down, and has a certain three-point ability. The only shortcoming is that his defensive ability and attitude are a bit lacking.

These are some of his personal ideals. As for the Lakers, he also gave corresponding suggestions: There are too many people holding the ball and playing in singles.

He thought Kupchak should know what he meant.

Russell has to hold the ball.

Lou Williams also has to hold the ball.

Clarkson is also a singles type with the ball.

Even Nick Young has to attack with the ball.

Ingram and Randall also have a certain proportion of singles with the ball.

If he joins the Lakers, there will be seven people playing ball.

This……

And play a ball!
Therefore, it is imperative to remove the person who has the ball.

But this is not easy!

A deal has entered into competition since the beginning of negotiation. It is an invisible war. The chips and interests are intertwined, and it is difficult to take shape at once.

In addition to the news about the Lakers, news about James and Durant is also flying everywhere.

The first is James. Someone photographed James appearing on the streets of New York, which can't help but make people think.

Xue Liancheng + James + Oladipo + Lopez, this... is directly the finale.

But there are also many people who think that they think too much.

Xue Liancheng and James are incompatible, how could they shake hands and make peace and then play together?
This picture is so beautiful that I can’t even imagine it.

Some people also think that James was defeated by Xue Liancheng in a row, once with a reverse sweep, and once with a real sweep. This behavior of joining in after being defeated is simply disgusting.

If James really does this, a large number of fans will lose their fans. After all, no one can afford to lose face.

What's more, James is such a big superstar, doesn't he want to lose face?
So in conclusion, it is simply impossible for James to take over New York.

But some people refute that when James went to join the Heat in 10, who would have thought?

James also announced the news on live TV, which was simply unbelievable.

So it's no surprise what James does.

There was also running around during the Heat period, not just running away, so how could James have any face?

The whereabouts of James are still a mystery.

The trend of Durant leaving the Thunder has become increasingly obvious.

First of all, Durant said in an interview: I am open to joining other teams.

As for the two teams chasing Durant most fiercely, one is the Golden State Warriors. There are constant rumors that Curry will personally lead the team to Oklahoma to meet with Durant to form a loser combination.

The other team is naturally the Los Angeles Lakers. Kupchak has made it known early on that he will get Durant at all costs.

But according to people close to Durant, Durant is more inclined to stay in Oklahoma City or join the Golden State Warriors.

The reasons given are also very straightforward.

The Golden State Warriors are more competitive than the Los Angeles Lakers.

This is an obvious fact.

The Warriors have reached the Finals for two consecutive years. Although they lost both times, they are the best team in the Western Conference and almost no one doubts it.

There are also top shooters like Curry and Thompson on the team.

And what do the Lakers have?

No hair at all.

Durant left not to become the boss of a rebuilding team, but to go for the championship.

So the Golden State Warriors are definitely a good place to be.

But many fans think it is impossible. The splash brothers Curry + Thompson are already very good, leading the Warriors to a historic 70-win record. Now, Durant is coming?
Isn't this cheating?
Don't even fight, just award the prize.

The league should not allow so many stars to gather together.

There is much less news about Xue Liancheng.

Because Xue Liancheng was recuperating from his injuries and had never appeared on camera or expressed his position in public, he seemed to have suddenly disappeared without much news.

Therefore, the media unanimously believed that Xue Liancheng should stay in New York.

And time flies by.

On July 7, the free market officially opened.

The Raptors fired the first shot, renewing DeRozan's contract for 5 million for five years. They were afraid that the Lakers and DeRozan would have a romantic relationship due to their flirtation, so they hurriedly offered him a big salary contract.

Rajon Rondo transferred from the Kings to the Bulls for 2 million in 2800 years. This was a helpless move by the Bulls. They failed to make the playoffs last season and were criticized by many fans, so their attitude towards reinforcements is still very fierce. .

At this time, a bombshell exploded, Mike Conley renewed his contract with the Grizzlies for 5 years and 1.53 million.

Everyone was stunned.

When will a player who averages 15.3 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game get a maximum salary contract with an annual salary of 3000 million?
It's simply unbelievable.

And all this actually happened.

The income from sky-high live broadcast rights fees has brought the team's salary threshold to a new height.

This made many players realize that they were worth more than they thought, so the rest was just a little fuss.

For example, Nene signed a one-year, 1 million contract and switched from the Wizards to the Rockets.

Zaza Pachulia also transferred from the Mavericks to the Golden State Warriors for 1 million in one year. Has the gears of destiny begun to turn?
Sessions transferred from the Wizards to the Hornets for 2 million in two years.

Mbah a Moute signs a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Prince brother Austin Rivers stayed with the Clippers with a three-year, $3 million contract extension.

This operation is simply jaw-dropping. Openly offering an annual salary of tens of millions to his son is really going too far.

He didn't even make any move to cover up, he was just so naked.

You must know that Rivers Jr. only averaged 8.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season. His overall shooting percentage was only 43.8%, and his three-point percentage was only 33.5%. He looked ordinary and was not a potential newcomer. He actually got 3 3500 million per year.

Where's the value? Which point is worth tens of millions of annual salary?
It perfectly demonstrates how important it is to have a good father.

And in the evening.

The Mavericks also gave Harrison Barnes a four-year, $4 million super contract.

As a 3D player, with such a super high salary, Barnes has no reason to refuse.

The Lakers lost their first goal.

Only then did Kupchak call to communicate with Xue Liancheng.

Kupchak: "The market is crazy now. Everything is up for sale. Xue, do you have any other candidates to recommend?"

It is well known that the Lakers are stingy, but Xue Liancheng thought it was just Jenny Buss who was stingy, but he did not expect that Kupchak was the real stingy.

With such a small salary, do you think the market is crazy?

In a few years, the maximum salary will be doubled, and then it will be really crazy.

However, Conley's signing of this big contract does mean to open Pandora's box.

Xue Liancheng thought for a moment with a deep eyebrow, "If you are willing, you can also use the transaction. You don't have to be dazzled by the free market."

result.

Kupchak: "The idea Walton gave me was to follow the Warriors' passing route. He proposed signing Mozgov and Luol Deng. What do you think?"

coming! coming!
finally come.

Xue Liancheng said without even thinking, "If this is the case, I will choose to stay in New York."

Kupchak: "Well... they both performed well."

Xue Liancheng: "A singles player with an average field goal percentage of only 41%+, and an inside meat shield who is slow and unable to protect the frame. What do you think is good about them?"

Kupchak was choked up immediately, "Uh! This... that... Luol Deng can do three or four, isn't he very suitable for playing in a small lineup? Besides, your chemistry was pretty good during the Heat!"

Xue Liancheng: "If it is really possible, why do you think the Heat want to trade him?"

As soon as these words came out.

Kupchak shut up instantly.

Isn't this obvious?

It just doesn’t match.

Kupchak asked nagging: "What do you think of Horford?"

Xue Liancheng shook his head, "He is indeed a very good player, very comprehensive, but when it comes to competing for the championship, I always feel that he is not good enough, especially when playing as a center, he simply can't handle it."

It is said that everything is perfect, but conversely, it is not perfect at all.

Everyone knows that Horford can defend both small and large players, but when faced with those fast defenders or brutal inside players, Horford's defense is like a piece of paper, unable to withstand the slightest bit of damage.

In other words, you can neither guard against the big nor the small.

This is the real no-three-no-four.

They are not as good as Feng Lai. With his muscle collision and physical talent, he finally has some frame-protecting effect at the basket.

As for Horford, apart from occasionally assisting in defense, he has no deterrent power at all.

Not worth 4 million in 1.13 years.

(End of this chapter)