At the end of November, Margaret gave birth, and then in December it was Ivanka.

Ivanka is pregnant with twins, and she has two sons in her life, which is particularly cute.

The NBA is still suspended, Li Wei is still practicing during the day and walking cats at night, and there is one more job, that is, coaxing children. He is now the father of six children, and Dinah will have another one in two days.

With so many children, of course, these people in the family couldn't coax them, but he hired a lot of nannies and arranged a special villa for the children to live in. Luo Wei, Xia Cuirong and others are very relaxed, just take a look at the child when they have time, and they don't need to bring it themselves at all.

On December 23, David Stern announced that he would recommend the season be cancelled if no agreement could be reached by January 7, 99.

The team didn't have to pay the players' salaries during the lockdown, so the players were even more panicked when the season was cancelled.

The players' unions are divided, and a significant part of the population is tired of the union's hard-line attitude, and they just want to get paid early.

If they don't receive a whole year's salary, what do they have to support their families?

If the league wants to engage in a maximum salary, then do it, how many people in the entire NBA can get sky-high contracts?

Why should everyone lose their money for the benefit of a few people?

On January 6, when Li Wei was delivering Dinah in a flying saucer, Billy Henry and David Stern finally reached an agreement. In this agreement, both employers and employees made some concessions, but since the maximum salary system was established, the media believed that the boss had won.

On January 20, the players and owners officially signed a new agreement, and the 204-day suspension officially ended.

Because teams can't negotiate with players during the shutdown, they can't sign or trade, so after the shutdown ends, the teams suddenly become very busy.

The establishment of the maximum salary system has enabled many small-ball teams to have the capital to compete with large-ball teams. They don't have to worry that their offer is not high enough, because other teams can only offer up to the maximum salary required.

This year is the 95th contract year, and Damon Stoudemire, who did not renew his contract early last year, is tragic, and he can only get a maximum salary contract under the current rules. Fortunately, the local tyrant boss of the pioneer will not be stingy, and a seven-year long contract is smashed.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can sign contracts with the home team for up to seven years, and with other teams for six years, which is set to allow the home team to renew their contracts early.

Damon Stoudemire was joined by two of his teammates, Rasheed Wallace and Arvidas Sabonis.

Although Sabonis was drafted by the Trail Blazers in '86, he didn't report until '95, so he also got a rookie contract in '95.

However, he is too old, 34 years old, and although the Trailblazers give the maximum salary, they do not sign for six or seven years like they do for young people, but three years. If Sabonis can stay in his current form after three years, the Trail Blazers certainly don't mind renewing his contract.

Another member of the Class of '95 who received the highest salary was Antonio McDyce.

Last summer, McDyce didn't negotiate a contract extension with the Nuggets, and then the Nuggets sold him to the Suns in a rage.

The Suns took out three first-round picks, two second-round picks, and two role players in exchange for McDace, thinking that they could keep him with a high salary, but they didn't expect that one of them was unhappy and jumped back to the Nuggets.

That's right, it was the Nuggets who signed McDyes's contract with the highest salary, they selected super rookie Lafrentz, and signed McDace, sharpening their knives and preparing to rise in the new season!

The Suns smashed the pot and sold iron, but they only used McDyce for one year, the bamboo basket was empty, and the management was stupid from top to bottom!

Just when the high-ranking talents of the class of '95 were renewing their contracts with the highest salary or close to the highest salary, there was one person who was depressed, and he was the top pick in '95, Joe Smith.

Joe Smith averaged 18 points per game in his second season, one more than Garnett, and his agent was Garnett's agent, Eric Frescher.

Garnett averaged 17 points per game, Frescher dared to ask for a 100 million yuan contract, Joe Smith is the top pick, and his average points per game are higher than Garnett, so the expectations in my heart are definitely higher than Garnett!

"You give it as it is, as long as it is higher than Garnett's salary, we will sign it, otherwise we will test the free man market!"

Warriors management couldn't afford to pay more than Garnett, not even closer, and sold him to the 76ers after the All-Star break.

