Champions Creed

Chapter 428 Chapter 427: Cleveland people, get ready to cheer (ask for monthly tickets!)
Human desires are the most difficult things to satisfy in this world.

When you own a house of your own, you start to want a larger flat.

When you own a large flat, you start wanting a detached villa.

When you are single, you long for a woman.

When you have one woman, you desire to have a bunch.

Kobe Bryant looked at the World Championship gold medal in his hand, and the joy and excitement he had when he won the championship just half a month ago were no longer in his heart.

He was thinking of one thing in his mind: how nice it would be if he could also own the O'Brien Cup.

His desires were equally difficult to satisfy.

Since losing to the Golden State Warriors again last season, Los Angeles fans have begun to feel dissatisfied with the Lakers' lineup, which is actually quite brilliant.

They accused Steve Nash of not being able to guard Monta Ellis.

They accused Shawn Marion of being a high-level blue-collar worker.

They blamed Theo Ratliff's shoddy technique and failing health.

They blamed Caron Butler for his weak three-point shooting.

They believe that the Los Angeles Lakers are wasting Kobe Bryant's prime.

If the Lakers can't even beat the Warriors this season, what chance do they have next season after Amar'e Stoudemire returns?

Kobe needs help, some stronger help.

Jerry Buss wouldn't blame the fans for being too harsh, as the Los Angeles Lakers have always been a star-studded team.

Since Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West gathered in Los Angeles in 1968, it has been synonymous with stars, glitz and glamour.

Jerry Buss really wanted change, not only because the Lakers had failed year after year, but also because the Lakers had only ranked third in the league in terms of revenue for many years.

In the competition for money, the Lakers have been completely defeated by the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks.

This is unacceptable to Jerry Buss, who owns the big market of Los Angeles.

If the Lakers were playing badly or could only make it to the first round of the playoffs, then this kind of income would be understandable.

But the Lakers invest a lot in this lineup every year. Kobe, Nash and Marion are all top-paid players, and they can reach the deep rounds of the playoffs every year.

As a result, with so many top-paid players and such good records, the team's income can only rank third.

This shows that Los Angeles fans are tired of losing year after year.

No matter how good the Lakers' record is, no matter how deep they go in the playoffs, as long as the team doesn't win the championship, it will be a failure for Lakers fans.

But the Lakers' salary cap is completely locked, and they can't do anything through free signings.

But trades are often difficult. How can you convince the other party to give up their star player?

And who can guarantee that the trade will work? Will it create a team that is stronger than the current Lakers?
Jerry Buss decided to wait and see. If he didn't have the chance to create a truly super team, he might as well maintain the status quo. The current Los Angeles Lakers have a good atmosphere and are strong enough to at least make it to the Western Conference Finals.

But if there is such an opportunity to build a super team, Lakers Nation must not miss it.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing Ben Wallace with all their might.

They no longer have enough salary space to sign Ben, but fortunately, the contracts of Big Z and Snow can match those of Ben.

As long as Ben agrees, the Cavaliers can get Ben through a sign-and-trade deal.

The only problem for the Cavaliers is greater financial pressure.

Ben Wallace is seeking a five-year maximum salary contract extension, and his request is understandable. Once this contract is signed, it means that Ben can play until he is 37 years old without worrying about his condition declining.

But this also means that his total contract value will be much higher than that of Big Z.

Moreover, as a player who relies on his athletic ability, it is difficult for the Cavaliers to predict how long Ben's peak will last.

But this number can definitely not be 5 years.

No player can remain as athletic after he or she is 35.

So, the actual valuable part of this five-year contract may be only three or even two years.

In the last two or three years of the contract, this is likely to become a very difficult to handle garbage contract.

Should the Cavaliers sign a contract that is likely not worth it for the sake of a possible championship? Even though the NBA now has an amnesty clause, it reduces the risk of a team being unable to operate after signing a junk contract.

But even so, the owner still needs to pay after a player is amnestied.

But LBJ's team didn't give Daniel Gilbert any chance to think.

They told the Cavaliers that Ben Wallace was the key to LBJ's decision to stay.

In Rich Paul's words, "This represents whether the team has enough determination to win the championship. If the team does not have such determination, how can LBJ entrust the Cavaliers with the long-term future?" Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry very experiencedly threw the question back to LeBron James: "In other words, if we get Ben Wallace, you will sign a long-term contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers?"

Rich Paul waved his hand: "We'll discuss this later. The main question now is whether you will do anything to get Ben."

"Shut up, Richie, shut the fuck up." Danny Ferry looked at LBJ's best friend with a disgusted expression. He didn't know when that guy became LBJ's mouthpiece. He only knew that he hated the vampire now. "This is a conversation between me and LeBron. What the fuck does it have to do with you?"

At that moment Rich Paul knew that he had succeeded.

