Lin Yu couldn't make up his mind now, so he could only ask Unseld to wait and see if things would turn around next.
"By the way, Jamal and Rod's contract, what should we do now?"
"Has the boss drawn a red line? How much salary space can we have?"
Lin Yu asked again about the contract renewal between Mashburn and Speedy.
When Unseld heard this topic, his head got bigger. He had also been worried recently.
"Of course there is a red line, 6.5 million U.S. dollars. The annual salary we can use to renew Jamal or Rod's contract is only a starting salary of 6.5 million U.S. dollars at most."
"According to the salary regulations, I can probably sign a four-year contract worth 30 million yuan."
Lin Yu's brows furrowed into knots. Old Paulin was really a picky guy who even had to smack his fingers. What could a starting salary of US$6.5 million be enough for? Not to mention Mashburn, I can't even sign for a flying car.
Uncle Huo's seven-year salary is 105 million US dollars. The new round of labor negotiations has not yet begun. Based on Marsh's performance in the second half of this season, he will not sign the same contract as Uncle Huo, but it will be at least 6,500 for five years. You can’t run away with anything from 10,000 to 70 million.
Speedy is older and not as young as Mashburn, so his value is not that high, but many teams are willing to give him 50 million in five years.
Like the New York Knicks!
The Knicks are short of point guards and they are rich. Five years and fifty million is just a drop in the bucket for them.
"That means we can't keep Jamal and Rod?" Lin Yu sighed.
Unseld smiled bitterly, "Paulin means that you have a good relationship with them, and they also recognize you."
"I want you to convince one of them to take a pay cut and stay on the team."
Lin Yu almost scolded old Bolin for being stingy, but he was so evil that he asked me to find someone to cut his salary? Is it a one-and-a-half-star drop?
If Mashburn promised 30 million in four years, he would have to lose at least 30 million U.S. dollars, and Speedy would also have to lose more than 10 million.
Putting aside whether they would sell Lin Yu's face, even if they were willing to sell it, Lin Yu wouldn't want it.
How immoral is this? Isn't it just a living moral kidnapping?
The key is who gets the advantage in the end? Anyway, it was not as cheap as Lin Yu, but as cheap as old Paulin!
Co-writing Lin Yu made his brother suffer a big loss and took advantage of him, old Bolin. He just wanted to take advantage of it.
After seeing Lin Yu's expression, Unseld also knew what Lin Yu was thinking, "I'm informing you about this. It doesn't matter whether I can do it or not."
"Paulin probably didn't have high expectations anyway."
Lin Yu took the conversation and said: "Wes, I really admire you for being loyal to old Paulin for so many decades."
Unexpectedly, Unseld raised his eyebrows in displeasure, "What are you talking about? My allegiance is to the Washington Bullets!"
"No, now he's called a prodigy."
"This is my root and I have dedicated my life to this team!"
"That is to say, I have no money. If I had money, I would definitely buy shares of the Wizards."
The topic that Unseld mentioned suddenly made Lin Yu interested.
"Old man, what is the current market value of our Wizards? Is it 300 million US dollars?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Unseld looked at Lin Yu with a look that looked like a fool, "Three hundred million US dollars? Do you think the US dollars are blown by the strong wind?"
"This year's market value hasn't been released yet, but the Knicks in 1996 had a market value of only 206 million US dollars. The Suns ranked second with a value of 193 million US dollars, and the third-placed Pistons only had a market value of 187 million US dollars!"
"You think too highly of us, the Washington Wizards. The maximum is only 120 million US dollars."
Lin Yu really couldn't stand it this time. Why is the market value of the NBA different from what he remembers? Isn't this too low?
The Knicks only have $200 million? What the hell are the Lakers? The market value is actually lower than that of the Suns and Pistons? (Data fidelity, it took a long time to check the external network to find the exact market value of each team in 1996)
The Pistons have a higher market value than the Lakers, and Lin Yu can understand that, because the Pistons are the team with the largest attendance per game in the league, their stadium is large, and their fans are very loyal.
Lin Yu smacked his lips. In more than 20 years, the Knicks' market value will skyrocket to nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars. This increase is too amazing.
"No, with such a cheap market value, can't you afford even 5% of the equity?"
Lin Yu asked curiously.
Unseld shrugged helplessly and said: "My rookie season was only 40,000 US dollars. After playing for so many years, I earned less than 10 million in total. When I was a coach, my annual salary was only 1 million. Later, when I became the general manager, I earned only 1 million." 1.5 million."
