Anthony the Reborn

Chapter 227 Free Agent Market
July 2004, 7 was an ordinary day for most people, but it was a very different day for every team in the NBA, because on this day, many general managers expected The door of the long-awaited free agent market has finally opened, and many teams can contact their long-awaited players.

However, many people know that on the first day, many teams were still in a wait-and-see state, so they were relatively quiet. Only a few news came out occasionally to show that the market was still operating.

However, on this day, there is not any news. For example, the Lakers signed Kobe with a contract of 5 million yuan, and Ginobili also renewed his contract with the Spurs for [-] years. These have basically confirmed the next home before the free market opens. The team made a commitment with the home team as soon as the free agent market opened.

On this day, Anthony visited Nash alone.

At the moment, Anthony and Nash are sitting separately on the sofa, and the two are planning for next season.

Anthony is already full of confidence at the moment. After he got in touch with Nash last season, the two have maintained a very good relationship, and all efforts will bear fruit this offseason. There are already many reasons to convince Nash.

"Hey, Steve, I won't go around, how about it, do you have any ideas about your next stop?" Anthony took a sip of coffee and said straight to the point.

"Melo." Nash didn't expect Anthony to be so direct. He said, "We are already friends, and I won't hide it from you. In fact, I still hope to stay in Dallas. Here, I have my friend Dirk. Finley, and my old mentor, Coach Nelson."

Listening to Nash's words, Anthony knew that this was what he had in mind, but he also knew that it was just Nash's wishful thinking. He then said: "Steve, I know, that's your idea, I'm afraid everyone in the Mavericks hopes You stay, but how do you stay, 500w a year? Will you sign such a contract? I know that Cuban is ready to sign Dampier to strengthen the team's interior."

After listening to what Anthony said, Nash glanced at him first, then heaved a long sigh, and said: "Hey, it seems that I can't hide it from you, the team's needs are different, and as players, we have nothing to do. "

"So what is your plan?" Anthony took the words and continued to ask.

Nash hesitated for a while, and then said: "Actually, I am also hesitating now. After all, the free agent market has just started, and my agent has not received enough offers, so I need to think about it for a while."

"Come on, Steve, we are friends, so don't hide it anymore." Anthony saw that Nash had been playing the cover, and he said directly, "I heard that you have an appointment with Richardson, We're going back to Phoenix together."

Nash looked at Anthony in surprise. He had indeed made this decision with Richardson, and he actually thought so in his heart. At that time, he did not expect Anthony to say it at this time.

Anthony ignored Nash's gaze, but continued: "Steve, remember when we met in Miami, I asked you how to choose in the free agent market? When I asked you this question, I hoped that one day , we can play together in one team, and now the opportunity has come, we hope to compete for that golden trophy, which is the highest honor for players!"

Nash looked at Anthony, but did not speak.

Anthony continued: "Steve, I know you are a player who is eager to win. I can feel it when I was in the Mavericks. You are definitely a person who will not give up easily, so now such a good opportunity is placed In front of you, how can you turn a blind eye?"

"Look at the Nuggets right now, Brand is coming back from injury at the start of the season, he's a very good guy, he can run, he can attack, he can defend, he's really a very tough guy , and Bale and Nene, they are all the kind of players who will do their best on the court!"

"I know what your strengths are. Your passing is in the league. I say it from the bottom of my heart. In my eyes, your passing is the best. The Nuggets have a lot of scorers. Korver The three-pointer will not waste any of your passes, and the guy Diaw, that is a guy who likes to share the ball very much, he will definitely be your favorite player."

Just as Anthony said this, Nash smiled and said, "Melo, you made me too good, but I'm not so good."

Anthony froze for a moment, then looked at Nash, shook his head vigorously and said, "No, Steve, you haven't realized how good you are, you will be a first-class passing master."

Nash looked at Anthony in surprise, his eyes sparkled for a while, but soon he smiled. Although Anthony said it sincerely, in his feeling, there was still a lot of compliment in it, maybe , Anthony is just to achieve the purpose of persuading him.

