Chapter 217 Ask the general manager of the team to apologize to himself
The Lakers are about to announce layoffs, or may target Chinese player Tang Qian.
ESPN, Lakers internal news, Tang Qian’s decision is a foregone conclusion.
T.N.T, the Lakers are laying off staff, and the target is No. 29?
Domestic netizens looked at these news headlines and immediately became furious:
"Have you made a mistake? Are you going to kill the donkey so soon? If it weren't for Tang Qian, would they have won the Spurs that night???"
"Bullshit! I didn't expect the Lakers to be so disgusting!!! Isn't this burning bridges? Is there any humanity at all!!!"
"Is this the liberal democracy that the United States advertises? It doesn't care about merit at all?"
"Well, the NBA is a business and a commercial league. If Tang Qian really can't play anymore, there's no point keeping him. It's better to lay off employees and clear salary space for the Lakers. Although I don't like this approach.
Method, but from the team's perspective, Kupchak's approach is fine."
"Okay, I understand, but I don't agree. We just finished playing the Spurs the day before yesterday, and we have to announce the layoff decision so soon? How hurtful is this!"
"Tang Qian is so pitiful. I wonder what he would think after receiving this news! Alas~"
At this moment, another piece of Lakers news appeared on major basketball portals:
L.A. Soul has spoken out, to lay off China Tang? No, I have never heard of this inside news!
After the Kobe Bryant game, he was suspected of supporting Tang Qian and responded to questions about layoffs!
Los Angeles, USA, Matt Barnes tweeted:
If Kupchak dares to cut his hair, I will burn his house down!!! @Mitch.Kupchak!!!
Although this tweet was deleted just a few minutes after it was posted, in the Internet age, there is always no shortage of screenshot masters. Matt Barnes's domineering @ still ignited the hearts of countless Chinese fans.
The completely opposite remarks from the two parties made the issue of Tang Qian's stay suddenly confusing.
At this moment, in the Lakers general manager's office, Mitch Kupchak was furious: "Bryant, what are you doing? Are you deliberately going against the team?"
Kobe's voice came from the phone: "I'm just telling the truth. After all, I have never received this kind of inside information."
"Are you trying to embarrass me? I'm telling you, don't think you can influence the team management!!!" Mitch Kupchak shouted: "Everything will go according to the original plan, China Hot, I
It’s been decided!!!”
After hanging up the call with Kobe, Mitch Kupchak shouted loudly: "Laurie! Go and prepare for the official press conference immediately! I want to announce the layoff decision in public!!!"
…
Los Angeles, Toyota Sports Center.
"Hmm?! Why are you back?" Matt Barnes looked at the oriental man in front of him dumbfounded and asked with a stupefied mouth.
"I've recovered, why haven't I returned to the team? Do you think it doesn't cost money to stay in the hospital?" Tang Qian was confused and asked Matt Barnes.
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant...ah??? What did you just say??? You said you were cured??? The intracranial congestion was cured???" Matt Barnes seemed to have discovered something.
, quickly opened his mouth and asked.
"Yes, I'm cured." Tang Qian said, "Besides, I didn't suffer from intracranial congestion. It was a mistake by the hospital in San Antonio."
"The hospital made a mistake? It's hot. Are you lying to me? This joke is not funny!!!" Matt Barnes still didn't believe it.
"It's true." Tang Qian looked at the other Lakers teammates and said helplessly: "Don't look at me like that. Everything I say is the truth, I promise!"
"Ha~ Hot~ If what you said is true, then there will be a good show to watch later." Ci Shiping came over and said: "Mitch Kupchak is dragging Kobe to the press conference at the moment.
.”
"Press conference? What press conference?" Tang Qian rushed over as soon as he got off the plane, obviously not understanding the situation yet.
"About your press conference." Ci Shiping suddenly said with a wicked smile: "Let's go, Barnes and I will take you there to have a look!"
…
Los Angeles, Lakers official press conference.
"Mr. Mitch Kupchak, is what you just said true?" a local Los Angeles reporter raised his hand and asked.
