NBA: I am the card dealer

Chapter 276 The storm is coming!

Brooklyn.

Barclays Center Arena.

At this time, countless media and fans gathered. Sitting in the front row were the young talents participating in the draft and their families.

Popular draft picks such as Towns, Russell, Okafor, Mudiay, Booker, etc. all came to the scene.

The draft hasn't started yet, but there is already a tense atmosphere in the venue.

Backstage at the venue.

Riley was sitting expressionlessly in the box. In addition to Randy Fender, there was another person next to him, and that was Lakers general manager Kupchak.

Kupchak: "Mr. Riley, our sincerity is definitely the highest. Randle + the second pick + Clarkson + three first-round picks have given almost the entire future to Miami. You can either choose Russell We can guarantee our strength, and we can also use three first-round picks to guarantee our future. If you are not satisfied with this plan, then there is really nothing we can do."

Riley said nothing, his eyes narrowed to slits.

This chip is truly mouth-watering.

Randall was reimbursed last season, but he was the fifth pick in the first round of 14. He has excellent athletic ability, strong singles ability, and can be both inside and outside. In this era of three-pointers, he is a rare insider.

Clarkson was also a rookie last season. Although he was in the second round, he showed great potential in his first season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. With a little training, he will definitely become an important rotation for the team in the future. , and maybe even touch the All-Stars.

Then there is this year's second pick. According to the current draft market, Towns is basically locked in the No. 1 pick, so they can definitely use this second pick to get Russell, a combo guard with great potential. This will be a good match for Xue Liancheng. Leaving is a good addition.

In addition, there are three first-round picks.

6 for 1!

The Lakers have taken out their own wealth, and their sincerity cannot be called dissatisfaction.

But Riley remained unmoved.

reason?

Xue Liancheng is a top star who has proven himself!

Regular season MVP, Finals MVP, member of the first team, leading the team to win the championship, All-Star vote leader, absolute superstar.

The Lakers' chips do seem to be full of potential, but who knows whether they can realize them.

If no one can make the All-Star team, then it's like trading whole for zero.

To put it another way, even if some of these people can reach the All-Star level, they are still far away from Xue Liancheng's level.

and so.

This is obviously not a good deal.

unless……

Xue Liancheng is determined to leave, so he may have to think carefully.

After all, Xue Liancheng's one-year usage rights, in exchange for such a pile of chips with unlimited potential, seems... not a big loss.

The current situation is that Xue Liancheng's agent is demanding that they trade Xue Liancheng. Although their attitude is very firm, how can they give up without seeing Xue Liancheng nod?

As long as there is a chance to retain him, they will not be able to trade Xue Liancheng.

What's more...

He didn't think it was that serious.

He only thought that Xue Liancheng was getting angry over the issue of contract amount during the season. As long as he said it in a nice manner, then all the problems would no longer be a problem.

Taking a step back, even if Xue Liancheng wants to leave now, it does not mean that Xue Liancheng will not stay in the future.

From the end of June now to the end of June next year, which is a full year, he is confident that Xue Liancheng can change his mind.

Randy Fender immediately understood what Riley meant, "I'm so sorry. I think you may have misunderstood something. Our relationship with Xue is good and not as bad as the outside world reports. Let me make it clear again, Xue Liancheng He is not for sale to our team and we have no intention of trading him."

Kupchak smiled: "Hehe..."

Randy Fender looked puzzled, "What are you laughing at?"

Kupchak, "I would like to ask, where is Xue Liancheng now?"

Randy Fender was stunned for a moment, thinking that Kupchak wanted to talk to Xue Liancheng in person, so he subconsciously blurted out, "He is training in depth in Miami. He will surprise everyone again next season."

Upon hearing this, Kupchak laughed even more wildly, "Haha...Randy, you are so funny."

Randy Fender was confused for a moment, "What do you mean?"

Kupchak, "I had dinner with Xue Liancheng yesterday. What do you mean?"

