After being honest with Jeff Schwartz, Lin Yu had to find a brokerage agent who met his requirements in advance.
He has many requirements. First of all, this new agent can only have one client, or he can have more clients, but the main client can only be Lin Yu.
In contrast, Jeff Schwartz cannot do this, because Jeff Schwartz’s main clients include Paul Pierce, Jason Kidd and Lamar Odom, Lin Yu’s
The pick is high, but Pierce, Kidd and Odom cannot be ignored.
No matter how big Lin Yu's market is, he is still on an equal footing compared to Pierce and Kidd.
In contrast, the team formed by James was dedicated to serving him. Even though Rich Paul later established an independent agency and signed more big-name stars, his main job was still to serve James.
What Lin Yu needs is an agent like Rich Paul.
But what is different from Rich Paul is that the brokerage agent Lin Yu requires must have excellent connections in North America.
Once this was limited, there were very few agents for Lin Yu to choose from.
After much deliberation, he couldn't think of a way to find a new agent, but his agency contract with Jeff Schwartz was about to expire, and there should be many professional agents coming to him. By then, he could use this to screen out a new agent.
Fan.
On the morning of the next day, Lin Yu went to the training hall to prepare for the afternoon home game against the Bulls.
Jeff Schwartz also appeared at the door of the Cavaliers' training facility, greeted Lin Yu from a distance, and then entered the Cavaliers' office area under the guidance of the Cavaliers' front desk secretary.
"Hey Danny, my friend, how long have we not seen each other!"
When Jeff Schwartz and Danny Ferry met, they gave each other a big hug and seemed very warm.
But when the negotiations began, the two suddenly became very at odds again.
"I asked Lin and he agreed to renew the contract in advance."
Jeff Schwartz is a smart man. He did not give out his demands directly, but wanted to test Danny Ferry first to see Ferry's intention to extend the contract in advance.
Danny Ferry didn't think too much about it. Proposing to renew the contract in advance was also a test. He just didn't want to sit back and watch Lin Yu enter the free market.
There was a discussion within the Cavaliers management, and almost everyone believed that if Lin Yu entered the free market in the summer, a team would definitely offer Lin Yu a real maximum salary.
Danny Ferry has also calculated the maximum salary that Lin Yu can get.
Lin Yu is a player between 0 and 6 years old. He has early bird rights and the maximum salary he can receive is 25% of the salary cap or 175% of the previous year's salary, whichever is greater.
As a second-round pick with a basic salary, Lin Yu obviously will not consider 175% of the previous year's salary, so all he can consider is 25% of the salary cap.
The salary cap for next season is about US$55 million, and 25% is US$13.75 million, which is the starting salary amount.
Because it is an early bird right to renew, Lin Yu’s renewal period must be higher than 2 years and lower than 4 years.
The specific regulations on salary increases are that if you sign with the Cavaliers, you will get a 10.5% increase, and if you sign other players, you will only get an 8% increase.
Danny Ferry calculated Lin Yu's salary increase when he signed with other teams. With an 8% increase, Lin Yu's salary would be US$14.85 million in the second year, US$16.04 million in the third year, and US$16.04 million in the fourth year.
$17.32 million.
Adding up to four years, it is equivalent to approximately US$62 million. The price of this contract extension is unacceptable to Danny Ferry.
"LeBron only got 60 million US dollars in four years. Lin's contract extension should not and cannot be higher than LeBron's."
Therefore, he chose to renew the contract in advance. Of course, it was just an attempt. If it succeeded, it would be another step in his god-making operation. If it failed, he would have to gamble his life in the summer.
But in the management discussion, almost everyone believed that if Lin Yu entered the free market, a team would definitely give him a maximum salary.
"He has a Chinese market of 1.3 billion people behind him. Compared with Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, he is an outside player who attracts more fans and sells more tickets. One thing that can be expected is that in the summer, as long as there is salary space and there is no position conflict with star players
Every team will give him a maximum salary offer."
"If you can grab it, you will make a lot of money. No one will take a gamble."
Danny Ferry thought about the discussion two days ago. Facing Jeff Schwartz, he quickly responded with a smile: "I am very happy that Lin can agree to the proposal to renew the contract in advance. This will help us."
Saves you a lot of trouble.”
Then, he handed Jeff Schwartz a document: "According to the provisions of the league's collective bargaining agreement, Lin is eligible to renew his contract with us with early bird rights."
"If he chooses the Cavaliers, he can get a 10.5% salary increase, but if he chooses another team, the salary increase he can get is only 8%."
"So, the initial offer we made was a four-year contract with a starting salary of $11 million."
With a four-year starting salary of US$12 million, Jeff Schwartz silently calculated: “The second year is US$12.15 million, the third year is US$13.43 million, the fourth year is US$14.84 million, and the fourth year is US$14.84 million.
This adds up to US$51.42 million per year..."
"Danny, this guy is so damn dark!"
At that moment, Jeff Schwartz's face darkened: "If this is the offer, I don't think we need to continue negotiating."
Then, he stood up and prepared to leave, as if he was not the one who hugged Danny Ferry in the first place.
Danny Ferry was a little confused all of a sudden. He always felt that the contract extension that Lin Yu could get should be around 4 years and 55 million U.S. dollars. Therefore, the initial offer of 4 years and 51.42 million U.S. dollars was more appropriate. He
That leaves plenty of room for Jeff Schwartz to make a counteroffer.
Therefore, Jeff Schwartz's reaction shocked him.
He quickly stopped Jeff Schwartz: "Okay, okay, Jeff, don't get excited, you can put forward what you think is an offer for a contract extension."
Before coming, Jeff Schwartz also calculated the maximum salary Lin Yu could get, and he quickly gave a specific quotation: "Starting salary of US$13.75 million, four years of US$64.28 million."
This is a true maximum salary offer with the highest starting salary and an increase of 10.5%.
Danny Ferry opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.
Soon, he shook his head: "Sorry, Jeff, the differences between us are too big. Maybe it will be difficult to continue the negotiation today."
"The Cavaliers will discuss it internally again, and I also hope you can discuss it with Lin and come up with a more realistic offer."
The gap is indeed too big. There is a difference of US$12.85 million between Danny Ferry's initial offer and Jeff Schwartz's offer!
If calculated based on Danny Ferry's bottom line offer, the gap between the two is a full $9 million.
In this way, the first negotiation to renew the contract in advance broke down after the initial contact.
Jeff Schwartz left the office area and passed by the training area. He found Lin Yu and informed Lin Yu of the result.