On July 15, 2004, after the NBA free agency opened, several teams coincidentally looked for a successor.

The Suns gave up Stephen Marbury and used the second-round pick to let the Bobcats help clear the salary space.

After a few maneuvers, it did make a place, but Anfernee Hardaway smashed it in his hands.

With two years left on his contract, the Suns wanted to trade the outdated All-Star, who was getting more and more physically stretched, but they couldn't find a suitable replacement.

In the free market, the Mavericks went through several setbacks before finally giving up on Steve Nash.

Management didn't offer the star guard a satisfactory contract, and it seemed that the position of head coach with the old Nelson was about to change.

Although he was a little reluctant, Nash finally said goodbye to his friend, he needed a respect, and no matter how good the Mavericks were, there was no real sincerity.

With 40.26 million US dollars in 4 years and a salary of just over 8 million in the first year, Nash accepted a contract with the Suns and chose to return to where his dream began.

Although the Suns signed Nash, their salary cap is also full, and the knock-on effect is that it is difficult to hit hard in the free market.

Anfernee Hardaway's contract has become a mountain and they can only hope that the out-of-fashion All-Star can be rejuvenated next season.

On the 15th, there was also a blockbuster deal:

The Nuggets sent 2005 first-round picks (from the 76ers) and two 2006 first-round picks (one from the Magic);

Eventually, the Nets were traded for Beast power forward Kenyon Martin.

This deal left Nets fans dumbfounded, and the team is thriving and has been able to stabilize playoff spots every year, only to be broken up now?

At the end of the four-year rookie contract, the Nets have a team option to trade Kenyon Martin, mainly because they believe that the beast power forward is a shortcoming of the team.

For professional ball critics, Kidd's presence seems to have raised the level of Nets players, so after this deal, many people gave good reviews.

Of course, the most unexpected thing for commentators was the Knicks' move.

On limited terms, Glenfield ended up signing free agent Derrick Fisher with full mid-range.

Fisher will serve as the Knicks' No. 1 bench for the upcoming season, and the deal fills the void left by Knight's departure.

Fisher, who is about to be 30 years old, is also a big-stage player, and after the Lakers' polishing, he is currently at the peak of his career.

It's just that as soon as the deal was announced, many Lakers fans broke their defense on the spot, and even the sports media in Los Angeles chanted "traitor".

The most injured is Kobe Bryant, not long ago in the finals, in the case of a big score behind, only Fisher still supported him and played garbage time with him.

Recently, the two also trained together and encouraged each other, but in a week, their old teammates "defected".

What made Kobe even more sad was that the report claimed that Derrick Fisher recommended himself and took the initiative to ask his agent to contact the Knicks after the Finals.

When Kobe Bryant was about to lead the team alone in the new season, he failed to get the support of his old teammates, and the other party simply left him neatly.

Kobe Bryant, who left himself in the training gym, was soon interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, and when asked about the deal, his face was still a little ugly:

'I don't know why the team didn't keep Derrick, we've been through a lot together and I think he should be within the team's plans.'

"But it won't affect the Lakers' record next season, and when the new season starts, I will still lead this brand new team to the Finals."

The sports media in Los Angeles were happy with Kobe's attitude towards basketball, and the 4 a.m. training session was no joke!

Fisher, who had flown to Manhattan long ago, was also interviewed by the New York Times after the deal was announced.

When asked why he joined the Knicks, Fisher smiled brightly and said happily:

"No one will refuse to play with Lee, I want to keep chasing the championship!"

"I've played against him a lot in the Finals, so I know Lee's quality, and I'm going to do my job when I join the team, you know, my three-point shot is pretty good."

When asked why he left the Lakers, Fisher did not shy away from it, and simply said:

"I don't like complicated locker rooms, now I just want to enjoy basketball, the Lakers are good, but it's not for me anymore."

"I just want to chase the championship."

After the deal happened, even O'Neal, who was previously sent away by the Lakers, began to gloat in front of the sports media:

"I've known for a long time that no one likes to play with Kobe, he's a system destroyer who only thinks about himself in the limelight!"

"I'm glad the Lakers traded me to the Heat, I'm old, and now I just want to help Wade win championships."

