Chapter 568 Lin Dong's Decision

"What's the matter with you?" Lin Dong, who was standing next to him, smiled and grabbed his arm: "What? You think the salary given to you by the Sonics is too low? Do you want to earn more millions in the next five years?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi was startled, and then his face turned red. Although he felt that Brother Takato was just joking, he didn't want to be misunderstood even ten thousandth by Brother Takato, but he didn't know how to express it.

Could it be that he chose to leave because of Rukawa Kaede and the others? Because Rukawa Kaede and the others are nothing if they leave the Sonics?

That would hurt people's self-esteem too much...

Just when he didn't know how to answer, Lin Dong had already stood up and pushed Sakuragi Hanamichi back to his seat: "Just stay at the Supersonics, this is your second home."

"Brother Takato!" Sakuragi Hanamichi is no longer the high school student he was a few years ago. This decision he made was not an impulse, but the result of careful consideration. He will never change it easily just because the other party is Brother Takato. own decision.

He wanted to stand up again and say something, but Lin Dong's big hand pressed firmly on his shoulder, and he turned his head and looked at everyone in the conference room with a smile.

"Ms. Yang originally wanted to announce the news at the end of the meeting, but since everyone is so anxious, let's announce it in advance."

"For the sake of balancing the league and promoting basketball, we really shouldn't selfishly retain this invincible lineup, but..."

Lin Dong's eyes swept over the faces of Iguodala, Chandler, Rukawa Kaede and Sakuragi Hanamichi one by one.

He said calmly: "The SuperSonics can establish a four-champion dynasty, and everyone here has contributed a lot."

"When the boxing champion was injured, Ms. Yang said that the Sonics would not abandon any of their meritorious officials. This sentence still applies today."

Everyone was stunned. Is this really going to be like those netizens on the Internet analyzed, using 7 rookie contracts to fill the team, and then forcibly retaining the five main lineups?

Not to mention the damage this will do to the team's future, it not only locks up all room for change in the team, but the luxury tax will inevitably be exceeded every year in the future. And as the Sonics continue to win the championship, the annual salary of the winning players will be based on the league's If the regulations continue to increase, in one or two seasons at most, even this maximum salary will not be enough, and the Sonics will eventually disband.

Moreover, what's even more terrible is that since the league has decided to break them up, I'm afraid they won't even give the Sonics the forced one or two years. Once it is confirmed that the Sonics want to retain the original lineup, the league will inevitably There will also be a new supplementary agreement on god terms.

What's more, didn't Lin Dong just say that we should consider the balance of the league and better promote basketball, but such a decision is undoubtedly contrary to this goal.

What on earth was he trying to say?

"Of course not seven rookie contracts, but there is another way."

Lin Dong smiled and said: "I quit."

In the conference room, except for Yang Dong, McMillan, Payton and other senior officials who had known about the decision in advance, all the players were stunned.

Lin Dong quits? Exit what? Quit the Sonics?

It is true that as Lin Dong, who will have a salary increase of at least 35% of the team's salary cap next season, if he chooses to quit, the SuperSonics can completely acquire players including Sakuragi, Iguodala, Rukawa Kaede and Chandler. all contracts within.

If Lin Dong enters the free agent market, it is conceivable that any team will be willing to offer him a maximum salary. The SuperSonics can even directly exchange Lin Dong for countless first-round picks. His future is still bright. .

However, doesn’t that make everyone become opponents? What's the difference between that and others leaving the Sonics? On the contrary, it will hurt the hearts of more teammates and fans.

Lin Dong is the youngest owner of the Sonics. How can he join other teams to kill his own team?

So, is Lin Dong going to quit the NBA?

"Brother Takato! No matter who leaves, you should not leave!" Sakuragi Hanamichi said: "I know you don't want everyone to leave, but..."

"There are many things you don't know." Lin Dong said, "Before I talk about that, let me tell you some good news. My parents plan to remarry."

A group of people in the conference room were stunned for a moment, and then looked at Yang Dong with strange expressions.

The matter of Lin Dong's parents is no longer a secret in the team, and everyone knows why the female boss left Long Country and came to the United States to work alone.

In the minds of Europeans and Americans, after you become successful and famous, you will be surrounded by people singing and dancing, and you will remarry your ex? This is probably something that is hard to imagine. Even though the relationship between Yang Dong and Lao Lin seemed to be very good in the past two years, to Europeans and Americans, it was just a matter of dignity after a breakup.

Although Bob knew that Lin Dong was leaving, he had just learned the news. At this time, he turned to look at Yang Dong, the lover of his dreams, with a complicated expression on his face.

