Pick Westbrook

Chapter 279
new orleans.

Chris Paul's home.

Adam Silver had a very ugly expression on his face, while Chris Paul, who was sitting opposite him, had a calm expression.

"In the old version of the collective bargaining agreement in 2005, the BRI was distributed between players and the team according to the principle of 57% each season, which is equivalent to 57% of the league's income for the total wages of the players."

"But in the new collective bargaining agreement you provided yesterday, the adjustment to this sharing ratio is that the proportion of players has dropped to 47%."

"A full 10 percentage points! Mr. Xiao Hua, do you think we still need to talk?"

Xiao Hua, who heard this, couldn't even organize his words to refute, because indeed, as Paul said, the bosses have a great appetite for this new labor agreement.

After all, everyone was thinking about the upcoming new TV broadcast contract, and no one was willing to let it go easily.

"But even with such an adjustment, the players will only suffer a part of the economic loss before 14. After the signing of the new TV broadcasting contract for 14, the salaries of the players will definitely usher in a relatively objective increase."

Adam Silver is still looking for an entry point to try to change Paul's point of view.

Hearing this, Paul smiled contemptuously and said, "Is that really the case?"

"In the new labor agreement, I can clearly see the terms of the player's hard salary cap, which stipulates that the total salary expenditure of players in a single season in the league shall not exceed 20 billion."

"But in fact, the total salary expenditure of players this season has reached 21.4 billion."

"In other words, the signing of this new collective bargaining agreement will actually make players' salaries less and less."

Speaking of this, Paul's eyes gradually became sharper. He stared at Silver with hatred and said: "Bob Cousy helped the players establish the players' union in 1954. The purpose is to prevent the players from being oppressed by the management."

"Chamberlain led the players to lockout for the first time in 1964, forcing the league to recognize the legal status of the players union. At the same time, the salary of players finally rose from thousands of dollars a year, which is not as good as that of a floor sweeper, to tens of thousands of dollars."

"But 57 years have passed, and the employers are still trying their best to oppress us. We have made so many efforts and still cannot have an equal dialogue with them."

"why?"

"Why must we stand timidly in front of the management like slaves?"

"We are working for them, but we are not slaves, we are just a cooperative relationship."

"We don't work for the management. Don't tell me that if you don't work hard today, you have to find a job tomorrow! Any company that doesn't develop its employees and has no future, just throw it aside!"

"We are not that noble, we work for our own family and life, it's as simple as that."

For four consecutive years, we finally let Silver know how Chris Paul is a headache for those bosses. The key is that you still can't find any words that can refute Chris Paul.

Because what the other party said even Adam Silver felt reasonable.

"Made, what am I here for?"

Just when Adam Silver felt that he had nothing to do, a family member of Chris Paul came over and said, "Is there someone outside who calls himself Li Lai to visit?"

"Li Lai?"

Both Paul and Xiao Hua spoke out at the same time.

Only then did Xiao Hua remember what Li Lai said on the phone that he would go to New Orleans. He originally thought that the other party was joking, but he didn't expect to actually come.

It's just that Xiao Hua is very speechless, Li came here to find him, is there such an exaggeration for a drink, the key is what is it called to come to Paul's house to drink.

At this time, Xiao Hua secretly prayed in his heart that Li would not destroy his mission when he came. If it was because of him that Paul completely lost confidence in the management, it would be over.

Paul was stunned and then his eyes were startled. He stood up and said, "It's Coach Li Lai. Hurry up and invite him in. Wait a minute, I'll go in person."

After a while, Li Lai and Paul walked into the garden hand in hand, and the two were laughing and joking all the way, asking each other if they were friendly.

Xiao Hua put on his glasses, thinking: I never heard that you two have such a good relationship.

"Why did the coach come to New Orleans?"

"I heard that New Orleans is a seaport city with the best scenery in the southern part of the United States. It is nicknamed the Crescent City, and it is also a city in water, so I am curious to come and have a look."

"That's great Coach, the scenery here is beautiful but it's a little poor. If you don't mind, I can take you on a trip around New Orleans."

"it is good!"

"Then shall we leave now?"

"necessary."

