In just one offseason, the Wizards' lineup has once again undergone huge changes.
Only Hinrich, Li Kaiming and Blatche were left in the previous playoff starting lineup. Nick Young and Josh Howard are gone, plus Yi Jianlian, whose contract has expired and will not be renewed, is equivalent to two starters gone. Add a sixth man.
However, these two transactions by the Wizards were targeted reinforcements. It turned out that the team's back line was short of manpower, and Hinrich's playing time was almost full in the playoffs.
So Kenny and Bell, who are now traded, are both defenders, plus Thompson and Leonard are drafted, and the entire team can be said to have a completely new look!
After learning about the team's lineup for the new season, Li Kaiming was also very excited. He couldn't wait for the new regular season to start immediately, and then he could lead a brand-new team to sweat on the court.
However, the good times did not last long. On June 31, Derek Fisher, chairman of the players union, announced that the new round of collective bargaining agreement negotiations had completely broken down. The NBA also announced that the league would be suspended starting from July 1.
Although July is the NBA's offseason, don't think that the league's suspension means simply no games.
Because the labor and management parties have not reached an agreement, and the NBA arena, training facilities, venues, staff, etc. all belong to the league, so after the league announces the suspension, NBA players will no longer be able to use the above facilities, and NBA teams will not be able to use them. Trade and sign players until a new round of collective bargaining agreement negotiations is successful.
This labor agreement dispute mainly focuses on players’ wages. NBA team owners believe that players’ wages account for about 60% of the team’s total expenses, which makes many teams unsustainable and even at a loss. state, so the team owners’ demand is that it is best to reduce salary expenses to 50%.
The players' demands are also very simple. Simply put, they want a salary increase, and the most important thing is to make the team's income public. In short, they do not believe the team owners' statement that the team cannot make ends meet.
Just kidding, if you lost money you would have sold the team a long time ago, and you don't need to negotiate with me here. Could it be that you are doing charity here?
Originally, according to the plan, the new round of labor agreement had been drafted a year ago, but it has been unable to achieve results that satisfied both parties, so the negotiations continued until June 31, which is when the previous round of labor agreement expired. when.
In the eyes of most people, this kind of negotiation should make progress soon, but this time the team owners have a very tough attitude and insist on reducing the player salary expenditure to less than half of the team's expenditure, so both parties I completely lost my skin.
It was only after Li Kaiming saw Fisher's interview with the media on TV that he realized the seriousness of the matter.
The last NBA lockout dates back to 1998, when Jordan won his second three consecutive championships. At that time, labor and management began to negotiate around the league's salary cap system and the salary cap for star players, but no agreement was reached, and the lockout ended after half a year. Afterwards, a new labor agreement was finally passed, and this lockout also led to Michael Jordan’s second retirement...
It looks like I’m going to take a long vacation this time…
Li Kaiming stretched at home, then picked up the phone and dialed Elliott Williams' number.
"Hey, are you interested in going to China with me?"
On the other end of the phone, when Williams heard that he could travel to a foreign country, he was so excited that he was spinning and jumping non-stop.
"What the hell? Really? Can I really go to China with you?"
"So there's still a holiday? Just say whether you're going or not and that's it! Why are there so many nonsense!"
"Go, of course I want to go. I have only heard about this ancient oriental civilization in the news. Now of course I want to see it if I have the chance!"
After notifying Williams, Li Kaiming made another phone call.
The phone just beeped twice and then was answered.
"Hello? Is this Kai Ming?"
"It's me, Counselor Zhong. I haven't contacted you for a long time. How is your health now?"
Zhong Shaoming on the other end of the phone laughed heartily, "Old man, my health is not bad, and I can still work for the country's health for thirty years! Hahaha!"
After chatting for a while, Zhong Shaoming brought the topic back on track, "You called me suddenly. Are you looking for me for something?"
Li Kaiming laughed and said, "You are always very accurate in your calculations. I just want to see you if I have something to do!"
"I'm just telling you! Tell me what you have to say. As long as I can help you, I'll do it for you! Director Liang has told me that as long as you, Li Kaiming, need it, the stars in the sky will give it to you." Take it off!"
A drop of sweat ran down Li Kaiming's forehead!
As for that, I am not a heavyweight state guest.
So he coughed and said, "Mr. Zhong, I'm calling to tell you that I'm going to take my family to visit relatives in China!"
"Visiting relatives! No problem! I will arrange for the staff here to hand over to you immediately and pave all the way for you!" Zhong Shaoming has not yet realized what this means.
So Li Kaiming coughed again, and then directly pointed out the topic.
"Mr. Zhong, I mean, regarding the naturalization matter, we can handle it together this time!"
"What! You said naturalization can be done!"
