The rest is just noise

Michael? Which Michael? Who is Michael?

These impactful words immediately put the scene into a strange atmosphere.

There was a dead silence in the conference room, everyone was searching in their minds for the name that was clearly within reach but could not be remembered at all. Only Louis stared deeply at Riley, he really did not expect Riley to be able to say this name.

"Michael Jordan?" Louis asked. Riley nodded.

The reaction of others simply made Louis feel unworthy of Jordan.

"Isn't it?" Laimbeer shouted, "How can we expect a man who has never won to lead the team to compete for the championship?" Bird was also a little unbelievable: "He is almost 40 years old, right?"

"No." Dumas reminded, "Michael is 40 years old. To be precise, he is 40 years and 5 months old." Poor Teacher Dadan, who is obviously very strong but has not won the championship until now, is not only beaten by

When people question their strength, they are still too old.

Riley said calmly: "Age aside, he still played 80 regular season games last season, averaged 25 points per game, shot 48% from the field, and comprehensively improved these data indicators in the playoffs. He still

He is a trustworthy superstar. No one desires the championship more than him, and no one is more suitable than him to lead these young people."

"The question is..." Bird asked, "will he come?"

If he hadn't left Portland, Jordan would have been doomed to retire as the biggest loser in history, but he was still respected. While other losers were looking for championship speedsters like drowning men, Jordan stayed put.

From 1984 to the present, 19 seasons have passed, and 99% of the players of his generation have retired, but he is still persisting. Everyone knows that there is only one reason why a person as proud as him can persist in playing, and that is that he is still playing.

There are unfulfilled wishes.

"I don't know," Riley said. "He's the proudest guy I've ever met, and I don't think anyone can make him leave Portland, but we have to try, and maybe... our president can

Do it."

The ball was suddenly kicked to Louis' feet.

Louis really didn't expect Riley to make such a suggestion.

Keeping Jordan without a championship was Louis' greatest achievement since he traveled to this world in 1978, and Riley actually wanted him to remove it from his personal list of "the most proud things I've ever done."

remove?

However, the temptation for the team to win the championship next season is indeed very great. This is not only for honor, but also for Wuxia to have a resume that surpasses James in his rookie season. With the Celtics' existing personnel reserves alone,

In the long run, he can definitely compete for the championship, but he is still too young at the moment. He really needs a veteran like Jordan who is hungry for championships and can compete.

Thinking of this, President Lu decided...

"Michael is the proudest man you have ever met?" Louis laughed, "Maybe we can use this to verify the authenticity of this matter." Mid-July

Spurs veteran David Robinson announced his retirement, ending a 14-year career.

Robinson's retirement freed up $11 million in salary space for the Spurs, and they were finally able to pursue big names in the free market.

In addition to O'Neal, who has renewed his contract with Philadelphia, and Wilson, who has returned to New York, there are two big fish on the free market. They are Penny Hardaway, who has opted out of his contract, and Jason Kidd, whose contract has expired.

The former is fed up with the days of hopeless championships, while the latter, like Karl Malone back then, does not want to be a foil to the old man's team. In terms of player level, Penny, who has been selected to the first team many times since 1996, is better than Kidd.

The level is higher.

However, the Spurs, who have salary space, are quite self-aware. They seem to know that Pence is not interested in them, and they are wholeheartedly recruiting Kidd.

Kidd's concern with the Spurs is that he and Iverson have positional conflicts.

Iverson made a commitment on behalf of the team and was willing to switch to the second position. In Kidd's view, this commitment was very reluctant.

In fact, this is the position Iverson most wanted to play. He was forced to play at the No. 1 position for so many years by Popovich. He had to attack and organize, and he had to be scolded if he couldn't do it well. He had already had enough.

.

Kidd doesn't think the Spurs are reliable, but he doesn't know which team is more reliable than the Spurs.

At the very least, the Spurs are a standard strong team with enough salary space, so there is no need for him to cut his salary. It is harder for Penny to find a team than Kidd.

