Capítulo 1356: Chapter 427: Clevelanders, Get Ready to Cheer
Human desire is the hardest thing in the world to satisfy.
When you own a house of your own, you start wanting a large flat.
Once you have a large flat, you then start wanting a standalone villa.
When you’re single, you long for a woman.
When you have a woman, you long for a bunch.
Kobe Bryant looked at the World Championship gold dal in his hand, and his heart no longer felt the joy and excitent from half a month ago when he just won the championship.
He was thinking about one thing in his mind: how great it would be if he could also have the O’Brien Trophy.
His desires were equally insatiable.
Since losing again to the Golden State Warriors last season, Los Angeles fans have started to feel discontented with a Lakers lineup that is already brilliant enough.
They criticized Steve Nash for not even being able to guard Monta Ellis.
They accused Shawn Marion of being just a high-class blue-collar worker.
They criticized Theo Ratliff’s crude skills and worsening health.
They pointed out Caron Butler’s weak three-point shooting ability.
They believed the Los Angeles Lakers were wasting Kobe Bryant’s pri years.
If the Lakers can’t even beat this season’s Warriors, what chance would they have next season when Amar’e Stoudemire returns?
Kobe needs help, stronger helpers.
Jerry Buss doesn’t bla the fans for being too harsh, as the Los Angeles Lakers have always been a star-studded team.
Ever since Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West gathered in Los Angeles in 1968, it has been synonymous with stars, glamour, and grandeur.
Jerry Buss indeed hopes for change, not just because of the Lakers’ repeated failures, but also because the Lakers have only ranked second in revenue in the League for several consecutive years.
In terms of attracting revenue, the Lakers have been thoroughly defeated by the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks.
This is sothing that Jerry Buss, who owns the large Los Angeles market, cannot accept.
If the Lakers were tanking, or only able to make the first round of the playoffs, such revenue would be understandable.
But the Lakers invest a lot in this lineup every year; Kobe, Nash, and Marion are all max salary players, and they make deep playoff runs every year.
As a result, despite having so many max salary players and such good performance, the revenue can only rank third.
This shows that Los Angeles fans are tired of year after year of failure.
No matter how good the Lakers’ record, no matter how deep they go in the playoffs, if the team doesn’t win the championship, it is considered a failure by the Lakers fans.
But the Lakers’ salary cap space is completely locked, leaving them unable to do anything through free agency.
And trades are often difficult; how do you convince the other side to give up their star player?
Moreover, who can guarantee that a trade will definitely work? That it will definitely create a team stronger than the current Lakers?
Jerry Buss decided to wait and see; if there’s no opportunity to build a true super team, then he might as well maintain the status quo. The current Los Angeles Lakers have a good atmosphere and strength, which is at least enough to ensure the team can reach the Western Conference Finals.
But if there is such an opportunity to build a super team, Lakers Kingdom must not miss it.
anwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are fully pursuing Ben Wallace.
They don’t have enough salary cap space to sign Big Ben, but fortunately, Z’s contract can match Big Ben’s.
As long as Big Ben agrees, the Cavaliers can get Big Ben through a sign-and-trade.
The only issue for the Cavaliers is a bigger financial burden.
Ben Wallace seeks a five-year max contract, and his demands are not unreasonable. Once signed, this contract would an Big Ben can play without worry until he’s 37, without fearing a decline in performance.
But it also ans his total contract value would be much higher than Z’s.
As an athlete who relies on physical ability, it’s hard for the Cavaliers to predict how long his pri will last.
But the number absolutely cannot be five years.
No player can maintain their athletic ability beyond 35.
Thus, the valuable part of this five-year contract may actually only be two to three years.
In the last two to three years of the contract, it’s highly likely to beco a cumberso deal difficult to manage.
Should the Cavaliers sign a probably unworthy contract for the hope of a championship, even though the NBA now has an amnesty clause that reduces the risk of a team being unable to operate after signing a burdenso contract?
But even so, when a player is amnestied, the owner still needs to pay.
But LBJ’s team gives Daniel Gilbert no ti to think.
They told the Cavaliers that Ben Wallace is the key to LBJ’s decision to stay.
According to Rich Paul: “This represents whether the team has enough championship ambition. If the team doesn’t have such ambition, why would LBJ entrust his long-term future to the Cavaliers?”
The Cavaliers’ general manager, Danny Ferry, skillfully threw the question back at LeBron Jas: “So, if we secure Ben Wallace, you’ll sign a long-term contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers?”
Rich Paul waved his hand: “We’ll discuss that later. The main issue now is whether you will do everything possible to get Ben…”
“Shut up, Rich, shut the hell up,” Danny Ferry looked at LBJ’s close friend with disgust, not knowing when this guy beca LBJ’s mouthpiece, only knowing he hated the vampire now, “This is a conversation between and LeBron, what the hell does it have to do with you?”
