NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 525: Loyalty to the US Dollar (5000-word chapter)
On Sunday, October 2007, 10, NBA teams tried their best to complete early contract extensions with their planned players.

The Knicks still have no moves, and general manager Donnie Walsh even made a tactful statement in front of the New York media that the official renewal will be in July next year.

The Washington Wizards have been eager to make a move recently, frequently spreading rumors that they want to trade for Kobe Bryant.

However, the Lakers prefer Luol Deng, and as long as the Bulls do not give in, the three-party deal will not be completed.

More importantly, Kobe has the right to veto trades. Caught in rumors, the special Black Mamba officially stated through his team after the end of the preseason:
"We only think about championship teams."

Such a request is obviously difficult to achieve. Currently, the champion teams in the league are not interested in paying a high price for Kobe. The Mavericks, who had the second highest odds before the season, made a statement on the trade early:
"Dirk is our 'not for sale' and we will not destroy the existing chemistry for an All-Star."

The one who responded was Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who even mocked the Lakers on his blog.

"No one will create opponents for himself" is the consensus of most teams, and it is impossible for Kobe to join forces with other strong teams in the Western Conference.

Compared with the defending champions and the teams with the most traffic, San Antonio is the most urgent. During the offseason, Duncan's reputation fell to the bottom but there was no response.

In addition, the contract renewals have been turned down in the past two months. The Spurs management and coaching staff have realized that the situation is not good. It seems that Duncan may really opt out of the contract early, and the big man may run away!
With only a few days left before the early contract extension, Popovich could no longer sit still and took the initiative to leak the news to a columnist for the San Antonio Express, trying to gain sympathy by playing the victim.

On Monday, the 29th, a column in the San Antonio Express shocked local fans:

“Greg Popovich, 58, is considering retirement.”

Although ESPN has already reported the related gossip, this time the news was revealed to reporters by Popovich himself, which means that the old man has already begun to consider retiring, and the next three years will be his last fight!
58 is not considered old for an NBA coach. Popovich has reached the finals four times during his coaching career, so his coaching ability is beyond doubt.

It's just that everything needs to be set off. Michael D'Antoni, who is two years younger than Popovich, has won a lot of championships and team records. Many basketball critics have made sarcastic remarks about this:

"Perhaps Popovich's departure is also a good thing for the Spurs. They need a new tactical system."

Facing the whole city's "warmth card", Duncan still had no response. The drama of "deep affection between master and apprentice" seemed to be unable to continue. Now no one knows what the former MVP really thinks.

Veteran Bruce Bowen, who has fully integrated into San Antonio, has recovered from a concussion. Seeing that the team is about to split, he also took the initiative to play the emotional card.

Tomorrow is the opening game. At the end of the afternoon training, Bowen took the initiative to accept the interview. He did not care about the eyes of the reporters and made a request in a choked voice:
"San Antonio accepted me, and everyone on the Spurs is my family!"

"I want to fight for another year. I don't want to end my career with regrets. Even if I still can't win the championship in the end, I think this will also be a good memory."

"When I retire, I will tell my sons that their father gave everything for the championship, and the process of pursuing the championship is more important."

Bowen started the conversation, and all the Spurs players turned into Duncan's friendly family. Although no one explicitly stated their request, the call to stay was obvious.

Veterans are still worthy of respect. After all, Bowen has shed blood and tears for the team. Duncan, who has been silent for an offseason, finally took the initiative to express his position on the morning of the opening game:
"I haven't thought about it that much. This could be the last contract of my career, so I will be more cautious."

"At 31, I don't know how long I can keep up my form, so please give me some time and let's focus on the next game."

The Spurs' opponent tonight is the Trail Blazers. It was originally going to be a showdown between Duncan and the rookie, but Oden got injured and he probably won't have a chance to play this year.

With one of the protagonists missing, fans were more concerned about Duncan's contract. On the last day, Spurs fans hoped that their star player could renew his contract with the team in advance!
On the afternoon of the 30th, Chicago Tribune columnist Sam Smith once again broke the news that the Bulls are determined not to trade Luol Deng.

The reason is that management is not optimistic that Kobe can lead the team to defeat the current Celtics and Knicks.

Although the Celtics' pre-season odds ranked fourth, in terms of strength, the four All-Stars are enough to "sweep" most teams in the Eastern Conference.

The deal fell through completely, and the Pacers were unable to send out Jermaine O'Neal. The Lakers will continue with the main framework of last season, and Kobe will have to fight with his old teammates tonight.

Also attending the opening game, Lakers fans had planned to protest on Reddit, and everyone was angry about Kobe's "disloyalty."

The Rockets who flew to Los Angeles noticed this situation, and some fans even protested outside the arena. During the early warm-up, McGrady couldn't help but speak for his friend in an interview:

"I don't know why Lakers fans would react like this, Kobe gave everything for this city!"

"He brought a championship to Los Angeles, and the fans shouldn't treat their hero like this."

McGrady, who frequently suffers from injuries, has gained some weight, but this is common in the NBA. ESPN reporters prefer to have fun, and after hearing this, they continued to add fuel to the fire:

"O'Neal has said more than once that the Lakers' championship was all his credit, and he doesn't seem to recognize Kobe."