Randy Fender's eyelids twitched wildly, his anger showed, and he gritted his teeth and asked fiercely, "He went to find you?"

He understood instantly. Kupchak swaggered in, looking like he was determined to win Xue Liancheng.

original……

The two have long been colluding and working together.

And Riley finally spoke, "It turns out he is training with Kobe."

Kupchak looked surprised, "Don't you know?"

The surprised expression looked fake, but on the contrary, it was extremely sarcastic.

Riley was obviously much calmer. "He only said that he went to Los Angeles, and we didn't ask any questions. After all, it wouldn't be good to disturb his training."

Kupchak said with a smile: "Well...that's it."

Riley: "But here, I want to state once that we will never trade Xue Liancheng."

Kupchak: "Well, forget it. It will be the same if I directly sign Xue Liancheng next year."

Done.

Get up.

He went out directly, looking confident and fearless.

The faces of the two people in the box turned green.

In fact, Kupchak did not eat with Xue Liancheng at all, nor even met in person.

The reason why he knew Xue Liancheng was training in Los Angeles was because Kobe accidentally revealed it.

What is unintentional?

He said this accidentally during a chat, Kobe's exact words: I'm training with a super star, so I don't have time.

Kupchak immediately reacted and knew that the super star Kobe was talking about was Xue Liancheng.

He was eager to meet Xue Liancheng.

But Kobe refused, and at the same time solemnly stated that he would not reveal who this super new star was, because the two of them had an agreement that they were training in secret and could not reveal their whereabouts.

Kupchak was not stupid, so he did not continue to ask.

but.

He had already planned it.

When he came to the Brooklyn draft, he directly took advantage of the information gap and raised this banner to create an illusion for Riley and Randy Fender: he and Xue Liancheng had reached an agreement.

And the effect is very obvious.

Randy Fender believed it. After Kupchak left, he started cursing, "Asshole, you are already colluding with the Lakers. You don't take us seriously at all!"

Riley waved his hand to calm down.

How could Randy Fender remain calm? He gritted his teeth and said, "Sir, he's already like this. Is there any need to continue to protect him?"

Riley: "We can't believe just because of what Kupchak says. Don't you have Kobe's contact information? Call him and everything will be clear, right?"

Randy Finder suddenly woke up.

He quickly took out his cell phone, found Kobe's phone number, and dialed it.

soon.

Kobe's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Hey! Mr. Fender, why do you want to call me?"

Randy Fender's adjustment ability is very good, he smiled and said: "I miss you, old man."

Kobe: "Thank you for thinking about me. Isn't it the draft today? You don't want to get me to Miami, do you?"

Randy Fender, "How can we invite such a great person like you!"

After a pause, he got straight to the point, "By the way, how has Xue been training recently?"

Although the topic turned to Xue Liancheng, he did not reveal his anxiety.

Kobe was stunned for a moment, "Yeah... pretty good."

Randy Fender: "His phone has been turned off. Today is the draft. We have several rookies we are interested in. We want to ask his opinion. Is he around?"

Kobe: "Wait a minute."

Not long after.

Xue Liancheng's voice came, "I am Xue Liancheng."

Randy Fender took the lead and asked directly, "Xue, what do you mean? Are you disappearing?"

Xue Liancheng said calmly, "Didn't my agent tell you that I was training?"

Randy Fender suppressed the anger in his heart and was the first to show weakness: "Then you have to keep in touch with the team. Today's draft will see a few newcomers we choose. It depends on what you want."

Xue Liancheng said: "Don't look at what I mean, this is the job of your management."

At this moment.

Riley suddenly motioned for the phone.

Randy Fender said nothing more and gave Riley the phone.

Riley asked calmly, "Xue, you should know the news on the Internet, right?"

Xue Liancheng answered truthfully: "I know."

Riley: "I think we should sit down and talk."

