On July 9, 2015, the NBA free market officially opened.
The opening of the free market means that last season has officially come to an end, and the horn of the new season has sounded.
However, before the horn sounded, each team had already secretly begun recruiting and competing.
For NBA teams, players, especially stars, are assets. They expect to use a sum of money to purchase assets and then create more value in the next few years.
As the NBA signed new super broadcast contracts with several sports broadcasters last year, the value of NBA players has skyrocketed. Next year, that is, 2016, the salary cap is destined to rise a lot (the specific amount of the increase will be determined through labor negotiations. , in short, it will definitely rise).
In anticipation of this, no big-name players with player options will jump out of their contracts to test the free market this year. For example, the typical Kevin Durant decided to stay with the Golden State Warriors for another year and continue to impact Los Angeles. Clippers dominance.
LeBron James signed a two-year contract with the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2014. With player options, he also decided to stay with the Warriors and challenge for the championship.
These two big fish were unwilling to leave, which instantly caused the popularity of the free market to drop a lot.
The real big-name free agents this year include Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers, Pau Gasol of the Pelicans, DeAndre Jordan of the Grizzlies, Marc Gasol and Leon of the Clippers. Nader, Jimmy Butler, Knicks' Bargnani, etc.
Among them, the Clippers have a heavy contract renewal task. They have very little salary cap left, but they have three 20-million-level players to sign. If they take all of them, they will definitely have to pay a lot of luxury tax.
If the Clippers continue Min Congda's previous strategy of "continue as long as possible" and take all three contracts, the salary will definitely be explosive. By then, they will hit a higher five consecutive championships.
However, Min Chongda's departure caused some cracks in the originally extremely united Clippers team. Among them, Jimmy Butler, one of the "three small forwards", was fiercely pursued by the Houston Rockets.
Because Jimmy Butler is a Houston native, hometown is still very important to NBA players, and being able to play in his hometown is still a great temptation for star players.
Of course, for Jimmy Butler, the bigger temptation is the maximum salary and the treatment of the team's top player. Butler is a very ambitious player.
To be honest, in the Clippers, he has already won enough collective honors. Four years as a rookie and four championships, he has nothing more to ask for.
What he will pursue in the future should be high salary and boss status. He will never be the boss or the core in the Clippers. He will be the No. 4, No. 5, or even No. 6 all his life.
If it were any person with normal intelligence, if the Rockets pursue the maximum salary, they would not hesitate at all and immediately change jobs and play basketball in their hometown.
But the Clippers were different. Faced with such tempting conditions, Jimmy Butler still hesitated. Before making a decision, he called Min Congda.
As soon as the call was connected, Jimmy Butler apologized to Min Congda, "I'm sorry, general manager, I...I think I may not stay with the Clippers."
Min Congda was a little surprised when he heard Butler's words, and then he said: "Oh, no, no need to apologize. Jimmy, you have done well enough in the past four years, haven't you? Your performance is amazing. I didn't expect you to become so good." Excellent, if you can go to another team to get a maximum salary and be a core player, I will be proud of you, really."
Jimmy Butler said: "Then...then I should go to Houston, right?"
Min Congda said: "This is your own choice. I have no decision-making power. You can choose the place that is most beneficial to your career. Of course, if you insist on my advice, I would not recommend you to go to Houston, because to be honest , I don’t like that place, especially their general manager Daryl Morey, who is a vampire, a ruthless and shameless person, and their boss is also a calculating and stingy guy. If you want to go to Texas, why not Going to San Antonio and playing for Popovich, I think your style of play is a good fit for the Spurs."
Butler said: "Really? But...I heard that the Spurs want Leonard more, and they seem to have started negotiations."
Min Congda smiled and said: "That's none of your business. I just suggest that you try to communicate with the Spurs. I will call Popovich. You can communicate with him then and then make your own decision."
Butler understood what Min Congda meant, and it was important to him to get Min Congda's support, because Min Congda's selection and training allowed him to achieve what he has today. Butler has always been grateful to Min Congda in his heart.
"Mr. Smart, if you don't leave the Clippers, I will definitely stay, even if there is no maximum salary and no core position."
"I know that if I stay as a coach, I will make you the MVP one day. But that would be meaningless, wouldn't it? Go fly outside to the higher sky. I will always pay attention to your performance."
Min Chongda appeased Jimmy Butler. Butler's departure means that the Clippers will lose an important force.
However, the Clippers still won the championship without George last season.
George returns next season. Even without Butler, the Clippers' overall strength is still very strong.
But if Leonard also leaves, the forward wall that the Clippers are proud of will completely collapse.
Min Congda did not receive a call from Leonard, but received a consultation from Olshey.
"Mr. Smart, how are you doing lately?"
"We just had coffee a week ago. If you fart, just let me know. Don't talk nonsense to me."
"Okay, okay, uh... you know the recent situation, the free market, we have the problem of contract renewal. I will continue your previous policy, and it should be renewed, but... Butler is not satisfied with our offer, he wants A max salary. And then, Leonard, his uncle said he wanted to go to the Spurs. I'm wondering, if we can't get Butler, can we give Leonard a max salary? He's a restricted free agent. We can directly get him with the maximum salary. However, if Gasol gives him the maximum salary, our salary space will be unbearable."
