Jackson smiled again: "I think you don't have to worry about that, even though I'm just a head coach, I still have a little bit of connections in the league." I've asked my friend to ask the top of the league what it means, and I'm sure the punishment won't be too severe!"

Jackson's reassuring pills really impressed Arenas, a head coach who appreciates him, a main position, and a team that serves him wholeheartedly. While it's impossible to replace Kevin Garnett as the team's boss, it's enough for Arenas, really enough, and he doesn't need anything more.

Moved by his heart, Arenas immediately ordered his agent to negotiate with the Knicks. Although Arenas felt a little apologetic after doing so, he didn't want to hesitate any longer.

With Arenas' approval, Jackson's confidence in toppling the New York Knicks suddenly increased a little.

"We're going to lose Gilbert? What do you mean?"

Looking at Morey's lost appearance, Lamar's heart was full of doubts. He didn't know what was going on, but he actually made things change so quickly, and before the Knicks could make an offer to Arenas, Arenas stopped all contract renewals. Could it be that Arenas was so easily rebelled by others?

Morey's face was not just about loss, but also about anger. Obviously, the call just now was from Arenas or Arenas's agent, and there must have been a lot of unreasonable demands on the phone.

"That guy is crazy! Completely crazy! He actually asked the team for a five-year, $65 million contract. Hell, if I give Gilbert this contract, what will Chauncey and Sean do?"

"What's even more excessive is that this guy even asked for a starting position, damn it! ”

Lamar listened, pondered for a while, and then said, "65 million in 5 years?"

"That's right, $13 million a year. Lamar, we can't come up with this money. In fact, according to Gilbert's strength, his requirements are not very excessive. I can't commit to getting him into the starting lineup, but a good contract is fine. ”

"But he's not the only one who is facing a contract extension for the Knicks right now, and if he agrees to his request, what will Chauncey and Sean do? You should know that our total salary this year will have a big spike compared to last season, and we will definitely have to pay the luxury tax this year. Full middle class, that's my bottom line, I really can't get better conditions!"

This year, Lamar began his new six-year, $112 million contract, and Grant Hill also has an annual salary of $16 million, and these two people alone account for more than half of the salary space.

Although the team's owner, James Dolan, declared after winning the championship that he didn't mind paying the luxury tax, as the general manager of the Knicks, Morey couldn't let him go too far.

Lamar listened and nodded: "Someone must have offered him better terms, so he is impatient to know what we think." ”

Van Gundy looked at Lamar, although as early as during the last video conference, the three of them agreed on the renewal of Arenas and Simmons, but at this time, Van Gundy also began to be a little reluctant, after all, Arenas's strength was there: "So what should we do?"

"Since we can't give him a contract of 10 million that he wants, and we can't guarantee his main position, then let him go!"

Despite what he said, Lamar still didn't want to give up and dialed Arenas's mobile phone.

After a few busy tones, the phone was connected.

Arenas didn't expect the Knicks to react so quickly, and after a moment's hesitation, he connected the phone: "Hello, Lamar!"

"Are you really leaving?" Lamar's tone sounded calm.

Arenas shuddered in his heart, Lamar was his boss, the boss he recognized in his heart. He's really enjoying playing next to Lamar, but he's going to have to start thinking about his future.

"Yes, Lamar, the Knicks I want now don't give me what I want. ”

"I know, can you tell me which team was so lucky?" Lamar was now anxious to know that this was it.

Arenas hesitated for a moment and glanced at Jackson opposite: "It's the Minnesota Timberwolves, they promised me the main position, and they were willing to give me a five-year, $72 million contract." ”

Lamar's heart trembled, he originally thought that the person who fell in love with Arenas would be the Los Angeles Lakers, who would have thought that it would be the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Sam Kassel, Wallis Zebiak, and now Gilbert Arenas, what changes will these stars bring to the league when they are grouped together? Lamar instantly felt a kind of panic that a storm was coming!

No, Arenas and Cassel have conflicting styles of play and position, and one of the two is bound to have to make sacrifices, and a configuration like the Timberwolves simply can't maximize the impact of these guys.

