The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 67 Transaction?

After Tang Bei left, Larry Johnson's right eye turned from red to purple, swelled up, and kept tearing up. Bristol called the team doctor, Thomas Neo.

"Oh God, what's happening?"

"Thomas, Larry just slipped and fell in the bathroom. Don't tell anyone about this, so as not to cause a media frenzy."

When Thomas Neo arrived, he was taken aback and scoffed at Bristol's explanation. "Look at those panda eyes and all those injuries on his face. Could they have been from a fall? He clearly got beaten up."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

He quickly treated the injuries, first applying several ice packs to the eye sockets and face, then giving an injection of anesthetic, and stitching up the laceration on his chin.

"It's best to go to the hospital for a check-up; you might have a concussion," he advised.

"No, I'm fine."

Larry Johnson quickly declined, saying he had been feeling a bit dizzy earlier but was much better now.

He didn't want the outside world to know about this. If it got out, as the one who invited the private fight, besides losing face, he would definitely be banned from the competition, resulting in even greater losses.

"Larry, don't tell anyone what just happened, or it will be very bad for you."

"Also, you're currently on the injury list and it's not suitable for you to travel to an away game. You should go back to Charlotte first."

"The check-up still needs to be done; I'll arrange for you to go to a private clinic."

After Thomas Neo left, Alan Bristol gave him some instructions and then left as well.

“Steve…”

After the two men left, Larry Johnson, who had remained silent throughout, immediately called his agent and explained what had happened.

"what?"

Agent Steve Ndicott was shocked and didn't know what to say. If you're going to fight, then fight and win. Now you've lost, and you've lost all face.

“Steve, I want to leave the Hornets,” Larry Johnson said in a low voice.

"But your contract is very difficult to trade!"

The Hornets aren't a big team, so leaving is fine, but Ndicott is having a real headache thinking about that 12-year, $100 million contract.

Larry Johnson insisted, "I'm only a sophomore, I haven't reached my peak yet, I'm not getting enough shots on the team right now, and I don't want to waste my time with the Hornets."

"How about we meet and talk about this, okay?"

"OK."

"But Larry, you need to be mentally prepared. Your contract is too big and too long. It's not something you can just trade away."

"I know, do your best."

Larry Johnson trusted Ndicott a lot; without this agent, he wouldn't have been able to sign the NBA's first $100 million contract.

Keep in mind that Jordan's annual salary this season was only four million dollars. His rookie contract was incredibly lucrative, securing his future.

“Eric, that’s how it is.”

After leaving Larry Johnson's room, Tang Bei also informed Eric Fleischer.

"Tang, don't tell anyone about your fight with Larry Johnson. I'm contacting management now to see what they're going to do."

"OK."

Upon hearing the news, Eric Fleischer immediately gave some instructions.

After hanging up the phone, he began to consider some of the possible consequences of this incident.

With Tang Bei and Larry Johnson having such a falling out, it's clear they can no longer coexist. Trading one of them out is the quickest way to resolve their internal problems.

If the Hornets choose to trade Larry Johnson, although the possibility of a trade is very small, it does not mean that a trade is impossible. It just means that it may take a long time, or even one or two seasons, before they can be able to trade him.

If Larry Johnson is traded, then Tang will have the opportunity to become the Hornets' leader.

This is quite advantageous for Tang. With his current performance, he has a very good chance of becoming an All-Star, which will then bring him the opportunity to realize his commercial value.

However, if the Hornets choose to trade Tang, the trade is likely to happen quickly because the trading market for Tang is so good.

However, in this trade, the Hornets will definitely prioritize the team's interests and will trade to whoever offers the highest value, leaving Tang's interests unprotected.

Trading for Tang Bei to a big team like the Lakers or Knicks would be the best outcome, but he's more likely to be traded to a bad team. Considering the Hornets are a new team and don't have championship aspirations, trading Tang Bei isn't out of the question.

After some consideration, he contacted General Manager Tvertzke, who arranged to meet him at the Charlotte Hornets headquarters the next day.

At 3 p.m. on the 26th, at the Charlotte Hornets headquarters, Steve Endicott and Eric Fleischer arrived at Tvertzk's office at the same time.