Xue Liancheng smiled: "You can talk to Zhuang Yan about anything. What she means is what I mean."

As soon as these words came out.

The air suddenly cooled.

Both sides could only hear each other's breathing.

I don't know how long it took.

<divclass="contentadv"> Riley spoke again, "I want to know, what is the problem?"

Xue Liancheng: "I don't feel the respect from Miami, and I don't want to be treated like Dwayne by the team."

Showdown.

He is determined.

of course.

If he had said this at the beginning, Riley would definitely be furious, but after Zhuang Yan had prepared the situation for so long, he believed that Riley would be able to calm down.

After all, with the foreshadowing, this was already expected to be the worst outcome.

really.

Riley did not get angry, but said sincerely, "Xue, ask yourself, has the team ever treated you badly? In the first season you came to the team, we put you in the starting lineup and established you as the core of the team. , for this reason, we did not hesitate to trade Luol Deng and Bosh, trade for the players you want, and in the end even Dwyane gave up his position as the star. Our dedication to you can be seen before your eyes. If you go to another team Team, I’m afraid your career has just begun.”

The implication is that I hope Xue Liancheng is grateful, and I hope Xue Liancheng understands that he is where he is today thanks to the team's careful cultivation.

Otherwise, you are nothing...

Xue Liancheng naturally understood: "I thank the team for cultivating me and thank you for your trust in me, but I have not let you down. I brought a championship to Miami."

The team paid.

This is true.

But he also gave back, bringing a championship to Miami.

Maybe it's a bit inhumane to say it's even.

But this is the fact.

The team trusts him and cultivates him.

And he didn't let the team down.

Go in both directions, give in both directions, and gain in both directions.

Now Riley took these out and said, it was clear that he was trying to repay a favor.

Perhaps Riley also used this rhetoric to PUA Wade?

But that's actually not the point of his departure.

The point is that he really didn't feel the team's sincerity.

From the early contract renewal negotiations in the middle of the season to the team's attitude towards him after winning the championship, he did not feel any respect at all.

If Riley and others had had this awareness, they would not have humiliated him with a five-year, 5 million contract and treated him like a fish in water. They would not have ignored him after winning the championship, let alone this time. , still thinking about PUA him.

He had always heard reports that Riley was cold and heartless, but he couldn't relate to it.

Now, he felt it.

Riley was slightly excited: "Since we have the possibility of winning the championship, why do you want to leave?"

Xue Liancheng: "I just said, I don't feel respected."

Riley: "What kind of respect do you want, you say..."

Xue Liancheng suddenly laughed: "Ha..."

Riley was stunned for a moment, then he reacted, but he didn't give up, "Okay, now you can tell me what I have to do so that you are willing to stay in Miami."

Xue Liancheng: "Are you leaving?"

As soon as these words came out.

Riley was silent on the spot.

Randy Fender shouted from the side, "Xue Liancheng, are you crazy?"

This time Xue Liancheng didn't say anything. He said everything that needed to be said.

As for what Riley thinks about it, that's Riley's business.

for a long time.

Riley finally came to his senses, "It seems you have decided to leave!"

Xue Liancheng didn't reply, he was cursing in his heart. Isn't this obvious?

There is you without me, there is me without you.

This was his declaration that he had decided to leave.

But Riley obviously didn't give up, "But this is just your current thinking. After the new season starts, or in the middle of the season, you may have different thoughts. Xue, let's calm down and see what happens, okay?" ?”

Xue Liancheng: "I'm afraid that by that time, I won't be worth so much money. Please be careful, sir!"

Riley was stunned for a moment, his facial muscles twitched crazily, and he didn't reply for a long time.

Now the whole world knows that Xue Liancheng will not renew his contract with the Miami Heat when his contract expires next season. In other words, the Heat only have the right to use Xue Liancheng for one year.

In the middle of the season, who is so stupid that they would empty out half the team and trade Xue Liancheng?

