Yao Ming didn't show too much surprise. Leaving the Rockets was one of the options he was considering. If not, he wouldn't have come to Tempe.
But just like what he said at the beginning, the loyalty in his character prevented him from making such a determination.
"Brother Yao, you also saw what happened to Tracy McGrady last season. The Rockets are now offering you such a contract, which shows that once you encounter a similar situation, they will never show mercy." Xu Yong said.
Yao Ming nodded and signaled Xu Yong to continue.
"Besides, Brother Yao knows his own health well. This year's contract should be the last big contract in your career. Even if you don't think about it for yourself, you should think about it for your family, right?" Xu Yong continued.
Yao Ming drank another drink after hearing this.
"They are actually right," he continued.
"Yes, they are right, because the NBA is a business league, but since it is a business league, they won't talk to you about their feelings. If you still talk to them, doesn't it seem a bit...sentimental?" Xu Yong looked at it. Yao Ming said.
Because it's Yao Ming, he used the words more euphemistically, but a more appropriate term is actually like licking the so-called goddess.
If others don't care about you, what's the point of caring about them?
Yao Ming looked at Xu Yong and spoke. It was obvious that he was somewhat moved by Xu Yong.
Seeing this, Xu Yong also struck a chord while the iron was hot: "Don't let loyalty harm you, Brother Yao!"
Yao Ming was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly.
"Actually, Brother Yao, you don't have to think too much. Just leave the matter to the agent. Go around the free market and pick the best offer. If the Rockets give you the same offer, then keep it. No. "Here, then you can leave, our main goal is the London Olympics anyway, isn't it?" Xu Yong continued.
Yao Ming smiled and nodded when he heard this. Yes, what he cares about most now is the London Olympics.
"That's Artest..." Yao Ming sighed with emotion after smiling.
He has been with the Rockets for so many years, and he had a good relationship with Francis before, then Mutombo, and now Battier and Artest.
Especially Artest, who stayed with the Rockets last season because of him. It would be unjustifiable if he slapped his butt and turned around and left.
"This is simple. Brother Yao, you can sign and trade. The Rockets definitely don't want to give you away for nothing. It would be a kindness for you to leave assets for the Rockets. Artest is also old. You ask him his personal wishes. If If you want, you can just go with us as your assistant." Xu Yong has a very flexible mind.
Yao Ming's eyes lit up after hearing this, and then he finally showed a happy smile.
Sure enough, his trip to Tempe was really not in vain.
…
"Don't let loyalty get you wrong."
James' mind echoed with the advice Garnett gave him during the All-Star Game.
In fact, he was a little hesitant about leaving the Cavaliers, mainly from two aspects.
One is his idol Jordan. If he leaves the Cavaliers, he will never have the chance to chase his idol.
The second is to go to a new team. He may not have the privileges he had in Cleveland.
Because this time he is rushing to compete for the championship, and he must cooperate with other stars.
So he contacted Wade, who had a good relationship with him, and the place he wanted to go to most now was the upcoming meeting.
Knicks.
The previous rumors were true, and the Knicks were his first choice.
The Knicks also have three things going for them: New York on their back, cap space, and a new team.
Needless to say, with New York on the back, in terms of salary space, New York is now the only team that can provide three maximum salaries at the same time.
Yes, he had communicated with Riley before about the Big Three, but as a smart person, he would not be led by Riley. Forming the Big Three was a very good idea, but New York also Can.
Then there is the third point, the new team, not Wade's team, then he can naturally become the boss of the new team with his playing style.
Soon, his agent Leon Rose took him into the conference room where the meeting was held.
In the conference room, Knicks general manager Walsh and owner Dolan were both there.
But what made him feel uncomfortable as soon as he entered was that neither Walsh nor Dolan showed the enthusiasm for his arrival as he imagined.
It soon turned out to be a very bad meeting.
Walsh reluctantly expressed his welcome to join, although like Wade when he first met Foreman, the conversation was more outside the team's plans.
But Dolan, the owner with the worst reputation in the league, even though he had made sufficient preparations before coming, his capitalist arrogance still made him very unhappy.
Although he is a part-time worker, you can't make me feel that I am a part-time worker all the time.