Bob Myers had mixed feelings for a moment, and said with some discomfort: "Congratulations..."

However, Yang Dong knocked on the table nonchalantly and reminded Lin Dong in Chinese: "Stop chattering there and talk about business."

"Stern has already talked to Ms. Yang." Lin Dong then continued: "The league's God Clause 4 was actually Clause 1 at the beginning. It was also the most severe clause they used to restrict the Sonics. The clause enhanced A supplementary agreement was made, which changed the original players’ ability to hold shares in the team to the new terms. The players’ parents and any immediate family members cannot own shares in the team.”

"If the Sonics do not disband the current lineup as required by the league, the league will immediately introduce this new rule."

"So at that time, either I will leave the Sonics, or Ms. Yang will have to sell the team." Lin Dong smiled slightly: "In addition, they have planned to remarry, so if the Sonics are not reorganized according to Stern's wishes, Then this new god clause 4 may become the headlines of major sports sections tomorrow, and I will have no choice then.”

Everyone was dumbfounded. In order to restrict SuperSonics and Lin Dong, the alliance had introduced three restrictive clauses. Unexpectedly, there was a fourth clause.

In the history of the NBA, it is undoubtedly an honor to have the league change the rules for a player, but changing four rules in one go, and they are purely off-court restrictions, this... Bird Bird of the year also I only changed a bird right for him.

Everyone fell silent.

Frankly speaking, Lin Dong is indeed the spiritual totem of the Supersonics, but in fact, so is this boss Yang.

Externally, her tiles and folding stools have already won her the title of Queen of the Seattle Supersonics. So many foreign fans fell in love with the Sonics not because of Dong Lin, but because of this Queen of the Sonics. Just fell in love with this team.

Internally, whether it was her affection for Chandler, her helping hand when Rukawa Kaede was in the most critical situation, her usual getting along with all the players, never criticizing anyone on the team, etc., she undoubtedly It has long become the backbone of the SuperSonics team at another level.

If the owner changes, to be honest, no one can guarantee what this team will become, and perhaps the current atmosphere will no longer be preserved.

If she leaves the Sonics, the shock caused will not be much weaker than if Lin Dong leaves.

From this perspective, it doesn't seem to be a big problem for Lin Dong to choose to leave on his own, keep his mother, and at the same time keep the entire team's main lineup, but this sacrifice is a bit too much...

"Of course, my departure is not purely for you or my mother. I also have my own plans."

"I want to try the European League and feel a different basketball atmosphere. In recent years, European basketball has made great progress. Whether it is La Liga or the Champions League, in terms of confrontation and personal ability, it has actually begun to catch up with the NBA. The overall skills, tactics, teamwork and other aspects are far better than the NBA!”

"It is already difficult to improve my personal abilities. Perhaps only a different European league can bring me another level of improvement."

"And you have always known that I want Asian basketball to rise, but it cannot just rely on one or two players, but one or two can lead a group, and a group can lead the whole," Lin Dong said with a smile: "I have already agreed with Mitsui that I will go to Spain and join Moebius. There are young players from the Dragon Kingdom that I want to train there, and of course there are yours."

He looked at Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede, obviously referring to Moebius which also had other Japanese players.

Everyone was startled.

Lin Dong is going to Spain to play in La Liga? Moebius it?

Speaking of which, Moebius's performance has improved a lot this season. Although it has not made the playoffs, it is already on the edge of the playoffs.

From the perspective of interests, that is also Lin Dong's team, or to be more accurate, 'that is truly Lin Dong's own team'. If Lin Dong really joins Moebius, with his current global recognition of basketball As a god, Moebius's market value is likely to increase several times in an instant.

From a personal perspective, Lin Dong is right.

Although the European Basketball League is still inferior to the NBA in terms of individual ability, they pay more attention to teamwork, skills and tactics, and tough and brutal confrontation.

Lin Dong really doesn't feel more challenges in the NBA. Perhaps only by leading a weak team like Moebius in the European League can he have a chance to achieve further improvement.

That guy is like this, always pursuing faster and stronger!

Of course, there is another thing that Lin Dong did not say out loud. He is paving the way for the 2008 Olympics...

Although there is no longer a challenge for the NBA championship, there are still Olympic champions.

The Dragon Country national team is no better than the historic SuperSonics, even with the addition of Yao Yao. The other players are too weak to keep up with such a high-intensity confrontation. We really want to meet the United States in the 2008 Olympics. Even if Lin Dong and Dayao play two-on-three and suppress the three superstars of the NBA, the other two superstars will also beat the rest of the Dragon Kingdom national team.

