Chapter 1584 1583. Milicic’s Determination

On June 27, 2008, on the morning of draft day, the Raptors officially announced that they would fire general manager Glenn Grunwald and hire team chief consultant Masai Ujiri to become the team's new general manager. .

It is rare in NBA history for a team to change its general manager on the day of the draft. However, there have been many big events recently, so this incident did not make the hot news. After all, the Raptors themselves are not a very popular team. People recognize their strength, but not many people really pay attention to them.

In recent days, in addition to the Cavaliers fans sending away Tyson Chandler, the center who is most compatible with James, and getting back O'Neal, there are many other big things happening.

Steve Nash, who could enter the player option this summer, did not opt ​​out of the five-year, 65 million contract he signed that year as people expected. The last year of the contract was only 13.5 million. Although Nash was 34 years old at this time, he did not opt ​​out of the contract. It's not a problem to get a four-year, $80 million contract with bird rights.

But Nash didn't do that. He said in an interview that the Suns gave him respect during his most difficult time, so he would rather take one year less of the maximum salary and chose to extend the contract in advance for 3 years and 58 million. Before Nash came to 2012, he belonged to the Suns.

Suns general manager Steve Kerr said that they would like to give Nash a dominance clause similar to that of Kobe Bryant, that is, the right to veto trade, but Nash cannot meet the conditions for the right to veto trade. The current right to trade veto requires at least 7 It would be fine if they did not change teams in 2011. The new version of the labor agreement in 2011 was shortened to 4 years due to the efforts of the players union.

But Steve Kerr said that the Suns will not make any Nash-related trades before Nash chooses to leave the team or retire.

This makes Rockets general manager Morey, who is preparing to offer Nash in the summer, very sad...

Nash reciprocates the favor, but the Bulls are in big trouble!

Garnett refused to exercise his player option and became a completely free agent. He had already rejected the Bulls' offer to extend his contract for 3 years and 60 million to 2012. After he jumped out of the contract, he also rejected the 4-year and 80 million offer. Contract renewal.

There is also a "big news" that people laugh about.

When people opt out of player options, they are announced by their own agency, or by the media after they learn about it.

For the Eagles, their owner Steven Price announced on Facebook that his team's star player Ace Liu jumped out of the last year of his 19.1 million contract to test the free market...

As soon as this news came out, it quickly occupied the number one spot on all major forums, all complaining about Price's proud face.

The clever Price became popular before the draft...

…

Ujiri has been a professional basketball player since 1993. He has played in the Continental Basketball Association League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and La Liga. He even tried out in the CBA in the late 1990s, but no one wanted him. He started working as a scout in the new century. ...After going through so many ups and downs, he finally got a three-year, $15 million contract from the Raptors and became the general manager of the Raptors.

But as soon as he took office, he faced huge troubles.

The strongest player in team history applies for a trade!

On the first day of taking office, he had to negotiate with Milicic, which made Ujiri's head explode.

The reason why the Raptors fired former general manager Grunwald overnight was because last night Grunwald tried to trade Milicic after several failed negotiations with Milicic, but was rejected by Raptors president Brian - Colangelo fired and now wants to use the team's chief adviser Ujiri, who has always had a good relationship with Milicic, to ease the current situation.

In a suite of a hotel in New York, Ujiri had a headache looking at the shy and silent Eastern European big man sitting across from him. He jumped to the Raptors in April 2003 and began to serve as the Raptors' head coach. The team scout has a good relationship with Milicic after the Raptors selected him. He knows that the big man is very introverted, which means he is very stubborn and accepts death.

Just like Misicic in the original time and space, Larry Brown called him useless, and he slowly decided that he was useless. Even though he had just turned 21 when he was traded by the Pistons after his third grade, he still felt that he was useless. It's useless. Even at the age of 21, he averaged 20 minutes per game with the Timberwolves and averaged 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He still felt that he was useless because he easily accepted death.

Such people are more difficult to deal with than clever and cunning opponents. Ujiri's first opponent when he takes office is the star of his own team, which makes Ujiri's scalp numb.