It is impossible for a championship team to do this. After all, they have to trade Xue Liancheng, dismantle most of the team, and swallow a lot of junk contracts. So how much can they do this season?

Moreover, they only get the right to use Xue Liancheng for half a season. If the contract cannot be renewed, it will be a real disaster and the whole team will stink.

It is unlikely that a playoff team will do this. After all, they have to replace their star players. In this case, it is better to retain the lineup and wait for the end of the season.

of course.

There are also brave warriors like the Toronto Raptors.

But the problem is that the Raptors only dared to take a chance on Leonard after losing many times in the playoffs.

now?

I guess the Raptors don't have the guts either.

As for the teams that have not entered the playoffs, they will definitely try their best to lower the price, especially the big city teams. They rely on their broad market appeal and are more willing to sign Xue Liancheng directly after the expiration of Xue Liancheng's contract without any cost. .

And those teams that are willing to take a gamble will try their best to lower the price.

After all, you only have the right to use it for half a season. It would be a fool to use all your wealth to stud...

and so……

Xue Liancheng's words are still very reasonable.

a long time.

Riley regained his composure and said firmly, "I will show you my sincerity."

Xue Liancheng: "Okay, I'm going to start training, that's it."

Riley: "OK, you train hard. I look forward to you leading the team to fly high again next season."

Done.

hang up the phone.

Randy Fender was already cursing impatiently, "This kid is really ignorant."

Riley was silent.

He didn't say a word, he just stared straight ahead, losing his mind for a moment.

Randy Fender was still chattering: "Since this kid wants to be tough, let's give him some color and let him know that without us supporting him, he will be useless."

Riley was still silent, as if his soul had been taken away.

Randy Fender: "Sir, please say something!"

Riley then slowly raised his head and said, "Go and sort out the summary of offers from other teams. I want to review them immediately."

Randy Fender's eyes almost fell out of his head, "No... Sir, do you really want to send him away?"

MVP, FMVP, first team, All-Star vote leader, top star with 23+10+5! And it’s still the first season…

Do you really want to trade?

Doesn't this shock him?

Didn't you say you want to try mending your relationship? Why are you thinking of sending this super star away right now...

He was really in disbelief.

Riley shook his head bitterly, "Who wants to send him away, but the problem is, if we want to keep him, we have to leave. Do you want to leave?"

He heard Xue Liancheng's determination.

That's the point.

Since Xue Liancheng must leave, it is better to maximize the benefits.

Randy Fender was speechless on the spot.

Are you kidding me?

The price for keeping Xue Liancheng would be that he would immediately lose his job.

So, it’s okay not to keep such a player.

Riley turned back and glared: "What are you still doing? Go!"

Randy Fender was about to turn around when he suddenly thought of a question, "How should the boss explain it? After all... winning the championship last season has proved that this lineup is feasible. If he keeps him, maybe next season..."

Riley shook his head, "I will tell the boss. As for the question of whether he can win the championship next season by keeping him... Haha! His heart is not here anymore, and it is difficult to make a difference. Not to mention Wade's knee problem and the ball. The team's salary problem no longer allows us to retain the entire lineup, and it will be difficult to break through next season."

Another thing he didn't say was that if Xue Liancheng was forced to stay for one year and win the championship next season, it would not necessarily be a good thing, and they would definitely have to get out.

Between a superstar and two managers, the boss will 100% choose the former.

and so……

This was the main reason why he had the idea of ​​​​trading.

A dead Taoist friend will never die a poor Taoist. This principle applies everywhere.

Randy Fender said angrily: "But sending him away now wouldn't be fulfilling his wish and giving him an advantage."

Riley glanced at Randy Fender coldly: "As the leader of the team, don't be so selfish. What we need to consider is maximizing interests, building a good team, and giving the team a bright future. .”

Randy Fender shut up and walked out angrily.

The box fell completely silent.

But the depressing feeling of an approaching storm was particularly clear.