"Mr. Hornersek, didn't you say you were going to retire after the playoffs?"

"Yes, I'm planning to retire, because I can feel that although the Jazz are still very strong, their strength is steadily declining and there is no possibility of winning the championship. In this season just ended, I can clearly feel that we can only expect our opponents to perform poorly and cannot expect us to burst out with stronger strength than our opponents. We won't become very weak immediately, but we will become weaker year by year, and we will get older year by year."

The confusion in Zhang Hao's bright and clean eyes still did not disappear.

Hornersek could only say: "Actually, I entered the free market after my contract expired last summer, but no other stars came to invite me. Some weak teams wanted me to lead rookies. In the end, only the Jazz gave me a one-year, 5.2 million yuan renewal.

I want to win the championship, but I also want to be respected.

Although your purpose in coming to my house is not what I thought, you are the first superstar to come to my house to recruit me in the offseason.

If possible, I ask you to help me win a position on the 15-man roster of the Supersonics..."

Zhang Hao nodded, his expression was unchanged. Although it was fun, he was professional in pretending to behave.

"I understand, but I don't think I have to fight for a place."

"Aix! Isn't your team still a place? Someone has chosen it? I asked my friends in the management circle and they said that your signings were blocked!"

Zhang Hao shook his head: "That's not what I mean, I mean no need to fight for it. Mr. Hornersek, I'm very happy to have such an outstanding teammate as you. Congratulations, you're about to become the champion!"

Is this sure you can win the championship?

Horacek just let down his old face and was ready to take a try. He got excited when he got it, but he didn't get it... No, there is nothing he can do, he is already 37 years old.

But now he has to fight for the hope that even if he has left his old face.

But this... isn't it too crazy?

Hornersek admitted that Zhang Hao + Jordan is too invincible.

But you can't be so crazy, right?

Looking at Zhang Hao's still bright eyes, he did not reveal any arrogance, as if what he said just now was just saying the truth...

...

...

Jordan joins the Supersonics team to join forces with Zhang Hao!

The Supersonics officially announced that Jordan confirmed in an interview in Miami.

Heat general manager Pat Riley was blocking his throat with an old mouthful of blood.

Jordan had said before that he was just going to Miami to recover from his injuries, and Pat Riley thought Jordan was waiting for him to visit.

After visiting several times, not seeing each other twice, making many calls, but receiving no response, Pat Riley thought that the sincerity was not enough, and was planning to use a summer to move Jordan.

As a result, he just moved himself!

Jordan is really just coming to Miami to recuperate!

On July 20, the injury was recovered and the recuperation time ended. Jordan, who had obtained the doctor's training permission, came to Seattle and officially renewed his contract with the Supersonics.

Pat Riley watched as he stood with Zhang Hao in the TV screen. Howard Schultz showed the No. 23 Supersonics jersey, handed it to Jordan, and the three of them took a photo together...

The oil-headed man was willing to admit that he really made a mistake at this moment!

...

After Jordan officially joined, on July 22, Horacek came to Seattle to show his training ability to the Supersonics boss, management, and coaching staff, and explained in detail how he would work as a trainer.

Hornersek is really planning to be a shooting assistant after retirement. He has done all preparations in the past few months, and now it is just right.

It's really professional!

Relying on his excellent shooting coaching professional ability, Horacek successfully obtained the Supersonics' veteran minimum salary contract of $1.03 million in one year.

Horacek feels like he has thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge.

He arrived in Seattle and met many old friends and old opponents.

Kendal Jill, 32 years old, averaged 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game with the Nets last season.

Sherman Douglas, who is less than 34 years old, averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 assists per game last season.

Ronnie Sekali, the No. 9 pick in the 1988th season, went to Europe to play due to a suspension after the 97-98 season. He averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game in the 97-98 season, and 14.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his career.

And Billy Owens, Bibby Deller, Eric Murdoch...

It is said that Wizards point guard Rhode Strickland is also negotiating a buyout with the Wizards.

Competing with these younger veterans, Horacek really has no confidence.

Zhang Hao and Jordan, these two people gathered together and were so attractive to the veteran!

Of course, initially, the Supersonics wanted veterans who had contracts and continued to maintain their state, such as Dan Marley, or Danny Manning, who were famous at the same level, to reduce the possible locker room problems.

But trading is not easy to do, so don’t trade.

After signing the minimum salary contract, Horacek went to the toilet to cry secretly. The Supersonics management... was so happy!

After signing the contract, Howard Schultz complained: "If we had known that Aix could keep Hornersek from retirement and continue playing, we wouldn't have had to waste so much time."

Larry Harris, Silver Fox, Collins and others all agreed.

Signing Hornersek is a big profit!

Who else can be sent to the court when there is an injury on the back line and be a shooting coach?

