Pick Westbrook

Chapter 382 Absolutely Nothing
Pineville, Louisiana.

Rashard Lewis' home.

Lewis did not settle in New Orleans, because he knew very well that his contract could easily bring him a life of nowhere, so he did not settle down in New Orleans, but rented a villa.

After learning that Li Lai would come, Lewis was a little nervous, because the coach was very strict in the team. In the last game, the opponent punished JR Smith, Leonard and Jimmy Butt who went out and messed up very severely.

But the tension disappeared quickly because Li Lai was also a very friendly person. Lewis still remembers Li Lai's efforts to develop rookies Leonard and Jimmy Butler.

Signing the seriously injured Oden and helping him recuperate has been unanimously praised by the players. JR Smith's prodigal son also has a great influence on Li Lai.

The Pelicans have always been benevolent in treating players, and all bonus distribution, training facilities, and locker room environment are developing in the best direction.

Because the doctor in Phoenix suggested that the liquid nitrogen cryotherapy cabins are of great help to the players' old injuries and bodies, Li Lai purchased 6 liquid nitrogen cryotherapy cabins at a time, at a total cost of 1000 million US dollars, just to help Players take care of their bodies so that they won't be in wheelchairs when they retire in the future.

Lewis has been to the Seattle Supersonics, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards and Pelicans in his career. If he had to choose one of the four teams to stay, he would choose the Pelicans without hesitation. Team.

Because this team can win, there are no conflicts in the locker room, and the owner is not stingy, the team's team building direction has been moving in the right direction.

Lewis really wants to stay with the Pelicans if he can choose.

"But I have no choice now." Lewis said seriously, looking at Li Lai who had already come to visit.

Li Lai patted Lewis on the shoulder with a smile, indicating that the other party did not need to be so anxious to announce his decision when they met.

"After all, I am also your head coach. Is there any problem that the two of us can't sit down and talk about it?"

"At this time, I am not only the management of the team, but also a member of the coaching staff. I hope to bring better advice and help to my players."

"Of course I can't lie, I will also think from the perspective of the team, but in my heart the team and the players must be equally important."

Lewis couldn't help hugging Li Lai vigorously at this moment. Li Lai was the only team management he had ever seen who would think from the player's position.

At this time, both of them sat down and discussed the salary issue carefully.

Li Lai said straight to the point: "The current salary of the team has exceeded the luxury tax trigger line of 1200 million, which will cause us to pay an additional 2200 million in luxury tax."

"Of course, I don't care about this very much, because of the Beverly contract renewal problem that I will face next season, as well as the early contract renewal of Leonard and Jimmy Butler next season, this season's No. [-] pick Anthony Davis The new contract will also come in the third year."

"So, if there is no accident, the team's salary next year will definitely exceed the luxury tax trigger line."

"However, when a team exceeds the luxury tax threshold in any three of the past four years, they have to pay the tax rate of the super luxury tax, and that penalty almost doubles."

"This is also the reason why the Celtics chose to disband early and rebuild. This season, the Lakers have already triggered the super luxury tax."

"Although the Nets rank first in the league in total player salary, reaching a full 1 million US dollars, exceeding the luxury tax trigger line of 2600 million, the amount of luxury tax paid is only 4500 million."

"The total salary of the Lakers is 9800 million, which exceeds the luxury tax trigger line of 2400 million, but the luxury tax penalty paid is as high as 7200 million!"

"More importantly, teams that trigger the super luxury tax will be subject to greater constraints on player reinforcement. They will have almost no way to reinforce veterans beyond the basic salary. This is the most deadly point."

Li Laixiao expressed his worries and thoughts with reason and emotion, hoping that Lewis can understand the issues he must think about from the perspective of the team.

Lewis can understand the difficulties of coach Li Lai and the Pelicans very well. He can even say with certainty that if the Pelicans want to become a championship team in the future, they have to be more cautious in dealing with salary.

The Miami Heat can perfectly balance the Big Three lineup, and President Park Leli really played a big role in it.

"But coach, it is really impossible for me to give up the big contract in the last year of my career. You know that I have no ability to sign a big contract now."

"Also, black people from poor backgrounds have only two options to get ahead, one is to play sports, and the other is to enter leadership positions in the beautiful country."

"I play so hard, not for my dreams, but just for money and status."

