Pick Westbrook

Chapter 197

Hammond found McGrady's agent, Allen Trim. Under the leadership of the latter, Li Lai and Hammond saw McGrady who fell to the ground and cried bitterly.

At this time, no one chose to disturb this tragic hero in the past.

Hammond even thought that it might be a good thing for him if God didn't give McGrady the scariest physical talent among the top four.

It gave McGrady the top ten physical talents in NBA history, and gave him congenital scoliosis that could destroy his sports career, and let him experience the death of relatives and friends frequently throughout his life. This is simply torture.

"Those who set up great things in ancient times not only have extraordinary talents, but also must have perseverance."

Li Lai walked up to Mai Di, put his hand on the other's shoulder and said.

At this time, McGrady finally recovered from his sadness and looked up at the other party.

It was Li Lai, coach of the Bucks.

When the Bucks played against the Rockets in the China Derby, McGrady played against this team and was deeply impressed by Li Lai, a young coach.

If McGrady remembers well, the Bucks wanted him as early as last season, but Dog Mo, who was opened by the Lions, directly disgusted him.

McGrady glanced at Li Lai, then looked at his manager Alen Trim beside him, and asked.

The latter nodded affirmatively and said: "The Bucks hope to get you and become an important part of the team. If you agree, then you will become their backup small forward player."

Mai Di looked back at Li Lai in disbelief, his eyes full of shock.

Li Lai nodded and said, "Tracy, the goal of the Bucks this season is to defend the title, so are you willing to join us?"

Mai Di hugged Li Lai, who was much shorter than him, and nodded repeatedly: "I am willing!"

Li Lai, who has finally strengthened the small forward position, can also turn his attention back to Dragic at this time.

Of course, there is no problem with Dragic's contract even if it is left to deal with at the beginning of the season, but Li Lai, who knows that the player's contract renewal issue is very likely to become a locker room bomb, is determined to solve this problem during the off-season thing.

Otherwise, why did those teams in the previous life renew their players in advance? Wouldn’t it be better to stay in the trading market and see the market before matching them?
In addition, the goal of the Bucks in the new season is still to defend the title, so it is even more impossible to leave this issue until after the start of the regular season.

Li Lai decided to talk to Dragic in person.

"coach."

Milwaukee Bar Street.

Dragic has been in this place since winning the championship.

Local bars also gave Dragic the green light to celebrate Milwaukee's title-winning hero.

Just play around.

Li Lai looked at Dragic, who was already disheveled and entangled with several young girls, he was really unsightly.

He said angrily: "Golan, do you want to end your career like this?"

Hearing that Li Lai's tone was wrong, Dragic hurried away the women beside him, then adjusted his clothes slightly and said, "Coach, don't worry, I will start training in the summer, and it will never affect the state of the new season. "

Dragic has never delayed the team and his own state because of this matter, so Li Lai can still trust half of his promise to the other party.

Li said: "General Manager Hammond has told me about your request for a new contract, but this is a bit difficult for the team, so I want to talk to you face to face."

Although Dragic respects Li Lai, he is also very grateful for his training, but when it comes to money, even if his father comes, he will never give in.

He said: "Coach, I know you are the owner of the Bucks, so you can decide the signing of players."

"I would very much like to continue playing for you, but this is my job and I hope to get a bigger contract."

"I've already talked to my agent, and I'll go to whichever team is willing to offer me a higher bargaining chip."

Li Lai felt a little embarrassed holding his forehead.

This Dragic really loves money and is lustful. For the sake of money, he can completely ignore anything else, including winning the championship.

Li Lai thought for a while and said, "Which team has already promised you to sign for next season?"

Dragic lowered his head and looked up at Li Lai for a while, hesitating whether to speak or not.

Li Lai said directly: "Hurry up, it's only good for you to sell it for a price, not bad."

Dragic figured this out quickly, nodded and said: "The Rockets are willing to offer me an annual salary of 1100 million after the end of next season. Dog Mo has already agreed with my agent."

Hammond was so angry that his stomach would explode.

It's this madman again!
This year's offseason, Dog Mo first reported the Bucks' illegal recruitment out of nothing, which caused them to not deal with the matter of trade reinforcement until now.

Then Dog Mo poached a corner and took away Rasheed Wallace, and now he will continue to poach Dragic?
But Hammond immediately discovered something, looked at Dragic in front of him and slapped his thigh and said: "Good guy, the Rockets promised you a salary of 1100 million, and you turned around and asked me for 1200 million?"

Dragic looked at Hammond with a smug smile and said, "Yeah, look how I'm doing with this business."

how?

Simply bad!
At this time, Li Lai breathed out a long breath and said, "Don't go to the Rockets, stay with the Bucks."

Dragic hesitated for a while and looked up and said, "Coach, what about the salary?"

Li Lai said: "1100 million, the same price as the Rockets."

