Chapter 598: 598
"'Shelter for the old and weak?' The new season hasn't even begun and we already have another nickname!" Dai Li pointed to the magazine in his hand .
"You seem happy . They are not praising us . Wait, what do you mean by 'another'?" Johnson asked .
"We were called 'Los Angeles' Overtime Team' last season . You heard about that right?" Dai Li replied .
"I'm not in a joking mood . I am the general manager, so I am responsible for the choices we made . If the players we signed this summer perform badly, it's on me," Johnson said .
"I understand . If the players do not perform well, you will have to take the blame for me . Have you not seen, with your own eyes, how good these players are now?" Dai Li smiled . He then asked, "How is the situation with Ronny going?"
"I inquired about it . there are teams that are interested in him, but they are worried about the price . There are no teams that can offer a 20-million salary right now . Those who give a price can only offer 10 to 15 million, at most . Those teams are worried that we will match their offer," Johnson said .
"What about Ronny? Is he still insisting on a $100 million contract?" Dai Li asked .
"Ronny's agent has expressed his willingness to agree to a $90 million offer for five years and asked for the player option for the last two years," Johnson replied .
Dai Li thought about it and asked, "Do you think we can use Ronny to get a first-round draft pick next year?"
. . .
A few days ago, when the Clippers had just announced that they signed a contract with Osef, Ronny's agent contacted him immediately .
"Ronny, have you seen the news? The recent rumors are true . The Clippers really signed Osef," the agent said .
"I just heard . What's wrong? You think that addict can replace me?" Ronny said disdainfully .
"Osef certainly can't take over your position but, if he gets into the rotation, he will definitely steal your playing time . Imagine getting less time per game . Will you be able to maintain your statistics?" the agent asked .
"What should I do?" Ronny asked .
"I think we should agree to 90 million over five years!" the agent replied .
"Damn it . You were the one who convinced me to demand a high salary . Now, you're telling me to agree to a lower price . You swore that the Clippers would agree to our demands and I would get a higher salary . Now, we have to accept their offer of 90 million over five years . We are back to square one! You good-for-nothing agent!" Ronny screamed angrily . He felt deceived .
"I admit, I was blindly optimistic about this year's situation . The past two years, many players received top contracts, but this year's market is not as good as the last two . I am also a victim . If you don't get a high salary, I lose a lot in commissions, right? I didn't expect the Clippers to be so sly, either . They deliberately made it seem like they would match any offer so that other teams didn't make you an offer . They were actually just stalling," the agent explained .
"I don't care about any of that . What I want now is a contract as soon as possible!" Ronny took a deep breath and calmed down . Then he said, "Five years at 90 million is fine, but the last two should be a player option . I'm want to be able to get out of it early . I need a high salary!"
. . .
Two days later, the agent heard that Hall signed with the Clippers . The agent contacted Ronny again .
"I've been in talks with team management . They think that 90 million over five years is too high . " The agent said this feeling somewhat guilty .
"What? They were the ones who offered me a five-year contract for $90 million . They went back on their words?" Ronny became very angry .
"The Clippers just signed Hall . Although Hall is a shooting guard, he is six feet and six inches tall . He has a good overall technique and he is strong . He can be a substitute cornerman . The Clippers believe that they have enough substitutes for the frontline . . . " The agent trailed off helplessly .
"They said that and you just believed them? Hall has no menisci in either knee . He is crippled on the court! He's just replacing me by himself? Ridiculous!" Ronny said .
"Of course I know everything that you just said . The Clippers just want to use this as an excuse to force us to lower our price," the agent said .
"I will not lower the price! 90 million over five years . I have already given a lot, I will not give one more inch," Ronny said with contempt .
"Just in case, and I'm saying just in case, Hall really is able to play, he would take up the playing time of other players . The important thing here is that the Clippers will have more choices in who they choose to play!" said the agent .
Ronny understood what the agent was saying . "You want me to lower my price again?"
The agent advised him sincerely . "Ronny, you have to understand that the NBA is a business . Business is a process of mutual concessions . I think we should lower the price again! My bottom line is 85 million over five years . "
"85 million over five years?" Ronny became angry . "They offered me that at the end of last season . I held out for months, but the price is still the same . Are you playing me?"
"You have to know the NBA market is not doing well this summer; there weren't many high priced contracts . We can't do anything about it . . . " His agent tried to persuade him by speaking as sincerely as possible .
. . .
All of the sports world was talking about Raymond's comeback .
Raymond and Hall were different . Hall was the shooting guard . Raymond was the swingman . He could play as a small forward . When the news broke that the Clippers promised Raymond a spot on the starting lineup, it became clear why he chose to join the Clippers .