Li Lai couldn't help but heaved a long sigh. No matter how rich you are in the United States, if you are black, you will definitely be discriminated against somewhere at some point, and James and Jordan are no exception.

The good thing is that basketball stars like Lewis will have more people who respect him and fewer people who discriminate against them.

So playing basketball is a very important step for many poor black children to hold their heads high in this society.

This is another reason why Lewis is unwilling to give up his last year's big contract.

Li Lai already knew the contradiction between the two, and he made a suggestion: "This is what I think, split your last year's contract into several years, which can not only guarantee your vested interests, but also avoid the loss of the team. Paying a high luxury tax this season."

"Of course, the premise is that you have to opt out of the player option for the final year in advance."

Li Lai bid farewell to Lewis, and Hammond said with some concern: "Boss, will Lewis really accept this proposal?"

"He's taking a big risk in this matter."

Li Lai nodded, still remembering that Angie, the general manager of the Celtics, played this game in his previous life.

That year, Horford's last year's contract was a player option, with about $3000 million left in salary. There were two paths ahead of Horford.

The first is to get 3000 million US dollars after executing the contract, but next year he will be 34 years old and it will be difficult to sign another long-term contract.

The second is to jump out of the contract and look for a long-term contract of about 3 years. The annual salary will definitely not be as much as 3000 million, but in the long run, it will be profitable.

Angie caught Horford's mentality. He persuaded Horford to implement the player option to jump out of the contract, and promised to provide Horford with a three-year long contract.

After Horford officially jumped out of the contract, the two parties' talks collapsed. The reason was that the two parties had too much difference in the amount of annual salary!

霍福德也许想的是安吉会给他一份3年6000万或者3年5000万美元的合同，结果人家安吉只承诺了给3年3000万美元。

This made Horford so angry that he almost cursed Angie's ancestors for eighteen generations on social media.

So if Lewis and Horford make the same decision, he is likely to face the same embarrassing situation as Horford in his previous life.

Li Lai said: "It depends on whether Lewis believes me or not."

Lewis' home.

His wife couldn't help leaning on Lewis' shoulder and said: "Rashad, you should know this is a gamble."

Lewis patted the back of his wife's hand vigorously and said, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to hurt my family. I know which choice is the best decision for us."

Lewis' wife hesitated at this moment, but finally summoned up her courage and said, "Rashad, do you want to stay with the Pelicans?"

Lewis was startled, and then said without hesitation: "Of course, if possible, I would like to retire from the Pelicans, as long as the coach is willing to give me this opportunity."

Lewis' wife said with certainty at this time: "Then I think you should stay and trust your coach and your teammates."

"A family should be neat and tidy and no one should be separated."

8 month 25 day.

Lewis announced that he would step out of the contract. Once the news was confirmed by the good media, it caused an uproar in the United States.

"This is even more sensational than the Lakers' trade for Howard, and the Warriors' trade for Curry and Durant."

"With a salary of 2200 million, is Lewis crazy or stupid?"

"He won't think that he averaged 23 minutes per game last season, averaged 8 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist per game, and he has the ability to sign another contract of the same value."

"Lewis now only has a basic salary and a middle-class contract. What he is giving up is probably a salary that he will never be able to earn again."

"What middle class contract?! If Rashard Lewis can get a contract with an annual salary of more than 300 million in the future, I will stand on my head and eat shit."

"Don't question it, Lewis will regret it in a few days."

Just as the social media was in an uproar, Li Lai and Lewis attended the press conference in the afternoon.

Even Li Lai, the leader of the Pelicans Chris Paul, did not show up when he signed a five-year 5 million contract, but Lewis got such a special case. ticking time bomb.

Li Lai held the microphone and said: "Rashad has always been an important part of the team. He established a very good locker room culture for the team last season."

"The team has always believed that Lewis can provide us with a lot of things, including experience on the court and everything in the dressing room."

"So the Pelicans decided to renew Rashad Lewis with a four-year, 4 million fully guaranteed contract!"

This contract is a decreasing contract, and the first year is 800 million, which decreases by 5% every year.

But Lewis is 33 years old this season. Considering his poor competitive state year after year, this is obviously a contract that loses everything.

The entire social media in the United States immediately exploded. The melon-eaters who had previously accused Lewis of being mentally retarded were so angry that they couldn't eat anymore after seeing the Pelicans' insane behavior.

"A fool! A mentally handicapped! Go die!"

