NBA: This flower path is a bit strong.

When owner Joe Lacob first heard general manager Jerry Krause talk about trading Pippen, he thought he was joking.

Especially after watching Pippen's performance in the first half, Joe Lacob couldn't believe it.

After all, Pippen was in his prime at that time. Given the particularity of the power forward position, the 31-year-old Pippen could still work hard for the Bulls for at least two more years.

No, just looking at his salary, he can still play for the Bulls for another two years!

Bulls general manager Jerry Krause said:

"Let's talk business. This cheaply paid [cow horse] is no longer willing to be a cow horse!"

"Judging from Pippen's recent move, he doesn't want to work for the Bulls for even a second, unless he gets paid more!"

"But you know, boss, the team is under a huge salary cap and doesn't have enough money to pay the league's best second-in-command a raise."

In the 1996-97 season, the total player salary of the Bulls reached 5827 million US dollars, while the Bulls' salary cap was only 2690 million US dollars.

The annual salary of "Old Rogue" alone is 3000 million, which exceeds the salary cap.

What to do if it exceeds the limit?

Of course, pay the fine!

Although the salary cap is currently within the tolerance of Bulls owner Joe Lacob, no one's money comes from the wind.

Bulls general manager Jerry Krause found the entry point to persuade the owner very accurately and added fuel to the fire!

"Back then, the Tony Kukoc incident..."

At this point, Jerry Krause deliberately hesitated to speak, and used the rhetoric he learned from Phil Jackson vividly!

After looking at the boss, he tactfully shut his mouth.

The boss is a smart man, some things just need to be said in moderation!

Sure enough, Joe Lacob also remained silent.

Why is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's salary related to Tony Kukoc?

This story begins with international basketball in 1987.

At that time, Toni Kukoc led the Yugoslav Youth Guards to a huge victory in the U19 Basketball World Cup.

In the group stage, they beat the US team, which had players like [Crooked Mouth God of War] Gary Payton, [Auntie] Larry Johnson, [White Chocolate] Williams and others, and won by 15 points.

Tony Kukoc made 12 of 11 three-pointers and scored 37 points!

Then at three o'clock in the morning on the night of the final against the United States, Tony Kukoc and his teammates sneaked into the city center to play on the trampoline and stayed up all night.

In addition, many players have suffered abrasions on their arms due to playing on the trampoline (affecting their touch).

But it did not affect their victory over the United States again in the final with 86:76!

Since then, Tony Kukoc has led the national basketball team to win international honors such as the runner-up in the Seoul Olympics, the champion of the 1989 European Championships, and the champion of the Argentina World Championships, and has defeated the US team again and again in international competitions!

It completely broke the pattern of "US-Soviet rivalry" in world basketball in the 80s.

It can be said that if Yugoslavia had not disintegrated, the US team would never have been able to stand out in the international arena!

(Just a joke, the US disintegrated another country because it wanted to win the basketball game!)

The team's outstanding core player Tony Kukoc naturally attracted the attention of Joe Lacob, the team owner who loves basketball very much and is shrewd and wise.

He specifically asked Jerry Krause to bring this "White Magician" who could attack and pass to his own team.

In order to sign Tony Kukoc, Bulls general manager Jerry Krause postponed the contract extension with Pippen.

And 370 million US dollars was allocated from the salary space that should have been given to Pippen to sign Tony Kukoc.

(So ​​in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the angry Pierce and the petty "Old Rogue" of the Dream Team teamed up to snipe Tony Kukoc, who made 11 of 2 shots and 7 turnovers!

When many media commented that Tony Kukoc would not be able to adapt to the NBA, the old rogue made a pertinent comment after the game:

"It's not fair to Kukoc. We have 11 Hall of Fame players."

"In the NBA, you won't encounter so many top players in one game."

"I think Kukoc can gain a foothold in the NBA. If he plays with me and Pippen in the future, we can take away all the pressure he faces!"

So the "Old Rogue" at that time still mainly praised himself, but he also had to admit that Tony Kukoc was excellent at that time)

Without further ado, owner Joe Lacob is well aware that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's salary was used to sign Tony Kukoc.

Although at that time the "White Magician" from Yugoslavia was regarded as the future replacement for the "Old Rogue".

But with the return of the "Old Rogue", Tony Kukoc once again became a substitute.

But even as a substitute, Tony Kukoc won the honor of the league's best sixth man last season with an average of [14+4+4] per game.

It should be noted that the above data was obtained when Tony Kukoc played for only 25 minutes and had less than 10 shots.

要是他的出场时间加大至35分钟甚至40分钟，出手次数变成20次，这份数据会不会变成【24+8+8】？

I'm afraid no one can guarantee it!

Just like McGrady who played as a substitute for his cousin Carter during his time with the Raptors, he can win the scoring title for you in minutes when he joins the Magic!

So in the eyes of owner Joe Lacob and general manager Jerry Krause, the 28-year-old Tony Kukoc's future potential is no less than Pippen!

"Let's put the trade aside for now and wait until the playoffs are over."

"But we must ensure that the Bulls are still the strongest favorite to win the league championship!"

Boss Joe Lacob looked at No. 33 on the field and finally gave in!

For general manager Jerry Krause, this is a relief!

It seems that the idea of ​​trading Pi Er has been postponed, but in fact it has been tacitly agreed!

It’s not difficult to maintain the Bulls’ championship potential. Just keep the “old rogue”!

If the Bulls can trade Pi II for some powerful chips, they will only become stronger!

"Next season's Bulls will be the strongest!"

Jerry Krause said this with confidence.

On the court, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had no idea that he was about to be traded, was still active on both offense and defense at the beginning of the third quarter.

Seeing that it was the third quarter and he was still being double-teamed, Hanamichi became a little anxious.

If the first half was as the Chicago Bulls fanatic who made the suggestion said, Hanamichi's passes couldn't kill the Bulls.

Then at the beginning of the second half, Hanamichi stopped passing the ball because he could hardly catch it!

Rodman was entangled with Hanamichi like a madman, and even began to consciously cut off Hanamichi's receiving route with Luke Longley!

Even if Oakley in the interior can seize the opportunity and score the basketball.

But there is still no sign of narrowing the gap!