"Is salary space an issue you have to consider? We have won four championships, and by 2016, the salary cap will definitely increase a lot. If you renew now, it will be a very cost-effective contract later. Hey, I said Olshey, you still haven’t understood the essence of my strategy. Is my strategy just to sign contracts for everyone? Wouldn’t it mean that if you put a dog on it, he would become the general manager!”
Even though Min Congda is no longer the Clippers manager, even though Olshey returns to the position of general manager, and even though Olshey has always been known for his strength, he still accepts the punishment in front of Min Congda.
In fact, Olshey wanted to say, "It seems that it's not impossible to let a dog go," but that would not only scold Min Congda but also himself, so he had no choice but to say nothing and follow the instructions.
Min Chongda said: "The reason why the Clippers are really strong is the good team atmosphere. We are united and work as one without any intrigues or comparisons, so we have achieved a great four consecutive championships. Butler's kind of ambition and ideal for himself We support and encourage Leonard to leave. But Leonard is different. Does he really want to go to San Antonio? I don’t think so. I’m afraid he or his family want to use this method to blackmail the team into giving him a maximum salary. The Clippers can give him A maximum salary, but if it is given in this way, what will other people think? How to stabilize the morale of the army? In the future, whenever you want to get a high salary, you will threaten to leave the team? This is not the Clippers' style."
"Of course I know that the NBA is a world of capital. It is natural to play to earn money and sign contracts. But to achieve something and stand out from the crowd, you must have a unique belief. Don't let your belief be shattered. It's your next job. The key content of Olshey. I will contact Leonard on his side, and then I will also call and communicate with the Spurs. You ask Leonard’s uncle to restrain himself and stop standing up and gesticulating. "
"Okay, I understand Mr. Smart. The Clippers really can't live without you."
"Stop flattering me. It's just this summer. I won't be involved in the team's affairs until next summer. By then, I hope the team is still thriving."
After the phone call with Olshey, Min Congda immediately contacted Popovich and sent a text message to Leonard - he knew Leonard didn't like to make phone calls.
After some communication and coordination, the Spurs changed their minds the next day and no longer pursued Leonard. Instead, they successfully acquired Jimmy Butler with a four-year maximum salary.
Butler took off his Clippers jersey, returned to Texas, joined the Spurs, put on the Spurs' No. 22 jersey, and received Popovich's promise to become the Spurs' outside core.
In addition to Butler, the Spurs also have a maximum salary space. After some lobbying, they successfully acquired Aldridge. With one inside and one outside, the Spurs became the biggest winner of the offseason.
After Leonard was persuaded by Min Congda, he gave up his intention to raise the price and re-signed with the Clippers with a maximum salary. The Clippers also signed a high-paying contract with Gasol.
In addition, the Clippers also successfully renewed Livingston's contract, but failed to keep Dragic - Dragic went to the Rockets in order to get more playing time and more space to play.
Other teams are also showing their talents and trying their best to strengthen, but in general this year's free market is relatively dull. After all, everyone is waiting for the big contract boom in the summer of 2016.
However, whether this era of big contracts will come depends on this year's labor negotiations-how the extra wages will be distributed after the new broadcast contract is activated.
This is the third major event this year following the league-referee labor negotiations and the board resolution to legalize gambling.
Originally, this matter was finalized, which was to significantly increase the salary cap at one time, because in the previous labor negotiations in March, the players union rejected the suggestion of "smoothly increasing the salary limit."
The players' union is essentially controlled by veterans and superstars. Of course, they hope to significantly increase their wages as soon as possible so that they can get larger contracts.
The previous salary cap level, the maximum salary contract was about 20 million a year. Only a superstar like Kobe who has played for many years can get 30 million a year at the end of the contract.
Once the salary cap is directly raised in the summer of 2016 based on the new labor contract, the starting salary of the new maximum salary contract will reach US$30 million, which is of course a good thing for the superstars.
However, this will undoubtedly lead to the birth of junk contracts and the compression of mid-level contracts (the maximum salary is too large to be able to sign long-term mid-level contracts), leaving mid-level players to only sign with minimum salary or short-term mid-level contracts.
Before the official start of next season, labor and management will conduct a negotiation to determine how the salary cap will be arranged in 2016, and the management has actually tended to compromise.
Because for the employer, whether it is a one-time significant increase in salary or a steady and gradual increase, the money spent is the same. They have no incentive to offend the superstars, and they have no incentive to fight for benefits for the league's mid-level players.
However, the arrival of Dong Zhuo, Min Congda, undoubtedly brought changes to things.
Of course, the first issue Min Congda has to face is referees, and labor negotiations with the Referees Association are imminent.
The Referees Association made two demands to the league:
First, a 300% salary increase.
Second, do not let Min Congda participate in referee management.
At the first working day meeting that Min Congda attended, Bozia directly informed Min Congda of these two requirements.
Then he told Min Congda: "I have found a good house for you, a high-quality apartment with 276 square meters, 3 bedrooms and 2 living rooms. The rent is... 20,000 US dollars a month. Can you accept it?"
Min Congda nodded and said: "I can accept it. But I want to talk to the people from the Referees Association. Only one of the two conditions they put forward can be accepted. Either I stay, or they will never think of a salary increase of 100 yuan." Three hundred percent. Don’t even think about two hundred. I swear.”
(End of chapter)
