The Kings also placed a high value on this eting, with not only General Manager Divac present but also the team’s president and owner, Vivek Ranadive.
Although he had spoken with Ajalee many tis over the years, this was Hansen’s first ti eting Vivek.
Unlike Ajalee, who was born in the United States as an Arican, Vivek was born in India and is an Indian-Arican immigrant.
He gives off the vibe of a typical Indian elite at the grassroots level, looking very amiable but with a certain sharpness hidden in his eyes.
The eting with the Kings was initially just a formality, but Divac, the main point of contact, was earnestly elaborating the conditions the Kings could offer.
The Kings could appoint Rondo as the President of Basketball Operations, and Hansen would receive substantial decision-making power in the managent.
The Kings currently have a significant pool of top talent, which can be used as trade assets to build a formidable championship-contending team for Hansen if needed.
He also ntioned the importance of Hansen reviving the Kings.
Nowadays, many fans in Sacranto choose to drive over a hundred kiloters to Oakland to watch the Warriors’ gas.
If Hansen joins, this situation would be entirely reversed.
So in a sense, while the Kings and Warriors aren’t teams from the sa city, their competitive relationship is sowhat similar.
This would indeed be a very worthwhile challenge.
Hansen occasionally nodded.
He could sense the Kings’ sincerity in wanting him, and just as with the other teams he had t with before, he made them feel he had a strong interest in joining their team.
But truth be told, what Divac said didn’t really convince him in the end.
These were things he could achieve by staying with the Cavaliers, and other teams could offer the sa as well.
Of course, the eting took place in a pleasant atmosphere.
Finally, as the eting was drawing to a close, and the process was almost complete, Vivek, who had been mostly listening the whole ti, hoped to speak privately with Hansen.
Hansen did not refuse, mainly because Vivek was Ajalee’s father, and he expected emotional aspects to be used as leverage.
However, when everyone else left, what Vivek had to say was completely different from what Hansen anticipated, even far exceeding his expectations.
"If you choose to co to the Kings and bring a championship to the team, I will give you 5% of the team’s shares upon your retirent as a gift."
Hansen raised an eyebrow, feeling intrigued.
This was no small offer.
In this year’s Forbes list of team valuations, the New York Knicks were at the top with a valuation of 3.6 billion US Dollars.
As for the Kings, their valuation reached 1.375 billion US Dollars last season after moving into the new Arena One Center.
5% would equate to 68.75 million US Dollars.
Of course, this isn’t the money Hansen could directly receive.
The money he could receive would far exceed this amount.
Just like how, after his years with the Cavaliers, their team’s valuation skyrocketed from the bottom of the league up to third place, just behind the Knicks and Lakers.
So, if he could achieve success with the Kings, the money he could gain would multiply several tis, reaching into the billions.
This leads back to the core question: What is Hansen’s ultimate goal in maximizing his comrcial value?
Indeed, it’s about making money.
So, if he could really get this share, Hansen would earn way more than through other business ventures.
Faced with such conditions, it was difficult for Hansen not to be tempted.
"I will seriously consider it." Although he had ideas, Hansen was not in a hurry to agree.
After seeing Vivek off, Hansen began to seriously consider Vivek’s proposal.
This involved sothing Hansen had never discussed with anyone before, which was what he planned to do after retiring.
Whether to enjoy life with the money he’s made or to continue engaging in basketball-related activities.
If it’s the latter, then the only possible thing he could do is beco an owner.
That was what Hansen had previously planned to do.
He now has a great deal of influence and earns ample endorsents off the court, but that money wouldn’t be enough compared to buying a team.
From the perspective of purchasing a team, it would have been an appropriate ti before the new collective bargaining agreent ca into effect in 2016, as the value of NBA teams hadn’t skyrocketed yet.
But now, it would be more difficult.
Therefore, acquiring shares, becoming a minority owner of a team, and then selling that portion of shares to beco the owner of another team is a more feasible thod.
However, it involves the issue of cashing out shares.
Since the NBA clearly stipulates that a player cannot simultaneously be a team owner, aning owning shares of a team.
That’s why Vivek proposed giving the shares to Hansen as a gift only after he retires.
In other words, it’s like a drawer agreent.
But even if such an agreent is signed, because it doesn’t comply with regulations, the power to enforce it ultimately lies with Vivek.
To give the most realistic example, there was that incident between the Wizards and Jordan back in the day.
Back then, after Jordan retired, he bought 5% of the team’s shares with his own money, becoming a minority owner.
Then, after the Twin Towers incident in the United States, Jordan made a second return. At that ti, he sold that 5% of the shares back to team owner Joe, with an agreent that once he retired again, Joe would sell that 5% back to Jordan at the original price.
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