After chatting with reporters, Zhou Xuan took a shower in the locker room, changed his clothes and walked out of the stadium. He and Leonard agreed to meet outside the arena, and the old coach wanted to introduce his friend Mitchell. Butler.

Mitchell is a little taller than Zhou Xuan, with broad shoulders and a thin waist, blonde hair and flat head are very energetic, Zhou Xuan saw him for the first time, and felt like seeing a large ruffian Eminem. The athlete has a good foundation, and his figure will not be out of shape, and Mitchell looks like he is in his thirties.

"Hello, Zhou, I'm basketball agent Mitchell. Butler. ”

"Hello, nice to meet you."

After Mitchell said hello, he got straight to the point: "I want to recommend myself to be your agent, how do you feel?" ”

"Isn't it too early for me to find an agent when I'm just starting out?" Zhou Xuan smiled bitterly: "And I'm a poor person who can't even pay the rent now." ”

"It's okay, I'm bullish on your prospects, and at the end of this season I think you're totally ready to sign up for the NBA Draft, and you're going to be drafted."

It's not too early, if you play too well in the future, it won't be my turn. Mitchell thought to himself. Stars will look for experienced gold agents, and if he wants to make a career, he can only find potential stocks.

"I've been expelled from college, can I still participate in the draft?" Zhou Xuan was a little surprised, he was very concerned about this issue.

"Absolutely. Because you are an international player, even if you are expelled from college, you can qualify as long as you are at least 19 years old. As a Chinese, if you play beautiful data in the NBDL, the league will definitely agree to let you sign up. "Mitchell is very sure.

Leonard was not happy and interjected: "Mitchell, I still want him to go to the Lakers, what do you mean by encouraging him to participate in the draft?" Tear down my desk? ”

"No kidding, does the Lakers have a place for him? Went to get the base salary to Fisher and Farmar to play as a substitute? And the Lakers will always revolve around Kobe. After watching today's game, I am sure that he must hold the ball if he wants to play his power, even if Nash goes to the Lakers, it is Kobe Bryant who holds the ball, and it is certainly good for him to have him on the Lakers' bench in Los Angeles, but it is harmful to him. Mitchell smiled.

Leonard snorted, he also knew that Zhou Xuan was suitable for blocking and dismantling rather than triangle offense, and he lacked accuracy outside the three-point line, and it was difficult to be a good helper next to Kobe. He's just a little depressed, and he finally has a good player under him, and he can't keep it.

Mitchell explained the draft issue to Zhou Xuan.

Beginning in 2006, U.S. players had to be drafted with two conditions: they had graduated from high school for at least one year and had turned 19 by December 31 of the draft year. For international players, only the second condition needs to be met to declare draft eligibility.

The NBA has set two draft eligibility dates. All players who wish to participate in the draft but are not automatically eligible for the draft will need to declare their draft eligibility on or before the first date. After that, the league will set up some pre-draft camps that allow potential players to show their abilities and skills to the team, and the team may also observe their personalities. Players can make a decision to withdraw their draft eligibility statement prior to the draft date (one week before the draft day).

A player who declares a draft eligibility does not automatically lose his eligibility for college games unless he or she declares his draft eligibility in a previous year and reverses it. If the draft eligibility statement is not withdrawn by the most resigned draft date, the player will lose their eligibility for the college game, regardless of whether they are drafted or not.

In addition, a player can withdraw his draft eligibility statement up to once, and signing with an agent automatically terminates college play.

Teams are required to sign contracts with players selected in the first round for at least one year, and have exclusive contract rights within the league with players selected in the second round for three years. If he enters the NBA without drafting, it will be very disadvantageous for Zhou Xuan, the contract lacks security, and eighty percent is the base salary. Who would give a big contract to a guy who didn't have a draft? That's too risky.

Zhou Xuan originally planned to participate in the draft, but he didn't expect to participate this year. Signing an agent would disqualify him from the college game, which doesn't just happen to be in conflict with his current situation, he needs money, and if Mitchell can help him make money, he doesn't mind signing with him now.

"What benefits can I get from signing up with you? What do you need to give? ”

"We can go home and talk about this slowly, all agents are treated similarly, I'm not a famous agent, and you're not a big name, so the commission can still be lower. Now go to my house, let's make friends and solve the problem of your residence first. ”

"Okay." Zhou Xuan felt that Mitchell spoke very happily, everything was put on the table, and his expression was not hypocritical. It might be nice to have such a roommate. He also doesn't want to waste three hours back and forth every day on the bus or subway.

When I arrived at Mitchell's residence, it was not what Zhou Xuan imagined, this was a very ordinary apartment, with two bedrooms and one living room on the third floor. The room is not big and has a large bed ready-made. Two nice leather sofas facing a large color TV. It should be comfortable to watch the game on your back on the couch.

