61 large contracts
The next morning, after Wen Hao did all the training, he took a simple shower and came to the Toyota Center with his economist Yu Song. Today is the day of their negotiations with the top management of the rocket.
In order to strive for more benefits for Wen Hao, Yu Song has been constantly consulting the information in the past two days, and he has thoroughly understood every alliance regulation. He can be sure that he can get at least $3 million in annual salary for Wen Hao today.
When they came to the Toyota Center, General Manager Morey, boss Alexander, and head coach McHale were already waiting for them in a conference room.
Yu Song greeted these people first, took a deep breath, and planned to use his expertise to persuade these three people to give Wen Hao a good contract with his incorruptible tongue. But before he could speak, General Manager Morey put more than a dozen pages of things in front of him and Wen Hao and said, "Take a look at it first." ”
Yu Song and Wen Hao opened it and saw that it was a contract. The two of them read it carefully. Signing a contract is not a trivial matter, and they have to study every item in it. Yu Song, in particular, read almost every one of them three times, thinking carefully about whether there was anything else behind these regulations.
Wen Hao didn't look at it so carefully, he first took a cursory look at the contract. When he saw the paycheck, he couldn't help but stop, looked at the number again and again, and made sure it was right. He touched Yu Song next to him with his hand and pointed to the string of numbers for Yu Song to see.
Yu Song looked at Wen Hao's hand, and saw that it was written there: Play in the Rockets until the end of the season, with a salary of 8 million......
"$8 million!" Yu Song said in surprise and looked up at his boss Alexander, "It's about the same as Jeremy Lin's annual salary!" ”
"To be exact," General Manager Morey said with a smile, "their average annual salary is 8.37 million, and we were going to pay this number for Wen Hao, but the Rockets have limited salary space, and if it exceeds 8 million, they will have to pay luxury tax, so it can only be 8 million." ”
Yu Song and Wen Hao looked at the boss Alexander in surprise at the same time. Yesterday, the two of them were still thinking about staying in the rocket as long as the rocket could pay no less than 2 million. For this reason, Yu Song also specially prepared a set of rhetoric to impress the rocket, but he didn't expect it to be used today. Before the two of them could say anything, the Rockets offered a contract that was far higher than they expected, which was too surprising to them.
"How? Still satisfied? Morey still laughs.
"Hmm." Wen Hao nodded.
"If you're satisfied, you can sign it at any time." Morey said.
Wen Hao glanced at Yu Song, Yu Song nodded and said that the contract was fine, Wen Hao was relieved and signed his name on it.
After signing, Wen Hao and Yu Song were a little excited in their hearts. It was like a dream to get such a big contract. The day before yesterday, he was just a short-term contract player, but today he suddenly changed and got a good big contract. It's not as big as those superstars, but it's quite a surprise. I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.
After saying two more words, the two of them got up and took their leave. But before going out, Wen Hao stopped, turned around, and looked at the general manager Morey: "I still have a question......
"I know," before Wen Hao could finish speaking, Morey interrupted Wen Hao, "You think how can a shrewd person like me sign such a big contract with a short-term contract player, right?" ”
Wen Hao nodded, it was true. Morey's shrewdness is well known. If nothing else, the shrewdness of this man can be seen just by trading a bunch of ordinary players for Howard.
Morey looked at his boss and smiled, then replied, "Of course I'm shrewd, that's why I'm going to keep you with a big contract." You also know that I mostly play numbers, and you've played six games in a row, and each game has ranked first on the team in terms of player efficiency. According to your efficiency analysis, if you are given more playing time, your performance will surprise everyone. 8 million signed you, others feel that it is a loss, but we feel that it is actually a profit. But ......," he said, looking at McHale next to him, "whether you can get more playing time depends on your performance." ”
Wen Hao listened, nodded, said "Got it", took one last look at the three people, and then walked out of the conference room with Yu Song.
Wen Hao proposed as he walked and invited Yu Song to dinner. Although Yu Song is his own agent, it is his responsibility to negotiate contracts. But the two are also friends, and their previous short-term contracts were all signed by Yu Song with great difficulty. If it weren't for those two ten-day short contracts, there would not be a big contract now, so he is very grateful to Yu Song.
But Yu Song refused, he shook his head with a smile and said, "Forget it, there will be a game tomorrow night, you can't be too tired." And you haven't gotten your salary yet, so if you eat, wait until your salary is paid. ”
"It's fine." Wen Hao nodded, said goodbye to Yu Song, and walked towards his residence.
Walking on the street in early winter, Wen Hao's mood was exceptionally good. For the first time in two years, he was in such a mood. The contract of 8 million greatly exceeded his expectations, although money is not what he cares about the most, but at least he doesn't have to worry about money in the future. Next, it's time to concentrate on playing and move towards your ideals.
……
At seven o'clock the next night, the Rockets' game against the Mavericks was held at the Toyota Center.
Both teams belong to the same Texas team and have similar records. The Rockets are 16-7 and the Mavericks are 15-8. This game between the two teams can be said to be a close contest.
At the beginning of the game, Wen Hao, as a substitute, naturally sat on the sidelines. Feeling the warm home atmosphere of the Toyota Center, Wen Hao really felt like he was home. When playing away, the overwhelming boos of the fans and the cheers for the home team make it feel like the whole world is against you. Now back at home, the enthusiastic cheers of the fans are heart-wrenching.
Home field advantage, although many people don't care, is real. This is evidenced by the fact that home teams have won far more than away teams in NBA history.
In the warm atmosphere at home, the game between the Rockets and the Mavericks went on to the last three minutes of the first quarter. At this point, the two sides were tied at 18-19, and the Rockets trailed by one point. Coach McHale called a timeout, said a few words, and then brought on the substitutes.
But when it came to considering who to come to the bench, he struggled. Brewer, who was previously injured, has now recovered, and he overlaps with Wen Hao's position, both playing point guard.
Originally, the head coach wanted Wen Hao to go directly, but Brewer performed well before his injury, and if he suddenly didn't let him play now, it would have a great impact on his self-confidence and would probably ruin his career.
Thinking of this, McHale sighed and gestured to Brewer to play. Let Brewer play first, and then change Wen Hao.
Wen Hao saw Brewer playing, and knew that he was afraid that he would be out of action in the first quarter. He smiled wryly and didn't say anything. Now he has a much better mentality than in the past.
He knows that he is now valued by the Rockets' uniform team, and the 8 million contract is proof of that. Sooner or later, they will let themselves play, and it is impossible to keep 8 million on the cold bench. Unless they're crazy.
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