The two top picks of the 76ers, Allen Iverson and Derrick Coleman, are grabbing the ball, and the third champion can only watch the show. In the second half of the season, Joe Smith only averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Larry Brown had high hopes for Joe Smith, but was deeply disappointed when he couldn't even grab the two top picks on the team. Now that the 76ers have got a super center Big Z, of course, it is impossible to renew his contract with the highest salary.

Joe Smith is very depressed, last summer the agent told him that he would definitely get a contract similar to Garnett, and now the team has sold him, and the contract is not available, do you say angry?

"Erik, what about my 100 million dollar contract? You said you were going to get me a contract that's bigger than Garnett! ”

Eric Freschel said: "Okay, you don't know the current situation, it's good if someone is willing to give you the highest salary!" ”

"Okay, the top salary is fine, I want the top salary!"

The amount of the maximum salary contract is not constant, but is calculated according to the formula based on the annual NBA profit. Players with different years of service can get different maximum salaries. Players who have played in the league for less than 6 years this year can get more than 80 million yuan for a 7-year maximum salary contract, and if they have a 6-year maximum salary contract, it will be about 70 million.

Joe Smith was traded to the 76ers, so the parent team is the 76ers, and he can only sign a seven-year contract with the 76ers, and other teams can sign a maximum of six years. In other words, 70 million in 6 years is the upper limit he can get, with an average of more than 10 million a year!

Such a number is completely different from Garnett's six-year 126 million last year.

But even if Joe Smith retreated and only asked for a contract with the highest salary, no one would give it. Now that most of the teams are full of salary caps, the teams that can free up salary space will not dare to bet when they see him lose in the three-title battle.

"Joe, there is a team that is willing to give you a contract with a maximum salary, and it is the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the owner of the Wolves is not bad for money!"

"Timberwolves? How can it be! Joe Smith's eyes widened.

This year's salary cap is 30 million, Ewing of the Timberwolves alone accounts for 18.5 million, and the rest of the main players each have an annual salary of about 2 million, plus substitutes, this salary cap is full!

If in the past, when the salary cap was full, you could only sign free agents outside your own team with a basic salary, but now there are more and more teams that exceed the cap, so there is another clause in the new collective bargaining agreement, that is, the middle class exception.

Super cap teams can use the mid-cap exception to give free agents a contract above the base salary price.

This year's middle-class exception is $1.75 million, which means that the overwage-capped Timberwolves want to sign a non-base salary free agent, and there is only $1.75 million to operate.

"Even if they give me all the middle-class exceptions, it will only be $1.75 million, which is 108,000 miles away from the top salary!" Joe Smith screamed.

Eric Freschel said, "Don't worry, you listen to me. They can't give you a maximum salary now, but they can give you a maximum salary in three years. You get a lower salary for three years first, and I promise them to give you a 7-year contract with a maximum salary of 86 million, right? ”

When a team's salary exceeds the cap, it can be exempt from the salary cap and renew the team's free agent contract. However, a free agent who renews his contract must have been with the team for at least three years (or if the player was traded, the length of time with the original parent club will also add up).

This clause is known as the Larry Bird Clause, and it sets the stage for many teams with overpaid salaries to keep their stars. The Celtics were the first team to use this clause to renew their contract with a cap, and Larry Bird was the first player in the NBA to be re-signed by a cap, so the clause is named after Bird!

Joe Smith wants the Timberwolves to give him a maximum salary, so he can only stay with the team for three years at a cheap price, meet the Bird clause, and then sign a contract extension under the Bird clause. Otherwise, the Timberwolves are limited by the salary cap and can't offer that big contract.

"Really insurance? They won't go back, will they? Joe Smith asked in a low voice.

"If you're not at ease, we can get the Timberwolves to sign another secret contract!" Eric Frescher Dao.

Joe Smith thought about the fact that everyone in the same class had received the top salary, and Garnett even had 100 million yuan in the account, gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, I'll go to the Timberwolves!" ”