Pick Westbrook

Chapter 281 Mr. Li Lai
Adam Xiao Hua nodded at the side, thinking that Li Lai was a little overbearing today.

Sitting in the No.30 seat so arrogantly when meeting the bosses for the first time, it is easy to bring a bad first impression.

Of course, Xiao Hua also knew the reason why Li Lai was so arrogant as soon as he came up.

Li Lai was really angry with the actions of the management on the labor agreement, and he also very disgusted with the exploitation of the working class by these capitalists.

David Stern was not in a hurry to speak, this was another time he took a serious look at the extremely young boy in front of him.

David Stern has already seen Li Lai's ability to coach and manage the team. He is very curious that the other party will show him some extraordinary abilities at this time.

Seeing that Li Lai remained silent for a long time, Paul Allen said with a playful smile, "Why, no more words? No more arrogance?"

"It seems that you also know how important our current attitude and decision-making are to your next attempt to get the Hornets."

"Mr. Li Lai, it's hard to hear the words and the food is bad. After all, you are still too young. I also suggest that you leave that seat as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Li Lai smiled contemptuously. He stroked the No. 30 position under his body, which was also the position that had been vacated by the owner of the Hornets team for a long time, and said.

"Mr. Paul Allen, I have heard your legendary story. You and Bill Gates co-founded the predecessor of Microsoft, with assets of about 230 billion U.S. dollars."

"There is no need to doubt that you are the richest owner in the NBA today, and you are also the one who cares the least about this labor negotiation. You even hope that the league can be suspended."

"Of course, the reason why you choose to do this is because the Trail Blazers are located in a small ball market and it is difficult to attract big-name stars to join them. In addition, the Trail Blazers have been difficult to make the playoffs all year round. The record is also extremely fluctuating. , You don’t need the team to bring you any economic benefits and fame.”

"So, you don't care about that."

"Of course, I don't know if you have any additional ideas to punish the players."

Paul Allen didn't answer yes or no, because what Li Lai said was exactly what he had in mind.

Paul Allen was also an avid sports fan when he was young, which is why he chose to buy the NBA Portland Trail Blazers and the NFL Seattle Seahawks after he became famous.

In order for the Trail Blazers to become the biggest favorite of the championship, Paul Allen did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to build Damon Stoudemire, Steve Smith, Scottie Pippen, Rasheed The luxurious lineup of Wallace and Arvedas Sabonis.

Coupled with the sixth man Brian Grant, the Blazers' record in the regular season is second only to the Lakers, ranking second in the league. The Blazers also reached the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, but they regretted losing to Los Angeles lakers.

Paul Allen has owned the team for 1988 years since he bought the Pilots in 23.

From an avid sports fanatic back then to an old man now in his twilight years, Paul Allen has seen the Trail Blazers at their most powerful, and personally experienced the team's 6-year miss from its peak to its trough. playoffs.

Paul Allen has long lost the passion of the year, he has also lost his initial love for basketball, and he has no energy to make the Trail Blazers a championship team again.

The Spurs owner Holt and the Celtics owner Grossbeck nodded excitedly, because Li said what they had always wanted to say but dared not say.

They are also the last people who want the league to end up shutting down.

Paul Allen glanced at Spurs owner Holt and Celtics owner Grossbeck who were slightly excited by Li Lai's words, and he looked at Li Lai and said seriously.

"That's not why we should hand you the Hornets."

"We could give the Hornets to anyone, but why should we give it to you?"

Li Lai said with a chuckle: "Mr. Paul Allen, the NBA's current online sales channels, as well as the joint sales of official merchandise with various countries, are all from me and Adam Silver."

"At this point, I've driven the league to at least make hundreds of millions of dollars a year in profit."

"Prior to this, only one-third of the teams in the NBA were profitable after the season, and most of them were in big cities."

"But because of my actions, two-thirds of the teams in the league have been able to make a profit after the season, and the market value of each team has also ushered in a considerable increase."

"That's what I can bring to the league."

The bosses who heard this were a little surprised. They looked at Adam Silver and David Stern for confirmation.

As a result, both of them nodded in affirmation.