He already knows how to be a top agent.

Jordan's agent David Falk was hated by almost all general managers in the 90s. If Jerry Krause dreamed of the execution of David Falk at that time, this scene would definitely be enough to make him excited and have a wet dream.

The same is true now for Roger, KG and Yao Ming's agent Eric Fleischer, who always coerces teams to give their players greater rights and is therefore spurned by countless teams.

Mikhail Prokhorov is probably the only owner who doesn't hate Eric Fleischer, and he doesn't care who actually controls his team.

But how many owners in the league are like Prokhorov who are more active in participating in winning parties than participating in team games?
Therefore, making the team hate you is the premise and foundation for becoming a great agent.

The fact that the team hates you just means you are successful.

If you're as popular as good old Bill Duffy, it just means you're a softie.

Rich Paul felt a sense of accomplishment when he saw Danny Ferry getting angry.

He waved his hands and was about to retort, but Danny Ferry continued to yell to stop him: "I said, shut the fuck up! LeBron, you are no longer an 18-year-old kid, you are a man now! Can't we talk like men? Why do you listen to this idiot in everything? Answer me, if we get Ben Wallace, does it mean that you will sign a long-term contract with us?"

LeBron James bit his fingernails: "Rich's words are mine."

"No," Danny Ferry almost went berserk, "No! Damn it! Don't you understand? LeBron, I want to hear you, not your Barbie doll puppet! Are you the world champion? Are you still the LeBron who led the US team to win the world championship? If you are, you face me like a man and answer me directly! If we get Ben Wallace, does it mean that you will sign a long-term contract with us?"

"Yes", to Rich Paul's surprise, LeBron James couldn't withstand such pressure. He answered directly, "Yes, I just want to make sure whether the team has the determination to win the championship, that's all. You know, I was born in Akron, people call me the chosen one, call me the little emperor, and now call me the world champion. But in the final analysis, I am a Cleveland native. I am eager to win the championship in my hometown and change Cleveland's dark professional sports history. This desire is more important than anything else. So, if you prove that you are determined enough, I will have no problem. I love the Cavaliers, I love Cleveland."

Rich Paul sighed, LeBron James' ability to withstand pressure urgently needs to be improved.

In essence, he is a person who cannot withstand pressure.

Danny Ferry only put a little pressure on him and he gave in.

It was as if under the tremendous pressure from Roger, LBJ was thinking about leaving Cleveland to find stronger teammates after just three years of playing.

But Rich Paul knew very well that LBJ's answer was nothing but a blank check, a blank check to temporarily escape the pressure.

"Very good," Danny Ferry glanced at Chris Paul with a triumphant look, "Very good, we just need a guarantee. You know Daniel, he is willing to give everything for you, and the entire Cavaliers team is willing to serve you. If you are willing to sign a long-term contract, this will never change, and you will always be the king of Cleveland. As for Ben Wallace, wait for news, we will get it done."

After the negotiations, Danny Ferry felt that he had trapped LBJ through clever means.

A man, a respectable man, would never take promises lightly.

Yes, there is no integrity among businessmen. But LeBron is an athlete, not a businessman.

Moreover, LeBron James can only be called truly great if he defeats Roger and wins the championship in Cleveland.

If he really chooses to go another way, how much better is he than Gary Payton?

LBJ and Rich Paul returned to their limousine.

LeBron James looked out the window and saw huge posters of him everywhere in Cleveland. This was truly his city.

He was in a complicated mood and felt very confused about the future.

On one side is the hope of defeating Roger, and on the other side are the expectations this city has given him and the promises he has given to the city.

He felt like he was about to break apart.

Rich Paul patted James on the shoulder and said, "I know how you feel. Don't worry, LeBron. It will pass. Sooner or later, you will reach the top like you did at the Saitama Super Arena."

In fact, there is no need to do it one day earlier or later.

Next summer, everything will come to fruition.

Everything now is just a prelude to next summer.

A day later, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they had acquired Ben Wallace, the best defensive player of the 21st century, through a sign-and-trade deal. For this, they traded Big Z and Eric Snow to the Pistons.

On the day the deal was completed, a reporter found LeBron James who had just finished dinner with his family in a restaurant.

"The Cleveland Cavaliers have added a capable assistant to you, a player who has won the most DPOYs this century, who helped Roger build a dynasty, and who also won a championship after leaving. The Cavaliers have given you everything they have. Will this make you change your mind about renewing the contract?"

The Chosen One nodded without thinking and smiled amiably: "Of course, I think we are very, very close to the championship. Cleveland people, get ready to cheer!"

An hour later, footage of LBJ being interviewed appeared on major news reports.

The LeBron who wants to leave but keeps making promises, which one is the real LeBron?

Rich Paul felt like he could hardly tell the difference.

(End of this chapter)