In the 99-00 season, Hornersek played 77 games, averaging 12.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 49.3% shooting percentage, 47.7% three-point shooting percentage, and 96% free throw percentage.

In the past four seasons, Hornersek's attendance rate has been high and his efficiency has almost no fluctuations. It is just that the playing time has gradually decreased, and the data has gradually declined.

Since the NBA restored the top arc distance of the three-point line to 7.25 meters, the shooting coach's value has been rising. From the initial 200,000 US dollars a year to the average shooting coach of each team, the salary is 450,000 yuan. If the top private coach is willing to work at the NBA, the annual salary is about 1.5 million yuan. Famous like Chris Irving and Chip England have increased even more.

Originally, Howard Schultz planned to give Hornersek a salary of 1 million to 1.5 million US dollars. He was a shooting coach and had a year of trial. Now he has saved a lot of money. The problem of only Dell Davis on the back line has been solved. There is an additional backup, or a candidate with strong state ability to maintain his condition.

After celebrating quietly, Scott Collins said: "Boss, I have discussed it with Michael. Start training on the 25th. If the lineup doesn't change much, we plan to start formulating the tactical framework for the new season.

By the way, Michael wants Ron to be a sparring coach.”

"You, Doug, are all Michael's old coaches, you are the ones who are responsible... Choose Ron? Michael wants to take revenge and break Ron's ribs?"

“…”

Everyone present looked at him with a dark look. This boss has been with Ritian for too long, right?

Why are the brain circuits getting more and more brilliant?

...

Jordan and Hornersek joined the Supersonics one after another, and the NBA's pattern changed suddenly!

The management of other championship teams and teams that are aiming to rebuild the championship are going crazy!

The Lakers, Trail Blazers, Suns, 76ers, Raptors, Bulls, Kings... and even the defending champion Pacers are all cursing!

The Heat's magician is in a state of depression...

The entire basketball world was shaken by Jordan and Zhang Hao's joint efforts.

Zhang Hao left Los Angeles after the team lineup was basically improved, and returned to China to participate in the promotional activities of x√ joint shoes. While promoting and training, he no longer cared about NBA affairs.

But NBA, this offseason is destined to be unstable.

Jordan joined the Supersonics, and even David Stern called him "me", but this is not a bad thing, it is very topical, and there is also the gimmick of "inheritance".

What happened next made David Stern panic!

It was July 25th, at 7 pm, an unknown agent, Eric Fisher, broke the news on a sports program on CNY that the Timberwolves and Joe Smith reached a table agreement in 1998, asking Joe Smith to get a three-year, $6 million contract. After the contract ended, it would renew the contract for $86 million in seven years.

With all the plans, the Timberwolves planned to give Joe Smith a 10-year, $92 million contract.

It was nothing, especially this summer, Brian Grant won a 7-year, $84 million contract. The Timberwolves "tampered" and signed a 7-year, $86 million contract with Joe Smith, who averaged 10+7 levels per game, which would not cause much trouble.

The Timberwolves management is quite credible and is really ready to renew the contract.

Since Joe Smith has reached the third year of his contract with the Timberwolves next season, he will have bird rights at the end of next season. In this case, early renewal of bird rights can be carried out in advance, and the rules allow.

But Joe Smith fired his agent Eric Fisher because he had confirmed that he could get the contract!

The reason for this operation was actually related to Nowitzki.

Like the Lakers' contract renewal of Pierce in advance, the Mavericks also renewed their contract early after Nowitzki's sophomore season, and there was no negotiation. Cuban gave him 62 million for five years and Nowitzki signed it.

Joe Smith heard that after Nowitzki signed a contract extension, he did not have to pay the broker's commission because Nowitzki had no agent, so he made a brain teaser and fired Eric Fisher.

So Eric Fisher revealed the matter, and he also kept a copy of the draft contract at that time and also displayed it together...

That night, the alliance issued an emergency statement and would immediately send an investigation team to verify the matter.

A few days later, on July 29, the NBA officially announced that the Yin-Yang contract between the Timberwolves and Joe Smith was true, and the remaining one year contract between the Timberwolves and Joe Smith was forced to terminate, and Joe Smith was not allowed to play as a Timberwolves player in any way.

This is not bad. Many people see it and think that the Timberwolves have made a profit. After all, Joe Smith is not worth 86 million in 7 years.

But David Stern also said that many people did not notice "We are discussing the punishment for the Timberwolves."

On August 1, the NBA officially announced the penalty decision on the Timberwolves, depriving the Timberwolves of the right to pick the first round from 2001 to 2005.

It means not to deprive five draft picks, but in the past five years, the Timberwolves will not allow people to be selected in the first round of the draft!

At this time, Garnett, who was already in the training team in the United States, learned the news and felt that the sky was falling...
To be continued...