unfinished glory

Chapter 124 The Dust Settles
For the Spurs, signing with the Raptors first and then trading is the team's alternative plan, because the exchange for Bosh also requires a high salary, and there is no way to use "trained" to kidnap him for a salary cut.

Now that the plan B transaction cannot be carried out, some people are unwilling to give up, so they have to try the more difficult plan A and persuade Li Chongxiao to cut his salary.

Because Li Chongxiao couldn't see the rest of the Spurs, the burden naturally fell on Duncan.

Duncan didn't want to be a lobbyist, but under Popovich's begging, he was also a little embarrassed.And when the city was full of wind and rain, he felt that it was necessary to listen to Li Chongxiao's opinion, so he simply agreed and was willing to talk to Li Chongxiao.

Duncan knew Li Chongxiao better, knowing that for him, he would not play for money, so he was willing to come to persuade him.Otherwise, he would not be able to do such a thing as holding the maximum salary and the highest contract of the team, but persuading all teammates to cut their salaries.

But this job is not easy. Although Li Chongxiao's family conditions may not care about money, he cannot but care about the level of salary behind it, which is a symbol of the status of the team.

In the old arena who have been in the league for many years, like Karl Malone, who has honor and status, he may not care about money, as long as he wants a championship.

But for a player like Li Chongxiao who has just joined the league, his career has not yet completed accumulation. Apart from the love from the heart, honor and status are what he really pursues at this stage.

If the Spurs can defend their title this season, then the probability of using the three-peat dynasty to convince Li Chongxiao will be much greater.

Now that the Western Conference finals have not been scored, they have fallen into the sand, and the opponent has already won the championship with the team. If Li Chongxiao agrees to cut his salary, it will be a bit difficult.

……

"Ding"!
Li Chongxiao opened the door, and there was Duncan standing at the door, with one point of fatigue, two points of apprehension, three points of reluctance, four points of guilt and five points of anticipation in his eyes.

To Duncan's surprise, as if he had known it earlier, Li Chongxiao was very calm about his arrival, his eyes were like a windless lake without any ripples. _(`”∠)_
The two sat down on the sofa, and Duncan couldn't help telling Li Chongxiao how he felt. He felt that Li Chongxiao's reaction was too abnormal.

"What's abnormal? It's not the first time you came to my house without saying hello." Li Chongxiao squinted at Duncan: "Besides, I have seen you more times than my parents in the past two years. I'm about to vomit just looking at that old face."

"Hey hey!" Duncan stroked his hair and said, "I'm afraid it will be difficult to say in the future. I don't know where you will be next season. If it's okay in the West, I can see you three or four times a year." , if it’s in the east, maybe once or twice.”

"Come on, I didn't expect that you, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, would learn to twist and turn." Li Chongxiao didn't know the meaning of Duncan's visit today, so he leaned back: "If you have something to say, just say it, just continue." There is nothing to hide about dating or trading. "

Speaking of business, Duncan put away his hippie smile and sat up straight: "What do you think." He desperately wanted to get an answer from Li Chongxiao.

"How else can you think about it? With a maximum salary and a team boss, who would refuse such a good thing?" Li Chongxiao said lazily as he spread out on the sofa.

"MD, I'm so full of words now, how can I ask someone to answer them." Duncan laughed dryly while complaining in his mind, and said softly:
"You also have the opportunity to get the maximum salary in the Spurs, and I will be old in less than two years. Didn't the boss of the team become you smoothly?"

Cut, are you lying to a child? Li Chongxiao raised his eyelids: "If Boss Huo is willing to give you a maximum salary, do you still need to make this trip?"

Duncan corrected Li Chongxiao's words: "It's not about this season, let's go through one or two seasons."

"Boss Huo will be rich in one or two seasons? Is the tractor market in the United States about to explode? Or is he still unwilling to give up and expecting me to endorse his tractors and put them in the Chinese market to make a lot of money."

Speaking of Holt, Li Chongxiao naturally had no good words, and his tone was full of sarcasm.

Duncan didn't seem to hear this, and said to himself: "After one or two seasons, I will be able to jump out of the contract. At that time, I will sign fewer points, and it will not be enough for your maximum salary."

Li Chongxiao remained silent. The matter would not cause such trouble that Duncan would jump out of the contract in advance to cut his salary. Li Chongxiao didn't even bother to take such a top salary.

He sat up and began to elaborate on his thoughts seriously:
"I don't play for money, you know that." Li Chongxiao became serious: "However, there is no shortage of money, and this is not an excuse for the team not to give me a maximum salary.

I only know that the salary is based on the performance of the players on the field, and I have never heard of it being paid according to family conditions. "

Duncan didn't know what to say. This matter was obviously a problem for the Spurs. He didn't come here to help the management with no conscience. He just wanted to find a solution.

He considered his tone, and asked tentatively, "You, must you want a maximum salary?"

"Who did you hear?"

"Huh?" Duncan was a little surprised. He always thought that the conflict between Li Chongxiao and the team was that one wanted a maximum salary and the other couldn't afford it.Now I heard another statement from the person involved, and I was a little confused: "Isn't your agent always asking for a maximum salary?"

"Hehe" Li Chongxiao sneered a few times: "Why does my economic team insist on a maximum salary? It's not the Spurs who are disgusting first. Who offered the five-year 5 million contract?"

The more he talked, the more excited he became: "What I don't understand is that it doesn't matter if the team doesn't give me a maximum salary. I understand their salary pressure. But 1600 million, this price is too contemptuous."

Faced with this problem, Duncan also couldn't understand. He couldn't figure out the brain circuit of the Spurs uniform team, how to give an All-Star guard 300 million a year, how can such a thing be done.

Regardless of Li Chongxiao's potential, this season he is at least on the same level as Ginobili and Parker, and the latter two have an annual salary of more than 800 million.

Even Li Chongxiao also cut his salary, but the average contract of 800 million is already a friendly price, but the Spurs only give a maximum of 2500 million, so they are unwilling to increase it.

"Why, can't you figure it out?" It was obvious that Duncan also had doubts, and Li Chongxiao didn't let it go: "If it's not that I'm not good enough, what other reasons do you think there are?"

Without waiting for Duncan to answer, he said the answer himself: "I am a Chinese, that's all."

Seeing Duncan's impossible expression for a year, Li Chongxiao went on to say:
"Believe it or not, I'll stay here for the rest of my life, just a supporting role. It's just your wishful thinking when I take over the team in a few years."

Li Chongxiao said to Duncan: "You grew up in the United States, so you can't feel the discrimination of the Yankees against the Chinese, and this is the fundamental reason why the boss and the head coach don't recognize me and don't want to give me a maximum salary."

Duncan still couldn't accept it. He argued: "I think you are thinking too much. If you talk about discrimination, how can Yao Ming get the maximum salary?"

"Because his businessman boss is not from Texas!"

Speaking of which, there is no need to continue. Although Duncan thinks what Li Chongxiao said is ridiculous, he can't find any other reason to explain what the team did.

He has already made plans to return home without a feather, so he doesn't worry about it anymore. Even if Li Chongxiao leaves the team, they are still good friends.

Even if they are all in the same team, they have only been colleagues for a short dozen years, but life is still very long!

……

After Duncan returned, he devoted himself to training without saying anything to Popovich.This isn't the first time he's lost his best helper, but he got back up after the fall, and this time it will be the same!
Not long after, he received news that Li Chongxiao had reached an agreement with the Spurs, signing a three-year, $3 million contract with player selection for the third year.

There is also a text message:
"I am not them, and I will pay back what should be paid."

(End of this chapter)