Pick Westbrook

Chapter 7: The Bucks' Real Trouble
The reporters on the scene talked a lot, and they almost said whether the management of the Bucks was a bunch of mentally retarded.

And the Timberwolves general manager David Kahn, who also held a press conference next door, slapped his thigh regretfully after learning of the deal between the Bucks and the Thunder, and even looked at Love God Love in his hand. Not fragrant anymore.

"This is a bargain for nothing! If I had known that the Bucks were making rumors that they wanted to trade up, I should have gone to join in the fun!"

At the press conference, Sam Presti stood up triumphantly, and then stretched out his hands to signal the reporters to be quiet.

"It's a win-win deal, the Bucks and we both get what we need.

I have to admit that Li Lai is a very courageous boss. I believe that under his leadership, the performance of the Bucks will flourish and gradually reveal their reputation in the Eastern Conference. "

"Win-win!" David Kahn wanted to say, please give me ten da for such a deal.

The Thunder not only got two extremely strong immediate players, of which Bogut is still in the rookie bonus period, but they also got rid of the two rubbish contracts of Marshall and Malik Rose.

In the future, when the Thunder renew the contracts of Durant and Jeff Green, the core of the team, the salary will also be more flexible.

"Bucks Li Lai? What kind of bullshit boss!"

Seeing that all the reporters at the press conference were looking at him, and many of them took out small notebooks to clearly write down his name, Li Lai knew that Sam Presti was posing for himself again.

Now the whole world knows that the person who made the Bucks make this loss-making deal to grandma's house is the owner of the Bucks himself, and the major sports news will probably bombard and criticize Li Lai in turn.

Especially the local news paper in Milwaukee.

This will be extremely detrimental to the next work of the Bucks!
Li Lai shook hands with Sam Presti with a smile, and said, "With your good words, Durant is an excellent cornerstone for building the team. I hope the Thunder can also win under his leadership as soon as possible." champion."

Sam Presti felt more and more that the boy in front of him was cute. I was planning on you, but you still wished me an early championship?
"He's really a rich second generation who just eats and waits to die!"

.........

After the press conference, Hammond's face was almost green with anger.

I have never suffered such a great humiliation in my life!

He even saw the reporters in the audience laughing as if they were looking at two fools.

"Boss..." Hammond said hesitantly.

Li Lai knew that Hammond felt that the deal was too bad. After all, it was Michael Reed + Bogut, and anyone would feel distressed.

"Bogut and Michael Reid are not our first choice for rebuilding, they are neither general nor handsome.

Of course, they still have strength, but trading them will make people feel distressed for a while at most, and not making this deal may make us regret it for a lifetime. "

No, Li Lai didn't feel distressed at all about trading Bogut.

Hammond shook his head, signaling that was not what he meant to say.

Li Lai frowned slightly and continued: "So you think the three rookies I selected will not be able to take on big jobs?
Don't worry too much, you will know how wise it is to choose them after the new season starts. "

Hammond still shook his head.

Li Lai was puzzled instead, "You shake your head no matter what you say, let the fart go!"

Hammond cautiously glanced at Holloway at the side, and said hehe: "New York is a big city full of luxury and money. It's rare for me to come here. I specially found two thin skins, tender meat and tight meat for you, and I have arranged to deliver them to the hotel." .

Boss, why don't you go now, drink some wine, study the Diamond Sutra, and then? "

It turns out that what you hesitated to say was what you wanted to say!

Li Lai even wondered if Hammond rushed him to New York in such a hurry before it was really for the draft.

Of course, Li Lai also remembered that this body and Hammond were close friends. The first time he rampaged in Milwaukee was led by Hammond, the LSP.

It's just that the current Li Lai is not the kid who only knows how to eat and wait to die, but in order not to arouse the suspicion of this subordinate who is also a close friend, he subconsciously said: "Two?"

Hammond slapped his head and said, "Yes, two is enough! The boss wants at least twenty."

Holloway looked at Li Lai's appearance of being a disciple with a straight face, and said with gritted teeth, "Stinky rascal."

.........

Westbrook, George Hill and Dragic arrived in Milwaukee after the night of the draft, accompanied by Bucks staff, to complete subsequent signings and prepare for the next summer league.

威斯特布鲁克4年1650万，乔治希尔4年600万，德拉季奇3年300万。

The contracts of the first-round rookies are pre-determined by the league and the players union through the labor negotiation contract (CBA), so they are all 2+1+1 models.

Except for the guaranteed salary in the first two years, the next two years are all team options.

In the next two years of salary, the team can also freely choose a continuation contract from a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 120%.

There are not many rookie players who sign a minimum 80% continuation contract, and even fewer sign 120%.

Of course, like the top three cornerstone players in this year's draft, it must be a proper 120% continuation contract.

Under Li Lai's instruction, both Westbrook and George Hill signed a continuation contract with a maximum of 120%. For this reason, Hammond often looked at Li Lai with a resentful look.

The second-round rookie's contract does not have so many requirements. If the team is willing, they can even offer a maximum salary contract.

Of course, no one would do such a stupid thing, but Li Lai still asked Hammond to offer Dragic a good 3-year 300 million 2+1 contract.

This signing amount is even much higher than the three-year 3 million of this year's second-round pick DeAndre Jordan.

Li Lai's reason for doing this is naturally to let the players have more trust and sense of belonging to the team. Otherwise, the boss who is not even willing to give money, why should he expect the employees to work hard for you?
You are thinking about farting!

"I believe that the value shown by these three players in the future must be worthy of their current salary, and even a lot higher!"

Li Lai has such confidence.

Hammond said with a bitter face: "Boss, it's not that we are reluctant to part with the money, it's just that the team really has no money now."

Li Lai remembered what he had always cared about, which was how much trouble the Bucks were in right now.

Holloway knows the team's income and expenditure situation by heart.

"Last season we had $7950 million in game tickets, broadcast dividends, sponsorships and advertising, $6250 million in player salaries, and $300 million in former head coach Larry Chris Kowiak's salary.

The team has a total of 200 people, including me and Hammond, with a total salary of 1000 million US dollars, plus 1000 million for the rental of the arena and daily game expenses.

In other words, our total expenditure was 8550 million, but our income was only 7950 million, and instead we lost 600 million. "

Li Lai nodded.

He did know that before Adam Silver took over, about half of the teams in the NBA lost money almost every year.

Teams in metropolitan cities like the Lakers and Knicks can earn back all the salaries of their players in just a few playoff games, while teams in other small markets may not be able to earn so much for a whole season. Rich.

Therefore, the owners of many teams regard running NBA teams as their sideline business. The main purpose is to enhance their influence and local popularity so that they can obtain more profits from their main business.

Such as Cheap Dad Herb Cole's ship company in Milwaukee, Cavaliers owner Daniel Gilbert's Quicken Loans company...

But Li Lai does not have his own main business now, and the Bucks are his only source of income.

"It's only a loss of 600 million, which should be considered good among all small-market teams." Li Lai said with some satisfaction.

He clearly remembered that in the 07-08 season, Seattle's Supersonics suffered the most losses in the NBA. Their regular season record ranked second to last in the league.

For this reason, Sam Presti even implemented the activity of buying a bucket of popcorn package and watching a game at the Key Arena.

This is so miserable!

And after the end of the season, their finances also showed a red picture of 2000 million US dollars.

No wonder the management of the Sonics would not hesitate to move out of Seattle and come to Oklahoma, and on the first day of moving into the new city, the city of Seattle has no fans!

(End of this chapter)