"They gave Raymond a spot in the starting lineup . Which position will I play? Do they want me to sit the bench?" Ronny asked angrily .
"Raymond can also play as the shooting guard . Maybe he will play one of the backcourt positions in the starting lineup . . . " His agent comforted him and waited until Ronny calmed down . "I have more bad news . The Clippers rejected the $85 million offer!"
"What?" Ronny had just calmed down, but he was once again ignited . He was angry . He asked, "What are they offering?"
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The agent hesitated . "Four years at $45 million . The last two years are a team option!"
"Damn, they are doing this deliberately . This is an insult . Fine . Tell them I will not sign this contract! Even if they offered $85 million or $90 million, I won't sign with them!" Ronny ranted .
"Ronnie, you need to calm down . You have to understand that you are now a restricted free agent . If you do not accept the Clippers qualifying offer, after October 1st the contract will still take effect . You have to continue to play for the Clippers . Unless they withdraw their qualifying offer, which would be giving up their signing rights and making you a completely free agent . They will never do that . "
"Damn! This is outrageous! I won't stay with them . Help me contact other teams to what they are willing to offer me . I have to leave the Clippers!" Ronny said fiercely .
"I think there should be teams that are interested in you, but they won't offer a very high salary," the agent said .
"I don't care if I lose some money, I have to leave . I don't want to stay on the Clippers!" Ronny said decisively .
. . .
According to the rules of the NBA, players who had just completed a four-year rookie contract could become a restricted free agent . The team needed to give a qualifying offer before June 30 in order to have priority in choosing the player . If the qualifying offer was not given, the player would become a completely free agent . If the team withdrew their qualifying offer, the player would also become a completely free agent . The offer amount had to be 125% of the previous contract or the minimum salary plus $200,000, whichever was higher .
After a team gave their offer, the player became a restricted free agent . At this point, he could communicate with the team to renew the contract . Other teams could also give their offers and the original team could match any of them .
If no team issued an offer to the player and the team did not reach an agreement for a new contract with the player, the previous qualification offer would take effect on October 1 . The qualification offer was a one-year contract . When the player signed the contract for this qualification offer, he would still be a restricted free agent . Before March 1 of the following year, other teams could still give him offers . The team had the right to match their offer .
After March 1, the player would become a completely free agent . By the end of the season, after the player had fulfilled his contract, he could sign with any team without restrictions .
If the player did not accept any offer, including the qualifying offer from his own team, after one year the team could give him the same qualifying offer . The player would still be a restricted free agent . In other words, if the player did not get a high valued contract and he did not want to accept the team's qualifying offer, then he would always be a restricted free agent . The team could always match the offers of other teams .
. . .
The Clippers' management was in the the middle of a meeting .
"The Nuggets general manager contacted me . They want Ronny . They want to offer Ronny a contract, but they are worried we will match their offer . He contacted me to find out our position," Johnson said .
"How much are the Nuggets willing to spend?" Dai Li asked .
"Four years, $60 million . That's an average of 15 million a year . We can match this number with our current finances . We are still a ways off from the luxury tax threshold," Johnson replied .
Dai Li frowned and thought about it . He asked, "If we match the offer of the other teams, can we still trade Ronny?"
"Yes, but you need to get Ronny's consent," Johnson replied .
"I think the Nuggets' Blocked Shot Leader Karaby is very good . He is tall, has a good arm, and is good at blocking shots . He is one of the best defenders in the league . Although he is not too strong, his feet are very flexible, and he is able to switch to defense quickly . His technical skills are very suitable to the small ball style," Dai Li said .
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"Are you describing the Karaby who was famous five years ago?" Johnson shook his head . "He is 35 years old . His only assets now are his long arms . He can't jump anymore and his feet don't move as quickly as they did . He has been injured a lot recently . He hasn't completed a full season in three years . Now, he's just trying to get by in the NBA until his 'retirement' contract ends . "
"You mean to say that signing a contract with Karaby would be a waste? In that case, we should add that we get the Nuggets next year's draft pick! If we have a draft pick, we can fix the bad contract and we still get an instant boost to our team's strength . I'm guessing the Nuggets will agree to this proposal," Dai Li said .
"I know what you are thinking . You want to match the Nugget's offer, and then trade Ronny to the Nuggets for a draft pick right?" Johnson asked .