At that mont, Rich Paul knew he had succeeded.
He already knew how to be a top agent.
Jordan’s agent David Falk was almost universally resented by all general managers in the 90s. If Jerry Krause dread of the scene of executing David Falk, that dream would surely excite him to the point of having a wet dream.
Now the agents of Roger, KG, and Yao Ming, Eric Fleisher, are the sa, always forcing teams to give his players more power and thus being rejected by countless teams.
Mikhail Prokhorov is probably the only owner who doesn’t dislike Eric Fleisher; he doesn’t care who actually controls his team.
But how many Prokhorovs are there in the league, owners who participate in win parties more actively than team gas?
So, being disliked by teams is the premise and foundation for becoming a great agent.
If teams hate you, it precisely indicates you’ve succeeded.
If you, like the good guy Bill Duffy, are loved by everyone, it only shows you are a pushover and softie.
Rich Paul saw the furious Danny Ferry, filled with a sense of accomplishnt.
He was about to retort, but Danny Ferry continued to shout to stop him: “I said shut the hell up! LeBron, you’re not an 18-year-old kid anymore, you’re a man now! Can we not talk like n? Why are you listening to this fool everywhere? Answer , if we secure Ben Wallace, does it an you’ll sign a long-term contract with us?”
LeBron Jas bit his fingernail: “Rich’s words represent mine.”
“No,” Danny Ferry nearly exploded, “No! Dammit! Don’t you understand, LeBron? I want to hear from you, not your Barbie doll puppet! Are you a world champion? Are you still the LeBron who led the United States team to win the World Championship? If you are, then talk to like a man and answer directly! If we secure Ben Wallace, does it an you’ll sign a long-term contract with us?”
“Yes,” surprisingly to Rich Paul, LeBron Jas couldn’t withstand the pressure and answered directly, “Yes, I just want to confirm if the team has a championship ambition, that’s all. You know, I was born in Akron, people call the Chosen One, Little Emperor, and now they call World Champion. But ultimately, I’m a Clevelander. I long to win a championship at ho and change the dark professional sports history of Cleveland. This desire surpasses everything. So, if you prove you have enough determination, I won’t have any problems. I love the Cavaliers, I love Cleveland.”
Rich Paul sighed, LeBron Jas needs to improve his ability to handle pressure.
Essentially, he is soone who can’t withstand pressure.
Danny Ferry only pressured him a little, and he compromised.
Just like under the imnse pressure from Roger, LBJ, after only three years, thought about leaving Cleveland to find stronger teammates.
But Rich Paul knows very well that LBJ’s answer is just a hollow promise to escape the pressure temporarily.
“Good,” Danny Ferry glances at Rich Paul triumphantly, showing a winner’s stance, “Good, we just need a guarantee. You know Daniel is willing to give everything for you, and the entire Cavaliers team is willing to serve you. If you’re willing to sign a long-term contract, this won’t change; you’ll always be the king of Cleveland. About Ben Wallace, wait for the news, we’ll secure it.”
Upon concluding the negotiations, Danny Ferry felt that he had secured LBJ through clever ans.
A man, a man with a face and dignity, would never treat promises as child’s play.
Yes, there’s no integrity between businessn. But LeBron is an athlete, not a businessman.
Moreover, LeBron Jas can only be truly great if he wins a championship in Cleveland against Roger.
If he really chooses another path, how much better is he than Gary Payton?
LBJ and Rich Paul returned to their stretch limousine.
LeBron Jas looked out the window, with Cleveland full of his huge posters. This city truly belongs to him.
His feelings were complex; he felt very confused about the future.
On one hand, there’s the hope of defeating Roger, on the other, there’s the expectation this city places on him and the promise he made to it.
He felt like he was about to split.
Rich Paul patted Jas on the shoulder: “I know your feelings, don’t worry, LeBron. It’ll pass, one day you’ll rise to the top like you did at Saitama Super Arena.”
In fact, it doesn’t require one day.
Next sumr, everything will have a result.
Everything now is just a prelude to next sumr.
One day later, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced they acquired the 21st century’s best defensive player, Ben Wallace, through a sign-and-trade, and in return, they traded Big Z and Eric Snow to the Pistons.
On the day the trade was completed, a reporter found LeBron Jas, who had just finished dinner with his family at a restaurant.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers have added another capable assistant for you, a player who won the most DPOY awards this century, assisted Roger in establishing a dynasty, and won a championship himself after leaving. The Cavaliers have given everything for you; will this change your mind about renewing your contract?”
The Chosen One nodded without hesitation, revealing a genial smile: “Of course, I think we’re very, very close to the championship. Clevelanders, get ready to cheer!”
An hour later, footage of LBJ’s interview appeared in the major news outlets.
The LeBron who wants to leave yet keeps making promises, which one is the real LeBron?
Even Rich Paul felt he was about to lose track.
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