After thinking for a while, Ujiri said sincerely: "Darko, believe us, we will definitely create a stronger lineup for you."

"Can you beat Ace?" Milicic asked.

In fact, after being eliminated by the Magic in early May, Milicic submitted a trade request to the Raptors only a week after being eliminated. No matter what former Raptors general manager Grunwald said, Milicic Qi Du only asked this question.

Ujiri felt helpless that Grunwald chose to negotiate deals with other teams. Milicic's decision could not change his mind!

"OK, Darko, we are friends. I respect your thoughts, but you should know how high your value is. If we can't get the ideal return, the boss will definitely not agree to the transaction, and you won't agree to the deal with Glenn." Got it, I hope you can understand the final result." That was all Ujiri could say.

"I understand, thank you, Marseille." Milicic responded, stood up and left Ujiri's room.

The negotiation lasted only three minutes... Ujiri became even more depressed.

After Milicic left, Ujiri came to team president Colangelo's room, and Colangelo now also had a headache.

Seeing Ujiri coming, Colangelo seemed to have seen a savior and quickly asked: "Marseille, where is Darko..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Ujiri shaking his head.

At this stage of the matter, there is no need to say too much. Ujiri said bluntly: "Boss, if we don't trade, we will definitely not be able to keep Darko in two years. In another year, if Darko publicly announces his application for a trade, we will You lose the initiative in trading.”

Even Ujiri said this, Colangelo felt a trace of despair...

It's true that he is called the boss, but he is just the president, not the real owner. Sending Milicic away almost means that the Raptors will fall from the top team to an ordinary team, and may even slip to the edge of the playoffs. Everything about the Dragons is built around Milicic.

"Boss, we should make a decision quickly and find the best return before this matter is revealed!" Ujiri said seriously.

"Marseille, everything is left to you. I have always admired you. This team was built based on your suggestions. You know how to do the best..." Colangelo had no choice.

In the past, Grunwald could be fired to give an explanation to the boss, but now the general manager has been changed once. If the boss is not satisfied with the next report to the boss on the progress of the matter, the one who will be fired will definitely not be the new general manager. The manager, but him, the president!

…

…

Liu Mang, Price, the coaching staff and others were very depressed.

After receiving a call from Grunwald last night, they stayed up all night, waiting for follow-up negotiations. Who knew they stayed up all night and received the news that Grunwald had been fired!

Seeing the news that the NBA official website was pushed to the back page, a group of people gathered in front of the computer were speechless.

What is this thing called?

"I'm so sleepy, boss, it's best to exchange the No. 10 pick for a draft pick in 10 or 11 years. 11 years is the best. I'm going to sleep." Liu Mang yawned after finishing speaking, "Are you still waiting? , I’ll check the room first.”

"Ace, renew the contract..." Price really wanted to say this to Liu Mang.

However, he still held back his words.

Since Liu Mang is involved in the team's transaction and is considering things in 10 and 11 years, he must not renew his contract. Price thinks Liu Mang just wants to wait until the new salary cap comes out on July 10. .

I originally wanted to ask which high school students in 2010 or 2011 were attracted by Liu Mang, but Price still didn't ask and responded: "Ace, go back and rest quickly, I told you not to wait. We will call you if necessary."

"Coach, John, Carl...bye, I'm going back to bed."

Liu Mang couldn't stand it anymore. After saying hello to the people in the room, he went back to the next room to sleep.

When I got back to the room, I just lay down. It was said that I wanted to sleep, but anyone who has stayed up all night knows that I really want to sleep but I really can't fall asleep right away at that time.

After lying down for almost half an hour, the feeling of swelling in his head after staying up late finally disappeared. Liu Mang, who closed his eyes and tossed and turned, finally felt that his eyes could close on their own, and finally fell asleep.

Just when Liu Mang fell asleep, the door was banged...

"Who is it!" Liu Mang was instantly awakened, walked out of the bedroom, and roared towards the door.

"Ace, the Raptors called again!"

"Damn! He Ma Mai XXX...is sick!"

Liu Mang started speaking Chinese directly...