"Paul's team is here."

Ryan West walked in from outside the door and whispered to Chu Xuan, who was watching the game analysis.

At this time, Chu Xuan was in the coaching staff office, and because he was off today, he was the only one in the entire room.

Looking up at Ryan West, Chu Xuan nodded slightly, "What does Mickey mean?" ”

Ryan West thought for a moment and said, "This is not clear, but Kobe Bryant just came out of Mitch's office, so there must be no problem." ”

Chu Xuan listened and nodded slowly.

"Ryan, you go over first, I'll come later."

Ryan West nodded, and turned to leave.

Chu Xuan fell into deep thought, there will be a negotiation within the Lakers today, which is about the future of Pau Gasol. During this time, rumors of a Gasol deal have been spreading, and this negotiation is the last time that the two sides will be frank and open.

Speaking of which, the Gasol team and the Lakers have been in talks three times. However, in the end, the two sides did not reach an agreement. And by this point, both sides had clearly lost their patience. If this negotiation fails, Gasol's departure is undoubtedly inevitable.

Although Chu Xuan has already obtained inside lines with potential and talent such as Whiteside, Noll, and Green, Chu Xuan still doesn't want to let Gasol leave. He still has the same view that Gasol's importance to the Lakers cannot be measured by data.

Therefore, Chu Xuan has been busy with this matter in the past two days since he came back from Oklahoma. He wants to broker Gasol's contract extension.

According to the information known to Chu Xuan, Gasol intends to renew his contract with the Lakers. However, Kupchak does not want to keep Gasol, and he wants to trade Gasol for some draft picks or available young players while Gasol still has some value.

So, obviously, the biggest obstacle to Gasol's contract extension is the attitude of the Lakers management. And Chu Xuan's influence is far from reaching it now, so he is trying to change the attitude of both sides.

In the past two days, Chu Xuan first persuaded his team through Gasol that they would not attach too much importance to their annual salary.

Subsequently, Chu Xuan asked Kobe Bryant to talk to Kupchak. Today, Kobe's performance is still at an All-Star level, so he still has a high voice in the Lakers. Therefore, with him stepping out to exert pressure, Kupchak will naturally pay attention to Gasol's contract renewal.

******

After about half an hour, Chu Xuan pushed open the door of the conference room and walked in.

There are only a few people inside, Mitch Kupchak, Paul Gasol's agent Arne Tyleam, Paul Gasol, Kobe Bryant.

Obviously, this time to discuss the renewal of the contract, only important people can participate.

As for Chu Xuan, it was Kupchak who asked him to sit in and provide advice. After all, Chu Xuan is the head coach of the team, and he has the most say in the value of the players to the Lakers system.

After Chu Xuan arrived, the negotiation of contract renewal began.

Kobe Bryant and Chu Xuan, two outsiders, naturally didn't speak, and both of them just sat on the side and listened quietly.

Arne's Taylum doesn't look very good, and after the first three failed negotiations, he really doesn't have much affection for the Lakers.

"Mitch, let me start with what Paul meant. Paul has been with the Lakers for six years, and he loves this team. Therefore, he wants to continue playing for this team. We don't ask for too much salary, and we can even accept middle-class contracts. However, this is only possible if there is a clause in the terms of the contract. ”

When Arne-Taylum said that Gasol could accept a mid-level contract, Kupchak was quite surprised, and he immediately became very interested in renewing Gasol's contract.

However, he needed to hear what the additional terms of the contract were.

At Kupchak's suggestion, Arne Tylerm said: "Paul needs to have a trade veto, he doesn't want to live in gossip anymore, which prevents him from concentrating on his game. ”

Deal veto?

Kupchak raised his eyebrows, and it was not easy to get a trade veto with the Lakers. You must know that Kobe, as the star of the house, also played here all his life before he had the right to veto the transaction.

Chu Xuan didn't react at all when he heard Gasol's request, which he had already expected.

"It's not that the veto of a deal is out of the question. It's just that I guess we need to talk about the length of the contract and the annual salary first. Kupchak thought for a moment, and did not immediately refuse, but asked for an extremely old-fashioned request that the two sides first agree on the issue of the contract.

After hearing this, Arne Tyler's brow furrowed slightly, and he looked at Gasol, who was silent.

Obviously, the decision rests with Gasol.

Greeting everyone's gaze, Gasol nodded.

Seeing this, Kupchak smiled slightly.

"We're asking for a long-term contract, and maybe after that contract ends, it's time for Paul to think about the end of his career." Arne Tylerm said.

Gasol is now 33 years old, and asking for a long-term contract has undoubtedly reduced the value of the contract. However, he also did this so that there was no risk in his future career.

"There is no problem with a long-term contract, I am able to offer two options, 4 years and 5 years. However, the annual salary cannot exceed 6 million. After all, the Lakers are aiming to build a championship roster, and I have to think about the salary. ”

Kupchak nodded, and then made his request.

Million!

Chu Xuan couldn't help but be stunned, this was complete nonsense.

You know, although Gasol has been questioned in the last two seasons, he has maintained his star level after all. There have been rumors that there are multiple teams willing to offer Gasol a two-year contract with an annual salary of 10 million to 15 million after his contract expires.

And now, even if Gasol wants to ask for a long-term contract, the annual salary will be almost 10 million. After all, interior players are often very competitive at the age of thirty-five or sixteen.

When he heard Kupchak's request, Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel helpless, he felt that Gasol would definitely not accept it.

Surprisingly, however, Arne Talham and Pau Gasol agreed to the request after whispering some discussions.

"I love the Lakers, I've made a lot of money. Right now, what I want most is to play where I like and with the people I like. So, I'm willing to take a pay cut. ”

Gasol took the initiative to speak, and as he spoke, his eyes stayed on Kobe.

Chu Xuan suddenly sighed in his heart, he felt that the Lakers could have a player like Gasol, wouldn't it be a kind of happiness?

Gasol was willing to accept a pay cut, and the rest was easy. And Kobe Bryant and Chu Xuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief......

Obviously, Gasol was able to stay, and the heart they had been hanging on finally fell.