Completely getting rid of his sleepy state, McGrady's expression became serious and he refuted seriously:
"Without Kobe, Shaq would not have won a championship. Don't forget his record as a leader in the Magic."

"If I had a star teammate like Anfernee Hardaway, I might have won the championship a long time ago!"

"."

Many reporters were puzzled when they heard this "If". Why is McGrady, who has never made it past the first round in his career, so mysteriously confident?

Yao Ming, who worked hard to practice free throws and finished warming up, was still unaware of his partner's big mouth. The Rockets' offseason operations made him very happy. Scola is quite strong and can help the team on both offense and defense.

Alstom didn't have the chance to participate in gossip news. During the offseason, he stabbed someone in Manhattan. The former streetball king had a lot of troubles and looked listless.

Rick Adelman frequently communicated with his players and did not continue the team's previous tactical system. He decided to bring Princeton to Houston.

"How to defend Kobe? Battier can solve this problem. The team is in a very good situation. I think the Rockets have a chance to compete for the championship this season!"

The head coach's words did not surprise the reporters. The Rockets and the Lakers are no different. Both are at the level of first-round elimination. They were able to play the opening game, not based on their strength.

As the protagonist of the night, when Kobe appeared in the Staples Center later, sports reporters surrounded him early.

We wanted to interview Kobe about how he felt about being forced to stay on the team again, but the special Black Mamba didn't give them any chance at all. He broke through the blockade with his head held high and a look of disdain on his face, ignoring the shouting and quickly entered the player tunnel.

As a victim of the "video incident", Andrew Bynum naturally has no respect for Kobe and he would like to see him get into trouble.

After getting off the car, Bynum kept talking. Knowing that he was a substitute again tonight, he did not hide his dissatisfaction at all, grinning and mocking in a nefarious manner:

"I understand the fans in Los Angeles. They feel betrayed. Some people abuse their privilege. No one wants to see this happen."

“It’s obvious who the best big man on the team is, but I don’t mind coming off the bench.”

"Real players can only speak with basketball. I don't train in the early morning, but I can still dominate the inside."

Even though the boss asked him not to be interviewed, Bynum refused to listen and even revealed to reporters that the Lakers locker room was still a mess and Kobe isolated them and humiliated them as "toilet paper."

It wasn't until Fisher discovered Bynum was being interviewed in the player tunnel and took the initiative to step forward and pull his teammates away that the traitor's behavior was put to an end.

"Listen, you shouldn't tell anyone about what happened in the locker room."

The old fish frowned and warned Bynum, but the latter didn't care. Kobe asked Kupchak to trade him. The two had already broken up:
"No one can humiliate me without me paying the price. Who does he think he is? He was traded publicly and came back in disgrace." "I'm just 20 years old. I will reach the peak of my career when he retires. I just want to tell you old guys that I'm not someone you can mess with!"

Bynum, who was fearless, finally gave Fisher a back of the head and left with his head held high. He could play basketball in another place. The old guy cared about the championship, but he didn't care.

At 19 p.m., one hour before the Knicks' season opener, a large number of fans had already begun queuing outside Madison Square Garden to enter.

I walked in and took a look around the team store, then took the elevator to buy some food for dinner, and finally found my seat and sat down, while also complaining about the damn Wall Street layoffs that have started again.

The high ticket prices mean that those who can come to watch the game have to have good financial strength. Season tickets also cost a lot of money. Fortunately, the home team wins every day, which at least doesn’t make people feel heartbroken and the emotional value is maximized.

TNT's broadcast team arrived earlier, with Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins analyzing the Knicks' contract extension in front of the camera in the middle of the field:

"We got the news on the spot that general manager Donnie Walsh insisted on renewing the contract in July of next year. Overall, the team is showing very strong performance."

"Considering the $4800 million contract Diaw received, there is a high probability that Ron Artest and Raja Bell will pursue the same contract."

"JR Smith is still unable to play tonight, and the team believes he will return before the Christmas game."

Kevin Harlan had just finished speaking when Doug Collins next to him shared the first-hand news:

"No one would choose to leave New York. Playing next to Lee will get more attention. He can make his teammates better."

"The contract is indeed an issue, but the Knicks are challenging for their eighth consecutive championship. For this record, I don't think they will easily change the lineup structure."

"Short-term contracts are a good option, which also means that other teams who want to get these players have to take greater risks."

Professional basketball commentators can all see Donnie Walsh's intention. Even if he offers a big contract, it will not be a long-term contract. After all, participating in the finals year after year takes a lot of toll on his body.

Although it's not very decent, for some veterans, it is basically impossible to get a long-term contract in New York.

"Lee was in excellent form in the preseason, but Nowitzki, like Gasol, has shown signs of fatigue in recent games, as neither of them has fully recovered from the European Championship last month."

"What do you think about Michael Finley's return? How can this veteran return to Dallas and help the team?"