However, Shark O'Neal, one of TNT's four major commentary teams, quickly interpreted the Pelicans' actions on social media.

He said: "I have dealt with coach Li Lai, and I know his character and principles of life."

"This contract is a win-win for me."

"Originally, the Pelicans had to pay a luxury tax of 2200 million US dollars this season, because Lewis jumped out of the original contract, and now the Pelicans will pay a luxury tax of 0."

"I'm too sure about Coach Li Lai's goal. What he has to do is to lead the Pelicans to win the championship trophy, so this time the team's total salary is reduced below the luxury tax. will be of great significance.”

"Of course, the Pelicans reciprocated and gave Lewis a higher total contract, so it's a win-win for me."

After O'Neill's comments appeared, Barkley quickly liked the opponent's social media.

8 month 26 day.

Li Lai asked Hammond to inform the team coaching staff and players that the new season Pelicans will start training camp earlier than in mid-September in previous years.

At the same time, Li Lai contacted Jordan and said, "Shouldn't your promise be fulfilled?"

Jordan said with a hearty smile on the phone: "Of course, I never break my promise, but there is a little change on this point."

"The training location will be in Charlotte, and I will also arrange for players to train together."

Hearing this, Li Lai paused for a moment and didn't know what Jordan meant. The other party then explained: "Your rookie players can always be well trained. Don't try to lie to me about this, Ben. Grandpa has already seen it."

"So, I need some advice from you."

Li Lai was speechless looking at the brazen Jordan who was sitting on the floor. Sure enough, players of that era didn't have a good thing, especially this old hooligan.

8 month 27 day.

The Pelicans coaching staff has all returned to work, and the team's training camp time has also been set.

Considering Jordan's private training, as well as Paul and Diaw, who have competed in the Olympics, Li Lai did not put the training camp time particularly forward.

It is scheduled for September 9, which is only 10 days earlier than usual.

8 month 28 day.

Jimmy Butler, Leonard, and Li Lai met, and Jimmy Butler gave Li Lai a big hug as soon as they met, and he wanted to tell Li Lai what happened throughout the offseason.

It's probably how he trains hard, how many times he has fought against Leonard, how many games he won and how many games he lost, and so on.

Leonard was not as passionate as Jimmy Butler, he just looked at Li Lai and smiled shyly.

Li Lai obviously found that the two of them were stronger and stronger than last season, so they must have trained very hard in the off-season.

He said: "Now, it's time to take you to meet someone who is really suitable to teach you."

8 month 29 day.

charlotte.

Jimmy Butler and Leonard were both dumbfounded the moment they saw Jordan.

The two looked like they had seen their idols or gods for many years, they stayed where they were at a loss, their mouths opened wide in shock.

Looking at Jordan who was his two little fans again, he pointed to his eyes arrogantly and said.

"Keep your eyes open during training later, brother's personal training is not for everyone."

But after meeting Jimmy Butler's eyes, Jordan was obviously taken aback.

Because Jimmy Butler is so freaking similar to him, and even the aspect of temperament is well handled.

Butler couldn't help asking at this moment: "Michael, I want to ask you, have you ever been to Houston?"

Jordan was startled, frowned and said, "What do you mean? Brother, why did you suddenly ask me this question?"

Butler spread his hands and said, "It's like this. My mother said that my father, who I had never met, ran away from the beginning, leaving my mother and my wife to depend on each other. I wonder if that person might be him."

"No! I've never been to Houston." Jordan said quickly, waving his hand.

"Bro, I swear on the bird, I never did anything bad in Houston, I remember it so fucking well."

"There are 30 teams in the league. I have done bad things in 29 cities, but I have never done it in Houston."

"Besides, you are 23 years old and I am 50 years old. This age gap does not look like a father-son generation."

Leonard said with a robotic face beside him, "I think so."

Jordan said angrily, "Like Nima's big-headed ghost, labor and management have never gone out to mess around, let alone abandoning their wives and children so irresponsibly."

Butler on the side let out a long breath at this time, and seemed a little relieved.

What his mother hates most is Butler's face, but people have always said that he looks a lot like Jordan.

For a long time, Butler wondered whether he had that possibility. Now that he heard Jordan's denial, he finally let go of one thing in his heart.

Li Lai couldn't help but said, "I was a little skeptical at first, but now I'm even more skeptical."

(End of this chapter)