"This is before tax. Do you think I'm one of those lucky guys from Jordan? They make more in one year than I do in my entire life."
"And the market value is the market value. It doesn't mean that if you have so much money, people will sell you the equity."
"Someone talked to Paulin before about buying 5% of the equity. As a result, Paulin offered 10 million, but he didn't buy it."
Lin Yu was shocked. Four years later, Jordan spent US$20 million to buy 5% of the Wizards' equity. It seemed that the 1998 labor agreement had greatly increased the market value of NBA teams.
For a moment, Lin Yu had an extremely crazy idea in his mind. He wanted to acquire the Wizards' equity!
Before the 1998 labor negotiations have begun, he quickly bought 5% of the Wizards' equity. Lin Yu is confident that he will lead the team to defeat the Bulls next season. If they finally win the championship, the Wizards' market value will definitely increase.
"Wes, does the league stipulate that team shareholders cannot be coaches?" Lin Yu asked curiously.
Unseld shook his head, "Don't talk about shareholders, it's not like it has never happened before that the boss became the coach."
"Why are you asking? Don't tell me that you want to acquire equity in the Wizards."
After saying that, Unseld laughed. With Lin Yu's annual salary of US$220,000 this year, what would he use to acquire the Wizards' equity?
Unexpectedly, Lin Yu nodded solemnly, "Yes, I really have such an idea."
"I'm going to find old Pauline now. Where is his home? Why don't you take me there?"
…
A quarter of an hour later, Unseld was sitting in the passenger seat of Lin Yu's Porsche, with a confused expression on his face.
He felt that Lin Yu did not have the financial resources to acquire the equity of the Wizards, but he couldn't help but believe it in his heart. He couldn't help but get into Lin Yu's car and take Lin Yu to find old Paulin.
After arriving at old Pauline's manor and mansion, Unseld didn't get out of the car and asked Lin Yu to go in by himself.
"Lin, the season is over, why don't you give yourself a holiday? Just relax."
Old Paulin wore a nightgown and poured Lin Yu a glass of red wine.
"Mr. Pauling, I'm here to ask you if you still have the idea of selling the Wizards' equity?"
"I heard from Mr. Unseld that you previously offered $10 million for 5% of the equity?"
Paulin laughed, "What? Someone around you wants to buy our equity? But 10 million is definitely not enough. We performed so well last season and the team's market value has also increased."
How did he know that the person who wanted to buy the equity was Lin Yu? In his eyes, Lin Yu was still a pauper with an annual salary of only 220,000 US dollars a year.
"I think 15 million should be able to sell it, what do you think?" Paulin asked with a smile again.
Lin Yu shook his head: "Even if the market value rises, it won't rise that much. If we calculate 5% of the equity based on 15 million, the Wizards' total market value can reach 300 million US dollars, which is much higher than the Knicks."
"How about 12 million? As a one-time payment, I can only take out so much."
The red wine in Old Paulin's mouth almost spurted out. What do you mean? Is it Lin Yu who wants to buy equity? And he can also spend 12 million US dollars in one lump sum? !
For a moment, the old Paulin felt that the world was extremely absurd, and he, the team owner, could not afford such a large sum of cash at once.
"Lin, are you serious?"
"Of course we are serious, we can sign the contract at any time."
After Lin Yu said this, he even took out his checkbook, leaving old Paulin stunned.
The reason why he wants this 5% equity is that he wants to make some money easily. This money was picked up for free. If he spends 12 million now, he can sell it for at least 25 million to 30 million in a few years. You know When Jordan bought the Wizards' shares, he didn't even have a hair from the Wizards, and they all sold for 20 million.
On the other hand, becoming a minority shareholder of the team can also have a greater say in certain matters.
That is to say, there is not enough cash on hand, otherwise Lin Yu would even want to acquire the entire Bullets team.
"make a deal!"
Old Bolin made the decision directly. He just said 15 million casually, knowing very well that the 5% equity of the Wizards was not worth that price at all.
The Wizards are playing very well this season, but the market value may not rise because the salary issues of Mashburn and Speedy are difficult to solve. If these two people leave the Wizards, no one thinks that the Wizards can repeat the miracle of this season.
…
After signing the contract, Lin Yu wrote a check for $12 million to Paulin Lao.
Both of them felt a sense of absurdity in their hearts.
Old Paulin was curious about where Lin Yu got so much money? It's impossible to rob so many banks, and I haven't heard of any bank robberies in Washington recently.
