The next day, the Knicks 'head coach and the team's management, including general manager Ernie Greenfield and head Dave Cheketts, were extremely busy.
They kept going back and forth between the office and the conference room, just for one man.
"Oh my god, is Boss too excited? This contract is very difficult to complete. This is irrational.”
"No, no, no, you still underestimate his value. Please note that if we don't pay such a price, we won't be able to sign him.”
"Yes, yes, he hasn't renewed his contract with the Bulls. This is a good opportunity for us, you know?”
"But I think we should be more realistic. Alan Houston from detroit-san is good.”
"No, no, we don't want a fake star player. He's the guy we need the most. Haven't you always been troubled by the lack of a sharp weapon in the team's lineup? Only he can do it."
"This is too irrational. If we take this contract out, we can sign two or three superstars, but is it worth it just for him?”
The rational Van Gundy and the two senior executives of the team, Greenfield and Cheketts, who had been overwhelmed by Dolan, argued with each other. The core of the argument was Michael Jordan.
That's right, Spicy Man had led the Bulls to a 72-win record in the regular season and won the fourth championship in the playoffs. Jordan had won the MVP of the regular season, the All-Star Game, and the NBA Finals. He had entered the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team, and he had won the scoring title for the eighth time.
However, he had yet to renew his contract with the Bulls.
After his four-year rookie contract expired, Michael Jordan renewed his contract with the Bulls in the summer of 1989.
However, in 1995, when the NBA re-signed broadcasting contracts with major television stations, the era of player salaries suddenly became a cheap contract.
At the end of this glorious season, Jordan's contract with the Bulls expired.
Jordan retired in 1993, but the Bulls did not stop paying him, which allowed the Bulls to extend Jordan's old contract until 1996.
Jordan received $3.85 million in the 1995-96 season. At that time, 27 players in the league had an annual salary of more than $4 million. Even if Jordan's off-court income exceeded $40 million at that time, it was difficult for him to continue to accept a " low salary," especially when his good friend, Ewing, who was also defeated in the NBA, received an annual salary of $18 million.
Alonzo Mourning also received a salary of tens of millions from pat Riley.
Even Patrice Ewing was able to get a contract worth nearly 19 million USD. There were 27 guys in the entire league who were not as good as me but were able to get a salary that exceeded mine.
Jordan looked calm on the surface, as if he was still in the joy of winning the championship, but he was cursing in his heart.
Therefore, he chose to enter the free market with his agent, David Falcao, and wait and see.
As for whether he was pressuring the Bulls 'management and owner, Reinsdorff, or trying to make a splash in the free market to see his own value, only he knew.
In short, Jordan was now a super-nuclear bomb in the free market, causing huge waves. Many teams, including the New York Knicks, began to plot to get him. All information about other players in the free market was blocked, just to bring him back to their team, even if they had to pay a super high salary.
James Dolan was even more heroic. He gave the management an order to sign Jordan at any cost.
At this time, the New York Knicks only had a salary of more than 10 million yuan, which was not enough to complete such a task. Therefore, the management and Dolan's team racked their brains and finally discussed a feasibility.
The next day, they offered Jordan a super big contract that included a commercial endorsement and dry shares of a hotel. The total annual salary was more than 30 million US dollars, so that Jordan would have a real income after retirement and could make money comfortably.
At this time, the league did not have a maximum salary limit. How much the player could get was completely decided by the agent and the GM. There was no luxury tax, and the salary cap only restricted the signing of people from the free market when there was not enough space.
It was only after the 1999 lockdown that the new collective bargaining agreement increased the maximum wage limit and luxury tax.
In the past, in order to sign O'Neal, the general manager of the Laker, logo man West, did not hesitate to trade All-Star center Divas for rookie Kobe. In addition to focusing on Kobe's potential, it was more important to make room for O'Neal's salary.
Now, Dolan's boldness and decisiveness had shocked the entire Alliance.
In the past season, the Alliance's salary cap was only around 24 million.
Such a terrifying contract shocked the entire league and made Jordan silent.
Although the contract was big, it was a difficult choice for him to leave the Bulls, who had just won the championship and had been their home since he entered the league.
While Van Gundy was still arguing with the management, General Manager Greenfield's mobile phone suddenly rang.
"Who are you?"
"I'll give you ten seconds to finish it.”
He seemed to be trying hard to convince Van Gundy and felt impatient, so he shouted at his face.
" Please pass the phone to Jeff."”
Hmm?
Greenfield pondered for a moment, trying to recall who the voice on the other end of the phone belonged to. He subconsciously handed the phone to Van Gundy.
"Hello, I'm Jeff Van Gundy.”
Compared to him, Van Gundy was much more reserved, and his tone was quite calm.
"Jeff, I'm Dunn, Dunn Cheney. I think it's necessary for you to come to our training center.”
"Training center? Is there anything?"
Van Gundy asked in confusion when he heard that the person opposite him was his assistant, Don Cheney.
"We found a Michael Jordan!”Don Cheney replied excitedly.
Found Jordan?
When Van Gundy heard the man's name, he directly ignored some of the words in the other party's words and asked in shock,""What is Michael doing there?”
"It's not Michael Jordan himself, but a little guy who's more talented than he is. Heavens, I've never seen a guy with such an outstanding physique. Come quickly.”
After the other party urged her, she was about to hang up when she suddenly thought of something and added," It's best to bring one or two people from the management level and let them come and take a look.”
"We might not need to spend so much money to sign Jordan himself. We can train one ourselves.”
(I need to look up too much information. It's really difficult to write!) Please support me!
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