In addition to Durant, James (who basically stayed), Howard, Wade, Horford, Conley, Whiteside, Batum, Barnes, Bradley Beal and others whose contracts have also expired, most of them will test the free agent market.

Next season, the league's salary cap will skyrocket from 70 million to 94 million, and the luxury tax will also increase to 113 million, which is equivalent to more than 30 million salary space for each team.

In addition to the luxury tax, the league also has a minimum wage line, and teams that do not meet this line have to pay the shortfall to the league.

In other words, you don't use that space, and you need to pay that money for nothing.

The minimum wage for the new season is $84.7 million, which is nearly $15 million more than the original salary cap.

There is a limited increase in the number of contracts that have been signed, and the only way to fill them is to sign new contracts, so it is expected that the free market will be quite crazy this year.

Especially for players whose contracts expire and can afford to sign a maximum salary contract, the increase in starting salary from last year is staggering.

For example, Conley of the Grizzlies, if according to last year's salary cap, he has been in the NBA for 9 years, the most he can sign a contract is a starting salary of 30% * 7000 = 21 million, a contract worth 112 million in 5 years, but under the new salary cap, his contract will reach 153 million in 5 years, an astonishing increase.

From this example alone, you can feel that this is definitely a crazy offseason, which is why Tang Tian does not want to sign this offseason, the team will open big contracts, the players will also open their mouths, and the final result is to create all kinds of premium contracts.

The time for the opening of the free market is getting closer and closer, and at this moment, Maddie privately approached Tang Tian.

"Coach, I'm ready to retire." Maddie said with a calm expression.

"Aren't you going to play another season?" Tang Tian asked rhetorically.

Last season, Maddy averaged 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in the regular season, with a 42% shooting rate, and indeed reached the retirement data, but the playoff data rose to 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists, with a 49% shooting rate.

"yes, I'm ready to start another life, and there's more to life than basketball, isn't it?" Maddie said with a smile.

Tang Tian was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then nodded with a smile.

This rhetoric is the same as Yao Ming at the beginning, the relationship between the two in their previous lives was average, but in this life, they completed the Rocket Dynasty under his leadership, and the relationship is much closer than in their previous lives.

"Okay, what are you going to do next?"

"I'm going to ESPN as a commentator."

Tang Tian nodded, Maddie is not very interested in investment, and it is not bad to change to a commentator.

"I'll have a press conference tomorrow to announce my decision, and then the coach will definitely come." Maddie said with a smile.

Tang Tian nodded, he didn't have time to go to Yao Ming's retirement ceremony in China before, and he couldn't miss Maddie's press conference this time.

The next day, Maddie held a personal press conference at the Barclays Center.

In addition to Tang Tian and Jones, Yao Ming and some members of the former Rocket Dynasty, including Mutombo, Artest and Battier, came to the scene at the press conference.

"I'm going to retire in this league."

Although it was known beforehand, when Maddie said this decision, it still caused a wave of restlessness among reporters.

This season, among those superstars at the beginning of the century, Kobe Bryant and Duncan have retired one after another, and now Maddie has also retired, which is embarrassing together.

"I joined the league in '97, and it's been 18 years now, and it's a ...... It's been a long, really long time, and this league has been like home to me, and I've spent the most important 18 years here with basketball. ”

There was no restriction on going to college, Maddie was only 18 years old when she joined the league, and now she is about to be 37 years old.

"When I first went to Toronto, Vince and I were the best partners, we were both young and wanted to play for Toronto, but my career came to a peak in Orlando, which is the league, which is always full of uncertainties, but it is this uncertainty that drives me to Houston, Houston ......"

When he said this, Maddie's eyes showed a look of happiness and satisfaction, and he turned his head to look at Tang Tian beside him.

"Coach and me, me and Yao, with Ron, with Sean, with those guys, we completed an incredible triple championship, we built a rocket dynasty, hey, buddy, you can't realize how cool that is, it's so cool that it flies."

Maddie's words drew a burst of laughter from reporters, and Maddie felt like she was back in a rocket.

"I should apologize to the coach." When he finished laughing, he suddenly spoke.

"When the coach left, I thought he abandoned us, and I found out afterwards that he was forced to leave for other reasons, coach, I'm sorry, I really didn't dare to think like that." Maddie suddenly said this at this point.

Tang Tian was also a little surprised, but he still reached out and patted Maddie's shoulder.

Maddie nodded, and after taking half a minute to control his emotions, he continued: "It's good that the coach is the coach, and he thinks of me when I'm most disappointed, and he didn't blame me and brought me to Brooklyn, which is really great here, and I was with a group of great young people, and we did incredible things, and we won the championship without being favored by everyone." ”

At this point, Maddie's eyes lit up with excitement again.

"It's been a legendary experience and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Maddie said this with sincerity, which resonated with Artest and Battier, who reached out to applaud him, and the reporters below also applauded.

"When I got to the venue, I met an eighteen-year-old kid, his name was Joe, and he said he was a big fan of mine, and he said I was his role model, and we talked for a long time, and he said that he hoped I could continue to play in this league and continue to be his role model, you know...... It's hard to say no to someone, especially a kid like that. ”

When he said this, the reporters all stared at him curiously.

"Luckily, my assistant had a jersey in his hand at the time, and I gave him an autographed jersey and he didn't say anything about it."

Maddie's humor immediately drew laughter from the audience.

Maddie smiled herself.

"Finally, I want to thank everyone who has supported me, especially kids like Joe, and I'm really proud that you see me as a role model, and even see me as your youth, and I want to say to you that your life is just beginning, just like when I was eighteen when I first entered the league, thank you all."