"Of course, I'm not a kidding person," Mitch Kupchak said.
"So do the Lakers really want to lay off No. 29 Tang Qian? I heard that he was injured due to an injury during the game against the Spurs. Is the Lakers doing this a waste of time?" This is an Asian reporter.
, his question was quite pointed.
"No, it's definitely not like this." Mitch Kupchak replied: "The Lakers are a friendly team and have always given generous treatment to team members. This time the Lakers laid off employees,
It is considered a contract buyout, and every cent of the remaining salary for this season will be allocated to the hot money, so everyone can rest assured."
"Buyout? This is a very expensive contract for this season. The salary is the basic salary. If I remember correctly, it should only be about US$450,000. Is this considered a generous treatment?" The Asian reporter still asked relentlessly.
Who is this guy? Looking at his press pass, he is from T.N.T TV station. It doesn’t look like he was sent here by other teams to cause trouble?
Mitch Kupchak thought for a moment, then opened his mouth and said: "Our team also operates according to the contract. In fact, according to the contract details, a hot contract does not fall into the category of guaranteed contracts. If the Lakers do not pay attention to human kindness,
We could have refused to pay all the remaining salaries, but we didn’t do that, right?”
After saying that, Mitch Kupchak skipped the Asian reporter and clicked on another person to ask.
"How's it going? Hot, what do you think we should do now? After the press conference, are you going to beat up Mitch Kupchak? If that's the case, I'm willing to join in!!!" Matt Ba
Enns asked Tang Qian angrily. Judging from his expression, these words did not sound like polite words.
"No, Matt, there's no need to be like this. Mr. Kupchak did nothing wrong." When Tang Qian saw this, his heart suddenly became clear. At first, he was furious, but when he calmed down and thought about it, the NBA is
The team owner would not agree to doing business, opening a charity, and raising idle people, so it is reasonable for Mitch Kupchak to do this.
However, being able to understand does not mean that it is acceptable. Tang Qian believed that he was also a person with a temper.
The feeling of being forced to cross a river and demolish the bridge, to remove the mill and kill the donkey, is actually not a good thing, is it?
At worst, I won’t be able to stay here...
While he was thinking about it, Kobe Bryant's words made him stunned.
"Excuse me, Bryant, do you have any personal opinion on this matter?" a Yahoo Sports reporter asked Kobe.
"I don't know, I don't know about this at all." When Kobe opened his mouth, the reporter was happy, and Kupchak was dumbfounded. The former was because he sensed the excitement of the big news, and the latter was because of Kobe's "
"Rebel" and confused.
Shi.t! Didn’t I communicate with him on the way here? Why would he bite me back at this time???
Mitch Kupchak looked at Kobe, his eyes full of anger.
But he forgot one thing, it was his business to communicate with Kobe, and it was Kobe's business whether Kobe communicated with him or not.
In fact, throughout the whole journey, Kobe did not agree to Kupchak's request and just remained silent.
He knew very well why Tang Qian was injured.
So as the team leader, he has the obligation not to cheat his teammates.
Especially this teammate, who suffered an injury for the team to win. Kobe cannot do such "shady" actions behind his back. If Mitch Kupchak didn't bring him out of today's press conference,
Fortunately, after bringing him out, he will do what he should do for his teammates.
"Excuse me, Mr. Bryant, do you disagree with the team doing this?" These reporters are also "human beings". As soon as they hear the "commotion", they immediately "slap the snake on the stick".
Kobe didn't hesitate and answered directly: "You can think so."
"As the boss of the team, I should be a member of the Lakers at least until the end of the season."
"Excuse me, Mr. Bryant, do you think this is a conspiracy?"
"I don't know." Kobe replied expressionlessly: "I'm just doing what I should do."
"So Bryant, do you admit that China Tong is a member of the Lakers?"
"Yes, he now has the qualifications." Kobe replied concisely.
Hearing this, the entire press conference became "climax", and the situation became more and more out of control. These reporters smelled the smell of big news, just like sharks smelled the smell of blood in the sea, and instantly became "forward and backward".
Almost "crazy".
