Chapter 392: Tang Tian's Final Decision (Fourth Change)
Opened the wine, drank it, and chatted. Compared with the meeting a few days ago, this is really a completely different style.
To be honest, it's not like a meeting, it's just a meal.
This should also be the atmosphere that should be there. The Spurs are the home team, and what is to be discussed is not the contract, but whether the contract will be matched.
"Don, the three-year poison contract, Greg and I have already talked about it, and we are capable of persuading the management to agree."
Buford spoke to Tang Tian.
He's the man with the most pressure on the Spurs right now.
"I've met with a few other teams and they're all offering four-year deals."
Tang Tian didn't hide it either, he knew about the unpleasant incident between Leonard and the Spurs in his previous life.
If he had to leave, he didn't want to leave that way.
He chooses to communicate frankly, which is the way to maximize his interests. If the Spurs are willing to spend their money, then they will do so, and if they are not willing, they will leave with dignity.
"Do you want to be the core of the team?"
Popovich put down his red wine glass at this time, looked at Tang Tian and asked.
Tang Tian nodded.
After all, Popovich has coached in the NBA for more than 20 years and has already guessed his thoughts.
In fact, he should also have figured it out. If he wasn't the core, Tang Tian really had no reason to leave the Spurs.
Popovich didn't speak anymore, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.
"Your current ability to hold the ball is not enough to be the core, you need time." After a long time, Popovich said.
"I have confidence, old man." Tang Tian replied calmly.
Popovich froze for a moment.
"I've known you for a long time. I knew it when I signed the rookie contract."
After a while, he smiled wryly, then nodded.
Seeing Popovich's reaction, Tang Tian also felt uncomfortable.
After staying in the Spurs for two years, whether it is with Popovich, or Duncan, Ginobili and other teammates, he has feelings.
Especially for an elderly person like him, the emotional level is the saddest.
"Tim told me about wanting to retire early. He said that if he retires early, the team will have enough salary space to sign you."
Buford spoke at this moment.
Tang Tian was taken aback after hearing this, and then couldn't help but let out a smirk.
Duncan is always so quiet, but always chooses to give silently behind his back.
Why does he have such a teammate!
"Grandpa, if the Spurs are willing to match the four-year contract, I am willing to wait two more years, but only if Tim retires after two years."
Tang Tian said.
He didn't want Duncan to retire early because of himself.
In the end, he got emotional and disrupted the previous overall plan.
"good."
Popovich looked at Tang Tian and nodded.
This time the meeting took place faster than expected, because of Duncan and also because of Tang Tian's compromise.
The free agent market keeps breaking out various verbal agreements, and they will not be able to sign a formal contract until the end of the freeze period in July.
In the past few days, Tang Tian had a second meeting with the Rockets, Mavericks, and Pelicans to decide which team to sign with.
The content discussed in the second meeting was more detailed and in-depth.
And during this process, Tang Tian also asked a question half-jokingly.
"Can I participate in the decision-making of the team's management? If I help the team enter the playoffs, or go further."
This is a very sensitive issue, especially since he is still a role player.
So he just said it in a tongue-in-cheek way.
"You have a good sense of humor." This was Morey's answer.
"Ah ha ha." This is Cuban's reaction.
"If you can do it, there's nothing wrong with it," was Benson's reply.
After knowing the responses of the three teams, Tang Tianxin basically had the answer.
In fact, with the advantages and disadvantages of the three teams, he can go anywhere, but this half-joking topic is what he must do in the future.
He has been on the sidelines of the draft for two consecutive years, and he can't bear it anymore.
And more importantly, he doesn't seem to be the kind of person who plays hard but is dragged down by the cheating management.
Moreover, he is a time traveler, and the effect on management intervention is completely different from that of James.
On July 11, after the end of the NBA freeze period, Tang Tian made the final decision.
He had Fagan contact the Mavericks and the Rockets first, then finally called Dale Demps himself.
He will sign an offer contract with the Pelicans.
Not long after Tang Tian contacted Dempsey, Dempsey met Tang Tian.
The two parties quickly signed the contract.
Dempsey also took a photo and tweeted it personally.
"The future of the Pelicans, Don and AD."
Soon, Woj also followed up the report that Tang accepted a 4-year contract worth about 40 million from the Pelicans. The starting salary of this contract was 5 million, and the last two years were the maximum salary.
As soon as the news of the signing broke out, social media exploded instantly.
"I read it right! My big pelican finally stood out?!"
"This decision is really surprising. I thought Tang would definitely go to Houston!"
"That's right, the Rockets are the best at training Chinese players! It's been a miserable summer for them, they didn't pursue Howard, and they didn't pursue Tang..."
"I also find it strange. Even if you don't go to Houston, you should at least go to Dallas. Texas is tax-free!"
"It's okay, we're used to it, Dallas, the offseason is always empty, and the Mavericks."
"Have you learned about the popular science of the ball emperor and why did you choose the Pelicans in the end? Because there are New Orleans grilled wings there?"
"New Orleans does not have New Orleans Roast Wings! As a Pelicans fan, I think Don's choice is too right. We already have AD as the inside core. If Don comes again, he will be a twin star, plus Holiday and Gordon. Return to the playoffs in the new season!"
"By the way, do you think Tang is too high? He is just a system player from the Spurs. How could he be the core of the team!"
"Yes, if I were Tang, I would definitely pray for the Spurs to match the contract. Otherwise, if I really went to the Pelicans, the data would shrink significantly. This may be the first and last big contract of my career!"
"Is Tang going to become Tang Tian?
"Why are there so many sunspots all of a sudden? Tang is only a sophomore! Kobe was still playing as a substitute in his sophomore year, right? He already won two championships!"
"This has to mention Durant's system players, and that has indeed been proved enough. As a system player, Tang cannot do without the Spurs."
"Then will the Spurs match the contract?!"
"Who knows, but there should be a result soon. According to the regulations, the home team can decide whether to match the contract within 72 hours. Wait and see!"
...
ps: My original plan was to finish writing the final result today, but when I wrote it, I found that there was still one chapter left, um, the next chapter, the next chapter is the final result, sorry, sorry.
Thanks to pickup control, mushroom k, book friend 20181201062917412, and struggling salted fish i for their rewards.