NBA's No. 1 guard

Chapter 15 Negotiations and Jersey Numbers

Hearing the doorbell, Xu Xiang and Mike looked at each other, and Mike got up and opened the door.

"Hey, Mike, how are you doing today?" As soon as the door opened, it was an old friend, the general manager of the Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, with a person who was similar to an analyst. It seemed that the Pacers were well prepared.

It is necessary to be polite when we meet, so Xu Xiang stood up and hugged Kevin, "Hi, Kevin, thank you for choosing me".

"You don't have to thank me, buddy, then you deserve it. How about it, doesn't it feel good?" Kevin Pritchard said to Xu Xiang with a smile. "It's good, it's good, but I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack again." Xu Xiang said with a wry smile, pretending to hold his chest.

After the two parties sat down, Kevin first said, "Mike, this is the contract we drew up for Xu at the end of today's draft. You can take a look." While talking, he also took the contract from the analyst next to him and handed it to Mike.

Mike took over the contract and began to look through it. The contract reads, "Signed for 4 years, a total of 1200 million US dollars, and the team has a team option in the fourth year."

It stands to reason that this contract is really good, with 300 million US dollars per year, it can be regarded as a big contract at present.The Pacers obviously didn't do anything about salary, they showed a lot of sincerity.If it wasn't for Xu Xiang's words, Mike would have signed this contract immediately. To be honest, an annual salary of more than 300 million US dollars is considered a middle level in the NBA. Except for those leading stars, it is rare to get a contract of more than [-] million. The Pacers obviously value Xu Xiang, so they will give such a contract. This price has exceeded Mike's heart price.

However, Xu Xiang is the boss, so he can only listen to Xu Xiang.After taking a look at the contract, Mike said to Kevin, "Kevin, we have all seen your sincerity. We all know the basics, and we don't need to go around in circles. I only have one request, and that is that the contract is too long. We can only sign a two-year contract at most."

Hearing this, Kevin Pritchard's face sank, as if time had stopped at this moment. He never expected that the other party would have other demands after such a large contract, which was obviously not within Kevin Pritchard's expectations.After a moment of silence, he said, "Mike, you can see our sincerity, but two years is too short. To be honest, for a rookie who has just entered the NBA, two years is equivalent to just getting used to the atmosphere of the NBA game. It is impossible for us to agree to such a request."

Xu Xiang thought about it for a while, and he was right. In most cases, many rookies are just off the bench in their first year, except for the top picks, because they are the cornerstone of the team.But as far as most rookies are concerned, this contract is a very good contract.

But Xu Xiangzhi is not here. Making money is not the main purpose now. The main purpose is to better integrate into the NBA and better improve his skills.

Xu Xiang thought about it carefully in his heart. Indeed, as far as the Pacers are concerned, they have given enough, so what should we do?Xu Xiang slowly considered, forget it, let's take a step back, after all, he has already given enough sincerity, Xu Xiang can't hold on tightly, and should give appropriate pressure, but he can't leave room for relaxation.

After pondering for a long time, Xu Xiang rubbed his cheeks and said, "Kevin, it's impossible for me to sign a four-year contract. How about this? We can sign a three-year contract and give me player options in the third year. The salary can also be reduced as appropriate. What do you think?"

Kevin still frowned and said, "Xu, why are you unwilling to sign a long-term contract? I think you are very suitable to sign a long-term contract now. If there is a salary problem, can we discuss it?"

"Kevin, you're thinking too much. It's not about the salary. It's my personal reasons. I think it's in my best interest to sign for three years, so I'm really sorry. The maximum signing is three years, and the third year has player options." Xu Xiang said decisively.The tone was very firm, and there was no room for a refute.

After hearing Xu Xiang's words, Kevin Pritchard thought for a long time in silence, and then reopened a room with the analyst. The two discussed in it for about an hour before coming out.

After a long time, Kevin Pritchard came over with the analyst rubbing his eyes, and said to Xu Xiang with a wry smile: "You won, Xu, three years, maybe three years, but we have to re-quote the salary."

Xu Xiang and Mike looked at each other, and they could see each other's joy. As soon as this sentence came out, it meant that Xu Xiang was already in the NBA.

Sitting down again, this time both sides greeted each other with smiles, talking about some anecdotes, getting along very well.

The two parties agreed that four days later, that is, on July 4, 2014, a press conference will be held in Indianapolis and a signing ceremony will be held at the same time.Xu Xiang readily answered.

Finally, Kevin Pritchard asked Xu Xiang which number he likes. Xu Xiang doesn't know these jersey numbers very well. He used No. 9 when he was in the CBA. Now in the NBA, Xu Xiang hasn't considered this question yet.Because the history of the NBA is too long, there are many jerseys that have been labeled with stars, for example: No. 8, No. 24, and No. 23. When talking about these numbers, people will naturally recall these people. Moreover, many jersey numbers have been used, and this should also be taken into consideration.

After thinking for a while, Xu Xiangcai said, "Then number 66, I like this number very much." Number 66 sounds very auspicious.

Kevin Pritchard smiled and said, that's it, the No. 66 jersey is yours.

After dinner, Xu Xiang and Mike walked back to the hotel. Kevin and his analyst had already gone back. After all, as the general manager of a team, it is obviously impossible to be very leisurely. Xu Xiang said to Mike who was next to him while walking: "This time is not bad. Although it did not meet our expectations, we still managed to get another year."

Mike sighed and said, "Actually, their bargaining chips are pretty good. Hey, what a pity." He didn't know whether it was a pity for the money or something.

Xu Xiang pondered for a moment, before he reached the point of his mouth, the salary will increase year by year in the future, and all those who sign long-term contracts will regret it.Forget it, it’s useless to talk too much, as long as you know it in your heart.

Mike continued next to him, "When are you going back to China?"

Xu Xiang thought for a while and said, "It depends on the situation, but I shouldn't go back for the time being, after all, there are too many things to be busy during this time."

"Then I can start looking for a house. If I look now, I will definitely not find what I want. What do you think?" Mike thought for a while.

"Okay, I'll go there with you in a few days, you can search online first, hey, by the way, it's best to find one close to the arena, not too far away." Xu Xiang thought for a while and said.

"Oh, by the way, I'm already looking for a professional trainer and nutritionist for you. Don't eat those junk foods in the future, and there will be special nutritious meals at that time."

When Mike said this, his tone was very firm, as if Xu Xiang would put down the stall immediately if he disagreed.

Xu Xiang smiled wryly at the corner of his mouth, okay, I already knew that the meals of these macho men in the NBA are very strange, I never thought that such a day would happen to me, poor thing, I won’t be able to eat my "Mandarin Duck Playing Water Pot" in the future, but there is no way, Xu Xiang also knows the benefits of eating nutritious meals, so despite his reluctance, he nodded and agreed.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, "Isn't the four days counted?" He asked.At this time, Xu Xiang looked at Mike with twinkling eyes.

The corner of Mike's mouth twitched, and he sighed secretly. He thought to forget it, and then said: "Forget it for a few days, and start implementing it after the nutritionist is in place, OK?"

　Thank you Shitou for being an old iron, thank you for reading, thank you, new week, let us rush!
　　Brothers, there is one thing I need everyone to help with, that is, the update time. Now one chapter is updated from 9 am to 10 am, and one chapter is updated from 3 pm to 4 pm. If you have any other opinions, you can tell me in the book review area, and I will listen to your opinions.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)