Kupchak offered Zhang Zhiyuan a two-year partially guaranteed contract with a total value of more than three million US dollars.
For a short-term contract to become a full-time employee, it is quite generous.
Most of the regular employees get a basic salary and a contract extension, and usually they only renew their contract for this season.
To put it bluntly, most players who become regular players on short-term contracts are used to make up the numbers, and the probability of being successful is very low.
Kupchak thought he was sincere enough, but he never expected that Smail would actually ask for a four-year, full mid-level contract with a total value of 16 million, which was similar to Radmanovic.
Radmanovic is a veteran who has played for five or six years, and his strength has been proven.
As for Zhang Zhiyuan, he only played four games.
However, Smail also had his reasons.
Radmanovic averages 6 points per game and can be considered mid-level. Zhang Zhiyuan averages 19.5 points per game. What's wrong with being mid-level?
"This is what I mean. I think Zhang should get this kind of contract, otherwise it would be disrespectful to his strength."
Smile said.
He must take the blame for this kind of thing. His reputation can be bad, but Zhang Zhiyuan cannot have any black spots.
"I have always respected Zhang's strength, but we must play by the rules of the game. No team will offer a big contract to an undrafted player who has only played four games. You will only leave Zhang with no ball to play, and you will
It will harm him."
Kupchak argued hard.
If Zhang Zhiyuan can maintain an average of 19.5 points per game in the future, then it will be profitable to give him a mid-level contract.
However, no one can be sure about this.
If Zhang Zhiyuan is just a flash in the pan, the Lakers will suffer a big loss. Sixteen million US dollars is not a small amount even for the Lakers.
"No? In fact, a team has contacted me."
Smile said half-truthfully.
There were teams that contacted him, and he took the initiative to contact more teams, but no team was willing to pay a high price.
"Which one, who is crazy?"
Kupchak asked with a smile, he didn't believe this kind of nonsense.
"To be honest, there are many. The Spurs, Suns, Hawks, Knicks, and Cavaliers are all interested in Zhang."
Smile said without changing his expression.
The negotiations reached a deadlock, and Kupchak didn't know what to say.
Smail was resolute and refused to make any concessions.
In fact, if Kupchak is really crazy and agrees to this big contract, Smyer will continue to demand guaranteed playing time and other terms.
In short, the core is to force Kupchak to voluntarily give up the contract extension.
He didn't want the outside world to know that Zhang Zhiyuan refused to renew his contract, which would have a bad impact on Zhang Zhiyuan.
"I need to talk to Zhang."
Kupchak suspected that Zhang Zhiyuan was deceived by Smail.
"Zhang has given me full responsibility for his contract renewal."
Smile.
When the first negotiation broke down, Kupchak couldn't help but say a few curse words as he watched Smail leave.
Later, he found Phil Jackson and asked for Jackson's advice.
"Phil, it's impossible for us to pay this kind of contract for him. It will lock up our salary space and affect big moves next season."
Kupchak said.
This is one of the reasons why he refused to give Zhang Zhiyuan a big contract. He needed to keep his salary flexible in order to sign a superstar to assist Kobe Bryant in winning the championship.
"However, we are already somewhat inseparable from Zhang. After Zhang joined, we achieved four consecutive victories, and he played a big role in it."
Jackson was also surprised when he learned the other party's offer, but after the surprise, a voice of agreement came up in his heart.
Because he thinks Zhang Zhiyuan is worth the price, after all, he has more vision than Kupchak and is more optimistic about Zhang Zhiyuan's ability to play.
"Radmanovic will be back in two days."
Kupchak said.
"Can you trade Radmanovic out and sign Zhang."
Jackson asked.
In his opinion, Zhang Zhiyuan is already more useful than Radmanovic.
"It's not that easy."
Kupchak complained.
There are still teams that want a player with an annual salary of 5.22 million, who averages 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game, and likes skiing.
The room fell into silence. Jackson knew that Kupchak was ready to give up, and he vaguely felt that this was the wrong decision.
In the end, Jackson just sighed and said nothing more.
He did not put pressure on Kupchak because he felt that he could not win the championship if he had more Zhang Zhiyuan, and he could make the playoffs without Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Zhiyuan is not so indispensable now.
[Sixteen million in four years, the largest extortion in NBA history.]
The next day, news broke that Zhang Zhiyuan's agent was asking for excessive prices, which led to Zhang Zhiyuan's failure to renew his contract with the Lakers.
This is the news that Kupchak proactively leaked, mainly to let the fans know that it is not that the Lakers are unkind, but that the players have gone too far.
Sure enough, as soon as the news came out, Lakers fans started to curse.
Fortunately, they were all scolding Smail.
"You're going crazy thinking about money."
"Oh, I bought it. Zhang was tricked by his agent."
"Why is this happening? Are the Lakers going to lose Zhang?"
...
"Where's Zhang? Is the news true?"
During the Lakers' daily training together, Odom noticed that Zhang Zhiyuan was missing and couldn't help but ask.
"Sixteen million in four years is really a fool's errand."
Vujacic said with disdain.
His annual salary was only 920,000, and he couldn't even imagine 16 million. He was envious, jealous, and contemptuous of Zhang Zhiyuan's arrogance, and his inner emotions gradually became abnormal.
Wharton didn't say a word, but he was secretly happy in his heart.
He wished Zhang Zhiyuan would do this so that he would have one less competitor.