Hammond was a little anxious on the sidelines, that was 1100 million, far exceeding Dragic's normal contract of 300 million!
This number may not seem large, but for the championship team, not only will they hold negative equity in their hands, but it will continue to affect the team's subsequent reinforcement.

Teby is the upcoming two-man extension of Westbrook and George Hill.

Next year, what will the Bucks use to negotiate with the two of them? Will all contract renewals directly blow up the team's salary?
At that time, like the Lakers or the Knicks, they will pay a luxury tax of more than 2000 million. The Bucks will not make money like those two teams.

For the Bucks in the small ball market, paying such a high luxury tax is tantamount to suicidal.

Hammond, who was about to speak, was stopped by Li Lai raising his hand.

He has his reasons.

Faced with this salary amount, Dragic still hesitates.

Of course he is not stupid to know that his current market value is only about 800 million, and he has taken advantage of this contract, but after all, 1100 million is still 1200 million less than 100 million.

Dragic seemed to have made a lot of determination, gritted his teeth and said, "Coach, it's for your sake. If it was someone else, I would hold on to the 1200 million and not let go."

Hammond rolled up his sleeves and wanted to hit someone, 1100 million, you still have to look at face before signing?
As the general manager of the team, Hammond is also determined to perform his own job at this time. He said to Li seriously: "If we sign Dragic with such a contract, next year we will reach at least the luxury tax limit." Second gear."

"$1 for every $1.75 above!"

"It's a lot of money to calculate in this way. If that little girl Holloway was here, she would definitely figure out how much it would cost you right away."

Li Lai still nodded at this moment to confirm the idea, but continued: "Although the salary is 1100 million, there may be some differences in the way we sign the contract."

Dragic said extremely nervously at this time: "Coach, I won't do anything that makes me take less money."

Hammond was also curious about what Li Lailai meant by the contract difference.

Li said: "Your salary this season is 100 million US dollars. Under normal circumstances, the team will implement your final year option."

"But now, we choose to actively reject your option and implement your new contract from next season."

"After signing McGrady, the team is only 300 million away from the luxury tax threshold, plus there is still 500 million in the first gear, so we will give you 800 million in the first year. .”

"Then increase by 7.5% every year, a total of 4 million contracts for 3500 years."

Hearing this, Dragic immediately broke his hands and made the final calculation.

正常情况下下赛季他的合同是100万，如果再签约3年3300万，那就是总计4年3400万的合同。

But now, the Bucks refused to implement his contract option in advance and directly signed a 4-year 3500 million contract, which is 100 million more!
Well worth it!

Dragic, who had figured it out clearly, nodded affirmatively and said: "You can coach, just do it."

Li Lai and Hammond both heaved a sigh of relief at this moment.

In order to strengthen the team this season, the two really put in a lot of hard work. This should be the best way for the Bucks to strengthen.

Hammond can also tell from Li Lai's signing method that the other party intends to keep Westbrook and George Hill at the same time next year.

His operation also gave the Bucks a lot of room for salary manipulation in the future.

Hammond admired Li Lai's operational ability from the bottom of his heart, and changed Dragic, who was supposed to have an annual salary of 1100 million, into an annual salary of 800 million through a series of operations.

Although the Bucks need to pay more in terms of total salary, Dragic with this annual salary is an acceptable picture both in terms of value and the occupation of the future team's total salary.

So if nothing else, next year the Bucks will have no problem keeping Westbrook and George Hill at the same time.

But in the future, Curry's contract will come again, what should I do?
Cousins' contract is also under consideration, so what?
You can keep one person, two people, can you keep everyone?
It's all about trading.

Hammond is aware of Li Lai's three-year debt of 2 million yuan. He doesn't know how much the other party has collected, but it can be seen from the fact that Li Lai is still living in the arena. He should be far away from 2 million yuan. difference.

Only the last year is left.

Li Lai was able to choose to pay the luxury tax in advance without hesitation at such a critical time. Hammond looked at Dragic, who was already excited and talking on the phone with his agent.

"How do you know how much Li Lai will pay for your signing?"

"Li Lai has always been serious about the Bucks and the players."

The current Bucks lineup list has been completely determined.

Point guard Westbrook, substitute Dragic, Iverson.

Shooting guard Curry, substitute George Hill, Andre Ingram.

Small forward Ci Shiping, substitute McGrady and Danny Green.

Power forwards Yi Jianlian, Charlie Villanueva, Jermaine O'Neal.

Center DeMarcus Cousins, O'Neal.

There is still a vacant spot on the roster of 14 people. According to Li Lai's long-standing habit, this spot will also be kept in the middle of the regular season to see if additional targeted reinforcement is needed.

Finally heaving a sigh of relief, Hammond looked at the surroundings of the bar, suddenly smiled and said, "How about we relax too?"

Li Lai left with a black line in his head, and said, "I'll wait for you outside the bar, come out in 3 minutes."

But before leaving, Li Lai specifically told Dragic: "I have doubts about your status in the new season, so you must play in this year's summer league."

(End of this chapter)