the rest, only noise

Chapter 1068 The Miami godfather who heard the news
In early July, Benjamin Wilson and Dennis Rodman announced they were testing free agency.

This is a big deal.

Wilson played for the Knicks for eight years and is the absolute core of the team's seven consecutive championships. Without him, the Knicks dynasty would be incomplete.

"We will do everything in our power to keep Benjamin in New York."

Elgin Baylor emphasized in an interview with The New York Times.

Strangely, few people asked whether Rodman would stay.

Because Rodman has become a problem player.

Even when Louis was coaching, he would suddenly disappear for several days, not attend training sessions on time, or even miss games for no reason.

For Tomjanovich, there is too much uncertainty about Rodman.

If even Louis can't make him play with peace of mind, then who can tame him?
So, Tomjanovich made a bold decision.

That is to let Rodman go.

Louis, whose contract had also expired, was much more low-key.

Because he is not a player, there is no need to announce with great fanfare that he is a free agent.

The eyes of the league are on New York.

During this period, personnel changes in various teams in the league occurred very frequently.

The Celtics hired team legend ML Carr as the new director of team operations.

Some speculate that Carr will be Dave Gavitt's front-stage talker, just like Baylor is to Louie.

But why isn't the position Bird's?
Everyone is very puzzled, but since Gavitt took over Boston, the Celtics' operation has become strange.

So this kind of situation that no one can understand is a normal state.

Then, the chief assistant Gregg Popovich, who was very optimistic about Don Nelson, ended his assistant teaching career in Golden State and went to San Antonio as the vice president and general manager of basketball operations.

From the promotion from the assistant coach to the second in command of the team and the first in command of the team, it can be seen how much the Spurs recognize Popovich's ability.

Pat Riley was promoted to general manager of the Trail Blazers, and at the same time, he relieved himself of his coaching position.He seems to have lost confidence in coaching, but the outside world generally believes that this is a signal that Barkley is about to be traded.

The conflict between Barkley and Riley has become irresolvable. If Riley wants to continue his high-pressure policy, someone must leave.

Jerry West stepped down as Lakers general manager and was promoted to vice president of basketball operations.

Elvin Johnson (tragedy) was hired as the Lakers' VP (a VP without any real power) and was given a partial stake in the Lakers.

The sports writers who couldn't stand the loneliness couldn't help asking: "What is Leader Lu's next plan?"

Subsequently, Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced that they plan to renew the contract of Leader Lu, and the group has extremely strong determination and belief.

In this way, Louis' contract renewal negotiations officially began.

His last contract was 6 years and 1200 million.

This time, MSG's negotiators set a starting price of 4 million for four years, and then gradually raised it to 1800 million.

You know, the annual salary of professional basketball coaches has just entered the million-dollar era.

In other words, the coaches who can sign $100 million a year are the top figures in the industry.

However, MSG offered a sky-high price of 1 million U.S. dollars for one year, but it couldn't get Louie's affirmation.

"Coach Lu, if you are dissatisfied with the figures, we can increase the price."

MSG's negotiators were already helpless, and Louie looked absent-minded.

"The figures are pretty good, and I'll have a bad conscience if I raise the price." Louis said modestly, "I'm not worth so much."

The negotiator asked cautiously: "So, it's not a matter of numbers?"

"Of course not." Louis said, "I heard that MSG's equity transaction is close to completion?"

The negotiator nodded: "Yes, CVC (Cablevision Systems Corporation/Dolan's company) bought 15% of the equity for $50 billion above market price."

Louis asked with a smile, "Surely you won't pay a high price for no reason?"

Negotiators seem to understand something.

"Yes. Mr. Dolan will run MSG directly." The representative understood. "Is that what you're worried about?"

Louis smiled: "You are really smart."

From this day on, negotiations between Louie and MSG stopped.

The unfavorable news of Louie's contract renewal negotiations also came out, so those teams who are eyeing Louis have ordered tickets to New York, preparing to come to interview with Louis.

The teams that sent negotiators for this purpose include the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and Washington Bullets. If this goes on, I am afraid that most of the teams will be mentioned. It is better to say those teams that did not send people.

Only the New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors are not interested in Louie.

Some people want to ask, are the Minnesota Timberwolves interested in Louie?
Yes, although Louis and Klaus are rivals, this does not prevent the Timberwolves boss from seeing Louis as the savior of the team.

