Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 1118 - 622 Everything Has Changed Yet
Chapter 1118: Chapter 622 Everything Has Changed, Yet Nothing Has Changed Chapter 1118: Chapter 622 Everything Has Changed, Yet Nothing Has Changed For the Clippers, it was an ordinary summer.
Since Yu Fei announced his renewal, this was destined.
They definitely would not have major changes; the only thing to do was to keep the two-time championship team.
Besides keeping Yu Fei, the Clippers also chose to renew Antetokounmpo’s contract in advance.
The Greek’s rookie contract had only one year left, but he had been selected as an All-Star and for the All-NBA Teams in two consecutive years, and had won the championship with the team, fully triggering the “Yu Fei clause.”
After negotiations, the Clippers offered Antetokounmpo a four-year contract worth $120 million US dollars. This might have been a dream-come-true moment for him. He finally achieved the grand ambition he had set when entering the NBA; this amount of money was enough to provide for his family’s livelihood.
Meanwhile, the Clippers also renewed veteran Richard Jefferson for one more year. And for Yao Ming, even though his contract still had one year left, the team still offered him a two-year, $50 million dollar renewal in advance. It should be noted that Yao was already a bench player, and he would be 37 years old at the end of the next season.
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Under these circumstances, this hefty contract for Yao is not just for matching his star status, but the team’s owner felt it was necessary to reward such a veteran who had wholly devoted himself to the team. This contract would also ensure that Yao would still earn a $25 million salary in 2019.
Of course, the Clippers have the confidence to do so. Jokić’s rookie contract bonus still has two years left, and when Jokić also signs a large contract, if Yu Fei is still playing, the Clippers will face the pressure of four max contracts, but this scenario would only last for one year. Yao has made it clear, he will retire in 2019, so the team doesn’t need to worry about the renewal issue anymore.
This renewal not only improved the Clippers’ image but showed their respect for a meritorious veteran, and also established a good reputation within the league for treating players well. Compared to the approaches of the Supersonics and Miami Heat in those days, the Clippers’ stance seems especially noble.
However, Josh Richardson was traded after the championship celebration, in exchange for the signing rights to Pascal Siakam, which displeased some fans. They think that Arne Trem became somewhat complacent after leading the team to two consecutive championships.
The Los Angeles Times also issued a critique: “JR (initials) proved in his rookie season that he is one of the most outstanding players in the 2016 draft class. As a team that struggles to obtain high draft picks, we should feel fortunate to have such outstanding young players. They are the foundation of the Clippers’ rise. However, JR was traded just half a month after winning the second championship — in return for an older Cameroon player, Arne Trem will pay the price for this!”
With the Times leading the charge, other media in Los Angeles naturally began to express their doubts.
However, Trem was not at all fazed by this.
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He had survived much tougher public scrutiny before, so what was this?
Moreover, Siakam was designated by GOAT, Trem believes this person must have something extraordinary.
Another undercurrent beneath the Clippers’ glamorous surface is their rationality and clarity in dealing with mercenaries.
They like people like Jefferson who know their bounds, and people like Brown who do not presume upon favor, but when Monta Ellis asked for a raise on the grounds of helping the team win the championship, the Clippers decisively put him on the market.
Yu Fei agreed with this decision.
There are too many people who can do the job of a scoring substitute, Ellis is his peer, but their relationship is purely professional.
He did what he was supposed to do last season, if he is willing to continue earning the minimum wage, staying would not be a problem, but if he wants a raise, then they can only let him go.
Yu Fei believes Brogdon will be the perfect replacement for Ellis.
Besides Ellis, the Clippers also signed Seth Curry, Stephen Curry’s brother.
This was the Clippers’ last move of the summer, and it went unnoticed.
NBA did not experience a monumental summer like those of 2011 or 2009.
Yu Fei renewed his contract, James switched teams, the Clippers remained strong, and Miami Heat suddenly gained the capability to disrupt the balance of the Eastern Conference, thanks to the surge in salary cap space.
The Spurs in the Western seized Al Horford from the free market after Duncan’s retirement, which was considered a move that could mitigate the impact of Duncan’s retirement.
On the other side, the Warriors also unlocked salary cap space due to the significant increase in the salary cap, but unfortunately, there were no players on the market who could change the landscape; they could only throw money at the versatile French forward Nicolas Batum.
After signing Batum, the depth on the Warriors’ wing improved a bit, but there was still a feeling of having spent money without really spending it.
Because Batum could not change anything, their destiny still lay in the hands of Leonard and Lillard.
Summer was about to end.
ESPN’s signed writer Zack Lowe ranked the Clippers in first place and the Miami Heat in second place in the 2016-17 NBA power rankings.
Lowe said: “The Clippers’ hope for a three-peat rests on the growth of Giannis and Nikola, and whether Miami can break the Clippers’ dynasty depends on whether Stephen can willingly accept the fact that he might no longer be Miami’s pri
