This year's draft results exceeded all expectations, with many rookies who were supposed to be considered hot players not appearing in the pre-draft predictions, and rookies who were otherwise overlooked or not mentioned frequently appearing in higher positions than expected, making it difficult to understand the thinking of the general managers who drafted them. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info In short, this year's draft has gone through a constant upset.

The Lakers, who have three draft picks, selected three rookies, namely the first-pick Towns, Booker with the 9th pick, and Fraser with the 39th pick. This result can be satisfactory on the whole, because in Chu Xuan's planning, these three newcomers all meet his requirements.

After the draft is done, the Lakers' eyes are now on the upcoming free agent market. The Lakers' main players don't need to be changed, so the Lakers' goal this year is to expand the bench roster.

Because it was an off-season, Chu Xuan, as the head coach, didn't have to go to work, he just kept the communication open and was able to communicate with Kupchak in a timely manner. With the joy of a successful marriage proposal, Chu Xuan took his girlfriend Adeline to travel the world, and on the first day of departure, Chu Xuan received news from Kupchak that Maddie had agreed to a four-year contract of 8.5 million, and only waited for the free market to open and sign with the Lakers. At the same time, the Lakers also made a substantial offer to Jeremy Lin, with a specific amount of 42 million for 5 years, which is almost not much different from the 44 million for 4 years requested by Jeremy Lin's team.

However, after learning of the Lakers' offer, Jeremy Lin's team did not respond, but chose to listen to the offers of other teams. On the second day after the draft, which was the day after Chu Xuan went on vacation, the outside world reported the news of Jeremy Lin and Spurs' meeting.

After learning the news, Chu Xuan was still quite surprised, although he didn't know how Kupchak and Jeremy Lin discussed the contract renewal. But from the current point of view, it is clear that there is some resistance. And the Spurs' intervention undoubtedly made Jeremy Lin's affairs uncertain. You must know that Chu Xuan's advice to Kupchak for the new season includes the renewal of Jeremy Lin's contract, and he also clearly points out the importance of Jeremy Lin on the Lakers' bench. However, renewing players is a matter for management after all, and the NBA is a big business, so everything will not always be expected.

First of all, it is impossible for Chu Xuan to make decisions for the boss Jim Bass, after all, Bass is the boss, and the players' salaries are all his money. Secondly, Jeremy Lin is a very independent-minded person, he has his own ideas, and it is impossible for Chu Xuan to make a contract renewal decision for him.

In fact, Jeremy Lin's desire for a big contract is not an unreasonable request, this is the thinking and intention of all players in the free market this year. The main reason why players want high salaries is because starting next summer, the NBA's new broadcast contracts with TV broadcasters will begin to be executed. Because the new broadcast contract is at a significant premium over the original contract, the league's overall revenue will rise dramatically, and the salary cap for NBA teams will rise as a result, and the luxury tax threshold will also rise significantly. That is to say, from the next season, that is, the 16~17 season, the salary cap that each team in the NBA can use to sign players will rise a lot, and the income of players will naturally increase significantly.

While the new TV deal is only starting next summer, the price of free agency players has also risen significantly this summer. So this year's free agents are hoping to get a new contract with a lot of money first. As the best sixth man last season, Jeremy Lin naturally wants a contract that can be worthy of his value. However, for Kupchak, he could not easily fulfill Lin's wishes. Because the Lakers have too many potential newcomers, if the Lakers want to keep them, they will undoubtedly have to throw out a big contract that is enough to make people jaw-dropping. Therefore, Kupchak must think about the future salary cap in advance. And precisely, if Jeremy Lin is given a long-term contract with an annual salary of 10 million, then the Lakers' future contract renewal of the main players will undoubtedly be subject to great resistance.

So for now, the Lakers aren't as likely to spend as much money this summer as they imagined.

Chu Xuan understood this, so he didn't think much about it anymore, this was Kupchak's job, and whether or not he could get Jeremy Lin was completely out of Chu Xuan's control. With such a mentality, Chu Xuan also focused on the sweet vacation time with Adeline.

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The free agent market opens on July 1, which is just a few days away.

It's been the busiest few days for teams in the league, with negotiations between management and players being extremely frequent, sometimes several games a day. It can be said that every general manager has been busy these days. However, busyness always pays off, and one by one, the signing agreement is reached, and the formal contract is signed only after the free market opens.

Judging from today's free market, there is nothing that attracts the most attention to Durant and Anthony. In addition to these two veteran stars, there is also the renewal of Leonard's personal value, which is no less valuable than the two. Then there are the rising stars of Draymond Green, Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler, Parsons, Kemba Walker, Middleton, and more. And in the older generation of players, that's the contract extensions of Maddy, Duncan and Garnett. Then there is the signing of quality players such as Vucevic, Jeremy Lin, Derrick Williams and Tristan Thompson.