Before even sitting down, Steve Nditko asked in an accusatory tone:
“Mr. Tvortsko, how do you plan to handle this? Larry is injured and almost blind. That Chinese man must be severely punished.”

“Mr. Nditko, didn’t Larry Johnson tell you that it was him who wanted to fight?”

Eric Fleischer was even more annoyed and furious, angrily retorting, "He thinks he can beat Don because he's an amateur boxer. That's despicable. Why doesn't he challenge Michael Tyson or Evander Holyfield?"

At this point, he added smugly, "What a pity, he lacks the strength. Tang could easily knock him out with one hand."

"Humph!"

Stietzker had no way to retort, so he pretended not to hear Eric Fleischer's words and asked Tvertzker, "What is the management planning to do now?"

Tvercz shook his head and said, "The team absolutely does not want Larry to leave, nor does it want Don to leave. We must keep them."

Endicott paused for a moment, then said, "Do you think it's possible?"

Tvertzke also fell silent, then said, "Mr. Stitchett, we need your help to persuade Larry."

Endicott sneered, "That's fine, but I'd like to know, who exactly does management want to be the leader of the Hornets?"

Since things had come to this point, Tvercz responded directly and firmly:

"As an agent, Mr. Endicott, you should know that the leader of a team is not appointed by the management, but rather emerges naturally from within the team. The one with the most leadership ability becomes the leader, right?"

“That’s how it should be. How can the strong be subordinate to the weak?” Eric Fleischer said.

Endicott fell silent again, but after a few minutes his expression gradually hardened.

Larry Johnson lost to Tang Bei. Given his personality, he would never stay and watch Tang Bei become his boss. Rather than be humiliated, he would rather leave.

“Mr. Tvertzke, please trade Larry Johnson.” After careful consideration, he said seriously and earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Tvortsk was extremely disappointed.

He gave Larry Johnson a super contract, the first $100 million contract in the NBA, with a term of 12 years, just to buy out Larry Johnson's future. But now, Larry Johnson wants to leave. How can he bear this?

Eric Fleischer's biggest wish is for the Hornets to trade Larry Johnson, and he was pleased to hear this, but he didn't let his guard down, because it's impossible to say what the Hornets will ultimately choose, and the possibility of trading Tang Bei still exists.

“And you, Mr. Fleischer, what are your thoughts?” Dave Tvortske suddenly turned and asked.

"I?"

Eric Fleischer said seriously, "I am very sorry that this happened, but no matter how the team handles it, even if it means trading Tang, I hope to protect his interests as much as possible."

At this point, he said in a serious, warning tone, "After all, Tang is the one being targeted."

Endicott snorted coldly upon hearing this, but since it was indeed Larry Johnson who had invited Tang, he did not argue.

Tvortsk rubbed his temples with his palms apart; he understood perfectly what Fleischer meant.

If the Hornets, for the sake of the team's interests, trade Tang Bei to a team he doesn't want to go to, then Larry Johnson, who remains with the team, will also face an awkward situation, at least in terms of being accused of a private fight.

Now it's his turn to have a headache. One of the two talented young players has to leave, and he has to decide who goes.

After much deliberation, at least half an hour, and after the three of them had drunk several cups of coffee, Tvertzke finally said, "Let's leave it at that for now. I will consider it carefully."

After the two left, his expression immediately turned dejected.

In fact, he was mentally prepared for this situation, and had even considered who to trade with.

Compared to Larry Johnson, Tang Bei is the true cornerstone of a team.

However, the Hornets had only been established for a few years and were located in North Carolina, an environment dominated by the NCAA, where it was difficult for NBA teams to survive and their operational capabilities were very weak.

This has led to a situation where the team's operations have become heavily reliant on the highly influential Larry Johnson.

Since last season, thanks to Larry Johnson, the team has gained the support of countless Charlotte fans and many sponsors, resulting in a significant increase in operating revenue.

He couldn't imagine what would happen if Larry Johnson were traded, and he doubted that the owners and management would be willing to accept it.

(End of this chapter)