He was tired of working alone and wanted to find a superstar to join forces with him.

But currently the only superstar who can join forces with him is the 40-year-old Jordan.

Even Kidd knows that Old Man Le has no future, and Pence certainly knows that the Trail Blazers are not at all among his choices. But if he doesn't go to the Trail Blazers, there won't be enough room for the remaining teams that meet the requirements.

This is another reason why it's difficult for Pence to find a team. He doesn't take a salary cut.

While the outside world was intensely discussing whether Kidd would choose the Spurs and which team Pence would go to, the Boston Celtics announced with a high profile that they would recruit Michael Jordan.

Recruiting a superstar who has been loyal to his old team for 19 years is strange enough, let alone one with no previous championship record.

For many people, the biggest bad taste of this matter is that if it happens, fans will see Jordan playing for Louis. But then I think about it, Riley, who had a fierce fight with Louis, is not in Boston now.

Be a teaching assistant?

If even Riley can work for Louis, why can't Jordan?

What's more, Louis is not coaching now, and the team is the Celtics. Strictly speaking, if Jordan chooses to join Boston, it cannot be regarded as defecting to the enemy.

Maybe it's not even a group hug.

The Celtics are too immature as a whole. Only half of the young players on the team, Yao Yue, have been selected to the All-Stars. The others can only be said to have promising futures. The question is, if Jordan succumbs to the charm of the Messiah and accepts the opponent

So, what's the point of him staying in Portland for so many years?

Is he going to become another famous example of "it matters who you play for?" Moreover, Jordan's case may be more cruel and realistic than Barkley's.

Barkley didn't suffer much at all and just let nature take its course, while Jordan struggled for 19 years and gave everything he had in his heyday.

Is this all to prove that his choice is wrong and that one person, one city has no meaning?

Relevant public opinions and discussions have been hyped up by the media. Now, the world needs Jordan to give a final answer. On July 18, the Celtics' negotiation team will have a formal meeting with Jordan in Portland.

All media are paying attention to this heavyweight negotiation.

Bill Simmons predicted: "Michael Jordan's choice will determine the choices of all future star players who are stuck in empty cities. When those helpless stars face choices, they will think of Michael this summer again and again. Eternal

Greatness and momentary glory, let’s see how Michael chooses!”

Two days before the negotiations began, Louis was still worrying about the members of the negotiating team. The first three people to be determined were Louis himself, Riley and Buckley.

Needless to say, Louis, if he is not here, the Celtics will appear to be insincere. Riley knows Jordan well, and he knows what Jordan wants.

Not only did Barkley understand Jordan, but he had something Jordan didn't.

When Barkley learned that he was a member of the negotiating team, he was flattered: "Coach, can I really help you?" "Of course, my team cannot be without you."

Who better than Barkley to prove to Jordan that choices matter?

Barkley originally chose to hug Louis' thigh, but now the ring is on one hand. Where is Jordan?

Barkley, this ungrateful bastard, actually gave Louis a suggestion: "Coach, if Michael gets into trouble, do you think I should wear my five championship rings in front of him to stimulate him?"

one time?"

this...

Is this an idea that someone came up with?

"What kind of bastard can do this to his best brother? Chuck, just be a human being!" That's what he said, but Louis couldn't help but think about what would happen if he wore ten rings in front of Jordan.

...It was then that Louis knew who was missing from his team.

Louis flipped through the memo, found the person, and then called him.

Former NBA player Charles Oakley, who was seeking a job on the coaching staff, unexpectedly received a call from LegendLu.

He didn't expect LegendLu to still remember him.

LegendLu not only remembers him, but also knows that he is looking for a job. The Celtics really need a tough assistant coach like him, but I wonder if he is still tough enough now?

Oakley immediately assured on the phone: "As long as I sit on the sidelines, no one on the other side will dare to make a move!"

"Okay, Oak, you passed my assessment, but there is still a one-month probationary period. You will have a chance to prove whether you can make people feel safe."

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