……

The Lakers don't have the strength to pursue some players like this, after all, the Lakers' overall roster is saturated. The only thing that needs to be added is some players with characteristics, such as three-pointers or outside scorers. There are a few players like this that the Lakers are eyeing before the draft, such as Korver, who is now on the Lakers.

The Lakers currently have a total of 13 players under contract, including Noll, Kobe, Whiteside, Antetokounmpo, LaVine, Ejian, Gasol, Thackeray, Towns, Booker, Fraser, McAdoo, and Korver. That's just two spots left on the 15-man squad for the new season. And Maddy has reached a 4-year 8.5 million contract extension agreement with the Lakers, which means that the Lakers only have the last 1 spot left.

Judging by the current plans of Lakers management, this spot is for Jeremy Lin.

Of course, the Lakers will not necessarily use these 15 players to compete in the new season, after all, after the summer league and preseason, if there are really good players, the Lakers may cut 1~2 players, such as McAdoo and Fraser.

However, if McAdoo still has some potential, it is unlikely that the Lakers will abandon him.

So, that said, in the upcoming free agency, the Lakers don't have a lot of spots to sign players.

"The most important thing we can do is renew the contract of Jeremy Linho......"

When asked about the Lakers' plans for free agency this year, Lakers general manager Kupchak said: "Jeremy is one of the most important pieces of the championship puzzle for our team, he is indispensable, and I hope to finally reach a consensus with him to keep him with the Lakers." ”

When asked quickly about the progress of the negotiations with Jeremy Lin, Kupchak said: "For now, Jeremy is still looking at other teams, but I'm confident that Jeremy will eventually pick the Lakers, which is the best team for him." ”

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Time flies, and finally July 1 arrives, and the NBA free agency officially opens.

On this day, there was almost no interruption in media coverage, and a number of contracts surfaced.

Luke Babbitt signed to Jazz for 2 years and 3.6 million, and Anthony Randolph signed to Jazz for 3 years and 14 million......

Marcus Thornton signed a 3-year, 20 million contract extension with the Kings, and Wilson Chandler signed a 4-year, 40 million contract extension with the Nuggets......

Rudy Gay renews his contract with the Raptors for 4 years and 60 million, Asik renews his contract with the Rockets for 2 years and 14 million, and Duncan renews his contract with the Spurs for 1 year and 6 million......

Leonard signed with the Spurs with a 5-year salary of 90 million, Maddy signed with the Lakers for 4 years and 8.5 million, Derrick Williams signed a 4-year 42 million extension with the Raptors, Tristan Thompson signed a 5-year 80 million extension with the Cavaliers, Kamba Walker signed a 3-year 48 million extension with the Charlotte Hornets, and Biyombo signed a 3-year 20 million extension with the Charlotte Hornets......

……

The biggest star is Leonard's contract extension with the Spurs, which is not surprising or suspenseful, after all, Leonard is the new core of the Spurs, and his loyalty is unquestionable.

Time passed quickly, and when it came to the afternoon of the first day of the opening of the trading market, a blockbuster signing surfaced, which immediately made the world boil.

"According to the news coming from Houston, Carmelo Anthony is signing a contract with the Rockets, and the details will be announced later."

Anthony joins the Rockets?

Everyone was stunned, this was an unimaginable situation, beyond everyone's expectations.

You know, judging from the news of Anthony's signing during this time, the frequency of the Rockets is not high, and the version that has been circulating is that Anthony may join the Spurs, or the Thunder and Dewey will form a big three...... However, what people didn't expect was that Anthony actually joined the Houston Rockets!

The eyes of the world were focused on this news, and soon, NBA officials also confirmed the truth of this news.

Anthony did join the Rockets, with a contract amount of 64.75 million for 3 years and an average annual salary of more than 21 million. It can be said that this is the highest-paying contract ever recorded.

However, no one paid attention to the size of the contract, and everyone started talking about the Rockets.

On the basis of having Harden and Howard, and now getting Anthony, the strength of the Rockets is undoubtedly the top team in the league. Moreover, there is also the question of expectation that Parsons is also a free agent at the moment, and according to the previously circulated news, it is still possible for Parsons to renew his contract with the Rockets. If the Rockets re-sign Parsons, then everything will be unimaginable, and the Rockets' book strength will reach terrifying heights......

As a result, some teams that don't want Parsons to renew his contract with the Rockets have begun to increase their pursuit of Parsons.

Even Kupchak contacted Parsons and made an offer of 30 million for 3 years. And the biggest pursuit of Parsons is the Dallas Mavericks, and the owner Cuban directly threw out 45 million for 3 years...... (To be continued.) )