Hanging up the phone, Lamar gave Van Gundy his doubts.

After thinking about it for a while, Van Gundy suddenly seemed to realize something, and his face suddenly changed.

"Their next target is Ben Wallace!"

"Ben Wallace?"

This Lamar was also stunned, before the draft, there was a very unpleasant news between Ben Wallace and Pistons management over the issue of contract extensions, could Big Ben really leave Detroit early?

That's right! Phil Jackson, after getting Arenas, did set his next target on Ben Wallace.

A Big Ben who is only 2.05 meters tall but has been the league's rebounding champion and the best defensive player for many years, a wolf king with a variety of offensive methods and strong defensive ability, a gentleman's sword with elusive running positions and mid-range shooting strength that surpasses the league, a general whose offensive ability is comparable to Peter Pan Kobe, and the old and strong alien on the bench, such a combination will make people feel exciting even if you imagine it.

Offense wins fans, defense wins championships.

After taking over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jackson was ready to abandon the tactics developed by Sanders. Of course, the triangle offense doesn't seem to fit the current Timberwolves. Phil is also very bold, and in his opinion, if you want to change, you have to change completely, so Jackson chose the Princeton strategy to rebuild the Timberwolves.

Is there a better defender in the league than Ben Wallace?

Some people may think that Ben Wallace is nothing in terms of overall strength, but it is Ben Wallace who is really suitable for team basketball. After all these years with the Detroit Pistons, Ben Wallace's team spirit is definitely the best in the league. With such an inside barrier in hand, it is possible for Jackson to truly realize his ideals.

"Ben Wallace!" Lamar said with a wry smile, "It looks like Phil really plans to fight us to the end." ”

When Jackson returned to Minnesota from the Caribbean, he immediately began working on the Big Ben deal. Now, there is no one on his team who is completely untradeable except for Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Cassel and Arenas.

And Jackson believes that although the chips he took out this time could not impress the shrewd Joe Dumas, it would definitely get the miserly owner of the Pistons involved.

Regarding the trading of Ben Wallace, Jackson did not want to keep it a secret. After returning to Minnesota, he reached out to several well-connected media outlets and began to show his appreciation for Ben Wallace.

"No manager would turn down a player like Big Ben. He's the hardest-working, fiercest, and most passionate player I've ever met. His defense is unmatched, and if I can bring him to my team, I think both me and the Minnesota fans will be very happy!"

Jackson's admiration for Ben Wallace has long been no secret.

When he was still coaching with the Lakers, he thought about trading Ben Wallace to the Lakers, but unfortunately it didn't work out in the end. At that time, Ben Wallace was still on a mid-level contract, but he was already the best defensive player in the league, and the Pistons didn't look down on the three melons and two dates provided by the Lakers.

But that's no longer the case, Ben Wallace has only one year left on his contract. The Pistons are reluctant to offer Ben Wallace, who is already 30, a five-year, $75 million contract.

If the Timberwolves can trade Ben Wallace this time, the team owner will not be stingy even if the team has to pay a huge luxury tax for it.

"Jackson Wants Big Ben"

After this news was released, it immediately caused heated discussions. As the other party to the party, Joe Dumas, the general manager of the Pistons, also immediately stood up to refute the rumors.

"Big Ben is not going to leave Detroit, and although his contract with the team expires next season, we have already started negotiations to extend it!"

"We've had a great time working together over the years, and Ben himself loves the city of Detroit. He's a great player, he's very capable, and if we can, we'll keep him in Detroit until the end of his career." "Joe Dumas really doesn't want Big Ben to leave, and he knows very well what Big Ben means to the Pistons.

It was because of Ben Wallace that the Pistons were able to go from an average team to the most defensively fierce team in the league all at once.

It is precisely because of Ben Wallace that the Pistons can remain competitive enough among all NBA teams every season.

If Ben Wallace left, Joe Dumas really couldn't imagine it. Not to mention the collapse of the Pistons' pride in super-strong defense, the team's disintegration seems to be on the horizon.