But Dolan doesn't seem to be aware of this, or in his world, these players are just a group of wage earners.
He may even feel pretty good. At the end of the meeting, he gave James a personal CD to express his agreement to James joining.
After the meeting ended and he left the building, James threw the CD directly into the trash can at the door.
He swore that as long as a guy like Dolan was the owner for a day, the Knicks would never be able to get ahead.
No one has come to this big city before. It’s really not that others have no vision, but that they deserve it.
But when he got in the car, he was even more upset. If the Knicks were ruled out, his better choices would be the Nets and Heat.
"Where is Dwayne now?" he asked Ross beside him.
Ross shook his head.
James frowned. Rose's ability was far inferior to Paul's. It seemed that he would find an opportunity to replace him later.
…
"Still no progress?" Forman frowned as he listened to his assistant's report.
It's been two days, and the Bulls have asked around. Not to mention that the Raptors don't agree to sign and swap, no one from other teams is willing to take over Hinrich and Deng.
Hinrich has been on the bench for several seasons and has a two-season contract, which is really not that easy to give away.
But Deng's contract is at least a normal contract, and he is young, so he should not be so unmarketable.
"Try again." Forman could only urge his assistant to increase his efforts. Transactions can only be between you and me. He cannot force others to trade with you.
…
On a private jet from Chicago to Cleveland.
Riley was sipping red wine and eating the freshest Chicago steak.
He turned his head and glanced out the window. The plane had just taken off, overlooking the city of Chicago.
There are many tall buildings and intertwined rivers and lakes.
What a beautiful and Gotham city.
In fact, long before the free market opened, he had predicted that his biggest competitor would be the Bulls.
That's not only because he knows Wade wants to return to Chicago, but also because of the competitiveness the Bulls have shown.
A young team that has just completed its eighth season and has huge salary space is extremely attractive to free agents.
Don't tell me Wade is from Chicago, even non-Chicago people will have ideas.
So what he has to do is very simple, which is to PK Chicago.
This is why he chose to come to Chicago instead of staying in Miami.
Of course this was just the most inconspicuous of what he did.
His earliest, truly effective thing was to contact James and then propose the idea of the Big Three.
That's right, it means binding three people, and then exporting this concept to the three people, making them realize that they are not actually three people, but a whole.
One purpose of this is that as long as the three are in one, it is impossible for them to go to the Bulls because of James.
James was a bit unlucky and was beaten away, but he wasn't so bad that he joined just because he couldn't beat them.
As for the Big Three going to other teams, he is not worried at all.
The most likely one is the Knicks, but as someone who coached in New York for four years, he knows the Knicks and Dolan all too well.
He could even predict that the Knicks might not even get a second chance to meet with James.
So his current operation is actually to set up a fence for the "fish pond" of this year's free market early, and just wait for the fish to burrow into the trap he has placed.
But after all, humans are not gods. After all his calculations, he still missed one thing, which was Wade's determination to go to the Bulls.
Fortunately, he has not been in the league for so many years in vain. He can know when Bosh will arrive in Chicago, and naturally he can also know the Bulls' trends.
After learning that the Bulls were actively selling Hinrich and Deng, he had already guessed that Wade and Bosh wanted to join the Bulls together.
So he did one thing, which was to reveal the Bulls' thoughts to other teams in the league in advance.
The core lineup of Rose, Xu Yong, and Noah defeated the Eastern Conference's No. 1 Cavaliers. If Wade and Bosh are added to this, the key is that they are still so young. Five years, no, ten years of dominance.
The finale of True Alliance!
When other teams heard the news, they would definitely be very resistant in their hearts, not to mention rejecting the Bulls directly.
Even if the team is in bad shape, they still hope to have a chance to rise in a few years. You seem to have no hope in ten years, so who are you to resist?
Moreover, Hinrich is a negative asset, while Deng is barely a positive asset but has a long contract, which in itself is not very attractive to other teams.
What's more, because of Xu Yong's trade last year, the Bulls' most valuable first-round pick this year has also been given away.
What? A future first-round pick?
You are about to form a lineup for this kind of finale. Who cares about your 30th overall pick?
The first round and the first round sound the same, but in reality they are worlds apart.