"I have a roommate who got married and moved away not long ago, he bought a big house, the furniture is new, the bed and furniture here are left, you don't need to prepare anything if you want to move in, just go back and pack your luggage." Mitchell pointed to the two couches and said, "You can choose one of these two chairs." ”

"Wow, I think it's nice to work with you now." Zhou Xuan sighed, it had been a long time since outsiders had treated him so well.

"Do I make a decision so quickly? Because I think you're a lot like me back then. Mitchell laughed.

"What was your situation back then?"

"Michael Jordan's era, the Pistons bad boy...... I've been through it all. The league was incomparable to it now, the facilities were rudimentary, the players were rough, each team had to have a few hitters in order to win, I was not reused because of my poor physical fitness, I was a standard playmaker, and if I had been born 20 years later, I would have become a star. ”

Zhou Xuan listened carefully and did not interrupt.

Mitchell added: "The thing that most alikes me about you is that we are both poor. ”

"You're also poor now?" Zhou Xuan was a little surprised, he thought that anyone who had played in the NBA could make a lot of money, but rich people would not live in this kind of apartment.

"When I first entered the league, I was poor, all my possessions were a few dollars in my pants pocket, there were no dormitories for the players, and I slept on my teammates' couches for a few months until I was paid. At that time, the NBA was still developing, there were not so many broadcast rights, advertising, Chinese did not watch the NBA, and the salary of players was not high, unless you were a star. I had a chaotic life and didn't save much, so I'm still very poor. It's annoying to think about it, when the NBA started raising wages, I had no ball to play. Mitchell opened the fridge and asked, "Beer or soda?" ”

"I'll drink pure water." Zhou Xuan pointed to the bucket of the water dispenser and found a cup for himself. are all poor eggs, which has brought the relationship between the two a lot closer. is the same person who has fallen to the end of the world, why should we have known each other when we meet.

Zhou Xuan took a sip of water and asked with a smile: "I only played one game, do you think I can play in the NBA?" ”

'That's right, because you have a good sense of passing, which is the most rare. A few years ago, there was a Japanese person who forgot what to call and didn't have as much physical fitness as you played a few more games in the sun, just because they wanted to open up the Japanese market. You are definitely better than him, and as a Chinese, you will also receive more media attention and fans. If you play well, it is no problem to receive advertising endorsements and make stars in Hollywood. I'm from here, I know what to do, I'll make you rich. "Mitchell has regarded Zhou Xuan as a cash cow, even though he is still a sapling. To help Zhou Xuan is to help himself, he is 42 years old and not married, and he also needs money.

"I also think that Japanese people can only play basketball at home, so it's better to get a short basket." Zhou Xuan smiled: "Mitchell, I have a question, since you are also a newcomer, why do you have the confidence to make me rich?" ”

"I have connections, although I am a newcomer, but I followed Fagan, I learned his methods, you should know him, right? Yi Jianlian in your country is his client. ”

Zhou Xuan nodded. As "Warcraft" Howard, Vallejo, and Sean. The agent of Marion and many other stars, Fagan is definitely a big name in the NBA agent industry, his behavior is quite mysterious, and he has more new methods and skills to get the most out of his clients and contracts.

One of the more famous events is that he set a precedent of providing players with "one-year contracts", choosing to allow players to sign a one-year contract with the team and then seek a better contract, which was affirmed in the NBA league arbitration, according to NBA estimates, the one-year contract option increased the player's salary by more than 100 million in one year! Fagan also pioneered the "one-year deal" model, which allows a team to sign a player and trade him to another team a year later and keep his Larry. Bird Clause right, players who have profited from this innovative means include Sean. Marion, Jason. Richardson, Jason. Terry, Troy. Murphy and so on.

Of course, the most well-known case for Chinese fans occurred last year, when Fagan was bent on helping Yi Jianlian find a suitable NBA team to maximize the interests of both parties, but in the end Yi Jianlian joined the Milwaukee Bucks, who picked him in the draft.

Knowing that Mitchell and Fagan had learned, Zhou Xuan was much more relieved. Agents can't be found casually, especially can't be rookies, otherwise how can you negotiate with those shrewd bosses?

It feels good to talk to him, it's more temperamental, if you are a roommate, you are a friend and partner, and he is better than those who will be the icing on the cake in the future, right? Zhou Xuan thought about it for a while, and said: "You have moved me, I am willing to sign a contract, and I also want to participate in this year's draft!" Can I move in with you tomorrow? ”

"Of course, the sooner the better. Trust me, not only to make money, but also to play, I can also give you advice! ”

"Then please advise!"

The two shook hands vigorously.