Basketball Terminal

Chapter 57 Finance
Li Wei briefly explained his current situation to his parents: a short-term contract with one game left out of three. After that, there was a high chance he would sign a guaranteed contract and officially become an NBA basketball player.

Chen Lihua nodded as if she understood, then suddenly asked, "Temporary worker?"

Li Wei scratched his head and said, "You could say that." The ten-day short-term contract was indeed temporary work, but Li Wei was now very confident that he could sign a guaranteed contract.

Li Manshun said, "You still need to fight one more match before you can be officially promoted, right?"

"There is a good chance of being promoted to a permanent position, but it's not certain. It's also possible that you'll sign another 10-day contract."

Chen Lihua said, "Continue with the trial period as a temporary worker."

"Once the trial period ends, it will be time to sign a formal contract."

"If I sign a formal contract, will I receive the five social insurances and one housing fund?" The US doesn't have the concept of "five social insurances and one housing fund," but it does offer corresponding social and medical benefits. Chen Lihua, however, is used to the term "five social insurances and one housing fund" because she's more accustomed to it in China.

"Well... players with shorter tenures don't get pensions. It depends on how many years they play in the NBA; if they play for a long time, they'll get a pension."

The NBA now has a retirement pension system. Players who have played for a certain number of years and reach the designated age (45) can receive a fixed monthly pension. The longer they play, the more money they receive.

Li Yue, standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. His parents didn't understand anything, treating the NBA like a regular job? He was about to speak up for his brother, but Li Wei waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about me. Anyway, I can support myself and I'll be fine. Let's talk about my uncle-in-law. Why is he getting married to my dad? He still hasn't gotten his green card? Didn't my aunt get her green card?"

In Li Wei's original memories, her aunt, who was also her mother's cousin, came to America a little later than her. She initially worked at a laundromat for a while, but later found it too hard and went to find another way to make a living. Occasionally, she would come to the shop as a guest during holidays, always dressed quite elegantly.

My aunt's husband came to the United States about two years ago and visited the store twice. He came at the wrong time; the pandemic hit soon after, and I haven't seen him since. In Li Wei's memory, my aunt's husband was a rather upright-looking man from Northeast China. When he first heard that he was going to marry my father, he imagined it and thought it was a waste of time.

Li Wei went to Disney for the competition during the Chinese New Year. I guess something must have happened during the New Year to make his uncle-in-law so anxious to get citizenship that he came up with such a stupid idea that even a fool would find hard to believe.

Li Manshun said, "The person who came to our place during the Spring Festival said that he had divorced your aunt several years ago. At that time, your aunt said that she met an American man who was older and wanted to find a young woman to marry so that she could become an American citizen. Then, your aunt's husband came to the United States, and the two remarried, and your aunt's husband could also become an American citizen."

Li Wei said, "Isn't this nonsense? You think you can just get married and divorced whenever you want? Do you think the immigration bureau is a pushover?"

"Hmph, that's right. Your aunt didn't find any old man, just a white man of about the same age, with some money and a house. She wouldn't even look at your uncle. When your uncle came to the United States, she told him it was impossible, that he either had to go back or find his own way. Your uncle could only work illegally, doing massages. Then the pandemic hit, and now he's lost his job. He just wants to find a legal status to stay in the United States, but the immigration authorities are cracking down hard."

"Can't we go back? Why do we have to stay here?"

“His daughter is here, how could he bear to go back?”

After a moment of silence, Li Yue asked, "Then why should my dad marry him and get him a green card? It's not like we brought him here. Won't you two get a divorce? And my brother is right, the immigration bureau isn't to be trifled with."

Chen Lihua said, "When the family took over this shop, my uncle-in-law provided a lot of support. He also took care of the elderly in China. We can't not repay this favor. The immigration office isn't that strict about same-sex couples. We can have your uncle-in-law come and stay for a few weeks. Once he gets to know your dad, we should be able to get by."

"What if they have to kiss in front of each other?"

"Let them kiss, it won't kill them."

Li Manshun finally lost his temper and said angrily, "Fine, fine, fine! Can't you think of some other way! If I pull this stunt, where will I put my face? How can I ever face anyone again!"

"You've never had any shame to begin with. Why don't you take out some money and pay him back?"

"I have no money! But... but this fake marriage isn't reliable either!"

Sham marriages are definitely not a safe option. In the past, when the laws were less strict and the US welcomed immigrants, sham marriages for citizenship were common. However, the immigration authorities have become increasingly stringent, and now anyone seeking citizenship through marriage needs to undergo a comprehensive investigation. Officials will visit your home to verify your living situation, making it easy to distinguish between a genuine and sham marriage.

