Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 161 Are You Going to Destroy the NBA?

Vladimir Radmanovic's contract is not a particularly difficult one to handle in terms of amount.

The problem lies in the time limit.

In the summer of 2006, the Lakers management may have genuinely believed that Radmanovic would become Kobe's Toni Kukoc, the X-factor in the triangle offense system who would take over a lot of mismatch offense.

If we don't have any special insight, Radmanovic does have the potential to explode. In his last year with the Clippers, he averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. If he could join a mature offensive system, wouldn't he be like a fish in water?

The results showed that this was just another case of involuntary fraud triggered by a contract year.

Radmanovic's breakout year coincided with the Lakers' urgent need to appease Kobe, and Phil Jackson saw a resemblance to Kukoc in him. This series of coincidences convinced the Lakers' management that they would immediately sign a 5-year, $3100 million mid-level exception contract that would later prove to be a terrible waste of time and money.

The contract runs until the summer of 2011, but the Grizzlies have no chance of keeping him until then. West's plan is clear: use him as a negative asset, along with one or two second-round draft picks, to trade to teams with salary cap space in exchange for several low-paid fringe players. This move is solely to clear valuable salary cap space so they can make moves once free agency begins.

West first called Nets general manager Rod Thorn. One of the league's most senior general managers, Thorn was a member of the Lakers' coaching staff during West's playing days, and was instrumental in drafting Michael Jordan for the Bulls in 1984, undoubtedly a highlight of his career.

As the saying goes, having more friends means having more options. West's ability to secretly orchestrate a shocking four-way trade last season is directly related to the network of connections he has cultivated over many years in the league.

Without that many friends, it would be impossible to obtain enough information, let alone complete such a transaction.

The Grizzlies need to build a good relationship, and West hopes Thorn is that person.

However, Thorne rejected the trade: "You have to include a first-round draft pick in the trade before we can even talk about it."

"Then I can only wish you all the best." West decisively ended the negotiations.

This happens frequently; not every friend can offer help when needed.

West was already mentally prepared.

He rubbed his temples, not wasting time dwelling on his disappointment, and quickly swiped through his contacts to dial the next number.

This time it's the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe Popovich and his brilliant management team will be interested in that damn European white guy Radmanovic?
However, the Spurs' management, while not the best in the league, is certainly one of the best. General Manager RJ Buford's response was both polite and enthusiastic; he was willing to consider taking over Radmanovic, but on the condition that, in addition to a second-round pick, the Grizzlies provide a first-round pick and the signing rights to Marc Gasol.
“We need to see adequate compensation, Jerry. You know, salary cap space is a scarce resource these days.”

Buford said this with a smile.

West immediately became wary, and putting aside why the Spurs were interested in Marc Gasol, not offering an additional first-round pick was West's bottom line.

The fact that the Spurs made this additional request indicates that they have no intention of engaging in constructive negotiations.

Then, West continued to use his connections to get to the Clippers' offices.

Elgin Baylor, the Clippers' general manager, is his close friend. Although they have different careers after retiring, they are still in the professional basketball circle.

However, the person who answered the phone was not Baylor.

Baylor was nowhere to be found, and the other party was vague, but when it came to the trade, he became blunt: "Mr. West, why should we help you clear space? Unless... you are willing to take on Tim Thomas, whose contract is similar to Vladimir's. However, to complete this trade, you need to give us an extra first-round pick. We accept a protected first-round pick."

Trading one liability for another liability, and then having to pay out of pocket for the first round of funding?
West felt a surge of anger rising within him, which he forcefully suppressed.

West maintained a calm facade and ended the call.

A series of rejections were like cold water poured on West's heart. He leaned back in his chair and began to doubt whether they could clear Radmanovic's contract this summer.

The silence in the office was amplified, but this calm could not soothe the storm churning within West. His gaze unconsciously swept over the scattered newspapers on the desk; next to the sports section, in the entertainment section, Kim Kardashian's figure was flashing a bright smile at the camera.

Look at this!

This is America in 2008. Some people become overnight sensations and household names by selling their sex tapes, while what am I doing? Trying to get rid of a long, awful contract, I'm calling around like a beggar, begging for people to take me in, and being blackmailed for my precious draft picks.

This superficial and empty world of fame and fortune runs counter to everything West believed in. He thought of basketball, for which he had given everything, a contest that should have been a battle of sweat, blood, tears, and wisdom, but which was now increasingly defined by off-court noise and foolish contracts.

Self-discipline? Hard work? Professional ethics? He almost laughed sarcastically; these words seemed like a joke in this era. Wall Street bankers could ruin the economy and walk away unscathed, ordinary people lost their homes and jobs, while he had to endure his colleagues' foolish offers to clear out the byproducts of these multi-party transactions.

What's the most ridiculous thing?
It was West himself who brought Radmanovic to Memphis.

At this moment, West wouldn't tell himself that Radmanovic's arrival was inevitable, a necessary step in the balancing contract. He wouldn't think that this was the price to pay for Kidd and Josh Howard. He would blame himself for not anticipating this outcome.
What a shameful mistake!

