No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 1430: Epilogue
Leaving was a decision Zhang Yang made after a year of consideration.
For both him personally and his family, Charlotte was too small.
In terms of basketball, no matter how hard he tried or how well he played, at most he could only make the Bobcats a deluxe version of the Spurs. After seven years, he deeply realized this.
That would already be great, and if he hadn’t seen bigger scenes, it would be enough to satisfy him.
But unfortunately, he had seen more dazzling stars.
He’s not content with just being one of the greatest in history anymore.
His dissatisfaction with Jordan in recent years actually stems from this, although Jordan has become less passionate about basketball as a boss, he’s still qualified as a capitalist, knowing when to invest money and not being stingy.
However, the various restrictions on player salaries that he led and pushed greatly affected the Bobcats’ recruitment as a small city team.
For example, the ’Double Mid-Level’ represented by Jordan, which is the full mid-level and mini mid-level, had a significant impact on the Bobcats’ summer recruitment plans after Ibaka’s contract extension with a salary exceeding 85 million took effect, reducing the 6 million exception to 3.3 million.
If he hadn’t won the championship in the 11-12 season, he would most likely choose to stay, but after winning the championship, apart from his long-time teammates, there was nothing else to hold him.
Of course, he couldn’t just leave without considering anything, even if the next team was benefiting from rookie bonuses and had enough salary cap space.
The past seven years were mutual accomplishments, after all.
Choosing to join the Knicks, as the media reported, he first and foremost valued the Knicks’ excellent management at that moment.
The Lakers and Bulls were also under consideration, the former’s Three Giants were willing to take pay cuts, and Kobe had opted out of his contract to renew at a reduced salary, showing full sincerity; the latter was willing to give up everyone except Wade and Yao Ming, and Wade expressed willingness to change his jersey number.
But the former had a too glorious team history, his joining would only be the icing on the cake.
The latter, besides already being branded with Jordan’s name, had future prospects that were concerning, as Yao Ming had hinted at retirement plans early during the lockout, possibly retiring in 2014 after playing the Olympics this year and the next World Championship, at the latest playing one more Olympics in 2016, with the possibility that his health might not hold up until then.
Furthermore, Wade’s peak period was uncertain on how long it would last, his static physique conditions as a shooting guard were quite average, combined with the ticking time bomb of a knee injury, even with better medical and managerial treatment at the Bulls, it was ultimately a hidden concern.
Zhang Yang wasn’t after short-term gains, having won championships before.
He actually considered the Pacers where DeRozan was, Big Bird secretly found him in Charlotte, expressing willingness to use Granger as a trade chip, truly showing Green Army blood, cold-bloodedness not far off from Ainge.
This was a huge temptation for him, with DeRozan, Randolph, Hibbert... but he later abandoned this plan, fearing the Pacers, like the Bobcats, might eventually face the situation of having money but unable to spend.
From a realistic angle, Stern had announced his retirement date, Hibbert being cut down by Silver was inevitable, his joining might even expedite it.
Due to this, DeRozan shortened his contract from an original 5-year 60 million offer, foregoing the last year’s 16 million, to renew for 4 years at 44 million, becoming a third or fourth house, with small game cards, not even securing a player option.
Currently, as Zhang Yang remembers, the Knicks, if he wasn’t there, Harden wouldn’t have entered the draft early, and the Knicks wouldn’t have been able to select Harden. Nonetheless, under Donnie Walsh’s operation, they signed Stoudemire and brought in Anthony, becoming the team second to the Heat’s Three Giants in the East and reaching the East Final.
Until James Dolan erratically blamed the team collapse due to injuries of Stoudemire and Anthony on Donnie Walsh emptying the team for Anthony’s trade, then fired him and replaced him with Phil Jackson as the general manager, leading the Knicks back into a retirement mode.
After discussing with Donnie Walsh, to ensure both their interests, he demanded Dolan renew Donnie Walsh’s contract in advance, while himself only signing a short contract.
Compared to the slight salary increase every year, securing autonomy was more important to him, especially since the place he was going was New York.
Furthermore, it was New York! Losing that bit of salary was more than worthwhile for him, as within a week of signing, his endorsements surged, exceeding the salary he’d earn from the Knicks in the first year.
...
In 2010, Camby’s two-year contract with the Trail Blazers expired, all necessary space-clearing was done, Harden retained Bird rights yet hadn’t formally renewed, the big contracts only included Zhang Yang and Bosh, along with Nash’s starting salary of 8.3 million.
Added to that were Iman Shumpert’s rookie contract, newly signed Belgian League MVP Chris Copeland, and a 47,000 minimum salary contract for Argentine veteran Pablo Prigioni, aged 35, along with their own draft and an early Trail Blazers’ first-round pick selecting a rookie inside player, Miles Plumlee, 24th overall, and first-round 17th pick rookie center, Tyler Zeller, yet to sign formally.
The Knicks roster list only had 9 people, with salary space, and multiple main rotation positions, even two starting spots yet to be determined, a large influx of veterans and high-quality role players in their prime headed to New York.