For them, as long as Luigiken joins, even if the condition is to kick Klaus out, they will do so.

From this point of view, Jerry Krause's career is actually in the hands of Louie.

The first person Louis met was Lewis Shafier, the godfather of the Heat.

He suspected that Shafier came to eat and drink, because there were no vacancies in the Heat's management and coaching staff.

"Lewis, I want to know what you are doing here." Louis said dissatisfiedly, "You are the president of the Heat, and Billy is your coach. What do you want me to do in your place? Do you want me to clean up?"

Shafier laughed loudly: "Our position of general manager is still vacant, and only coach Lu, a brilliant genius like you, is missing!"

"Do you want me to let the president of New York quit and go to Miami to work for you?" Louis' smile seemed to carry a knife.

"Coach Lu, actually I just miss you, let's come to see you." Shafier put aside the topic just now, "Besides, I haven't seen you for so long, don't you miss me, Coach Lu, you are my best friend in the league!"

Louis laughed angrily, and he began to believe that the rumors about Shafier were true.

This is a man who can switch back and forth between serious negotiations and gags.

"Tell me, what on earth did you ask me for?" Lu Yi didn't believe that Shafier really came to New York because of the so-called missing of his friends.

He shouldn't be that busy.

"Hey, Mingren don't say dark words, Coach Lu, what do you think is the biggest gap between Miami and New York?"

"What do you say?"

"I think because we don't have a real superstar, New York has Patrick and Benjamin, it's just not fair!"

"Actually, Patrick can only be regarded as half a superstar, and Benj is leaving New York soon, so you can compete fairly with New York."

Shafier's eyes lit up.

"Actually, I came to New York this time...just to drop by. Really just to drop by, to see if, uh, I can sign Benjamin."

Louie knew this guy wouldn't come to New York for no reason.

It's a joke to say what you miss him.

Louie looked at him playfully, "You don't think I'll help you convince Benj, do you?"

"How could it be? Coach Lu, you are almost too busy with your own affairs. You must not have time to take care of my affairs. Don't worry, I will take care of this matter."

Shafier looked hesitant, as if he still had something to do.

Louis asked vigilantly, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"Can I say it?"

"Don't you want to talk?"

"Then I said so?"

"I'll give you three seconds."

Shafir said immediately, "Do you think Ralph Sampson might leave Boston?"

I'm sooooooooooooooo!
It's fine for him to have Wilson's idea, but he still has Sampson's idea?
Moreover, Louis feels that the Heat really have a chance.

Miami has a strong lineup, but it lacks a backbone who can hold the scene. Although Sampson is no longer in his heyday, he can still be regarded as a superstar.

If you can get him to join, the Heat will change from a competitor that the Knicks don't care about at all to a rival that needs to be taken seriously.

If Sampson cares about his posthumous reputation, he should leave Boston this summer.

The choice of the next stop is very important to him.

He is 34 years old and doesn't have much time to waste. If he can't lead the team to win the championship as the undisputed leader of the team before retiring, he will have a lot of trouble evaluating his historical status.

Looking at it from an inappropriate perspective, how do fans view Kevin Durant's two championships in Golden State after it is almost certain that he will not be able to achieve anything in Brooklyn?

Don't we think so?

Replace Durant with other top forwards in the league, can't the Warriors win those two championships?If it is so readily available, how should its value and weight be defined?

One thing is certain, that is, there is also a gap in the quality of the champion and the champion.

Thinking about it this way, it may not be possible for Sampson to leave Boston, but inevitable.

"I think there's a good chance he'll leave Boston, but," Louie asked, "do you have enough cap space?"

Shafier's face suddenly became ugly: "As long as Ralph can come, I can create a space without space. Is there no one who wants Hank Geithers?"

Oh, and this may be the millionth time Lewis Shafier has thought about trading Gaithers, but he doesn't tend to do it.

But Louis still couldn't help feeling sorry for having such a general manager behind Gaithers. He is different. If a loyal person like him has any dissatisfaction with a player, he doesn't bother to say bad things behind his back.

"I don't think Ralph wants to be on a Heat team without Hank Gaithers."

"Well, then I can only sign a short-term contract with Ralph first, and then re-sign a long-term contract after the contract takes effect. The rules allow me to do this, don't they?"

So why did he want to trade Gaithers?
(End of this chapter)