West took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and turned his gaze back to the list of potential trading partners on the table.

The phone calls had to continue.

A few days later, West found a team to take over Radmanovic.

It's Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats.

However, West only offered two second-round picks, while the Bobcats wanted to add one more.

This was practically a living hell for West.

The request doesn't seem unreasonable, but is it really worth giving up three second-round picks to deal with Radmanovic? Then, news broke from the player market.

James Posey, who joined the Celtics last summer in pursuit of a championship, has decided to opt out of his contract and test his value in free agency.

The Hornets, having suffered a heartbreaking defeat against the Grizzlies' wing players, are determined to strengthen their frontcourt and have prepared a four-year mid-level exception contract for James Posey.

The Grizzlies, who personally buried the Hornets with their wing depth, understood Posey's value better than anyone else—this versatile player who could seamlessly switch between small and big lineups and play both the three and four positions was exactly the style they wanted to solidify, and a championship-contending piece that any team aspiring to win a title would crave.

With the situation becoming clear, West no longer hesitated.

A deal was finalized in almost 24 hours.

The Grizzlies traded Vladimir Radmanovic, along with three second-round picks from 2010 to 2012, to Charlotte in exchange for Ryan Hollins and Shannon Brown. The two young players' combined salaries were less than two million dollars, but this freed up over five million dollars in valuable salary cap space for Memphis.

As soon as the salary space was cleared out, the battle for it immediately began.

The Hornets have just formally offered Posey a 4-year, $2500 million contract, and the Grizzlies have already countered with a 4-year, $2800 million offer.

Faced with this more lucrative contract, Percy was surprised, but also felt a sense of satisfaction at being recognized. He asked, "So, Jerry has finally realized my true value?"

However, behind this signing lies an unspeakable awkwardness.

Once upon a time, Posey was a former Grizzlies player, personally experiencing the team's dark years of a dominant regular season but a winless playoff run. With the departure of veteran coach Hubie Brown, then-president Jerry West began clearing the roster, sending "White Chocolate" Williams and James Posey together to Miami. This trade indirectly contributed to the Heat's 2006 NBA championship.

The reasons behind this—how much was due to basketball considerations and how much was a personal relationship between West and Pat Riley—are now impossible to verify.

The only certainty is that Posey, who was sent away as a "troublemaker" back then, now has West willingly offering him a lucrative contract to invite him back.

Such is the twist of fate.

Posey's attitude toward this was quite straightforward.

Past grievances can be forgiven, but extra money is required.

In this alliance, there is no grudge that cannot be resolved with a few million dollars.

韦斯特最终咬紧牙关，将报价提高了50万年薪——4年2800万就此变为4年3000万。

Posey readily agreed, and the two parties reached a verbal agreement.

West took only five days from trading Radmanovic to finalizing Posey's signing. While Posey may not be a game-changer, his addition will greatly bolster the Grizzlies' bench, taking the team's wing depth to a new level.

After all, you can never have too many good wingers.

The deal was finalized, and a slight thrill swept through West's heart, but it vanished in an instant.

He wouldn't allow himself to wallow in complacency. Ironically, reality wouldn't allow it either.

West's all-out effort, at best, only prevented the Hornets from strengthening their weakest link and bolstered the Grizzlies' bench depth. However, the Hornets have never been the litmus test for achieving greatness. Even the Spurs, who eliminated them in the semifinals, were not the ultimate answer in the West.

The true ruler of the West was the Dallas Mavericks, who stormed out of the West and defeated the Celtics in six games to win the championship.

At this moment, the Mavericks' two aces are fully preparing for the Olympics, and their management is also working hard to fill the last piece of the championship puzzle—the weakness at the small forward position has always been a thorn in Dallas's side.

Not all reinforcements need to be made through signings. When Sacramento Kings' starting small forward Ron Artest announced he would exercise his player option and stay with the team, the Kings' management completely panicked.

Since last year, Artest has been plagued by troubles, and the Kings have been actively trying to trade him. However, his notorious reputation has spread like a virus to every team that takes him in, ultimately turning him into a locker room cancer.

Strong teams are unwilling to take on such a player, while weak teams are unwilling to do so. Yet the Kings are still hoping to sell him for a good price—this stalemate eventually turned into a one-sided, long-term torment of the team by Artest.

The Kings had hoped that Artest would opt out of his contract at the end of the season, but Artest anticipated this and decisively exercised his option to stay.

Perhaps this reveals his insignificant "shrewdness".

He knew all too well how bad his reputation was, and that once he opted out of his contract, there was absolutely no chance of getting an offer that matched his worth.

With nowhere else to turn, the Kings went around trying to sell their services, but only the Rockets showed some interest, while other competitive teams backed away.

Then, the Mavericks made their move.

They gave up everything they could: Jerry Stackhouse, promising rookie Brandon Bass, and the Kings' most prized asset—the 2015 first-round draft pick.

The king accepted the offer.

When news of the trade broke, those media outlets that had previously viewed Artest as a cancer surprisingly exclaimed excitedly, "Kings, are you going to ruin the NBA?!"

(End of this chapter)