After speaking, Paul happily called out to his family to prepare to pack up their things.

It's just that Li Lai didn't come to New Orleans for fun, so of course Paul wouldn't let Paul take him out at this time.

Li Lai looked at Adam Silver who was still sitting on the chair with a dazed expression on his face. Paul just now deliberately called his family to pack up his things, obviously also meant to see off the guests.

Li Lai didn't believe that Paul would really go out with him, even if he would, he shouldn't drag his family along.

"This is?" Li Lai pointed to Adam Xiao Hua and said deliberately.

Adam Xiao Hua became more and more bewildered watching Li Lai's coquettish operations.

Your fucking front foot just let me come to New Orleans one step ahead of time, and when the back foot arrived here, you asked me who I am, I am your ancestor!You li tortoise bastard.

Although Paul called on his family to go out to play, his feet didn't move a step. At this time, he also pulled Li Lai to Adam Silver and introduced him.

"This is Li Lai, the former head coach of the Bucks and the former owner of the Bucks."

Paul looked at Li Lai and said, "This is Mr. Adam Silver, the vice president of the alliance."

Li Lai took the initiative to shake hands with Xiao Hua and said: "It turns out that you are Mr. Adam Xiao Hua. You have been concerned about things on the court before, and I haven't met you formally. I'm sorry."

Xiao Hua shook hands with Li Lai dully, wanting to see what kind of trouble you're going to make today.

At this time, Li Lai and Paul also kept silent about going out for fun. The three sat on stools around a chair, and Paul poured a glass of red wine for them.

Li Lai went straight to the topic and said: "Why is Mr. Xiao Hua at Paul's house, and it is also for visiting New Orleans?"

Xiao Hua knew that Li Lai was deliberately relying on the labor-management incident, so he glanced gratefully and said: "Of course not, it's not to mediate this dispute between labor and management."

Speaking of this, Paul still said angrily: "I don't think there is anything to talk about in this matter, and we haven't seen any negotiating attitude from the management."

"They gave us a new labor agreement with the attitude that this is the bottom line. Can this be called negotiation?"

Paul's last sentence was aimed specifically at Li.

Li Lai nodded in agreement and said, "This is indeed not a negotiation. Negotiations should involve both parties sitting down to discuss how to resolve this matter, and each list their own needs in the terms and conditions."

Paul nodded, thinking that the coach was more sensible.

Xiao Hua looked at Li Lai with sad eyes, at this moment he couldn't tell whether this kid was helping him or hurting him.

Li Lai said: "I think you should find another opportunity to sit down and talk. It's not the kind of talk where the employer directly throws out a contract to the labor side and asks them whether they agree or not. If they don't agree, it's a bad deal."

"It's about sitting down together to seriously discuss the role and help of the labor agreement for the future development of both parties, so we should discuss this matter on an equal footing."

Paul nodded, this is what he wants, and this is what everyone in the players union wants to see.

Xiao Hua was very embarrassed when he heard it, he shook his head and said: "Originally, when the labor negotiations were conducted, the management would entrust the agent or we would negotiate with the labor.

"Because the owner of the Spurs, Holt, and the owner of the Celtics, Grosbeck, are very poor, and they are also the two owners that the management least expects to be poor, so they specially participated in the last labor negotiation."

"But the result was very bad."

"They have also notified the league headquarters that they will no longer attend any subsequent labor negotiations, and it doesn't matter whether they will be suspended in the future or whatever."

Li Lai said seriously: "This is a labor-management negotiation, not an agent negotiation. If the management wants to make this matter go smoothly and avoid continuous escalation in the future, they should show their proper attitude."

"It is necessary for the two parties to meet!"

"At least one representative of the employer must attend the negotiations."

Paul nodded repeatedly and said, "That's how it should be!"

Xiao Hua, who heard this, had a bitter look on his face, thinking: Li said it was easy, but it is not so easy to actually practice it.

Each of the group of capitalists is worth hundreds of millions of owners, and even Holt, the poorest owner of the Spurs, is one of the ten richest people in the area.

Let such a person come to negotiate with the players?And still on equal footing.

Xiao Hua only felt that it was extremely difficult.

