Chapter 1299 Nike Takes Action

"27 million for 3 years? No, this contract is still too small."

Finally, he sent an invitation contract to George Hill, a restricted player of the Spurs. The contract is 40 million US dollars for 5 years, 8 million US dollars per year.

According to the new labor-management agreement, this is the longest contract that George Hill can get.

After the Spurs received this invitation contract, General Manager Buford was immediately embarrassed.

Now the team has Duncan + Bosh + Artest + Parker, which has exceeded the salary cap. The pressure of luxury tax is very high. The new season may bear 70 to 80 million luxury tax. With the small ball market of the Spurs, it can no longer afford it and it is impossible to match this contract.

"Greg, what do you think?"

He informed Popovich. Popovich did not want Hill to go to the Suns, but he could not stop it, so he could only bite his teeth and agree.

In this way, the Spurs gave up matching the invitation contract.

"The Hammer is finally back. I hope the operation of the new season will be better." Buford said with expectation.

Hearing this, Popovich said he wanted to vomit blood.

But he knew that the team's operation was already in trouble. If the operating income did not increase, bankruptcy was possible, or the current lineup would be dismantled, so it was hard to say anything.

George Hill and his agent were very happy after receiving the notice. Although the Spurs are very strong now, the Suns are a double dynasty team. Although they did not even make the playoffs last year, isn't this the return of the Hammer?

And now that the Hammer has returned, the Suns are the most watched big team in the league. If he joins the Suns, he will definitely receive more attention, which is much better than staying in the small Spurs team.

Not surprisingly, George Hill and his agent accepted the contract and announced that they would join the Suns.

David Griffin was very happy to win George Hill, and said to Payton excitedly: "Popovich helped us train George Hill. Three years later, we will go for Kawhi Leonard. He is the one we are optimistic about."

"Haha..."

Payton laughed, and then said: "Now our starting lineup has a main center, a main power forward, and a main guard combination. We only lack a main small forward. David, you have to speed up the time. There are fewer and fewer people in the free market."

"Don't worry, I will not sleep these days to complete the transaction." David Griffin laughed.

He then calculated the salary, not counting Li Ba's. Garnett and Kidd are both veteran contracts of one million. Jimmy Butler and Chandler Parsons are both low in the draft, and they also have an annual salary of only one million, or even less. The four people add up to only four million US dollars, plus George Hill's 8 million, plus Ginobili's 14 million, a total of 26 million US dollars.

According to the new owner Hassan, in the next few seasons, there is no need to worry about luxury taxes. The team can also sign a maximum salary player, or even a star player with an annual salary of tens of millions of dollars.

He also needs to find a center backup, and there are two in the free market, one is Tyson Chandler and the other is Nene.

Both players have a problem, they are not in good physical condition, prone to injury, and can only play for more than 20 minutes, not 30 minutes.

Moreover, both of them are weak in offense and strong in defense, and their annual salary levels are similar, both above 10 million.

Tyson Chandler was also a Suns player and a younger brother of Li Ba. Griffin chose Chandler, which was also instructed by Li Ba.

He offered a 4-year, $48 million contract and reported it to Chandler's agent.

Chandler's agent is Jeff Schwartz, the first gold medal agent in the NBA. He is also ranked sixth among the top ten sports agents in the world.

Now in the league, Gao Yuanyuan, who has Li Ba, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Harden, Derrick Rose, Gasol, Love, Westbrook and other stars, is at the same level as him.

"Tyson, it's only 48 million, 12 million lower than the Knicks' contract. Do you want to go? If you really want to go to the Suns, I will help you negotiate the contract." He said.

With his ability, he can definitely get a higher contract than this one.

"Let me talk to the boss. You know that the Suns' salary has no room at all." Chandler thought for a while and said.

"Tyson, it may be difficult for you to get a higher contract if you find the hammer. This is a business. Just talk to the management directly."

Schwartz advised. He thought for a while and said, "Actually, I don't quite agree with you going to the Suns. You should play the main force. You still have such strength, and you don't lack rings. The Knicks are the team you should go to."

Chandler thought again and again and agreed with his agent.

So Schwartz rejected the Suns' contract and asked to increase the contract to 4 years and 60 million US dollars.

David Griffin would definitely not agree to this offer. He was looking for a substitute, not a main force. The annual salary of 1200 was already high enough.

Next, he contacted Nene's agent, Dan Fegan.

Speaking of Dan Fegan, he was optimistic about Al-Jazeera when he hadn't entered the league yet, and wanted to sign him. Unfortunately, Al-Jazeera was training with Li Ba at that time, and was signed by Gao Yuanyuan, so he was a step behind.

Dan Fegan was very happy when he received Griffin's call.

After Nene's rookie contract ended, the Suns approached him, wanting Nene to join the Suns, and issued an invitation contract, but the Nuggets matched the invitation contract, and this time, the Nuggets' willingness to renew Nene is not as high as it was six years ago.

In fact, for the championship, he and Nene have been waiting for news from Li Ba and want to join the team where Li Ba is.

"40 million for 4 years?"

Dan Feigen is in a dilemma. He really wants Nene to join the Suns. It was like this 6 years ago and it is still like this now, but isn't this contract too low?

The Wizards have already offered a contract to Nene, also for 4 years, up to 52 million US dollars, and an annual salary of 13 million US dollars. The difference is a bit big.

"But the Wizards don't have a championship. Dan, I want to play in the finals. I have never played in the finals. I haven't even played in the Western Conference Finals."

He called Nene, and Nene's reply was very simple.

Dan Feigen is really in a dilemma. There is no agent who doesn't want his players to get a higher contract.

"Finally, I found a substitute for the Hammer." Griffin was very happy after receiving Dan Feigen's reply.

Nene is better than Chandler because he can play the fourth and fifth positions and make a greater supplement to the lineup.

However, the starting small forward has not been settled yet.

Li Ba returned to the Senbei Castle that day. Time slowly entered October. The new season will start on October 30th.

"Chris Paul must be transferred to the Lakers or the Heat. Both teams lack good point guards. We need them to become stronger."

"Last season, James won the championship and our sales revenue soared. We should continue to work hard in the new season."

"Go and talk to Clippers owner Sterling. He is very interested in money. We have to hurry up."

"As far as I know, Chris Paul does not want to go to the Clippers. He hopes to go to a championship team. I think this can be achieved."

"In addition, Deron Williams has not signed yet. We can make some arrangements."

"In this way, we will have to transfer a lot of money to the Lakers and the Heat!"

"Compared to what we get, this is nothing. And I suspect that Adidas is also transferring funds to the Suns."

"If there is evidence that Adidas is transferring funds to the Suns, we can complain to the league about them."

"This is a good idea."

At the Nike headquarters in New York, a meeting about the NBA was being held, chaired by President Philip Knight himself.