Now, many people from the Dragon Kingdom national team are in Mobius. Lin Dong goes there to give them better training and a more positive atmosphere, so that they can be more adaptable to the cooperation with Lin Dong, so that They are more adaptable to truly top-level confrontations.

This is a big move that spans two years.

Everything is for the 2008 Olympics!

"So, there is nothing to be sad about." Lin Dong smiled and touched Sakuragi Hanamichi's head: "I am just pursuing my dream. Regardless of the restrictions of the league or not, there is a high probability that I will quit the NBA this year. As for SuperSonics...I believe in you, even without me, you are still one of the strongest teams in this league!"

…………

July 17, 12 o'clock in the morning.

For most ordinary people, this is just an ordinary night, but for all participants in the NBA, this night is destined to be a sleepless night.

The player trading market is officially open, and most of the intentions that were previously in negotiation will get a result tonight.

Even an old man like Stern has been waiting in the office, waiting for news reports from all sides. Of course, the most important thing for him is the news from the Supersonics.

He has talked with Yang Dong several times, explaining the difficulties of the league and the impact that the imbalance between teams will have on the entire league and even basketball.

He can see that Yang Dong has tacitly agreed to all this.

So, should we give up Sakuragi Hanamichi or give up the trio of Iguodala + Chandler + Rukawa Kaede?

Other teams' superstar transfers may not be busy tonight, but the Supersonics players who joined the team at the same time in 2002 will have to renew their contracts after tonight, and the Supersonics will definitely have something to say.

If Yang Dong forces any one of them to stay, then God Clause 4 will be announced to the whole country tomorrow.

In any case, this team that has destroyed the balance of the league and gradually replaced the NBA as a symbol of basketball must be dismantled, otherwise the NBA will no longer be under their control in two years.

"David, the official website of the Supersonics has updated the news! Take a look!" Administrative assistant Wayne hurried into the room with a look of shock on his face.

Stern's evaluation of this guy who has been with him for more than ten years is mature and steady, but this shocked expression at this time is...

Stern frowned and opened the official website of the Supersonics on the computer, but saw the most eye-catching position on the first page suddenly wrote the news that Lin Dong announced his withdrawal from the NBA.

Stern was stunned, and then he was completely stunned.

Withdraw from the NBA? Lin Dong withdraws from the NBA? !

Frankly speaking, whether it is Stern himself, the think tank around him, or this league and all the fans in the United States and the world.

They speculated that the Supersonics would give up anyone because of salary and league restrictions, even if Yang Dong sold the team. They also imagined that the Supersonics had 10,000 ways to compete with the league, and they were ready for the back-up.

But they never thought that Lin Dong would choose to withdraw from the NBA!

This, this... Is this a protest to himself? Is this a declaration of war on himself?

Stern was completely numb.

How dare he! How could he!

Just like he cultivated Jordan, Lin Dong's current reputation in the global basketball world was also cultivated by him, with the help of the NBA platform.

He finally succeeded in creating a god, not only helping him get rid of Nike, a big worry, but also becoming the living signboard of the NBA, but now, the living signboard is actually going to run away...

Hey, I won't play with you anymore!

In just a moment, Stern felt the deep malice and threat from this news.

The living signboard of the NBA is gone, just like Jordan announced his retirement that year. It is conceivable that the ratings of the NBA will plummet to what extent next year... No, the impact this time is probably much greater than that of the Jordan era.

After all, the influence of the NBA on the world in the two eras is completely incomparable. Not to mention the world, even if it is only in the United States, the development of the NBA this year alone has pushed the influence of this league back by at least ten years!

All I have been thinking is that the NBA is still under my control, and I can easily force the Supersonics to surrender by various means.

But I never thought that the real trump card was actually in Lin Dong's hands.

He wants to leave, just these three words are enough to make the entire league compromise anything for him!

Stern collapsed in his chair in an instant, feeling powerless.

It turns out that the NBA has been out of my control for a long time.

No... No, I can't let Lin Dong leave, I can't let Lin Dong leave the NBA!

Even if I make an exception for him, even if I immediately add new patch clauses to restrict the newly released "god clause", even if I hit myself in the face, I can't let this guy who has supported the NBA's current ratings of over 1 billion go, otherwise what awaits the NBA will be a crushing defeat.

Since the Supersonics' statement has been officially announced, it is obviously not just a joke with the league and the fans.

He had to do his best to retain it, even if it meant losing control of the NBA. He did not want to see this league that he had personally cultivated and had the most attention in the world collapse.

Stern took a deep breath, picked up the private phone on the table, and dialed Lin Dong's number.