basketball boulder

Chapter 291 Farewell
Pat Riley was blown away when he saw the new rules.

In the 2004-2005 season, after the trade to O'Neal, the Heat paid the luxury tax.

Including this season, exactly three years.

There is no doubt that the Heat have to pay the super luxury tax.

Originally, Li Lei calculated that according to the old rules, the luxury tax of the Heat was more than 2000 million U.S. dollars.

But according to the new rules, the Heat will have to pay more than $1 million in luxury taxes.

This……

$2000 million, Mitch doesn't take it seriously.But $1 million...

Pat Riley quickly contacted the owner.

Mitch Arison was furious: "Pat, don't worry, I will contact Mark (Cuban) and James (Dolan), and they will definitely not agree to this new rule."

"As long as our big bosses unanimously oppose it, what is Stern?"

Alisson is confident.

However, Cuban told Arison: "Mitch, I respect David's decision. You know, I've spent too much money over the years, it's time to take a break."

Dolan said: "What's wrong with being rich? If you have money, you can do anything wrong? Since we play basketball games, we must abide by the rules of the basketball world. Here, money is not everything!"

Mitch Arison: "..."

I am Nima!
James Dolan, you mega-capitalist, tell me money isn't everything?
Arison was so angry that he was about to have a heart attack.

So, he contacted several other bosses in the league, such as the old Bass of the Lakers, Paul Allen of the Trail Blazers, Daniel Gilbert of the Cavaliers, Donald Sterling of the Clippers...

These few people are either extremely rich or have special status in the NBA.

but……

Bass Sr. told Alisson: "David is a very good manager and I support his work."

Gilbert: "I think it is necessary to maintain the balance of the alliance and the introduction of the super luxury tax."

Sterling: "I don't like Stern, but he helped me make money, and I still support him."

Paul: "What's wrong with your money? If you have money, you can do anything wrong? Do you have as much money as me?"

Alisson: "..."

He was pissed.

But calm down, he has seen through everything.

The Heat are now the NBA's public enemy.

These old guys are ganging up on him.

Arison told Pat Riley about it.

Riley asked worriedly: "Then are you still willing to sign Stone?"

Alisson thought for a while: "If it is 2000 million US dollars, I will definitely agree to you. But 11000 million US dollars, I don't think Stone is worth it."

"Pat, in fact Dwyane is also good. Together with Shaq, we can also complete the dynasty."

Pat Riley was disappointed, but he stood up and said, "Boss, I have another way."

Alisson smiled: "You mean to trade other people and clear the salary space? Do you think there will be teams trading with us at this time?"

The owners of these teams joined forces to build the Heat, in order to force the Heat to let Li Lei go.

The boss has done this, and the general manager under them will definitely cooperate. How can it be possible to help the Heat clear the salary space.

But Riley did not give up. He first found the Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas.

As a result, Thomas told Riley righteously: "Pat, the trading market has not yet opened. Talking about trading now is against league regulations."

Pat Riley snorted coldly: "You think I don't know, you have secretly contacted Stone a long time ago, do you think this is not against the rules? Besides, you Isaiah, when did you take the rules seriously?"

Thomas laughed dryly: "Okay, Pat, I'm telling the truth, Dolan told me that there is absolutely no way to make a deal with the Heat, and I can't help it."

Pat Riley had no choice but to hang up the phone.

But then, Danny Ainge, Nelson Jr., and Kupchak all expressed the same meaning.

Four calls in a row were rejected, and Pat Riley didn't make a fifth call.

Alisson patted Riley on the shoulder: "Okay, that's it. Mourning has retired, O'Neal is aging, and we need to strengthen the fifth position. Stone can help us switch to a suitable big man and a lot of first-round picks. "

Pat Riley nodded appreciatively.

……

In the outside world, fans are still discussing the new rules.

In addition to the super luxury tax rules, the league has also changed its playoff qualifying rules.

In view of the problem that the Spurs and Mavericks, two teams with 60+ wins, met in the Western Conference semifinals last season, the league canceled the rules of small divisions and seeded teams and returned to the old rules.

The top eight teams in the regular season are ranked purely by record.

Overall, fans are happy with both rules.

One keeps the balance of NBA teams.

Another thing that prevented the Spurs and Mavericks from meeting in advance happened again.

"It's rare for the top executives of the alliance to do personnel affairs!"

"I don't like the upper echelons of the league, but they did a good job this time."

"The rules should be reasonable like this. The NBA can develop well and steadily."

……

However, on the second day after the rules were promulgated, one thing shocked all fans.

The Heat posted a farewell letter on their official website.

"Dear Li Lei, one of the bravest fighters in the history of the Heat."

"Miami will always remember what you did!"

"May you have a better future!"

Just three sentences, but told all the fans one thing.

The Heat voluntarily gave up Li Lei.

Miami fans immediately went crazy.

Fans all over the world went crazy.

The Heat abandoned their hero, a rising star who was just in his third year and had infinite possibilities in the future.

"Is Pat Riley insane?"

"The team's website must have been hacked. I don't believe the Heat would do something like that."

"Pat Riley, give us an explanation."

……

Fans didn't wait for an explanation from the Heat.

They waited for Li Lei's reply.

Li Lei posted a status on his personal social media: "Farewell, Miami! These are the best three years of my life!"

Now, the fans are completely crazy.

It is an anecdote that the Heat took the initiative to abandon Li Lei.

In the end, Li Lei agreed.

This is this...

It is really puzzling!

The Heat are obviously a super battleship, and the dynasty is right in front of them, and there is no opponent who can stop them.

However, the Heat and Li Lei broke up by themselves.

In an instant, Li Lei's state continued to appear replies, increasing at a rate of hundreds per second.

"Stone, what happened?"

"Did the Heat abandon you, or did you leave on your own initiative?"

"You ungrateful villain, the Heat trained you, and you just left."

"Are you a fool? Just one more year of playing and you can complete your dynasty."

……

(End of this chapter)