"I'm optimistic about Wade, he has this quality, he's a better player than Kobe, the Heat are his team, and I'm sure we'll be successful together."

Fisher is very popular in the players' union, and what he meant by his words was that the Lakers were out of play and there was a big problem in the locker room;

O'Neal has broken with Kobe, and after "Shaq did it too", Kobe has not apologized to him face-to-face, and he didn't like to pass the ball to him last season, and as the trade happened, the two tore their faces.

Former teammates don't seem to be optimistic about Kobe's performance in leading the team, and the day happened to be Thursday, and the trio also talked about the two transactions on TNT's show:

"Given the competitive environment in the Western Conference, it's not going to be easy for the Lakers to make the playoffs next season."

"Of course, I care more about Fisher's remarks, combined with Phil Jackson's words before, this year's Finals fiasco, the Lakers' problems seem to be with Kobe."

When the director gave the two interviews, Kenny Smith also started to shoot the fire, and fans like to hear this gossip in the offseason.

Charles Barkley is no longer interested in talking about Kobe, just like Iverson, he is not interested in the balloon star, but only praises the signing of the Knicks:

'Grenfield has done a great job of complementing the team's shortcomings, Fisher has a lot of experience and he can play in the starting position in many teams.

"Being the No. 1 off the bench with the Knicks, there's nothing wrong with the ability."

"In terms of squad depth, many teams are not as good as the Knicks, and I am still optimistic about them in the new season!"

Ernnie Johnson saw that his partner was not in high spirits and immediately beckoned the director to change the picture.

The Japanese media filmed Lee You's basketball activities in Osaka, and the fan meeting held by the hook, the atmosphere was particularly hot.

In the basketball hall, Li You just appeared on the stage, and the screams came one after another.

Soon the outrageous picture appeared, the two selected young fans knelt directly, hugged Li You's thigh and did not let go, the scene was a little chaotic, until the security personnel intervened, and the two sides were separated.

Charles Barkley was dumbfounded, as if he couldn't understand why the Japanese fans would make such a move

"It seems that we are underestimating Lee's popularity in the Asian region, and it is said that 'Win' is a big hit in Japan these days, and sales of Upper Deck's star cards are also rising."

"The hook was not organized well in Osaka, and the fans were too enthusiastic, so it was stopped due to safety concerns."

Ernnie Johnson introduced what happened in the video, and Charles Barkley shook his head after listening to it:

"It's crazy! Last year, hooks surpassed North America in overseas sales, and that's Lee's influence. ”

"When Lee's contract expires next year, he should sign a lifetime contract worth more than $500 million."

"If I were a young girl and I liked Lee too, who would refuse to be friends with a super-rich man? Hell, why are players earning more and more now? ”

In the studio, Barkley himself was sour when he talked about it, although he also made a lot of money in his career, but in sneakers, he couldn't compare to Michael Jordan by 10 times his sneaker sales.

Now, Li You's sneakers will hold up the hook again, and thinking of the green knife, Barkley is gradually so sour that he can't speak

The NBA is essentially about entertaining the public, players play to support their families, and no matter how much the players emphasize honor, the American knife always comes first.

Kenny Smith understands that Lee Yo makes too much money and too easily, which is a perk that comes with winning, but part of the factor is the style of play:

"I've said a long time ago that Lee is unique and basketball is only one aspect."

"Not everybody has a lot of money, we've seen a lot of people sign big contracts and then fall all of a sudden, and that's where young players can learn from Lee."

When it comes to contract issues, both of them are a little bored, and they both have some jealousy in their hearts:

"He's making too much!"

After a busy day, Lee Woo, who was shopping in Chuo-ku, Osaka City at night, also felt that the Upper Deck was making too much money!

Dotonbori has been featured in many films, and the huge billboards on both sides of this famous food street give the illusion of New York.

Li You, who was dressed in cool clothes, looked at the businesses on the street casually, these days are sponsored activities, and it is rare to have a break, so he naturally wants to take a stroll.

Ignoring the attention of the surrounding melon-eating people, he found a puffer fish restaurant with not too many people, and after Li You and his party entered, the boss soon stepped forward to receive him warmly.