"With Zhang's strength, the middle-class contract is actually reasonable."
Smarsh said.
As both undrafted players, Smarsh already had a close feeling for Zhang Zhiyuan.
At the same time, he also deeply resents being discriminated against as an undrafted draft pick.
He is now the starting point guard of the Lakers, averaging 30 minutes per game, but his annual salary is only 800,000. This is largely because he was undrafted.
He believes that those who are strong should receive high salaries and should not be judged by their background.
In his opinion, Zhang Zhiyuan is very strong, averaging close to 20 points per game. In terms of scoring alone, he is already in the top 50 in the league. Although the sample size of four games is too small, even if he loses a few points, he is still worth a mid-level player.
"Kobe, are the teams going to give up on Zhang like this? Maybe you can help him."
Odom approached Kobe. He liked playing with Zhang Zhiyuan. Zhang Zhiyuan could share a lot of pressure from him.
"Just mind your own business."
Kobe said.
He was angry, angry that Zhang Zhiyuan ignored the overall situation for personal gain, and that the Football Team was stingy and refused to retain people.
After a few games, he already recognized Zhang Zhiyuan's strength and felt that Zhang Zhiyuan was barely a reliable helper.
But that's all.
A Zhang Zhiyuan is not worthy of making a fuss with the management, but Kidd would be about the same.
The players discussed it for a while and then started training.
As professional players, they are used to people arriving suddenly and people leaving suddenly.
We are brothers after fighting side by side? It’s impossible for brothers to burst into tears when they leave.
On March 16, the Lakers played against the Suns, and Zhang Zhiyuan was not on the roster.
Fans officially confirmed that Zhang Zhiyuan failed to renew his contract with the Lakers.
It seems that God is also helping Zhang Zhiyuan. The Lakers fell behind at the beginning of this game.
"It's time to discuss Zhang's importance to the Lakers."
Buckley joked.
"Hahaha, I think Mickey should sign this offer. It's only an annual salary of four million, so it's not expensive."
Smith said.
"Please, that's four million. When I won the MVP, my annual salary was only 2 million."
Without a ring, Barkley can only mention his MVP status from time to time.
"Jazz, times have changed. Besides, everyone knows that you won the MVP once, can you please stop mentioning it."
Smith said.
On the court, the game continues.
It can be seen that the Lakers players are working hard and they also want to win.
Especially Wharton, he wants to prove that he can do without Zhang Zhiyuan.
But unfortunately, he really can't do it.
The two-point shooting rate of 3 out of 7 is not a trap, but it is still far from turning the tide.
In the end, the Lakers lost the game, and the loss was quite ugly.
At the post-game press conference, reporters caught this and asked, "Phil, why did the team give up on Zhang?"
"We have not given up on Zhang. We are still communicating with him and trying to reach an agreement on the contract renewal issue."
Jackson said.
"If Zhang insists on 16 million for four years, will the team agree?"
the reporter asked.
"That's a management matter, I have no comment."
"Then do you think Zhang is worth the price?"
The reporter continued to ask questions.
"Zhang is a very good player, but what contract he should get is a decision made by the management. At the same time, this is also a complicated issue."
Jackson continues to coach the management, and he does not want to make a short-sighted assessment.
"Kobe, what do you think? Do you still want to play with Zhang?"
The reporter changed the target.
"I don't care about these, I just want to be myself."
Kobe was in a bad mood and kept silent.
.......
After the game, the topic of the Lakers became a hot topic again.
The fans were divided into three factions. One faction felt that Zhang Zhiyuan was arrogant and demanding excessive prices.
The other group feels that the Lakers are short-sighted and should agree to Zhang Zhiyuan's offer.
There is also a group of true Lakers fans who hope that the team and Zhang Zhiyuan can take a step back and reach a compromise as soon as possible.
At the same time, Zhang Zhiyuan was attending Swift's new song conference.
At present, he has not decided on his next home, but he has time to socialize and socialize.
The Mavericks and Suns have made it clear that they are not interested in him, but the Spurs want to sign him, but the offer is only a one-year minimum salary contract, and it is not guaranteed.
Zhang Zhiyuan didn't care how much the money was, but he was worried that the Spurs were not sincere and signed him to guard the water fountain.
He asked Smyer to request guaranteed playing time in his contract, but the Spurs did not agree.
There are quite a few teams that are interested in Zhang Zhiyuan. The Hawks said they were willing to give him a two-year mid-level contract, and the Pacers said they were willing to give him a four-year mid-level contract. However, it included incentive clauses, which required Zhang Zhiyuan to obtain certain data before he could receive it.
Full salary.
These are very sincere offers, but Zhang Zhiyuan has no interest in these teams.
It is better to stay with the Lakers than go to these teams, at least the exposure will be high.
Three days have passed and Zhang Zhiyuan has not found his next home yet. In fact, Zhang Zhiyuan feels a little anxious and wonders if he has overestimated himself.
"Hey, relax, there will definitely be a team that wants you."
Swift encouraged.
"I'm worried that I won't be able to sing well later."
Zhang Zhiyuan laughed and said that although he was a musician before, his song writing and singing were both at a third-rate level.
Swift was going to sing a song with him, and Zhang Zhiyuan was a little nervous.
"You don't have to worry about this anymore. I will be the focus later and not many people will pay attention to you."
Swift.
"You are saying this to comfort me, right?"
Zhang Zhiyuan was about to cry, but Swift laughed after hearing this.