Li Lai continued to strike while the iron was hot: "In fact, all the NBA's online sales and overseas sales are undertaken by Kulai Express Company."

"It is also because of the Kulai company that our fans will enjoy the express delivery convenience of Tianda."

"What will happen to the NBA if, starting tomorrow, Cooley doesn't plan to take on this job?"

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander sneered and said, "What? Mr. Li Lai thinks he can still control Kulai Company?"

"To tell you the truth, Kulai Express Company was founded by one of our bosses, the owner of the Mavericks team and the current angel investor Cuban."

"The name of the courier company has the word Ku, don't you know?"

Li looked at Leslie Alexander, the owner of the Rockets, and said seriously: "There is another word in the name of the courier company, don't you know it!?"

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander was extremely shocked. After a while, he remembered something and looked at Mark Cuban in astonishment.

Cuban couldn't help laughing, nodded and said: "Mr. Li Lai and I founded the Kulai Company together, each holding 50% of the shares. It is worth mentioning that all ideas and future plans are from Li Lai. Suggestion, strictly speaking, I am only an investor.”

hiss~
Spurs owner Holt and Celtics owner Grossback gasped at the same time at this time.

Because Kulai Express has already been well-known in the United States this year, especially the convenient one-day delivery method of the other party is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. At present, it has occupied at least about 40% of the express delivery market in the United States.

Moreover, some authoritative people have predicted that if other express companies do not respond as soon as possible and have an express delivery model that can compete with Kulai Express, then as soon as next year, Kulai Express will occupy at least 70% of the United States. express market.

All the people present here are big names in business, and what they see is not only the 70% or so in the express delivery market, but also the hegemonic market control.

Just like Li said now, what will happen if the Kulai express company does not accept NBA orders tomorrow?

This is control!
Adam Xiao Hua was already sweating coldly from fright at this time, it was the first time he felt that Li Lai had such a powerful ability and courage.

Now look at Li Lai's position as the owner of the Hornets, which is well-deserved.

Naturally, when Cuban met Li Lai for the second time, he could see that Li Lai had great talents in the business field, and the development of Kulai Express was always approaching the expectations of the other party.

Of course, Li Lai reminded Cuban that Kulai Express should stop when it occupies at most 70% of the market share.

In addition to taking a share of other express companies in the market, Li Lai believes that it will be dangerous to continue to exceed this share, and it will also attract the attention and jealousy of many people.

At the same time, Kulai Company has no plans to go public for the time being, because Li Lai believes that its value is far from meeting his expectations.

However, Cuban asked people on Wall Street to make predictions. As long as the company is willing to go public, the market value will be at least 100 billion US dollars.

Just more or less.

"It's a pity that such a person chooses to coach the NBA without doing his job properly."

Cuban looked at Li Lai and shook his head speechlessly.

NBA fans say that Cuban is not doing his job properly. If he focuses on making money, at least he is very hopeful that he will surpass Paul Allen in terms of worth.

But in Cuban's view, Li Lai is the most irresponsible.

If Li Lai can not coach the NBA and choose to focus all his energy on making money, Cuban believes that the other party is likely to become the next one.
The bosses were not talking, and Li Lai continued with a smile: "I hope that within three years, all teams in the NBA can achieve profitability."

"Of course, this has to exclude teams that are outside of malicious spending such as the super luxury tax."

"I have that confidence."

Spurs owner Holt said excitedly: "Really?"

Holt noticed a detail in Li Lai's words, which was 3 years instead of 4 years.

Because of the extremely enviable TV broadcast revenue in the fourth year, as long as all NBA teams do not form a super lineup, they should be able to easily achieve profitability.

But now Li is talking about 3 years later, which means that he has completely ruled out that extremely considerable income.

"Mr. Li Lai, do you know about the upcoming TV broadcast agreement?"

Celtics owner Grosbeck reminded.

Li Lai raised his right hand, shrugged his shoulders and frowned at this moment and said, "If the team's profit still includes that money, then I can only say that our structure is too small."

"Sitting in the world's strongest, largest and most eye-catching basketball league, we still need to always think about the income in the next four years. It's simply a treasure mountain without knowing it."