Matt Parker unbuttoned his shirt twice, and this kind of Japanese "retro" specialty store is also available in the United States, and after sitting down, he skillfully ordered food, and waited until the service staff left, then whispered:

"Hell the organizers, but it's the first time I've seen such an avid fan."

"Upper Deck has made a lot of money in the past few years, Lee, don't be polite to them in the next contract!"

No matter how the star card is packaged, the cost of this thing is pitifully low, the price of Li You's rookie card is getting higher and higher, and the collection value of the out-of-print card has been climbing in recent years.

Even if it is a special card, the cost is pitifully low, and as long as the ordinary card in mass production has Li You's signature, the price will double.

A few people don't play cards, but these days are considered a long experience, and Upper Deck cuts leeks in Japan.

In the box, Milinda, who was wearing a gray dress, learned about Li You's contract, when 20 million US dollars in 5 years was already sky-high in the industry, and Michael Jordan was like this.

It's just that after participating in the brand's event in Japan in the past few days, Milinda also feels that the price is still too cheap.

"When the contract expires next year, we really have to talk about it, Matt, how big a contract will the hook offer Lee, have you discussed it?"

Milinda smiled and asked the question, but Matt Parker just shook his head and said helplessly:

"Don't embarrass me, this matter still needs to be discussed, you know, business is business."

Lee You put his arm around Milinda, and he knew the bottom line of the hook's contract, a 10-year lifetime contract, and his career was just coming to an end.

The amount has to be pulled a little, and the specific content will also involve some incentive terms:

"Don't embarrass Matt, in a few years, he will take over as CEO, and we will continue to work together in the future."

The eye-catching Milinda kissed Li You, and the sub-brand will definitely be used by Matt Parker in the future.

In recent days, Japan's relevant sports media have come to the big job, tracking and reporting on Li You's brand activities every day.

But what made the local fans happiest were a few articles from the Asahi Shimbun:

"Yuta Tawo has been recognized by Lee!"

Lee Woo doesn't really have any impression of the little guard who was chasing an NBA contract in the preseason.

But this does not prevent him from naturally blowing X in an interview, and Li You said extremely beautifully:

"Persistence and hard work will eventually pay off, and all you have to do is believe in your own strength, and he has what it takes to be a qualified NBA rotation player."

Li You blows all the way, what is fast, basketball awareness is excellent, courage to fight, and the overall situation is good, all of them don't need money to blow out.

Even though they knew that these were kind words, the Japanese sports media listened to them with such joy that they ignored the fact that they knelt down with their own fans.

On July 16, the Suns finally found a receiver and sent Anfernee Hardaway;

Traded for Dale Davis and Ruben Patterson from the Trail Blazers.

With only one year left on Davis' contract, it's clear that the Suns are planning for the future.

Ruben Patterson could also add depth to the Suns' bench, and the trade was well received by critics.

The Trail Blazers have saved a fortune and exchanged change for a whole penny, and they always like to pick up older stars, and seem to believe that Anfernee Hardaway can have a second spring when he returns to Portland.

Eddie Curry is currently the target of the Trail Blazers' focus on training, and critics believe that the deal is focused on the future, after all, Hardaway and O'Neal have worked together, and it may be possible to bring new talents.

Perhaps it was Bryant's dissatisfaction that played a role, and the Lakers quickly made up for it.

Sent a full mid-level contract and signed free agent Verratti Divac.

After the deal was announced, Lakers fans were disappointed.

In the playoffs last season, Divac had a serious decline, and no one believed that the Lakers veteran would be able to prop up the team's interior.

Critics gave a very low rating to Kupchak's deceptive operation, after all, Divac is 36 years old

Compared with the Lakers' confusing operation, the Cavaliers' trade ushered in a lot of praise:

Sending Tony Barty, a 2005 second-round pick, a 2007 second-round pick;

Traded for Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter from the Magic.

There seem to be too many big men on the Cavaliers, but Jeff Van Gundy, who was interviewed, said with confidence:

"When the new season starts, we have to make sure that we are absolutely high on the inside!"

"We're going to use more zone defense, and the Cavaliers' interior is going to be a real no-fly zone."

