Jim Bass Ambition

Chapter 162

Summerfield, Louisiana, is a small town of just over 200 people.

Karl Malone, in a cotton shirt and jeans, has just returned from his Malone lumber mill and is loading his luggage and shotgun onto an 18-wheeler truck parked in front of his home, north of Arkansas, where he owns a farm. Usually he spends his holidays there.

Just as Ma Long said goodbye to his family and was about to start the car, an old pickup truck pulled up on the side of the road.

As far as Malone could remember, no one in this small town seemed to drive a car with a California license plate.

Ma Long collected himself, it seemed that this was not something he should care about, he started the car and was ready to go on the road.

The driver of the pickup jumped out of the vehicle and waved wildly at him.

Malone recognized the man, Jim Buss, vice president of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Are you here to see me? Mr. Jim Bass?" After getting out of the car, Malone walked up to Jim and asked.

But Jim didn't answer, just made a face and pointed to his watch.

Ma Long was puzzled, and the hands jumped one frame after another, and finally the hour hand came to nine o'clock.

"God bless, we caught up, this place is really hard to find..." Jim said as if the valve was suddenly opened.

"Let's go into the room and talk." Ma Long was a little speechless by Jim's performance. Isn't it because the free market doesn't officially start until 9 o'clock?It made him attach great importance to this regulation.

Even after numerous renovations, the home belonged to Malone's mother, who worked several jobs as a single mother and raised nine children, Karl Malone the youngest, far from luxurious.

After Jim and Stevens sat down, Malone spoke first.

"Mr. Jim, I know what you are here for. After the season ended, Ervin called me, but I couldn't make a decision at the time. It was very difficult to leave the Jazz. In fact, it is good to retire with John. s Choice."

"But you need a championship ring, your whole career for it." Jim took the conversation.

"Haha, that's right. It's not just Irvine, Shaquille O'Neal and Reggie Miller also called me after the finals. They invited me to Indiana and play with them. They also Invited Gary Payton, me, Reggie, Gary and Shaquille, if we were all five years younger, I think..." At this point, Malone shook his head, obviously recalling some unpleasant experiences.

"But you are obviously not young anymore. They failed to win the championship last year. Our players have grown up this year, and they are even less likely to win the championship. Even if you join with Gary Payton, it will not change this reality." Jim folded his hands and turned The body left the back of the chair.

"So the Lakers will definitely win the championship? You played seven games in the finals, and you lost all the centers in the first two days of the draft. Count on Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett The two boys lead a group of rookies and want to win five consecutive championships? You probably don't know how difficult it is!" Ma Long said loudly in a rough, rock-like voice.

Jim laughed loudly: "Carl, you said that you plan to retire, but you are still very honest in your heart. You are so concerned about the Finals and the Lakers. Then let us tell you about our plan...Phil Jackson, you He is very familiar with his tactics. He needs specific players to play well. Obviously, Ben can only play half of his power in this system. He is basically useless on the offensive end... Regarding this aspect, Brad, you come to Karl Let me explain in detail, by the way, Carl, this is our assistant coach, Brad Stevens." Jim motioned for Stevens to come on stage, drawing tactics is the coach's job.

Stevens took out the tactical board that he carried with him and drew a simple tactical running position on it. This tactic is similar to the Kobe-Gasol-Odom connection in his previous life, in which Malone played Gasol's high position axis As a central role, Garnett has a flexible position and is responsible for support.

Malone is a man of knowledge, so he can naturally see the power of this system. He has cooperated with Stockton for many years and has comprehensive skills, not only in pick-and-roll mid-range shots.

"The only ones in the West that can compete with us are the Spurs, Mavericks, Kings and the newly formed Timberwolves. Although we don't have a serious center now, I think the insiders they have will not be in your eyes. Come on." Jim put on his top hat just in time.

"Of course, although I'm 40 years old, it's not difficult to clean up those other little guys, except for that boy Tim, who may have a little trouble." Ma Long said proudly.

"So can I understand that you have agreed to join the Lakers? Now there is another problem. We have no other room except for the middle class and the basic salary."

"Money is not important to me, just a basic salary. What I am after is the championship. I hope you don't let me down."

"Then, make a deal!"

"make a deal."

On the first day of the free market, many signings broke out in the league. For example, the Memphis Grizzlies signed former Rockets small forward James Posey and former Trail Blazers guard Bunch Wells. Bears manager Jerry West's another master hand, the full lineup of the Grizzlies will become a new force that cannot be ignored in the West.

The Pacers in the East also made a big move. They used a middle-level exception to sign All-Star point guard Gary Payton, who left the Bucks after his contract expired, to make up for the lack of a point guard position after Terry Brandon was reimbursed for the season. At the same time, Horace Grant, Robert Hawley, Byron Russell and other veterans were successively signed. Reggie Miller also announced that he would fight for another two years to launch the final impact for the championship.

The Lakers announced the signing of former Jazz legendary power forward Karl Malone with a two-year contract totaling $180 million.

After hearing the news, the Los Angeles media cheered. Jim Buss finally did something serious. Although Malone is 40 years old, he still contributed comprehensive data of 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game last season.The most important thing is the price, it is too cabbage.

Lakers star Magic Johnson even publicly claimed that Malone can use his retired No. 32 jersey.

In contrast, the Lakers signed former Mavericks shooting guard Raja Bell with a three-year minimum salary contract of $3 million, and signed Eldon Campbell, who entered the palace for the second time, with a two-year $275 million mini-middle class exception. They have all become side dishes that are not worth mentioning.

After a series of operations, the Lakers, whose roster has already been exceeded, need to consider not reinforcements, but whom to lay off. The upcoming summer league will be the first stage for rookies to show themselves.

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　　As for the question that everyone is worried about... I can't imagine chatting in another team's jersey.

　　The chapter name is also lost... The vip chapter can't be modified, it's really drunk--
　　
　
(End of this chapter)