In the Chinese Embassy, Zhong Shaoming suddenly stood up and raised his voice, which startled the assistant next to him!
He waved his hand to the assistant who stood up after him, indicating that nothing was wrong, and then asked with an excited expression on his face, "You mean, you are willing to join the Chinese men's basketball team?"
"Well, I've thought about it, let's just do it this time. The NbA happens to be on hiatus, so both sides have time!"
"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Zhong Shaoming said three good words in a row, which was enough to show how excited he was.
"No problem Kai Ming, I'll notify Liang Zhen right away and you just need to be ready to return to China. Leave the rest to us!"
When he heard that Li Kaiming was going to join the Chinese men's basketball team, Zhong Shaoming actually changed going to China to returning to China. This change of attitude was like a U-turn!
It’s so flexible!
After hanging up the phone, Li Kaiming walked out of the room and said to his uncle and aunt who were watching TV.
"In a few days, I will be a true Chinese!"
The two elders on the sofa were stunned for a moment, and then looked at each other.
Sun Jianguo said: "Have you joined the Chinese men's basketball team?"
"Yeah," Li Kaiming nodded.
Sun Jianguo came over and patted Li Kaiming on the shoulder, "Well done Kaiming, your parents will be proud of you when they see it in Tianzhiling."
Three days later, Washington Airport.
With a puzzled expression on his face, Li Kaiming looked at Jiang Shan, who was smiling like a flower in front of him.
"Didn't you say you've been too busy with work lately? Why are you free again?"
Jiang Shan raised her chin and hummed softly.
"I want you to take care of me. I will go back to my country whenever I want."
Well, women are such trouble!
Li Kaiming turned around and walked towards the waiting area. Unexpectedly, as soon as he turned around, a white and slippery little hand held his big hand.
Li Kaiming raised the corners of his mouth, squeezed it gently with his hand, and then led the jumping Jiang Shan to the VIP waiting area.
Soon after, a huge Boeing 747 passenger plane slid onto the runway, then slammed the throttle to the bottom, accelerated to the end of the runway, and as the front wheel of the plane was raised, this passenger plane, which contained the crystallization of human industry and wisdom, disappeared. Tianji...
Although the passenger plane is already the fastest commercial transportation vehicle on the earth so far, its speed is still somewhat insignificant compared to the size of the earth.
Flying from America to China requires crossing half the world, so even if you take a direct passenger plane, you will need to spend more than ten hours on the road.
And this is the method that Li Kaiming and the others chose to travel without any shortage of money. If they choose to transfer in Neon Country or Singapore, the time on the road will be more than one day, which is unbearable for Li Kaiming who has never traveled far. .
Huaguo, Huadu International Airport.
Most people pick them up at the exit gate, but today four black Mercedes-Benz cars were parked quietly next to the runway, which surprised many passengers.
"What's going on? Are there any leaders here today?"
"I haven't heard of it. It's such a grand event, and they can drive a motorcade to the airport to pick up people. I don't know which famous person they are picking up?"
…
People always like to watch the excitement, especially people from China, so there are already many people standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the waiting room to see what big shot is coming.
In the distant sky, an international flight was flying slowly. With a bang, the plane landed steadily and taxied along the runway to the parking position. The four cars that were waiting next to it immediately started their cars and drove off. past.
"Hey, hey, hey! Those four cars are moving!"
"It seems that the big shot is on this flight!"
"Let me see, let me see!"
"Don't squeeze!"
…
After the plane parked, many people on the flight had already started to stand up and pack their luggage, preparing to leave the plane later.
But the captain's voice suddenly came from the cabin PA!
"Passengers, please sit down in your seats first and wait until you are notified that you can leave before proceeding!"
After sitting on the plane for more than ten hours, most of the passengers were already exhausted. They wanted to get off the plane and go home and have a good sleep. But who would have thought that they would not give up space, so there was an instant complaint in the cabin. All around.
"Ouch, what! Why don't you let us get off even though it's already parked?"
"That's right! Why are we allowed to sit here without even giving you a reason?"
"How long do we have to wait! Could it be that they kept making us wait without telling us?"
Just as the passengers in the cabin were complaining, there was a click and the cabin door opened!
Many anxious passengers craned their necks and looked towards the cabin door.
Just a few footsteps were heard, and several bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses walked in quickly!
Seeing how this group of people were dressed, those who had complained before suddenly shut up!
When Li Kaiming, who was waiting in the first class cabin, was still wondering what was going on, the men in black walked straight towards him.
The leader said, "Is this Mr. Li Kaiming?"
Li Kaiming hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Yes..."
"We were sent by Bureau Liang to pick you up. Please come with us!" After saying that, the man made a gesture of invitation!
