Seeing that Billups was shaken, Tang Tian struck while the iron was hot.

"The salary space of the Rockets is much more reasonable, the core thunder can't move, Yao Ming and Maddy, if you go, you will be the third giant, and the rest will only be some role players and functional players."

"And the team was the champion last year, and this season the team has added a nice new guy, and if you join, this time next year, you'll have another championship ring."

After a series of words, Billups laughed at the end.

Tang Tian looked at him suspiciously.

"I know why the Rockets were able to win the championship unexpectedly last year."

"Why?"

"Not only are you very good at coaching, but you're also very eloquent."

Tang Tian was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, Billups said this, admitting that he was moved by him.

"Are you interested in playing for Team Rocket?" Tang Tian asked what he had asked at the beginning.

"Yes." Billups nodded, "I will consider the Rockets second only to the Pistons, and if the team really doesn't want to give me a proposed contract, I will be the first to find you." ”

This is basically agreed, but as Billups said at the beginning, his intention is to stay with the Pistons.

Tang Tian already knew that he had succeeded nine times out of ten.

In their previous lives, the Pistons didn't pay the luxury tax for Billups, and the chances of it being are low.

If he really paid, then he couldn't help it, he had done the best he could.

After saying goodbye to Billups, Tang Tian did not go back to Houston immediately, but stayed in a nearby hotel.

Unlike last season, because it was the offseason, he was basically fine as a head coach, and staying in Detroit was just right to visit this "Motor City".

Detroit once became the fourth largest city in the United States with its automobile industry, but with the impact of Japanese and Korean cars, the scenery has long been gone.

That's probably one of the reasons Pistons owner Bill Davidson is reluctant to pay extravagant sharp.

While Tang Tian was hanging out in Detroit, all teams were in full swing preparing for the new season.

The Nets re-signed Carter, the Magic re-signed Howard and traded the SuperSonics' "Mr. Billion" Lewis, and Mo Williams and the Bucks reached a six-year, $53 million contract...... Big deals and news like this are endless.

The Rockets have also begun to sign, the most important of which is with Petrus, who has previously reached a verbal agreement, and the two sides signed a fully guaranteed contract of 2 years and 9 million.

Petrus played his best performance with the Warriors last season, averaging 11 points and 4.5 rebounds in 27 minutes per game, shooting 39% from three-point range, and the market price is far more than 4.5 million, a large part of which is Tang Tian's face.

Parallel to the free market is the Summer League.

The Rockets were surprisingly strong.

After the baptism of the playoffs, Barria's whole strength has become much stronger, averaging 30+ per game, which is not at the same level as other players.

The other is Sessions, who undoubtedly showed his characteristics, averaging 15 points and 12 assists per game in a few games, as well as that kind of tough floor flow playing style, which is quite popular.

With the excellent performance of the two, the Rockets actually made it all the way to the finals and successfully defended the championship.

The final prize was also won by the Rockets, Barria won the Summer League regular season MVP, and Sessions won the Finals MVP with a wonderful performance of 20 points and 20 assists in the Finals.

At this time, Morey couldn't help but call Tang Tian and praised him for his vicious draft vision.

has been finding treasures in a low position for two consecutive years, and Tang Tian, even if he is just a scout, is the most sought-after in the league.

Negotiations between Billups and the Pistons are still deadlocked, and in the process, other teams chasing Billups have withdrawn for their own reasons, making the Pistons even more reluctant to increase the total contract amount.

"Don, we can talk."

After waiting for more than a week, Tang Tian finally received a call from Billups.

His wait finally came to fruition.

This time it was Tang Tian who Billups was looking for, and his mental state looked a little poor.

"Are you alright?" Tang Tian poured a cup of coffee.

"No, I just haven't slept well in the past two days." Billups took his coffee and sat down.

Tang Tian nodded, he could feel that this was not just not a good sleep, but more psychological pressure.

"How's it going, decided to join Team Rocket?" Tang Tian was still very direct.

Billups nodded: "I have a request, though. ”

"Request?" Tang Tian looked at Billups suspiciously, not knowing what he was referring to.

"You know I've been with the Pistons for so long, and I have feelings for this team, for those teammates, and if I just go straight away, it's very unsympathetic, so I hope to bring back some useful assets for the team."

"You mean the change?" Tang Tian understood the meaning of Billups's words.

Billups nodded.

Tang Tian frowned at this time, he was very familiar with the change of previous and backward, in his previous life, Chris Paul was changed from the Clippers to the Rockets, about the same age as Billups, about the same league status, and then changed most of the Rockets.

"For whom? Chaunse: You should know that it's not me who makes the decision on the transaction. Tang Tian pondered for a while and said.

"I know, I've discussed this matter with Joe, it's inevitable that I will go to the Rockets, and the negotiation will be left to the general managers of the two teams to solve." Billups also knew that the request was a bit embarrassing, and spoke with a little apology.

"Alright then, I'll get in touch with Darrell right now and ask him to get it done sooner so you can have more time to move."

Billups was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes were a little moved, Tang Tian, the head coach, thought about it so carefully.

"Thanks, Coach." The veteran, who has been in the league for more than a decade, already feels that he will open up a new world for the Rockets.

Tang Tian patted Billups on the shoulder: "Since it has finally been decided, you can also go back and sleep well." ”

Billups nodded, then turned and left the hotel.

Morey moved quickly, and after two days of talks with the Pistons, a deal was quickly reached.

The plan for the deal was also announced on the third day, and after the announcement, the entire league was shaken.

After the Pistons and Billups agreed to a five-year, $60 million contract (with a team option for the final year), they followed up with a deal with the Rockets that acquired Juwan Howard, Ralph Alston, Ramon Sessions and a future second-round pick.

The Pistons immediately made another deal with the Timberwolves, trading Juwan Howard and that future second-round pick, because the Timberwolves had salary space below the salary cap, and the latter also received a trade exception close to 7 million.