Before Trevor Ariza actually signed his name on the contract, Steve Kerr never thought he could get this "Rattlesnake"...

When the offseason officially started this summer, there were a few guys whose contracts were expiring that were not on the chasing lists of major general managers.

For example, Steve Nash of the Suns.

Another example is Trevor Ariza, the Lakers’ “championship puzzle piece”.

Ariza, who was selected by the Knicks with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of 2004, had an uncomfortable life in the first five years of his career. The team's weak strength and inaccurate positioning of him made this high-quality "winner puzzle"

He has always been on the verge of being eliminated from the league.

Until he joined the Lakers midway through the 2007-08 season, Ariza suddenly found a way to shine in this league by serving as a wing defender and providing three-point firepower in open spaces on the offensive end.

Last season in the regular season, he averaged 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, as well as 46% field goal percentage and 31.2% three-point shooting percentage.

In the playoffs, his scoring average increased to 11.3 points per game. This was not accumulated with the right to shoot, but with the increase in his shooting percentage. Ariza averaged 11.3 points per game in 23 playoff games.

The shooting rate is as high as 49.7%, and the three-point shooting rate is as high as 47.6%!

There is no doubt that this is a quality "Champion Puzzle".

The Lakers made him famous, and he fits the Lakers' system. Logically speaking, this guy will be signed by the Lakers as soon as the free market opens this year... This is also a common idea among many general managers.

But the result was that after the Lakers renewed Odom's contract, they did not renew Ariza's contract... Of course, this situation did not attract many people's attention at the time. Steve Kerr also used O'Neal to transfer him in the free market.

After looking around, I noticed that a "Rattlesnake" is still a free agent.

Steve Kerr, who was a little surprised by this result, felt that there was something fishy about this matter, so he asked someone to find out the specific situation.

After he learned the specific situation, he realized that the opportunity had come!

It turns out that the Lakers handed over a five-year contract extension early, a full middle-class contract with an annual salary increase of up to 10.5%. Ariza can receive a total of 33.8 million yuan in salary over five years in this contract.

It can be said that giving such a contract to an ordinary main player is not bad.

But Ariza refused. Ariza's agent Li helped Bynum, who had just been reimbursed for a season last season, grab a contract with the Lakers with a total salary of 58 million. Ariza's performance made him think that 33.8 million

Just to send the beggar away, he directly asked for 50 million, his attitude was very determined.

Then... Ariza became another guy who was cheated by his agent.

Kupchak stopped paying attention to Ariza and directly snatched Artest from the Rockets. The total salary of that contract was 33.95 million for five years, which was not much more than what was given to Ariza...

At this point, it was Ariza's agent's turn to panic: Just, let's not talk about it anymore?

To make matters worse, after other teams learned that the Lakers had signed Artest, their attitudes toward Ariza changed. They no longer pursued Ariza so enthusiastically, and at the same time, their contract offers became much lower.

The situation is an embarrassing one.

It was at this time that Steve Kerr intervened in the matter. After understanding the situation, he decisively offered a five-year, 35 million contract. This contract was only 120 higher than the contract the Lakers originally gave Ariza.

Ten thousand.

But Li didn't dare to think about 50 million at the moment. He agreed directly and took Ariza to Phoenix to sign a contract the next day...

An unexpected surprise, an unexpected surprise, really an unexpected surprise!

Just like that, Steve Kerr easily recruited another tough player.

It is worth mentioning that Old Buss was very unhappy when he found out that Steve Kerr had taken advantage of the loophole. He paced around the room for a long time before finally suppressing the evil fire.

But he muttered in his heart: Okay, now you make Trevor Ariza laugh, wait, three years later I will steal the sun and make you cry!

After the introduction of Trevor Ariza, the Suns' lineup for the new season has basically taken shape:

Point guards: Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Goran Dragic;

Shooting guards: Jason Richardson, Leonardo Barbosa, Alan Dotak;

Small forward: Trevor Ariza, Grant Hill, Jared Dudley;

Power forward: Lin Ri, Louis Amundsen;

Center: Robin Lopez, Kris Humphries, Ben Wallace;

Except for the power forward position, which still lacks a first substitute, there are already fixed candidates for other positions, whether starting or first substitute.

However, Steve Kerr, the candidate for the power forward position, is not in a hurry. He has already offered Channing Frye a two-year, 10 million contract, of which the second year is a player option. He believes that the latter will definitely accept it.

.

After all, for a high-position turret like Channing Frye, the best place to utilize his value is undoubtedly a "run and gun" team.

All he has to do now is wait for Channing Frye's reply.

Sure enough, three days later, Steve Kerr received a call from Channing Frye's agent, who agreed. For 10 million in two years and a player option for the second year, Lin Ri's first substitute was in place.

After signing Channing Frye, Steve Kerr's salary space of about 11 million saved by using Stoudemire and O'Neal's trade has been completely used up.

The Suns' salary space is close to the luxury tax.

Of course, it doesn't matter now, because everything that needs to be signed has been signed, and the Suns' roster for the new season has reached 15, so he doesn't need to make any more changes.

He just needs to wait for the new season to start, and then wait for the regular season to test the lineup he has built.

Different from the anxiety after trading for O'Neal last season, Steve Kerr is very confident in the lineup he has built!

And although Gentry is not a famous coach, he is definitely much better than Terry Porter, who was the Suns' head coach in the first half of last season.

Besides... If it really doesn't work, I'll do it myself!

Does anyone know how to play this lineup better than me?

Um?

…

While Steve Kerr is finalizing the Suns' 15-man roster for the new season, Lin continues to improve his abilities with the help of the Suns' training team and Ben Wallace.

During this period, Lin Ri only had two days of rest. One day was to attend the party to welcome Trevor Ariza, and the other day was to attend the party to welcome Channing Frye...

The rest of the time, he spent time at Mercy Arena.

Even in the past two days, after attending the party, he returned to the arena for additional training.

“Name: Lin Ri;

Age: 19 years old;

Height: 2.09.2 meters;

Weight: 108.2kg;

Wingspan: 2 meters 23.7;

Speed ​​level: A-level (natural changes with age);

Strength level: B level (513/1000);

Bounce level: A-level (natural changes with age);

Bullet speed level: A level (naturally changes with age);

Physical fitness level: B level (89/1000);

Explosive power level: Level A (natural changes with age);

Comprehensive assessment of physical fitness: A-level;

Ball control ability: C+ level (998/1000);

Passing ability: B-level (98/1000);

Singles ability with the ball: D+ level (975/1000);

Second attack ability: B level (453/1000);

Finishing ability at the basket: B+ level (678/1000);

Dunk: Grade A (345/1000);

Hook shot under the basket: D+ level (667/1000);

Air cutting consciousness: Level B (411/1000);

Layup: Grade B (254/1000);

CIC: Grade B (513/1000);

Free throws: B-grade (210/1000);

Three points: D grade (336/1000);

Adjustment ability when catching the ball: B-(11/1000);

Inside footwork: C-grade (19/1000);

Post-playing ability: C level (386/1000);

Pick-and-roll awareness: B-grade (123/1000);

Offensive tactics execution: C+ level (790/1000);

Top defense ability: B-level (1/1000);
To be continued...