When Kevin Harlan brought up this topic, Doug Collins had a strange smile on his face. He did not answer directly, but said meaningfully:

"I think it's a great addition, not only with Finley, but the fact that the Mavericks signed Trenton Hassell in the offseason."

"This former Knicks player also brings championship experience to the team. I believe the Mavericks have a chance to reach the finals again this season."

At this time, veterans Finley and Trenton Hassell were in the home team's locker room. There was an awards ceremony tonight, and Finley could wear the Mavericks jersey to receive the ring, which indirectly fulfilled his long-cherished wish.
"Kevin Garnett is an old dog! This guy forgot how we helped him."

Trenton Hassell, who shaved his head and looked even more muscular, talked about the quarrel he had with Garnett during the offseason, glaring at him and exaggerating the other party's faults.

Artest, who has gotten rid of his wheelchair, likes to listen to this kind of gossip. When he heard the two men throwing punches, he laughed out loud:

"Well done, Bro! That guy is the biggest softie in the league, and he should be punched in the mouth a few times!"

Garnett's fight and retreat in Madison Square Garden is a famous scene, and the Knicks players like to make fun of the former MVP.

Trenton Haase has obviously inherited such a glorious tradition, so it is not surprising that conflicts have arisen. After all, Garnett has dealt a heavy blow to the team, and the two of them are living in peace as long as they have not arranged a fight.

Without reporters, the players communicated more directly. When they heard that Michael Finley did not get a full mid-level contract, Grant Hilton showed a surprised expression:
"I thought Dallas would be very welcoming to you, but this contract doesn't have much sincerity!"

"I'll be out of the league in two more years, and I just want to have no regrets. You know, I spent most of my career there."

Speaking of the contract issue, there was no dissatisfaction on Finley's dark face. When he was bought out by the team, he got the opportunity to pursue the championship. Although being optimized was not very decent, the result was good.

Gasol didn't feel the same way. He came to New York when he entered the league and got a maximum salary contract. When he heard the two talking about salary, he asked curiously:
"I read the news and heard that Mark Cuban is very generous and is willing to invest in a championship."

"Bro, think about the Knicks' luxury tax, which is over 3000 million, while the Mavericks' is less than 1000 million. Most teams don't have that much money!"

After saying this, Raja Bell showed a money-grubbing look on his face. Although he had a good relationship with Dio and others, this year's 4800 million contract still shocked him.

Gazuric, who also received a premium contract, also joined the topic and shared his agent's tricks. How to raise the price appropriately is also a technical skill.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the locker room was getting stronger and stronger, David Lee and other members of the atmosphere group showed envious expressions, but Rondo, who couldn't get a word in, frowned quietly.

I won the championship in a daze, and I didn't have much sense of accomplishment. Instead, I felt like my basketball dream was shattered.

Rondo couldn't sit still when he heard JR Smith asking how to improve his stats, and wanted to go into the tunnel to calm down.

Half an hour before the game started, as the Mavericks team came out in a low-key manner, the lights in Madison Square Garden dimmed, and then the fans in the stadium began to cheer loudly.

The annual awards ceremony has become a habit for New York fans. In the past 11 years, the championship flags that continue to rise above the arena have turned it into a veritable basketball mecca.

All the basketball commentators from New York were there. Stephen A. Smith and his small team were sitting behind Spike Lee. Sports fans would not miss such a moment and cheered along with everyone.

The Knicks finally changed the opening video that had been used for many years in the new season. Instead of showing off the city culture, it connected a series of award ceremony scenes and highlights of the finals.

In the 1970 Finals, Willis Reed returned as a king, and in 1973, he avenged the Lakers and won the championship again. These scenes are still considered "normal". Then there is the scene of Li You winning the finals with a big victory.
The Bulls are the only exception in this opening video. There is footage of the 98 division finals, in which Michael Jordan was defeated in the last second and had to put his hands on his hips, marking the beginning of a new era.

The home team players came on the field, and the ancient stadium became more and more lively. When Li You came on the field, the DJ on the scene shouted at the top of his voice, and the atmosphere reached a climax:

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome them together!"

"9-time champion, 9-time Finals MVP, the best player in history from the University of Connecticut, the King of New York, GOD--Lee!"

Perhaps the opening animation was too gorgeous, and before Li You even arrived at the venue, shouts of "GOAT" rang out in the stadium.

When Li You, wearing a white training suit, came to the end of the team and waved to the fans with a smile on his face, the shouting became louder and louder.

On the Mavericks' visiting bench, Nowitzki stood with his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky above the arena, then glanced at the championship banner covering the center of the field, with envy in his eyes.

Especially when he saw his old teammate receiving the championship ring with a bright smile, Nowitzki helplessly lowered his head and sighed. Fortunately, the New York fans were not aggressive tonight. He really didn't want to hear the name of "softie" again.

"I know everyone is concerned about the team's situation, but the Knicks are a united team. It's dangerous!"

"Although I'm about to turn 30, I feel like I can still play for another eight years, so let's keep winning until we completely surpass our opponents!"

"."

Li You's words brought Nowitzki back to his senses. The German felt a chill in his heart, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart:
"Year 8?"

(End of this chapter)