69novels Chapter 208
Chapter 208
The deal went very quickly, and the details of the deal were discussed in just one week, namely, using Kobe Bryant + a junk contract to exchange Jason Kidd + Shawn Marion, the ninth pick in 1999. But when the news spread throughout the NBA world, Buss chose to stop the deal. Buss said to Phil Jackson very seriously: "The purpose of my letting you come here is to fully tap Kobe's potential. He still has at least 15 years in our Lakers." So, Phil Jackson wanted to emulate Auerbach, and Pat Riley's dream of being the godfather was shattered at the beginning. Of course, below the Lakers, the Boston Celtics led by Auerbach were also criticized and became a hot topic. The reason came from an article by Stephen A. Smith:
"When will the Celtics stop sucking Han Yi's blood?"
The origin of this article is a trade operation of the Boston Celtics this summer!
This summer, when other championship teams were recruiting, only the defending champion Boston Celtics were as calm as an old monk in meditation.
In the first week of the trading market, the Boston Celtics chose to stay put, allowing the trading market to surge, and they did not make any moves.
In the second week of the trading market, the Celtics opened the first deal:
Signed a six-year, $40 million contract extension with Ben Wallace, whose contract expired this summer and averaged 4.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season, which will take effect in the 1999-2000 season and expire in the 2005-2006 season.
Stephen Jackson, whose contract expires this summer and averaged 8.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season, signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension, effective in the 1999-2000 season and expiring in 2003-2004.
A six-year, $70 million contract extension was reached with Tracy McGrady, who has one year left on his rookie contract and averaged 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season. Effective in the 2000-2001 season and expiring in the 2006-2007 season.
Ron Artest, who was selected 24th in the first round this year, signed a four-year, $7 million rookie contract.
Shooting guard Eddie Lucas, who was selected 58th in the second round this year, signed a two-year, $800,000, non-fully guaranteed rookie contract.
Next, the team took the initiative to give up the last year of Han Yi's rookie contract and wanted to reach a huge 6-year 160 million contract with him. This contract will take effect from the next season, that is, the 1999-2000 season, and expire in the 2004-2005 season.
This contract obviously makes the 6-year 127 million contract that the Minnesota Timberwolves just signed with Kevin Garnett last year look pale in comparison.
But no one has any objections, because compared with Kevin Garnett, who signed this contract with nothing and whose greatest honor was just an All-Star starter, Han Yi's honors are really too hard!
Just entered the NBA for two years, Han Yi's honors have accumulated enough to enter the Hall of Fame without sending a fruit basket!
Best lineup +2! Best defensive second team +1! Best defensive first team +1! Scoring champion +1! Block champion +2! Regular season MVP + Finals MVP, and also won another O'Brien Cup for the Celtics!
No team would question whether Han Yi deserves such a huge contract, but they just lamented that they didn't have the chance to give Han Yi such a big contract!
Although the second contract signed by superstars with their parent teams now starts at 6 years, Han Yi is not willing to do so. It is certainly happy to let us have a one-year rookie contract, but signing a contract for six years at a time is really too long!
Now the salary cap has been rising year by year. In 1999, Patrick Ewing's 18.5 million was already the highest salary in the entire NBA!
But four years later, the salary of 18 million can't even enter the top five in the league!
The six-year big contract is indeed tempting, but it is only tempting for those superstars who are worried about their physical health. For people like Han Yi who are steadily moving forward one step at a time, the six-year contract is too long!
In the end, 4 years and 100 million, the starting salary is 20 million. Han Yi's new contract directly surpassed Patrick Ewing, and Kevin Garnett became the highest salary of the upcoming 1999-2000 season.
salary!
Then what?
The Celtics sent Walter McCarty, who averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, to the New York Knicks in exchange for a 2000 first-round pick.
The Celtics renewed a 4-year, $5 million contract with Otella Harrington, who averaged 4.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, which was slightly above the minimum salary.
The Celtics sent Tyrese Knight, who averaged 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a 2000 second-round pick and Tyronn Lue.
Then, there was nothing else. At this time when everyone was recruiting, the Celtics just renewed their own players?
Therefore, according to the results of this offseason, the Celtics' main lineup for the new season will be as shown below:
Point guard: 36-year-old veteran Joe Dumars, 23-year-old sophomore Manu Ginobili, 23-year-old sophomore Tyronn Lue!
Shooting guard: 37-year-old veteran Dell Curry, 22-year-old junior Stephen Jackson, 24-year-old rookie Eddie Lucas!
Small forward: 21-year-old junior Tracy McGrady, 21-year-old rookie Ron Artest!
Power forward: 23-year-old MVP Han Yi, 26-year-old senior Otara Harrington!
Center: 26-year-old junior Ben Wallace, 24-year-old sophomore Brad Miller!
Although Han Yi's salary alone reached 20 million US dollars, if the total salary of the team is calculated, it will be found that the total salary of the Celtics this season is only 40 million US dollars, which is only 7 million higher than the salary cap of 34 million in the new season!
A championship team is only ranked 23rd in the league in total salary ranking!
So how did this happen?
Among the 12 players who are already under contract with the Celtics, there are as many as 6 second-round picks and undrafted players!
"This is simply a waste of the precious peak of Han Yi's career, the number one player in the NBA!"
Stephen A. Smith said angrily:
"It's over, it's over, it's all over, Han Yi's peak period was buried in the hands of the incompetent Celtics management!"
"I really can't believe that a team that shouted the slogan of consecutive championships after this year's finals would hold a group of second-round picks in its hands as a sweet cake!"