Legend of Tomorrow

O'Neal won three Finals and three consecutive FMVPs, announcing that the league has entered the Shark era.

In NBA history, only three teams have completed three consecutive championships, namely the Celtics, Bulls, and Lakers. The Lakers are the first team to establish a dynasty in the 21st century, and this is a great start.

Players have won three consecutive FMVPs. In NBA history, only O'Neal and Jordan have won this award. This award was only established in 1969, so Lord of the Rings Russell has never done it.

In addition, during the Celtics' eight consecutive championships, the value of honor was not high. There were only eight teams in the league, and there were no rules such as the three-point line, three-second violation, and limit on attack time. There was not much comparison.

The most excited person after winning the championship was not O'Neal who was soft on the trophy, but the veteran Mickey Richmond who was about to retire.

Richmond finished his final season with injuries to his left knee, right calf, and right rib. In the last two minutes of the final game of the Finals, when the situation was decided, Phil Jackson let the 36-year-old Richmond play to finish the garbage time. With his declining skills, he scored 2 points with his signature jump shot. The buzzer sounded a few seconds later. , the Lakers won the championship.

During the award ceremony, O'Neal walked up to Richmond with the trophy and handed it to him. Richmond hugged the trophy tightly, tears streaming down his face. He thought the ending was so perfect.

Guo Xu was also filled with emotions. His Lakers career was about to come to an end. When he first entered the league, he broke a lot of records with the team and won two championships. However, he felt that this ending was not perfect enough.

Because his starting point is too high, there will be a psychological gap no matter where he goes. It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

Los Angeles is the best city in the NBA, and the Lakers are also the most popular team in the world. They have always been very attractive to stars. How could Guo Xu not think about staying here forever, one person, one city for life?

And in the NBA, in addition to the historical status of a certain emperor who changes teams, other players' changes of teams will affect their historical status. Even if they don't change teams frequently, not going to the TV station to decide the first, second, and third will have a big impact. .

Unfortunately, Guo Xu joined the Lakers too late. This was not his team and he had no choice.

The Big Three of the Lakers were all the protagonists at the press conference. In addition to asking them their thoughts, reporters also asked about Guo Xu's fate.

As early as the middle of the season, major media have determined that Guo Xu will definitely leave the team after the end of this season.

The Lakers' total salary exceeds the salary cap. According to the provisions of the NBA collective bargaining agreement,

They can only offer Guo Xu a contract with a maximum starting salary of the full middle-class terms for that year. Obviously, a full mid-level player alone will definitely not be able to match the offers given to Guo Xu by other teams.

This rule allows some outstanding second-round picks to be unrestricted at all, and the NBA's idea of ​​protecting the rights of the rookie's home team has also lost its effect. The league has met early this season to determine the Guo Clause. However, the loopholes in the labor agreement cannot be filled for the time being, and these new clauses must be added until the old labor agreement expires in 2005.

The rule of the Guo Clause in the future is that invitation contracts from other teams must not exceed the full mid-level salary in the first year, and a 4.5% increase is allowed in the second year. In the third year, it can reach the maximum salary that the player can sign. , and in the fourth year and thereafter, a 4.1% increase will be based on the third year's salary. There is an additional clause here: If the increase in the third year exceeds the annual increase of 4.5%, the salary space of the team providing the offer must be greater than the average annual salary of this contract.

In fact, this is the Arenas Clause in Guo Xu's previous life, which can not only allow players to obtain big contracts, but also protect the interests of the parent team, in order to allow restricted free agents without Bird Rights to be truly protected. limit. This only applies to second-round picks who have signed a one- or two-year rookie contract.

After 2005, inspirational second-round picks will be unlucky and make a lot less money after signing contracts. Guo Xu is not restricted now. Instead, he signed a big contract and received a high salary two years earlier than the high-ranking rookies in the same grade. This is very cool.

Guo Xu gave an affirmative answer: Yes, I am leaving the Lakers. I am very sorry, but this is a fact. I will pay attention to the news every day, understand the situation of the Lakers, and understand the NBA labor agreement. This is a rule. Loopholes, unless I am willing to accept a mid-level contract, I cannot keep them.”

No one interrupted the speech, and they quietly waited for Guo Xu's next words.

Guo Xu smiled bitterly and said: I spent two wonderful seasons in Los Angeles. Here, my brothers and I achieved great success. I want to say sorry to all the Los Angeles fans who supported me. In addition, everyone Don't blame the management, there's nothing they can do about things like the salary cap.

Some literary and youth fans who watched the press conference on live TV cried. The three most powerful giants in history were dismantled due to loopholes in the labor agreement. What a pity.

Last summer, after giving up Grant, the Lakers signed all players with minimum salaries, and the total salary still reached US$54 million. If the Lakers want to drop below the salary cap, just trading Kobe is not enough, and they have to send away another mid-level player. This is of course impossible. The cost is too high, and other teams will not step forward to assist the Lakers.

It's too late to trade Kobe this summer, and other team managers are not stupid and can just raise the price. Except for the Bulls manager, if it were a year earlier, the Lakers could at least get Brand back, and maybe even get Artest.

The reporter asked: Where will your next stop be?

I haven't thought about this problem yet. What is certain is that I will go to the East because Kobe and Shacklebolt said that if I dare to join the strong team in the West and turn against them, they will beat me up next time we meet. I'm afraid ”

Everyone at the scene laughed. Although it was a joke, the relationship between the three of them was obviously very good.

David Stern was paying attention to the press conference and felt happy when he heard what Guo Xu said. This is the best choice. There are almost no stars left in the Eastern Conference. If no big names are willing to go to the Eastern Conference, there will be no finals every year. Suspense, where did the ratings come from?

O'Neal said in an interview: Today the Lakers established a dynasty. I am very happy and a little sad. Because I know this is the last game that Jason and I will play together in the Lakers. This is really an unreasonable contract extension rule. , If the three of us stay together, I think we can win at least 5 championships, and maybe we can also challenge the Celtics for eight consecutive championships.

Kobe lamented: This is really a pity. Jason is an excellent teammate on the court and a good friend off the court. I really hope he can stay. Because the Big Three are determined to disband. During the second round break, we We went to record a song together, an original song by Jason, which will be released during the championship parade.

The reporter asked: Did you sing it with Jason and Shakur?

Yes, I believe this song will definitely touch everyone. It represents our friendship. Even if we become opponents on the court in the future, I will never forget the days when we fought side by side and created great records together. We are The strongest combination in history. Kobe said at the end, his eyes were a little red.

Many Lakers fans were crying in front of the TV. Everyone was curious, what style of song would the three of them sing?