Dunleavy went to the hospital feeling unwell in the morning.
By the afternoon, the head coach of the Clippers became Min Congda.
It all happened so fast that no one was prepared.
But it seems that there is no need to make any preparations. The first thing Min Congda announced after becoming the head coach was:
"This afternoon, the whole team has a day off!"
Min Congda's style as always, no matter what happens, let's take a holiday first.
Clippers players were originally worried about Dunleavy's health.
Everyone came to the hospital to visit and hope that Lao Deng was okay.
Soon, everyone learned that Dunleavy was fine, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Then I learned that the beloved general manager Smart became the head coach and announced that he was on leave?
Everyone was shocked and a little worried at the same time.
Can Mr. Smart be a good head coach?
Marc Gasol asked: "Mr. Smart, are you a transitional head coach, or are you always going to be our coach?"
Min Congda said: "Do you think I look like a transitional person? Do you believe that I transitioned you?"
Seeing Xiao Jia's silly face, Min Congda became angry.
Sign him, this kid is very strong and a disaster.
Don't sign it, it won't reach the luxury tax line. This year's new collective bargaining agreement has increased the penalties for the luxury tax. It's a pity not to exceed the line.
After careful consideration, a big contract came down and Gasol was signed.
Gasol smiled and said: "Then we have hope this season, a championship!"
This guy directly raised his arms and shouted for the championship. Everyone agreed that this year's goal is the championship!
Min Congda sneered in his heart, still winning the championship?
Starting today, the whole team will be in a state of herding sheep.
I don’t believe it. Are you so capable of self-management?
If the head coach is the hands-off boss and does nothing every day, can you win the championship?
I have a hard time making it to the playoffs!
After giving the team a day off, Min Congda immediately held a press conference when he returned to the team headquarters in the afternoon.
Announced that he will replace Mike Dunleavy, who is in poor health, and become the new head coach of the Clippers. 33
As soon as this news came out, public opinion was in an uproar again. The team's general manager actually wanted to step down and become the head coach?
The reporters had many questions, one after another.
"Mr. Smart, why did you decide to become the head coach of the Clippers?"
"I've always been interested in coaching and I think I can do it. Yes, it's a personal interest."
"Mr. Smart, what is the Clippers' goal for next season? A championship?"
"No, I think it's boring to set the goal of a championship. My goal is to build a harmonious team."
"A harmonious team? What is a harmonious team?"
"It is a team that is united, friendly, and mutually beneficial. This is our goal."
Reporters are actually used to Min Congda's nonsense.
They all call it "Chinese humor". Unlike American humor, which likes to make wisecracks, this kind of Chinese humor is serious nonsense.
Min Congda didn't think he was talking nonsense.
Win the championship? It’s impossible, it’s impossible to win a championship in this life.
Seeing that the team's record is good, he must personally come off the field to curb the team's momentum.
After the press conference, Rosser met with Min Congda in the office.
Rosser's face looked a little solemn. Seeing him like this, Min Congda knew that there must be something good.
Rosser said: "Mr. Smart, are you sure you want to give Mike an assistant coach contract?"
Min Congda nodded and said: "Of course, I told him in the ward that we should give him a contract to support him in his old age."
Rosser said: "Mike doesn't need a pension. His previous contract was 25 million. Although we entered the Western Conference Finals last season, the team's profitability was not ideal. We made a lot of money from box office, peripherals, and commercial cooperation. , but it’s also a lot to spend.”
"After giving Marc Gasol a 50 million contract, our salary this year has exceeded the luxury tax line. We also suffered from Okafor's bad contract. We will pay the luxury tax this year. Next year and the year after that, we will still have to pay the luxury tax." We have to face contract renewal issues for players such as Curry, Harden, and George. By the next year, our salary space will explode, and with the luxury tax, salary expenses will be...three times what they are now."
Rosser is talking about a very real issue. Under the salary cap system, every team must spend reasonably.
The Clippers are now enjoying rookie contract bonuses. Players such as Curry and Harden have low salaries and can ignore the salary cap.
In the year after next, both Harden and Curry are facing contract renewals. If their performance is not good, they may both receive maximum salaries.
The maximum salary is calculated according to the salary cap ratio. Three maximum salaries can fill more than half of the salary cap.
By then there will be incremental contracts for Gasol and Randolph, and the team's salary will definitely exceed the luxury tax.
The new labor agreement stipulates that the luxury tax will still be 1:1 this year and next year.
Starting from the year after next, there will be a progressive luxury tax, with the highest tax rate reaching 1:3.75+0.5/5 million.
In other words, for every US$5 million above the luxury tax line, an additional US$21.25 million in tax will be paid.
It is equivalent to signing an ordinary player with a $5 million contract, and the actual money spent on him is 26.25 million.
This is a maximum salary.
This expenditure is really terrible.
As the team's financial manager, Rosser had to remind Min Congda when he saw such horrific expenditures in the future.
In the past, the Clippers have always been stingy, even stingy with sodas in the training hall and making players spend money to buy them.
Now the stingy owner Sterling is as indifferent as if he were dead, and the team's expenses have greatly increased.
Fortunately, the team's record has been improving and its ability to make money has become very strong.
But while opening up resources, we must also reduce expenditures.
"Mr. Smart, we were able to make a slight profit last season, but if we maintain the current salary level, we will probably be able to barely break even. If we still have to give Mike a contract and continue to invest in some projects, like It’s the Basketball Foundation in China, and I think we will definitely lose money in the new season. Don’t forget, we only have 60 regular season games this season, and our box office revenue will be reduced by at least 30%!”
The shortened season is also a big problem. They only have 30 home games. Coupled with the lockout, fans' enthusiasm for watching games will be greatly affected.
Min Congda sat there with a calm face as he listened to Rosser's words. He was already so happy that he almost burst into tears.
Three years, almost three years, and finally there are signs of losses. It’s not easy!
This shows that his work is effective, but the coaching staff and players do not cooperate.
If the Clippers' record was terrible and no one would come to watch the game, the team would have gone bankrupt like the Hornets!
"So, my decision to become the team's head coach is a very wise one. This is the only step left."
After Min Congda thought about it, he said to Rosser: "In fact, it is very simple to make up for the loss. If the box office revenue is reduced by 30%, then wouldn't it be settled by increasing the ticket price by 30%? Do you want to watch it?"
After hearing Min Congda's suggestion, Rosser thought that all my previous words were in vain, right? Still need to add 30% to the ticket price?
That's it. The suspension originally hurt the fans' enthusiasm for watching the game, but now they don't want to come even more.
"But…"
"Stop it, why can't I teach you to look at problems from a long-term perspective in two years, Rosser? Believe in the fans, believe in the team, and believe in me, OK?"
Rosser nodded. In fact, he knew that the final result would be like this.
When he came to ask about this, he was also fulfilling his duty and fulfilling his obligation to warn of risks.
He thought that Smart had been so successful in the past two years. If he had a fall, he would know that he should save money.
Anyway, the salary will explode in the year after next. Let’s see what he can do as both general manager and coach this year.
Some people died, but not completely...