Could it be said that Lin Yu is a descendant of a plutocrat? He was full of interest in Lin Yu's life experience.
What feels absurd to Lin Yu is, how long has it been since he traveled through time? In three months, he has gone from being an unorganized scout to assistant coach, head coach, and now even a minority shareholder of the team!
This may be what people often call a meteoric rise!
In addition, Lin Yu finds it absurd that the market value of teams in this era is that a team that can offer Uncle Huo a seven-year, US$105 million contract has a market value of just over US$100 million.
Originally, Lin Yu still had a mentality of being content with being rich, and he didn't value money that much. Now that he thinks about it carefully, if he had 300 to 400 million US dollars, he might be able to buy the New York Knicks in twenty years. Finally, that’s six billion US dollars!
"No, we have to make good money. Players must hurry up. The third charm value reward is estimated to be 30 million."
"There is still one year left in the 1998 labor negotiations. Before the market value of the team has generally increased significantly, we need to find more money to buy the team's equity."
Lin Yu silently thought in his heart, his ambition was aroused, maybe one day he can have a team that is completely his own.
…
The next morning, the league made an official announcement that Washington Wizards owner Abi Paulin sold 5% of the Wizards' equity to Lin Yu for $12 million.
This news caused shock in the league. Lin Yu has made countless headlines this season. No one thought that the season was over and he would have another big one.
Unseld's thighs were bruised and he couldn't believe this was true. Lin Yu suddenly transformed into the team's small boss.
After Lin Yu acquired the Wizards' equity, he immediately called Mashburn and Speedy, who had not yet left Washington, to his residence.
"Boss, I really do belong to you. We really underestimated you before."
"You are really rich."
Speedy gave Lin Yu a thumbs up and said.
"It's only 12 million US dollars. For you two, it's just your salary for one year."
"Our schedule for this season is completely over. Has any team contacted you in the past two days?"
Lin Yu asked straight to the point.
The two looked at each other and looked embarrassed. It seemed that a team must have contacted them.
"Boss, I'll tell you the truth, the Clippers and Nuggets in the West, as well as the Pacers and Knicks in the East have all contacted me."
Speedy didn't hide it, he just told the truth.
"What kind of quotations did they give?" Lin Yu was not surprised that so many teams contacted Speedy. After all, Speedy's performance in the second half of last season was truly incredible.
"The Western Clippers said they would give me 35 million over five years, and they scolded me. The Nuggets offered me 38 million over five years."
"The Pacers are worth 46 million in five years, and the Knicks are worth 50 million in five years."
Lin Yu even smiled bitterly when he heard the quotes from each team. He was scolded by Speedy for 35 million in five years. The contract that old Paulin was willing to give seemed too unreasonable.
"Go to the Knicks, that's your hometown after all." Lin Yu sighed.
He was very reluctant to leave Speedy, but he also knew that he could not keep Speedy. The Knicks were indeed his best destination.
"Huh? Boss, why don't you try to save me?"
"You don't want to keep your salary to renew Jamal's contract, do you? Are you going to tell me to get out?!"
"I won't get out!"
Speedy immediately became anxious. He enjoyed playing under Lin Yu and could get surprises from time to time. If he joined another team, his future was really uncertain.
"I'm not leaving either. No team has made an offer to me. Boss, if you don't want me, I have no choice but to retire." Mashburn had an idea. After seeing the speeding car and talking about the offers of each team, Lin Yu asked Speeding to Knicks, Mashburn said quickly.
He didn't want to leave Lin Yu more than Speedy. He felt that the reason why he was worth his money was all thanks to Lin Yu. If he left for a high salary, he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.
"You fart!"
"When you came here just now, you told me that the Spurs offered you 78 million for six years."
"He also said that the SuperSonics have prepared 67 million for you over 5 years!"
"I always thought you were an honest guy, but I didn't expect you were also a slippery man. Anyway, if I don't leave, I'd rather take a pay cut than leave."
Speedy immediately acted rogue.
Lin Yu waved his hand and sighed helplessly: "Get out of here, both of you, and get me a big contract."
"To tell you the truth, the contract Paulin can offer is 30 million for four years, and I am only a small shareholder and have no right to make an offer to you."
"So what you have to do now is leave Washington and find a team that you like and are willing to pay well."
Mashburn and Speedy looked at each other and sighed along with Lin Yu.
In fact, the price given by Paulin was too low. It was already cut in half. They could accept a salary cut, but this salary cut was still too outrageous.