Seeing Nash's state, Anthony knew that he still didn't believe in himself, and he continued: "Steve, I need your pass, and I also need you to stand up to share the pressure for me at critical moments, and , you know, we entered the Western Conference Finals last season, and our main players are still there this season, if you join us, we will definitely have a chance to successfully reach the championship."

There was hesitation in Nash's eyes, but there still seemed to be concerns.

Anthony saw this, and then continued: "Steve, let's not talk about things so far away, let's just say that the team that suits you best, you were brought out by old Nelson, I know you like it the most and are the best at it. It’s the run-and-gun tactic. There are only three teams in the league who play the run-and-gun tactic, the Mavericks, the Suns, and the Nuggets. I think you have to play to your best ability, and you must go to these three teams. Now the Mavericks are unlikely to keep you, I know your previous choice is the Suns, because that is where your career started, but the Suns have proved this season that they are lacking in the heat of running and bombing a lot of."

Anthony said, staring at Nash and said: "This is the difference between the coaches. Obviously, D'Antoni has his own very good understanding of running and bombing. He can bring out the essence of running and bombing tactics. You are old Nelson After such a long time, these should be the clearest, right?"

"Melo, I know what you think, but..." Nash said with a bit of embarrassment when he heard what Anthony said, "Can you let me think about it for a while?"

Anthony saw Nash's embarrassing role and knew that there were some things he hadn't considered. He hesitated and finally nodded. After bidding farewell to Anthony, he communicated with Vandeweghe about the meeting with Nash.

Because it is not certain that Nash can join, Vandeweghe will start the team's plan B, and this plan, of course, does not require Anthony to participate. The so-called plan B is actually equivalent to a spare tire. If Nash does not come to the Nuggets, then The Nuggets are about to have no suitable candidates in the free market.

Among this group of players, the most likely to become the target of Plan B is Kenyon Martin of the Nets, or split the team's salary space and sign players such as Crawford and Brent Barry. The strength of the team sent players to reinforce the team's strength.

Everything is going on quietly, some news comes from the free market from time to time, and the general managers of the team are also working hard in private.

After finalizing Nash's contract, the Nuggets took the lead in completing a signing. They reached a verbal agreement with Pistons center Okur, and the contract is also middle class.This time, the depth of the bench for the Nuggets has become very deep. At the center position, Nene, Mutombo, Okur, Battelle, Brand at the power forward position, Jefferson, this may become Head coach D'Antoni is troubled by happiness.

As the free agent market approaches step by step, the pressure on the general managers of each team is also increasing, because almost everyone of them has a plan B in their hands, and in these plan B, many players are the same, which also means It means that if the players in their plan B also make a choice, then they are likely to return empty-handed in the free market. At that time, with salary space in hand, they can only offer big premium contracts to some second-rate stars up.

Time is running, Nash still has not come out of the final decision, Anthony visited him twice, until the fourth time, when the free agent market was about to close in two days, Anthony and Vandeweghe After the team, I visited Nash once. Nash was finally moved by the sincerity of Anthony and the Nuggets, and chose to sign with the Nuggets.

This news immediately excited the entire management of the Nuggets, and now they are waiting for the signing after July 7.

And now, the Nuggets lineup can be said to be unprecedentedly strong.

In addition to the confirmed insiders, Anthony and his backup Diaw are still at the small forward position, and Trevor Ariza, who was drafted, and at the shooting guard, Bell will still be the starter, Korver will be the backup, and this season will be transformed. Roger at shooting guard, at point guard, Nash as the starter, Williams as the backup, and Duhon, who was drafted this year.

And there are White and Dooling who are still counted in the team. The team's roster seems to be a little bit unsustainable.

Moreover, the total salary of this list has exceeded the salary cap and is approaching the luxury tax. It is conceivable that the Nuggets' revenge this season is very large.

Because the team's roster only needs to be determined 20 days before the start of the regular season, the Nuggets are so eager to make layoff decisions, and the current lineup also makes every Nuggets player feel There is a lot of pressure on the shoulders.

(End of this chapter)