Influenced by the LGBT movement in recent years, same-sex marriage and citizenship are easier to obtain. Li Manshun, being rather timid and somewhat submissive, came up with this solution. He needs to discuss it with the children first; once implemented, his uncle will move into their home.

After hearing this, Li Wei knew it was definitely unreliable. Besides, letting a man move in with his father, while his mother moved into the attic and cleared out the storage room, how would they explain it when people came to interview them? The family relationships were far too complicated, and their reputation was bound to suffer.

Li Wei knows how venomous Chinese fans can be. Other things are one thing, but if this gets out, how can you handle having two fathers on your head? There will definitely be a flood of "father" jokes, like one in ten Brooklyn players is Li Wei's father, or the Nets' Big Three are Li Wei's other three fathers, etc. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

Li Wei, with his strong sense of risk control, knew things couldn't be done this way, but he also knew he should repay his uncle's favor. He thought for a moment and asked, "Mom, what does your uncle do in America?"

"He gives massages. The proper kind, you know. He studied traditional Chinese medicine and physiotherapy in China for a while, and he knows cupping and acupuncture."

"Even if you have a skill, can't you stay in the US through work?"

"Working in a small massage parlor without even a contract, how can you qualify to study in the US?"

New York is dotted with all sorts of small massage parlors, some so small they consist of just one room with two beds, separated by a curtain to avoid awkwardness. Many of the practitioners are Chinese, and many of them are undocumented. They came to the beacon of the American Dream, hoping to get rich and enjoy a better life, but they became the fuel for that beacon; the light is emitted by burning them.

"How about this, I'll find him a job. I know a place that really needs massage therapists. If he's skilled enough and can settle down there, with a lawyer's help, citizenship shouldn't be a problem." "Does this NBA temporary job have so many connections?"

In Chen Lihua and Li Manshun's view, being able to help people find jobs in the United States, especially in the current situation, requires someone truly exceptional. Li Yue snorted and said, "Who knows how many people will be relying on my brother for their livelihood in the future."

Chen Lihua and Li Manshun didn't fully grasp the significance of Li Wei playing in the NBA. Although they knew of Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Jeremy Lin, it felt distant, and things that are too far removed from reality don't resonate deeply. However, being able to find work for a relative was a remarkable achievement for them, and they clearly held NBA temporary workers in higher esteem.

After finishing his meal, Li Wei called the Yes We Can community center to inquire if they needed a senior massage therapist, and received an affirmative answer.

When Li Wei was training with the Long Island Nets at the community center, he heard that the center was in dire need of a good massage therapist. The seniors at the community center, as well as the athletes who came to play and compete, all needed a therapist to massage and relax.

G League teams are too poor to afford full-time massage therapists, so their strength and conditioning coaches usually do it part-time. Right now, the Long Island Nets' strength and conditioning coach is stuck at Disney with the team, leaving the community center's massage room empty. Li Wei thought this might be an opportunity.

As for whether my aunt's husband is willing and whether he can be hired, that's up to him. This problem is temporarily solved; the couple doesn't need to divorce, and my aunt's husband doesn't need to move in.

The next morning, after taking Ah Zhong out for a walk, Li Wei had breakfast and rested briefly before driving to the HSS training center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The team would have a practice session that morning, and then head to the Barclays Center in the afternoon to prepare for the evening's game.

It's said that tonight's game against the Kings will be the first open to the public this season, with over 300 spectators allowed in. While the number is small, it signifies the league's gradual reopening, and a return to normalcy is only a matter of time.

Lee Yue's school started its winter break, and not wanting to stay home, he volunteered to drive his brother to training. He said he had more driving experience than Lee Wei, and that the 40-minute drive from Flushing to Sunset Park could be completed in just half an hour if he drove fast.

"Speed ​​isn't important, safety comes first!"

Knowing his brother had agreed, Li Yue drove to the HSS training center in just half an hour, just as his brother had predicted. The facility had previously been a historic abandoned warehouse in Sunset Park. When the previous Russian owner, Prokhorov, bought the team, the Nets' training facility was in East Rutherford, New Jersey, too far from the Barclays Center to be convenient. He then purchased and renovated the old warehouse in nearby Sunset Park.

The lower seven floors of the warehouse have been converted into restaurants, offices, studios, and other facilities as part of Brooklyn's "Industrial City Plan." The eighth floor and the top floor belong to the Brooklyn Nets, which houses two full-length basketball courts, a gym, a training pool, two hydro-pools, a recreation room, and a multimedia cinema.

Li Wei went up to the 8th floor and first went to the player reception/equipment room to get his jersey and gear from Joseph Como. Como was always the first person to arrive at the training center and arena for the whole team; as the equipment manager, his workload was far greater than one could imagine.