So basically, when the Bulls call now, they are either rejected directly, or they say "Can I add someone? Who can I add? Xu Yong!" The Bulls are so angry that they hang up the phone.
Riley finished the last piece of steak, wiped his mouth with a hot towel, and stood up with a smile.
The Big Three, he has never done anything so exciting in his life, and now, it's really getting closer.
…
The time came to July 5, five days after the free market opened.
At this time, some contracts have been signed one after another.
Some teams have already begun their own reinforcements after knowing that they have no chance.
Wade and Bosh couldn't sit still.
They have been staying in Chicago, but after so many days, there has been no progress on the Bulls' side.
Wade called Foreman to inquire about the progress, and Foreman's reply was the same as before, saying they were still working on it.
"We can't wait any longer."
After Wade hung up the phone, Bosh spoke.
Although there is still time in the free market, if it continues like this, even if their team signs them, their subsequent operating space will become very small.
You must know that basketball is not a one-person sport. Even if you are one of the Big Three, you can't play even if you add a lot of basic salary.
"Go back to Miami."
Wade also accepted the reality.
If the Bulls can maneuver the space, they certainly won't have to wait so long.
As of now, I can only say that there is basically no chance of returning to Chicago.
But he was still stubborn in the end.
He called Foreman back and told him that he and Bosh were willing to wait one more day.
the next day.
Before Foreman's call came, Wade received a call from James first.
"Dwayne, let's play together, no matter where it is, I just want to play with you now."
James is sincere and Wade has mixed emotions.
On one side are the Bulls who are asking for it, and on the other side are the "true confessions" of close friends.
He didn't agree to James immediately, but when he hung up the phone, he knew he had no choice.
"Chris, we are going to be the public enemy of the entire league next season." Wade looked at Bosh and said with a wry smile.
Originally, he just wanted to return to his hometown to play basketball, but he didn't expect that he would have to embark on the most difficult road.
"That's not bad." Bosh was quite open-minded.
He spent too much time as a sidekick in the first half of his career. Not to mention the championship, he only played twice in the playoffs.
This kind of life has gone too long, and he also wants to change his life to something more exciting.
Wade nodded.
Thinking on the bright side, the last place they went to was his team.
If he really wins the championship, his historical status should be improved a lot.
…
Cleveland, IMG Building.
James hung up the phone, stood up and picked up the championship ring from the Lakers era from the Little Swan plush blanket.
Even though it didn't look like it was worth much, James knew it wasn't about its value.
Especially when Riley says he can bring many championships to Miami.
"Let's have a big fight." James said with a smile after putting away the championship ring.
…
After leaving the IMG building, Riley had already begun operations.
He has two main things to do now. The first thing is to clear up enough salary space for the Big Three to join.
According to the maximum salary regulations, each of the Big Three with seven years of service will account for 30% of the salary cap, and the three of them will account for 90%, which means that he will almost clean up the entire team.
The second thing is that he has to let James cooperate with him. He was so engaged in the Bulls before. If other management knew that the Heat were going to engage in the Big Three, he would not be able to clear that space.
Therefore, the news he has released to the outside world now can only be to form a lineup with Wade and Bosh as the core.
In order to do these two things, he needs to sign and trade Bosh with the Raptors first to expand his salary space.
The Raptors obviously can't refuse this, because if they don't do that, they will only lose Bosh in vain. What's more, if they trade with the Heat, they don't have to accept a junk contract like they did with the Bulls.
Immediately afterwards, the Heat began to sell Beasley and sell draft picks to satisfy the Raptors and later the Cavaliers.
Beasley was the second overall pick in 2008. Although his performance was not as good as expected, he will only be in his third year as a rookie next season, so he has no worries about the trade market.
As long as these are done, he can put away his fishing net that he put down early.
Please be considerate to me, a middle-aged bald old man. I am not a short-lived single. I have a wife and children. I do all the pick-ups and drop-offs. Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. I will stick to the bottom line of 8K. I will enter the new book as promised before. I will definitely stay up late to add updates to the top ten. Even if I don’t make it in the end, I will add them if I am in good condition. Thank you very much for the 5000 reward from one person~~
(End of chapter)