"After a season of training, we all know LeBron's talent."

"With a good defense and more transition offense, and individual ability to finish, the Cavaliers will show a completely different way of playing the game in the new season."

LeBron James was selected for this year's U.S. men's basketball team, summer league, Howard performed well, although the offensive means are single, but he can grab and jump, and his talent is undoubted.

On Saturday, July 17, the Cleveland Free Times leaked an interview with Van Gundy, and the champion's plan for the coach to open his cards sparked discussion among critics.

Van Gundy's tactics are not unusual, and the Pistons used a lot of 32 defense in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, frequently pinching ball carriers.

Coupled with a more mobile interior combo on defense, which in turn limits the Knicks.

Although the tactics failed, everyone could see the process of the Eastern Conference Finals, and Li You definitely spent a lot of effort to deal with the game.

Compared to the Pistons, the Cavaliers' current lineup can indeed achieve this defensive system, after all, Ilgoskas is more than 2.20 meters tall, and the pestle can play a role under the basket.

Correspondingly, with a faster traverse inside, it does have some similarities compared to the Pistons' double Wallace combination.

It's just that in terms of game experience, there is a big gap between newcomers and veterans! But Cavaliers fans ate Van Gundy's pie:

"He is worthy of being the head coach of the championship, and it only took one season to build the most suitable tactical system for the team!"

Several prominent local sports reporters in Cleveland have stood up for Van Gundy, believing that the system is a perfect fit for LeBron James.

No one doubts the athleticism of the chosen son, the impact is visible to the naked eye!

This weekend, ESPN continued to track and report on Lee Woo's presence in South Korea, and occasionally joked that Kobe Bryant had to report to Denver.

TNT provided detailed news on the Cavaliers, who seem to be more optimistic about a team that has completed the rebuilding than their peers.

On Monday the 19th, the U.S. men's basketball team flew to Jacksonville, Florida, where they will train with the University of North Florida team until the end of the month.

Before the start of the Olympic Games, they will also play warm-up matches against the national teams of Germany, Serbia and Montenegro and Turkey.

Larry Brown has been questioned lately, and his remarks in an interview gave fans a hint of a bad feeling:

'Some players have turned down the call-up because they have played too much, and some players are still working on big contracts and don't want the Olympics to affect their health.

"OK, I understand that, so I chose the players who volunteered."

'For the youngsters in the squad, I want them to be mentally prepared that they may not get playing time and they may play 20 minutes.

"They are the future of the team, but the first thing they have to do is learn the right way to play from the other players!"

The youngsters refer to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and the budding Okafor who has just entered the league.

Yin and Yang were angry with Li You and others who refused to be drafted, and at the same time, Larry Brown was also showing his attitude:

"I trust the veterans more!"

This statement has made many critics unhappy, and some players are unhappy, is this something that can be complained about to the media?

Hill and Duncan, who have already arrived in Jacksonville, have not received much attention, and the big media are all around LeBron James.

The Cavaliers' trade and Howard's good summer league play have made this team a hot topic lately, and James loves the feeling of being surrounded by everyone and he likes to be the center of attention on the court.

The morning training session has not yet begun, and when I came to the stadium, most of the players were still moving their bodies, and James, who was interviewed, was confidently stating:

"I believe that coach Van Gundy can lead the Cavaliers to a championship!"

"We've been prepared for the new season, but Dwight has to adapt to the NBA, and Coach Thibodeau is very strict, so he has to start defensively."

"Record? I didn't think too much about it, we got a lot of talent, and when the season starts, my goal is to get the team to the playoffs. ”

"You know, on this team, I'm the only first-year rookie who hasn't played in the playoffs, and I don't want to be teased by Wade and Mero all the time!"

Unlike Iverson, who has a bitter and hateful face, James giggled when he was interviewed, and even Wade and Anthony also joined in the fun and joked with reporters.

The three obviously didn't match the atmosphere of the scene, Iverson never smiled, Marbury was still worried about the contract, and he kept frowning when he moved his body.

Jefferson and Marion whispered, Boozer seemed to be teaching Okafor his experience, and Odom seemed to have gone too far last night, still sleepy as he patted the basketball

"There seems to be some problems with the lineup, we lack experienced big men!"

