basketball boulder

Chapter 289 Pat Riley Interview, Jerry West's Call

Then, Spoelstra broke in suddenly: "Stone, the coach is looking for you!"

Everyone looked at Li Lei together.

Everyone knows that whether Li Lei renews his contract with the Heat will be the most important thing in the offseason.

He will even directly affect the pattern of the league in the next few years.

Likewise, O'Neill's second dynasty.

Whether Wade can stay with the Heat next season.

will be affected by this.

The place where Li Lei and Riley talked was the bus rented by the Heat.

Coach Spoelstra personally guarded the surrounding area and kept others away.

Why not at Mavericks' home court?
Because partitions have ears!

This kind of matter must not leak the slightest word.

Pat Riley beckoned Li Lei to sit down: "Tonight, I will be honest with you, and I hope you will do the same with me."

Li Lei looked at Riley, didn't nod, but didn't refuse either.

He didn't know what it was, how could he agree.

Riley looked at Li Lei's reaction and smiled.

He likes Li Lei's rationality.

If Li Lei didn't ask anything and just agreed, Riley would actually look down on Li Lei and Li Lei's promise.

"To be honest, although you are three years younger than Wade, I always think you are more mature than him. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose you!"

Pat Riley got straight to the point and said what he wanted directly.

"No matter what, the team will give you a maximum salary, and I will keep you."

"You are the unique core of the Heat."

Riley gave the assurance straight away.

Then, he looked directly at Li Lei, hoping that Li Lei would give the same answer.

Li Lei thought for a while, and then said seriously: "Sir, my first choice is indeed to stay in Miami."

Pat Riley suddenly burst into laughter.

very good!

"but……"

At this moment, a word from Li Lei made Riley nervous again.

"I'm worried too!"

Pat Riley took out a cigar, lit it slowly, squinted his eyes and took a puff, and said unhurriedly: "You say."

Li Lei was not in a hurry, and slowly said: "The team's salary space is very tight. If I want to give me a maximum salary, I am afraid that I will have to pay a high luxury tax."

Next season, the Heat's cap space is destined to explode.

O'Neal $2000 million.

$825 million for white chocolate.

Walker $761 million.

Haslem $553 million.

Wade $384 million.

The salary of these five people alone reached 4523 million US dollars.

Li Lei just played for three years and can trigger the Bird clause, with a maximum salary of at least 1500 million US dollars to start.

That's $6023 million.

Then, the Heat will have to gather the other 9 people, and the total salary will reach a terrifying 8000 million US dollars.

The salary cap for this season is $4950 million, and the luxury tax line is more than $5600 million.

Roughly calculated, the luxury tax line for next season will be around 6000 million US dollars.

In this way, according to the rule that if you exceed the luxury line for a penny, you will be fined for a penny. The Heat are expected to pay a luxury tax of 2000 million US dollars.

"If he wants to sign me, the boss may have to come back to the luxury tax of 2000 million US dollars, will he be willing?"

Li Lei asked.

2000 million US dollars at the beginning of the century, what is that concept?
Pat Riley smiled, but took a puff on the cigar first.

"It looks like you've done your homework, and that's one of the reasons why I like you. That guy, Wade, didn't even want to study the playbook I compiled in advance."

Pat Riley looked relaxed, without a trace of worry, and chatted leisurely about other things.

"Okay, let me tell you the answer."

"First of all, our boss is the owner of Carnival Cruise Lines, one of the richest owners in the NBA. He is not short of money."

"Secondly, in the offseason, I can clear some contracts and reduce the total team salary."

"So, you don't have to think about these issues at all."

"So now, do you have any questions?"

Pat Riley said confidently.

Li Lei thought for a while: "If that's the case, then I have no problem."

"very good!"

Pat Riley took another sip of his cigar: "Next, let's work together to win more O'Brien Cups."

……

That night, Li Lei told Bill Duffy about it.

Duffy kept nodding.

"To stay in Miami, that's the best."

"O'Neal is getting older and older. Wade will have to leave after next season. You are the undoubted leader of the Heat."

"Beyond that, if you win the championship next year, you can complete the three-peat."

"The best thing is that you can win three consecutive FMVPs. In this way, you will become the third player in history to complete this achievement. The first two are Jordan and O'Neal."

"Even Magician, Bird, and Skyhook haven't done it."

Li Lei's heart was also full of longing.

Three consecutive FMVPs, that's a great achievement.

Beep!
Just then, Li Lei's cell phone rang.

"Hello, Stone! I'm the general manager of the Grizzlies, Jerry West."

Li Lei: "..."

Because Li Lei opened the public release, Bill Duffy's eyes widened.

This old man is too active.

Everyone knows what he wants to do.

But Li Lei has just won the championship for the Heat. Isn't it inappropriate for the old man to come to poach people at this time?

"Hello, Jerry."

Li Lei still maintained the respect he should have for his seniors.

West smiled: "I know it's inappropriate to say this now."

Yo, so you know!

"However, in order to express my sincerity, I am still willing to offend you at this time."

"Stone, come to Memphis!"

"You're going to be the undisputed centerpiece of Memphis, where you're going to be one of the greatest players of all time."

Li Lei didn't know what to say for a while.

This old man actually valued himself so much.

"But, all I can say is sorry. Jerry, I just promised Pat Riley that I would stay in Miami."

Li Lei politely refused.

Speaking of this, West should retreat in spite of the difficulties.

But the old man on the opposite side smiled: "Sure enough, as I expected, Pat is a shrewd guy."

Now, Li Lei was a little confused.

You already guessed what Pat Riley was doing, why try?
The old man said on the opposite side: "Stone, if you stay in Miami in the end, just pretend that I didn't make this call. But if some accidents happen and the Heat don't sign with you, I hope you can consider Memphis. The gate of the Grizzlies You are always welcome!"

Speaking of this, Li Lei was also a little moved.

This old man really values ​​himself, inside and out!

He clearly refused, and he begged himself regardless of his age.

"Jerry, I promise you. If the Heat don't sign me, I will give priority to Memphis."

Li Lei replied sincerely.

(End of this chapter)