Grossbeck was slightly stunned and extremely embarrassed, but he also knew that Li Lai nearly doubled the market value of the Bucks in just three years.

This is an extremely remarkable ability.

Spurs owner Holt and Celtics owner Grossback looked at each other at this time, and then nodded at the same time.

The two raised their hands at the same time and said, "We have no objection to Mr. Li Lai's ownership of the Hornets. The league also needs such young talents to join in and promote the league to obtain greater profits."

David Stern was very surprised to see that two bosses approved of Li Lai's joining soon.

Because it is the first time David Stern has met two of the bosses in the league who can support one person so openly at the meeting.

"This kid will surprise people wherever he goes."

Li Lai nodded in satisfaction, but the support of only two people was obviously not enough, and most of the rest of the bosses were also on the sidelines.

At this time, Li Lai nodded friendly to Spurs owner Holt and Celtics owner Grosbeck, and then continued.

"I can resolve this labor negotiation!"

"What!!!" David Stern stood up in shock after hearing this.

He looked at Li Lai and said very solemnly: "This is not something to be joked about!"

"Labor-management negotiations have now reached a very dangerous point, and the conflict between management and labor has become unimaginably large, and they are even about to go to court."

"Many media and commentators now believe that it is difficult for the NBA to start the game at normal time. The strike of players and the suspension of the league are unstoppable. Even I believe that labor incidents will definitely affect the next normal game time."

"Li Lai! I can pretend that you didn't say this! I believe that with your contribution and efforts to the league and your ability, there is no problem in being qualified for the Hornets."

"Most owners will also support you to get this team, so please take this sentence back quickly."

Li Lai glanced at David Stern gratefully, and Adam Silver behind him also shook his head persuading Li Lai.

At this moment, Li Lai slammed his fists on the conference table, stared at the bosses, and still said word by word: "I said, I can resolve this labor negotiation."

Several hours later, the entire meeting room fell silent.

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander couldn't help smiling and said: "David has already said, no matter whether you can solve the labor negotiations or not, it will be very difficult for us to refuse you to become the owner of the Hornets."

"But if Mr. Li Lai can really do this, I don't think any boss in the entire team council will vote against you. On the contrary, we will look forward to the future development of the NBA."

After finishing speaking, Leslie Alexander raised his hand directly, and then the owners of each team raised their hands one after another, and they all agreed that Lee would get the Hornets.

Feeling the gaze falling on him, Cuban raised his hand without any hesitation.

Because of his relationship with Li Lai, no one thought he would vote against Li Lai.

Then only Paul Allen remained silent.

Li Lai walked up to Paul Allen and said, "Mr. Allen, I believe you must have been a very enthusiastic basketball fan when you were young, just like me now."

"Choosing me is like the Trail Blazers chose you, and what I have now is your youthful dream."

Paul Allen laughed helplessly. He looked at the young Li Lai as if he had seen himself back then.

The NBA’s online sales and overseas sales are inseparable from Li Lai. The future development of the NBA and the profit outlook of all teams within 3 years need Li Lai. As David Stern said, most owners will no longer own Li Lai. The Hornets voted no.

After all, the Hornets team has long been lost.

In addition, Li Lai also vowed to resolve the labor negotiations and use his dream to face Paul Allen.
Just as Li Lai sat directly on the No. 30 seat from the beginning, he is bound to win it.

"Mr. Li Lai, basketball has indeed delayed you."

Paul Allen stretched out his hand and said with a smile.

Li Lai stretched out his hand to gently shake Paul Allen, and then Chen Ken said, "I'm not the only one who is delayed by basketball. How come you and Cuban were not delayed?"

"It's our choice."

NBA Board of Governors resolution.

With a full vote of 29 votes in favor of Lee to acquire the New Orleans Hornets.

Day two.

David Stern held a press conference.

"The New Orleans Hornets will be sold to Mr. Li Lai, former owner of the Bucks, founder of Kulai Express, chairman of Los Angeles Food and Broadcasting Company, and CEO of American Li Ning Company at a price slightly higher than the market value of 3.6 million U.S. dollars!"

(End of this chapter)