In late July, Hoop Sports broke the latest news about the Lakers' Big Four.

"Karl Malone has reached an agreement with the Lakers to sign a one-year contract with the Lakers with an annual salary of $1.9 million, and after this signing, the Lakers still have a mid-level exception, or will use the mid-range exception to sign Gary Payton, and eventually form a Big Four to hit the third championship of the OK group......"

……

In Houston, outside the Toyota Center, a new arena that is about to be unveiled, Rockets management received Gary Payton and Jeff Schultz and their party.

"This is our new arena, sponsored by Toyota, so it's called the Toyota Center, and it's going to be unveiled before the first game of the regular season, but now our management has moved over......"

Joe Hai was followed by Jeff Schultz and Gary Payton, and before the new arena was unveiled, the Rockets had already moved a little stuff over.

The offices of the management were moved, and in addition, the honor showroom of the rocket was moved.

In the passage outside the locker room, the Rockets' only two O'Brien Cups, as well as the retired jerseys of Moses Malone and others, are placed.

For Gary Payton, the O'Brien Cup was the biggest attraction, and he stopped to look at it for a moment before following Jeff Schultz upstairs.

In Qiao Hai's office, the two sides sat down.

Joe Hai sat behind the large desk, Gary Payton and Jeff Schultz sat across from Qiao Hai, and finally, Darryl Morey and the lawyer hired by the Rockets also sat not far away.

"How's it going, Gary, have you thought about it? Lakers and Rockets, make a choice. ”

Gary Payton smiled, actually, he was sitting here, and it already said it all, between the Lakers and the Rockets, he was more inclined to join the Rockets.

Wade is the main reason why Gary Payton chose the Rockets, on the one hand, Wade's personal ability and potential make Gary Payton see the hope of winning the championship, on the other hand, Wade is not as strong as Kobe, and Gary Payton is slightly more important in the Rockets.

Even if it's Gary Payton, what he wants is a championship that he can dominate.

……

Darryl Morey handed over a contract, and Joe Hai handed it directly to Jeff Schultz and Gary Payton.

"A full middle class, specifically $5 million for one year, is the highest price we can give."

Jeff Schultz frowned, then looked up and asked, "Don't you still have more than 10 million salary space?" ”

Qiao Hai smiled: "Before yesterday, we did have tens of millions of salary space, but yesterday afternoon we completed a transaction, and this tens of millions of salary space has been consumed and only more than 3 million remains." ”

"A deal?" Gary Payton is clearly more interested in the deal, which could mean a change in the Rockets' terms of strength.

Qiao Hai didn't hide it either: "We sent Carlos Boozer and Muchinoris away, and got Greg Ostertag, DeSean Stevenson and Carlos Arroyo from the Jazz. ”

Gary Payton nodded, this deal, he studied it carefully, and soon understood Qiao Hai's thoughts.

There must be a reason why Carlos Boozer couldn't start in the Rockets despite his potential, and Qiao Hai sent Carlos Boozer away, which also proved it.

The Rockets sent away Carlos Boozer and got a starter-caliber center, a backup shooting guard, and a backup point guard, in a trade that directly complemented their bench roster.

……

Faced with this full middle class, Gary Payton hesitated slightly, and finally chose to sign a contract.

The reason is that Jeff Schultz said: "What the Lakers can give us is also a middle class, not a full middle class, and we can only get more than three million dollars at most." ”

Then, Gary Payton synthesized it.

Both the Rockets and the Lakers are aiming for a championship, but the Rockets can give him a higher status as a team and more dollars.

So, even if Gary Payton is a fool, he knows who to choose.

Gary Payton signs his name on the contract and then shakes Joe's hand.

"Happy working together, Mr. Joe."

Qiao Hai smiled: "You can call me boss in the future, that's what all the players of the Rockets call me." ”

"Okay, Boss!"

……

In Los Angeles, the Lakers held a press conference to officially announce: "Karl Malone has officially joined the Lakers and signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract. ”

At the press conference, Michkupchek was in high spirits.

Karl Malone, who averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season, is still a giant-level player.

After signing Karl Malone, the Lakers formed a big three lineup.

And Mitch Kupchak's next target is Gary Payton, and he doesn't know that at this time, far away in Houston, the Rockets are also preparing to hold a press conference.

……

Houston, the Rockets are also preparing to hold a press conference, which is a small press conference, and the Rockets only invite reporters from major media outlets in Houston.

At the scene, there were not many reporters coming, but the quality was very high.

These include Houston reporter Dean Jones of Hoop Sports, Houston reporter Darren Wafson of ESPN, Ben Griff of Sports Illustrated in Houston, Mark Borman of Fox Sports in Houston, and Jason Freeman, reporter of NBA.com......

In addition, Houston documentary reporter Jonathan Fagan, as well as the American correspondent Duan Ran and CCTV reporter Li Shuangfu in the United States, but the number of reporters in both hands includes several major media in North America, as well as two media outlets in the Celestial Empire.

Before the press conference, no one knew what the rocket was going to announce to the outside world.

Qiao Hai and Darryl Morey walked out.

The reporters did not see the protagonist of this press conference, and they began to itch.

Qiao Hai stood in front of the microphone, and after an opening remark, he first announced a deal: "In this press conference, we have two things to announce to the public, the first is that we have completed a deal with the Jazz. ”

Trade?!

The reporters smelled the smell of big news, opened the voice recorders, notebooks and other tools in their hands, and began to record.

"In this deal, we sent Carlos Boozer and Muchinolis and got Greg Ostertag, DeSean Stevenson, Carlos Arroyo from the Jazz, and a partially protected first-round pick from the Jazz."

Jonathan Fagan frowned when a deal was announced, it wasn't a small deal, but he felt that bigger news should be to come.

However, at the scene, many reporters have already begun to get excited, constantly asking questions about the deal.

Qiao Hai was also very comfortable with all kinds of questions.

Jonathan Fagan remained silent, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the press conference.

Soon, two people appeared at the entrance, the one who hit the head, and Jonathan Fagan recognized it at a glance: "Gary Payton?!" ”

With this exclamation, everyone turned their heads and turned to the entrance in unison!

"It's Gary Payton!"

Qiao Hai also smiled at this time, pointed into the microphone and said, "Now, let's welcome Gary Payton and his agent, Mr. Jeff Schultz!" ”

"At the same time, we are announcing that we have reached an agreement with Gary Payton to sign a one-year, $5 million contract, and Gary Payton will join the Houston Rockets in the new season!"

There was an immediate uproar at the scene, everyone thought that Gary Payton was close to the Lakers, but no one expected that Gary Payton would eventually sign with the Houston Rockets!