“Your number 0,” Como said, pointing to the new jersey hanging on the rack. In just one day, the number 0 jerseys Levi wanted had been made. Two white ones, two black ones, and two training sets. There would also be commemorative, retro, or city-themed jerseys for certain special matches—more than enough for everyone.

Li Wei looked at the jersey, walked over and gently stroked it. The material was excellent, very new, and it would definitely fit him perfectly. It's just that the design... well, since Nike took over NBA jersey design, it's nowhere near as classic as its predecessor, Adidas. Not being able to wear the jersey from my favorite NBA golden age is a bit of a regret.

Li Wei arrived very early, not only because it was his first time training at the home stadium, but also because role players need to arrive early to receive individualized guidance from the trainers. Once formal training begins, the trainers won't have as much time to attend to you; the needs of the star players will come first.

When athletic coach Tim Walsh arrived, Levi and several other players had already been practicing three-point shooting and 3-on-3 drills for half an hour on the 9th-floor court. Located on the top floor, the court features floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, offering panoramic views of Manhattan's spectacular skyline.

"The early bird catches the worm." Walsh thought with admiration as he saw Levi. Before, in Los Angeles, Walsh thought Levi was just a temporary player, someone who would be cut after a few more days. But after playing against both Los Angeles teams, Levi had become a star player for the team. It's said that today's practice was attended by owner Joe Tsai, just to meet Levi.

Mr. Cai is of Chinese descent, and the two share the same language and culture. Given Li Wei's performance and statistics, securing a new contract is almost a certainty. Tonight's game will primarily determine the nature of this contract: will it be a continued 10-day trial period, a two-way contract allowing for easy retraining in the G League, or a guaranteed permanent contract?

NBA contract salaries are calculated based on time and games played. For example, if Levi signs a minimum salary contract of $92.5 until the end of the season, he will not receive the full $92.5 before taxes because the season is already more than halfway through. He will only receive a portion of the $92.5 based on the remaining games.

If the guaranteed contract is signed later, and a cheaper 10-day contract or two-way contract is used as a transition, then he will earn even less money. Some savvy team managers will keep using 10-day contracts as a transition to save money. Not only is the amount small, but this money is not included in the salary cap, so there is no need to worry about triggering the luxury tax.

To prevent this kind of freeloading, the league has stipulated that only two 10-day short contracts can be signed, and any further contracts must be formal contracts.

At 5 o'clock, the entire Nets team arrived, a dense crowd, much larger than in Los Angeles. There were 8 assistant coaches, each with their own assistants and staff. Five scouts, and a total of 20 people actually working under them. Levi met McCallian, who came to the sidelines with three assistants to greet him.

The strong recommendation of Li Wei brought McCallen to the attention of the team owner, and his status within the team was quickly recognized and promoted. He was even assigned an extra assistant, and he could walk with his back straighter in the team.

"Come on, Victor! Play even better tonight!" The better Levi plays, the more secure the position of young scout McClean will be within the Nets. Disney's veteran scouts have already slunk back to Brooklyn; their efficiency has been too low.

After stepping onto the training field, Li Wei didn't think too much. He focused on training, trying to digest the team's training content and make up for what he had missed before, so as to better integrate with the team on both offense and defense.

So he didn't notice that halfway through practice, Joe Tsai appeared on the sidelines. He observed the Nets' practice, focusing most of his attention on Li Wei. Team manager Max accompanied him; he knew Tsai was very interested in Li Wei and explained to him that Li Wei's performance in the last two games had received high praise from the coaching staff.

Joseph Tsai asked, "Can we finish the game today and give him a guaranteed contract? Preferably a two-year one."

Max hesitated for a moment and said, "The team's salary is already very high. Raising it any further would mean paying several times the luxury tax. I think it's best to delay as long as possible, make full use of the 10-day contracts and two-way contracts, observe more, and then it's not too late to give him a guaranteed contract. Besides, his sample size is still too small, so we should be more cautious."

From a general manager's perspective, Marks is right. Besides team performance and roster, maintaining financial health is also a crucial responsibility of a general manager. The NBA has introduced numerous complex salary clauses and a stringent luxury tax system, requiring general managers to be meticulous in their calculations and consult with financial experts to ensure a balance between income and expenditure.

Otherwise, it's not uncommon for a team to win a championship but still be operating at a loss. NBA basketball is a sport, but also a business; no owner is indifferent to profits and losses. After acquiring Harden, the Nets' total salary reached a staggering $1.7 million, second only to the Warriors in the league, far exceeding the salary cap and luxury tax threshold.

This season, the team will have to pay 1 million in luxury tax alone, and every time an exception is used, an additional tax will be paid. Therefore, Tsai Chung-hsin did not deny Max's opinion, saying, "Let's observe first, and see after tonight's game."

(End of this chapter)