Dai Li nodded . Johnson shook his head . "That's not allowed by the league . According to the rules of the NBA on the veto of trade deals, the restricted free agent who stayed due to the team giving a matching offer can't be traded during the season unless the player gives his consent . The team the player goes to must not be the team that the home team matched their offer with . That means if the Nuggets give Ronny an offer and we match it, Ronny will have a veto on the trade deals next season . even if Ronny agrees to the trade, we can't trade him to the Nuggets . So your idea won't work . "
"So that's how it works . " Dai Li thought for a few seconds . He smiled . "Since we can't directly trade with the Nuggets, we can get help from a third party!
. . .
"Ronny, I just received an offer from the Kings for $60 million over four years," the agent said with enthusiasm .
"Only 60 million in four years!" Ronny was very dissatisfied .
That was an average of $15 million a year . It was much lower than his desired salary .
"They only guarantee 52 million," the agent went on .
"What? We lose a further 8 million?" Ronny became more dissatisfied . He shook his head and said, "I will not sign the contract!"
"Ronnie, we need to consider this offer . It might be the highest offer we can get," Ronny's agent advised . "If you don't accept it, then we can wait until October 1 for the qualifying offer to take effect . "
"Then I will wait until the qualification offer takes effect . Anyway, other teams can still give me offers before March 1!" Ronny said .
"Do you think other teams will still have the finances to do so?" the agent asked .
"I can endure another year on the Clippers . By next year, I will be a completely free agent, so I can get a high salary!" Ronny vowed .
"That would require the Clippers to give you opportunities to perform . " His agent sighed and said, "Last season, you were the key player on the Clippers and your stats improved . Next season, the Clippers will know that you want to leave . Do you think they will still let you be their key player? Will they continue to give you opportunities to handle the ball and shoot?"
"This . . . " Ronnie knew that the agent was telling the truth . If he didn't get enough opportunities to handle the ball or shoot, it would be impossible to get good stats . In that case, he could say goodbye to the chances of getting a high salary .
"Ronny, you are still young . You will have many opportunities . We might as well agree to the King's offer . Wait for your next contract and I can definitely get you the best salary!"
. . .
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After a restricted free agent received offers from other teams, the team had three days to consider whether they wanted to match it .
However, the Clippers matched the offer on the second day .
"Ronny, the Clippers matched the King's offer," the agent said .
"That means that I stay on the Clippers for the next four years? No, I want to be traded . I don't want to play for the Clippers! They are scammers, a group of untrustworthy bastards! Even if they gave me $60 million, I don't want to stay in the Clippers!" Ronny said .
"Not $60 million, but $52 million . " The agent sighed and said, "According to the rules of the NBA, the Clippers only need to match the guaranteed part of the contract!"
"Bastard, those bastards! They took another 8 million . I won't sign this contract!" Ronny yelled .
"Ronny, there is only one person in the history of the NBA that rejected a team's matching offer . In the end, he lost his foothold in the NBA . Fortunately, he was a Rocket player so he went to the Chinese basketball league . The league doesn't allow such things to happen . There are no flaws in the process of offering and signing contracts . If the players don't follow the rules of the NBA, it makes a mess of the restricted player market . You don't want to be an enemy of the NBA, do you?"
"But I don't want to stay on the Clippers! How about this? Go tell the Clippers to trade me!"
. . .
The next day, the agent came to Ronny's home again .
"The Clippers have promised to trade you to another team . However, as you have the right to veto any trade next season, the Clippers want to take your right to trade . They told me that there are not many people who they can choose to trade with," the agent said .
"I don't care where I go . I just don't want to stay on the Clippers!" Ronny did not hesitate to sign away his right to trade .
. . .
That day, there were two new stories in the media . Both were about Ronny .
The first news was that the Clippers matched the King's offer for Ronny . The other was that Ronny was traded to the Nuggets for the veteran Karaby, the first round of their draft picks, and four million dollars in cash .
. . .
"Coach Li, I didn't expect you to complete the transaction this way . Let the Kings offer a contract to Ronny, set the guaranteed amount at 52 million, and then match the offer . You were sure that Ronny did not want to stay on the Clippers . You then made use of the opportunity and traded him to the Nuggets . Through this trade, we gained a first-round draft pick . This also benefits the Nuggets . They originally planned to sign Ronny at 60 million over four years . Now, they only need to spend 52 million," Johnson said .
"The Nuggets were willing to pay us an additional four million in cash, as our reward for helping them save money," Dai Li said .
"And the Kings . We need to thank them for offering a contract to Ronny," Johnson said .
"The Kings owed us a favor . Last draft, we helped them in the second round," Dai Li replied .
Johnson remembered that, in the recent draft, the Kings wanted a rookie from the second round . They exchanged a second-round draft pick with the Clippers for the rookie . Because of this, the Kings had owed the Clippers a favor . The Kings had just returned it .Please download our sponsor's game to support us!