Paul also said seriously at this time: "Unless they agree to this condition, we will not hold a new round of labor-management negotiations."

Seeing that Paul's attitude is so firm, Xiao Hua also knows that he has completely messed up the matter this time.

Let’s put aside the issue of whether the labor dispute can be resolved smoothly. This time, if Stern’s account is not completed, it may leave a big bad point in the other party’s heart. Whether he can be promoted to the president of the league smoothly in the future will also be drawn. A big question mark.

Xiao Hua has always felt that his own affairs should be the most important.

In this regard, he fits perfectly with the current labor.

Xiao Hua said goodbye and left.

Paul also chatted with Li Lai very late. The two went from discussing basketball tactics to off-court life.

During the period, Paul's son cp4 also came to play in front of the two and played football.

Paul introduced his son to Li Lai. He was born in 2009 and is about to turn 3 years old. Paul often took him by his side and practiced with him. This kid also appeared on the All-Star Weekend.

What makes Paul helpless is that from the current point of view, his son seems to be more interested in football than basketball. For this reason, Paul can't help but sigh many times.

Afterwards, Li Lai said goodbye and left.

When Paul sent Li Lai to the door, he finally couldn't help asking, "Coach, what are you doing here today?"

You shouldn't talk nonsense in front of smart people, Xiao Hua is, Paul is, and Li Lai is too.

So Li Lai said seriously at this time: "I don't want to see the NBA suspend, so I hope that the negotiations between labor and management can proceed smoothly as soon as possible."

"The NBA is not only a league for owners and players, but also for fans."

Paul finally knew the purpose of the other party's trip, and believed that Li Lai would not lie to him about this matter.

Paul asked another matter somewhat cautiously at this time.

"Coach, now that the Bucks are not yours, will you still coach basketball?"

Li Lai understood Paul's cautious and tentative mood, and he said without hesitation at this moment: "Of course, I will not leave the NBA. I have never hesitated on this matter."

"Because, there is also my dream here."

Paul summoned up his courage and said, "Coach, can you come and coach me?"

Paul knows what kind of status Li Lai, who already has two championships in hand, has in the NBA now. Compared with those old legendary coaches, he may have shortcomings, but he is definitely the first among the younger generation of coaches.

Even Carlisle is hard to match him.

So what Paul can predict is that Li Lai should be recruited by many teams because of the Bucks incident, but he hopes Li Lai will coach him.

Paul originally had such an idea long ago, and he also believed that Li Lailai's coaching himself would help him realize a higher dream. After talking about tactics with Li Lai just now, Paul's expectations for this idea became even stronger.

In his opinion, Li Lai is really suitable to coach him.

Li Lai hesitated for a while and didn't speak, just looked at each other with a smile.

Paul thought wildly and said, "That's right, given the current mess of the Hornets, no big-name coach would choose to come here."

"Coach, I will be your opponent in the future, and I will never give in to you on the court."

Li Lai patted Paul who never forgot to talk trash at him at this time, and he said seriously: "Do you still remember, I reminded you a long time ago."

"Don't try to leave the Hornets unless it's a championship team."

"It's sometimes better to stay with the same team than you go to a new team."

Paul nodded and naturally remembered what Li Lai had said, but he looked at the back of Li Lai leaving at this moment, and didn't know what the other party meant by repeating this sentence at this time.

Xiao Hua waited for a long time near the gate of Paul's house.

He was naturally not stupid, he knew that there must be a reason for Li Lai to come here today, so he waited for Li Lai to go out after he left.

As a result, it was late at night.

The nights in the underwater city of New Orleans can be a bit cold.

"Ah!"

"Li Lai, you are such an asshole, why do you need to talk for so long inside?"

When Xiao Hua was scolding, he finally saw Li Lai coming out, he hurried up to greet him and said with a flattering smile.

"Brother, with the talk inside, did Paul let go of the labor agreement?"

At this time, Li Lai finally looked at Xiao Hua seriously and said: "Paul doesn't need to let go of this matter, the employer should change."

"They did go too far, and they took their interests too seriously."

"Extremely squeezing the value of players is not a strategy that can last for a long time."

(End of this chapter)