Seeing that the situation was not right, Mitch Kupchak immediately asked the team's press officer to announce a timeout. Then he pulled Kobe Bryant and walked into the room behind him and said: "Bryant! What are you doing? Are you doing this?"
Will the entire Lakers team be embarrassed???"
Kobe looked at the angry Mitch Kupchak and said in a calm voice: "Kupchak, can you represent the entire Lakers team? I know what I should do."
"You know shit!!!" Kupchak didn't care about his image, he opened his mouth and said loudly and rudely: "Do you think you are loyal? Are you a good friend? Didn't I already show you the diagnosis report of the perm?
Well, he is useless now. For the sake of the team’s playoff competitiveness, I have to do this, do you understand!!!”
"You mean, if you were hot and you could still play, you would never do this, right?" Kobe asked without answering.
"That's right!" Mitch Kupchak said directly without thinking: "But this is impossible, isn't it? He has intracranial congestion, instead of spraining his ankle or pricking his finger, this
It’s a serious injury that requires a craniotomy, don’t you understand? As the boss of the team, how can you be so disregardful of the overall situation???”
"Bryant, I'm so disappointed in you!!!" Mitch Kupchak said with a "heartbroken" look.
At this time, the door of the room was pushed open. When Mitch Kupchak saw this, he immediately said angrily: "What's going on?! Didn't I tell you that no one is allowed to come in and disturb you?"
?”
"It's me, Mr. Mitch Kupchak." An Eastern accent came into Mitch Kupchak's ears.
"Is it you? China hot???" Mitch Kupchak turned to look at the door, where three Lakers players were standing, Matt Barnes, Ci Shiping, and China Tang Qian.
"Yes, that's my husband." Tang Qian said with a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"Why are you back? Aren't you supposed to be in San Antonio..." Before Kupchak could finish speaking, Tang Qian interrupted him and said, "What's wrong? Could it be that Mr. Kupchak really wants me to carry out the operation?"
Cranial surgery?”
Tang Qian emphasized the word "craniotomy" very hard, and the irony in his words was palpable.
After all, Mitch Kupchak is the general manager of the Lakers and someone who has the ambition to become the "godfather" of the team. So soon, he came back to his senses and said: "Hot, you have seen the matter. We are not the Lakers."
The team doesn't respect you, it's just that your physical condition is no longer suitable to continue playing in the NBA. The team is not a relief station, so there is no other way."
"But I will change your contract into a guaranteed contract, and I will not pay you a penny less in salary."
"Then what?" Tang Qian said with a very indifferent expression, unmoved at all.
"This is the best outcome for you and the team. Otherwise, according to the contract, I wouldn't have paid you a dime." Mitch Cupp regained his true nature as a businessman and threatened and lured you.
"What???" Matt Barnes got angry as soon as he heard this, and rushed forward to take action: "Are you still prepared not to pay?"
"Barnes, your contract is about to expire. I advise you not to be too impulsive." Mitch Kupchak said without fear at all: "This is the NBA, isn't it? This is a business league, no.
It’s a charity gala, so everyone should be well aware of it.”
"I'm so disappointed." Tang Qian repeated what Mitch Kupchak just said: "You know, if it weren't for Mr. Black Mamba, I would have turned around and left and joined the Green Army.
, completely defeated the Lakers."
"What? Are you talking in your sleep?" Mitch Kupchak said: "With your current physical condition, which team would dare to recruit you? Do you still want to go to Boston? Hot, I advise you to go back to the hospital bed.
Recuperate."
"My physical condition, what's my physical condition?" Tang Qian suddenly said something.
"What's going on? Of course it's intracranial congestion, don't pretend to be confused with me!" Mitch Kupchak said.
"Oh, what if I say that I have recovered?" Tang Qian looked at Kupchak and said somewhat intriguingly.
"Recovered? Haha! Perm, are you kidding me? If you recover, I will immediately apologize to you publicly and then privately compensate you 500,000 US dollars. How about that?" Mitch Kupchak said smoothly,
I immediately felt "something bad" because the other party's attitude was a little too calm.