Chapter 847 [Enough to Defend the Title, Very Fun]
Every time the Clippers signed a minimum-salary player, someone in the management raised questions, worrying that the team would not be able to defend the title next season. They suggested that Yang Rui sign a big-name star instead. Yang Ruiquan refused and signed according to the list he gave.
There are many big fish in the free market this year, and Yang Rui is interested in those who have not yet shown their worth and have great tactical impact. He is confident that he can win the championship next season with this group of people.
It is difficult to train new players if you introduce too much immediate combat power. Not only Antetokounmpo, but Covington and Crabbe also want to train them.
Crabbe was good at catching and shooting last season, but the Clippers had too many players and he couldn't get on the court.
In Yang Rui's previous life, Crabbe's five-season career three-point shooting percentage was as high as 41%, averaging 10 points per game. He also defended well and had the potential to become a 3D player. In 2016, he signed a four-year, 75 million contract with the Trail Blazers. Fat appointment.
In the 17-18 season, Covington was also a strongman who could score 15+6, with a three-point shooting percentage of more than 40%, and received a four-year, 62 million contract extension from the 76ers.
Compared with his contribution, it is obvious that the 76ers have made money.
Not only can Covington shoot three-pointers, in the 16-17 season, in terms of real plus-minus, Covington was the league's top wing defender. He was the player who ranked first among small forwards in defensive real plus-minus. .
Covington played for the 76ers for three years, and his drpm increased from 0.02 to 3.66. In the small forward drpm ranking last season, Covington was second only to Leonard and James, ranking third among small forwards. three. This is enough to prove Covington's importance to the 76ers' defensive end.
Yang Rui thinks the Clippers lineup is great, but fans around the world are in an uproar. Next season, the Clippers will have three high-paid players, Curry, Nene, and Gasol. Gasol, who ranks third in salary, will earn an average of 7 million. A little more, the salary of the middle-class Gay and Danny Green of 4 million ranks 4th and 5th.
The salaries of other Clippers players are not high, totaling 64 million.
What is this concept?
The NBA's official salary cap for next season is $63.065 million, and the luxury tax line is set at $76.829 million. As the defending champion, the Clippers' salary is just over the salary cap, ranking in the middle and lower reaches of the league, lower than last season.
The Lakers in the same city have left Gasol, with a total salary of US$67.87 million, and the team's roster currently only has 13 players.
Of course, the Lakers' high salary is mainly due to Kobe. He signed a two-year, $48.5 million early contract extension with the Lakers on November 25, 2013.
The salary for the new season is US$23.5 million, which is a lot lower than the US$30.45 million last season. Despite this, many people still complain that the Lakers signed a favor contract.
Kobe didn't think so. In an interview, he said that his value was much more than that. He accepted a salary cut to stay with the Lakers. Last season, as the only star in the league with an efficiency value outside of 50, Kobe's salary was a bit outrageous, but the Lakers really had no better choice.
When Yang Rui welcomed the new players, he accepted an interview with the media and answered the salary issue head-on: "I think this is enough to defend the title. If the Clippers dig another star, other teams will definitely be beaten again. I think even more It's a lot of fun developing young stars, I don't want to just be a spectator up close and personal on the sidelines."
Yang Rui's words immediately made headlines on major sports news. Some people thought he was domineering, while others were disgusted that he was too crazy.
Before the free market started, everyone predicted that the Clippers would make big moves this summer, especially since they sent away Griffin and had ample salary space. Many people speculated that they would sign one of James and Anthony to form a giant team. .
As a result, the most famous new players signed by the Clippers turned out to be the controversial Gasol and Nene.
Gasol is fine in the Grizzlies. He has obvious advantages, including shooting, support, and low-post footwork. After joining the Lakers, he became synonymous with being a softie and a defensive black hole.
As early as the summer of 2006, Nene signed a six-year, $60 million high-paying long-term contract with the Nuggets. However, this "Mr. Millions" quickly became a laughing stock, and some fans even compared him to the other three players in North America. The "parallel importer" in major professional sports leagues are compared together, because his contribution to the team is really not proportional to the money he earns.
In the free market after the NBA lockout in 2011, Nene became one of the most sought-after players. In the end, he and the Nuggets reached a five-year contract worth a total of US$67 million.
The result was the same as before. Nene was injured immediately, his attendance rate was not guaranteed, and he basically fell out of the group of second-tier stars.
The team's small spending is not enough for Yang Rui to make headlines. With such a lineup, he is still confident to defend the title. It is difficult not to attract attention.
The good news is that there are not many teams with salary space to recruit and compete for the championship. For example, the Nets' salary space has been locked up and they can only sign big names after Yao Ming's contract expires next season. Their strength will not be as good as Even stronger last season.
The Pacers also have no space, and no one wants to use Roy Hibbert as a bargaining chip to trade. Hibbert's performance in the playoffs was so poor that he has two years left on his contract. His annual salary next season will be as high as $14.89 million. He will have a player option for the 2015-16 season, with an annual salary of $15.51 million.
Only the Bucks are willing to send big man Larry Sanders to the Pacers for a trade, and the management is not stupid enough.
Big-name players have decided where to go. Luol Deng joined the Heat with a two-year contract of 20 million.
Heat, Thunder and Knicks reach three-way deal.
The Heat sent Dion Waiters, Alex Kirk, Louis Amundson, and a 2019 second-round draft pick to the Knicks for Jr. Smith and Iman Shumpert, and a protected player from the Thunder. First round pick.
The Thunder sent Lance Thomas and a future protected first-round pick to the Heat for Waiters.
The Knicks sent Jr. Smith and Shumpert to receive Thomas, Alex Kirk and Louis Amundson, and the Heat's second-round draft pick.
The Heat, Suns, and Pelicans also reached a three-way deal. The Heat sent a protected first-round pick in the top seven picks in 2017 and an unprotected first-round pick in 2021 to the Suns, and sent Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and forward Sean Williams to the Pelicans. Point guard Goran Dragic and his younger brother Zoran Dragic, the Pelicans also sent John Salmons to the Suns.
The Suns had the combination of Tyreke Evans and Bledsoe, and the three guards were not suitable, so Dragic was traded.
After acquiring Blake Griffin, Pat Riley was eager to compete for the championship and prove that he was still a "gold teller."
Now the Heat have put together the starting lineup of Dragic, Jr. Smith, Luol Deng, TT Thompson, and Griffin. The substitutes include Haslem, Shumpert, Parker Udou, etc. The strength is not bad, but Lack of a good tank center.
After two big trades, Riley was very proud and thought he had the capital to challenge the Nets and Wizards.
Dwyane Wade chose to sign with the Bulls freely. The Bulls will also have Jabari Parker next season. If Rose can find his form, his outside strength will be pretty good.
The Rockets also successfully strengthened their ranks and offered Bosh a four-year, $70 million contract. If the Heat win the championship, the Rockets will definitely not be able to poach him, and now Bosh has devalued.
Rockets manager Morey just traded Jeremy Lin's poisonous contract to the Timberwolves, freeing up enough salary space. Unlike Yang Rui's previous life, the Rockets do not have the burden of Asik's poisonous contract, who is still with the Bulls.
The Rockets have assembled the Big Three of Harden, Howard, and Bosh. Their lineup is amazing, but I don't know how long Bosh can last. Owner Alexander saw the hope of winning the championship, plus the huge increase in broadcast rights, and had no intention of selling the team.