Hill, who was moving, whispered to Duncan on the side, who looked around and immediately whispered:

"Coach Larry Brown should be looking to speed up the pace of the game, as in previous Olympics, relying on defense and counter-attacking to score points."

In this team, Hill and Duncan have the highest achievements, both of whom have played in the Finals, so they are naturally the leader.

When Larry Brown and the coaching staff showed up in the arena, they clapped their hands to gather the crowd without looking at the sports media at the scene, and then said loudly:

"Forget your role in the league, from now on, we're going to play for each other."

"Grant, you've been through international competitions, and I want you to take on the responsibility of a leader!"

Seeing Grant Hill nodding, Larry Brown had a smile on his face.

The sports media set up the cameras were filming on the sidelines, and soon someone whispered about the lineup problem:

"The Pistons turned down the call-up? Since you don't want to use rookies, why let them be selected? ”

Most of the sports media still don't believe Larry Brown's words, believing that the veteran coach is hammering up the rookie in the team.

On the 19th, Li You was already on a private plane to Singapore.

There are not many events in Japan and South Korea, mainly hooks and Upper Decks, there are also some business parties in Amex, and the rest are sponsored by Ray-Ban, McDonald's, and Pepsi.

This Gulfstream can accommodate 19 people and has all the facilities for daily use, but Li You didn't feel anything special when he sat down, and pulled everyone to play cards together when he got on the plane.

These days, the staff at Hook are a testament to Lee Woo's popularity in Asia, and their avid fans have left a deep impression on them.

What they envy the most is Li You's earning ability, Milinda is very picky about endorsements, and most of the beautiful knives sent to the door are refused.

The crowd gathered around and played Texas Hold'em, and Matt Parker teased Lee You's popularity while looking at the cards:

"If you accept some TV activities, you will definitely gain more fans."

"When you come back to the United States, you should also participate in more talk shows, which can deepen your impression among ordinary fans."

Li You was in a good mood, and when he heard the other party's suggestion, he said disappreciatively:

"In a few more years, Facebook will definitely give birth to more social media, and I'm not interested in compromising on the event."

"In the future, I plan to acquire an online community, when I can speak for myself, and my name is the brand."

"If you're interested, we can invest together, and by the way, I'm also going to invest in a data website, their algorithms are interesting, high-level data, and this thing can also increase my influence!"

Hearing this plan, Matt Parker can understand why Li You has rarely participated in some TV shows in recent years, social media, personal branding, is indeed a good way:

"Maybe you're right, it seems that I'm a little outdated, and I don't pay much attention to these things!"

Noticing Matt Parker shaking his head slightly, Milinda knew that the other party was not too interested, but it was better this way, after all, Li You was not short of funds.

One of the hook staff members who accompanied him has been following this year's free market, and thinking of the recent news, he also gossiped:

"Miami is said to be going to give O'Neill a big welcome ceremony!"

"The mayor also mentioned this in an interview, Pat Riley thinks they have a chance to win the championship in three years, Lee, will the Knicks keep winning?"

Pat Riley's thoughts, of course, Li You knew that the other party was betting that the Knicks' championship would be interrupted.

The timing is just right, as long as the Heat team works harder, it is very likely to get the support of the league and end the Knicks' dominance.

Hill and Kurt Thomas will be in good shape for up to three years.

At the age of 35, it is considered a watershed moment in the player's body, and Gary Payton's sudden cliff decline this year is also related to age.

"You can't predict the future, but I like to keep winning."

"I'm not worried about the opponent, but the salary space will become an obstacle, although the Heat have exchanged for O'Neal, but in the next contract, he will only get a salary of 20 million."

"Wade is still on a rookie contract, which should be the ideal salary status, and maybe they won't pay too much luxury tax!"

"Pat Riley is definitely a picker, and I don't mind teaching the Knicks a lesson as long as they can maintain their current form."

Li You teased Pat Riley with a smile, which immediately made everyone laugh.

Spending a small amount of money should do small things, and Li You doesn't like the team culture of the Heat at all:

"Superstars deserve privileges!"

(End of chapter)