Owner Ranadive and general manager Divac promised Wang Yi: Although Gua Ge and Paul have retired, they will definitely strengthen the team's defenders this summer.
Find an excellent backcourt partner for Wang Yi.
They also promised many benefits to Wang Yi.
For example, whatever player Wang Yi wants, they will try their best to get it.
For example, Wang Yi's status in the team will be very high, to some extent, even higher than the head coach.
But Wang Yi still did not agree immediately.
So Wang Yi said to the boss and general manager Divac: "I want to test the free agent market this summer."
Although General Manager Divac and the boss were a little panicked, they were not surprised.
And obviously they had discussed this situation a long time ago, so boss Ranadive immediately expressed his stance:
"Wang, you can test the free agent market, but I want to make it clear to you that we will 100% give you a maximum salary. And if you stay with the Kings, the maximum salary you can get will be higher than what you can get if you sign with another team.
The maximum salary he received was nearly $100 million."
Wang Yi nodded: "I know all this. But let's wait until I test the free market."
Kings owner and general manager Divac actually had already thought that Wang Yi would say this.
They did not expect that just one visit today would allow Wang Yi to stay on the team.
They came today just to show their sincerity to Wang Yi.
Next, in the half month before July 1, they came to Wang Yi's home five times.
It can be said to be very sincere.
The boss even promised Wang Yi that if Wang Yi signs with the team, his IT company will also find Wang Yi to represent him and sign a contract worth at least hundreds of millions of dollars.
This is equivalent to a yin and yang contract.
Obviously you only get a salary when you sign a contract with me.
But in fact, including the endorsement contract, it is equivalent to a double salary.
The league actually doesn't allow this to happen.
But in practice, it is difficult.
For example, after the King renewed his contract with Wang Yi, he will not be an endorser for the time being.
If you wait until a few months and a half have passed before signing an endorsement contract, there is nothing the league can do.
However, Wang Yi still did not agree immediately. He still had to wait for the free market to open and see the attitudes of other teams.
Finally, the time came to July 1st.
Free agency begins.
There are two big fish in the NBA free market this year.
One is James - he signed an 11-year contract with the Kings last year, and the second year was a player option.
He had previously announced that he would opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
Of course, he had no intention of leaving the king.
Just because the league signed an 8 billion US dollar television broadcast contract this year and the salary caps of all teams have increased significantly, he can get more money by re-signing the contract this year.
So the moment the free market opened, he announced that he would renew his contract with the team.
This would be an 11-year contract worth an average of $70 million per year.
And the other big fish is naturally Wang Yi.
This can no longer be said to be a big fish, but a giant kun.
From last season, when many teams knew that Wang Yi was in a contract year, they freed up salary space early in an attempt to attract Wang Yi.
Even teams without salary space are trying to contact Wang Yi's agent.
As long as Wang Yi can sign with their team, they do not recommend paying a huge luxury tax, and they will even trade their stars.
Today, the free market opens.
Sister Luo's phone number was already buzzing early in the morning.
8 am.
The moment Sister Luo just turned on the phone.
Then Pelinka, the general manager of the Lakers, called: "We are willing to offer Wang a maximum salary and specially match him with the lineup he requires. We only hope that he can return to the Lakers."
Sister Luo bluntly refused, saying that Wang Yi would never return to the Lakers.
Just after hanging up the phone, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri called again: "We are willing to offer Wang a maximum salary, and we can meet any of his requirements."
Sister Luo said she would wait.
Just after hanging up the phone, New York Knicks general manager Scott called again.
…
To her surprise, she received calls from all 29 teams except the Kings.
A star can cause the whole league to rush for it. In the entire history of the league, only Jordan is the only one.
In the past, James did attract competition from the league, but only a majority of teams wanted him.
Some teams that already have their own mature systems and superstars have no intention of recruiting him.
Now, Wang Yi can make 29 other teams call.
And it's not a test, but a direct saying, "We will give him the maximum salary, and he can give him whatever he wants."
This is enough to show how valuable Wang Yi is now.
Why are there no calls from the Kings?
Because the owner and general manager of the Kings went directly to Wang Yi’s home to talk, and this time An Jiali was also included.
The boss and manager still expressed that they would provide Wang Yi with the most favorable conditions allowed by the rules.
Moreover, if Wang Yi stays with the Kings and can obtain the Bird Rights, he will receive a higher salary.
Bird rights are the Byrd clause.
(I remember I explained it before, but it’s already hundreds of chapters. It’s impossible for book friends to remember it so clearly, so I’ll explain it again. Just think of me as hydrology.)
Bird clause: When a player plays for a team for more than three years (including three years), he has the right to obtain the Bird clause. If he renews his contract with this team, his annual salary increase can reach
.12.5%.
And if this player now signs with another team and loses the Bird Rights, his salary will only increase by 10%.
And bird rights mean something else.
If this player signs with his home team, his salary is not subject to the salary cap.
In other words, the boss can give him as much as he wants.
Of course, the premise is that the luxury tax cannot be exceeded.
This year the league signed a new television broadcast contract, which reached a sky-high price of US$8 billion.
Players' wages have also risen as a result.
Significantly improved compared to before.
According to calculations, the salary of a rookie player can reach 20 million US dollars.
The maximum salary for a player can even exceed $80 million.
Curry currently has the highest salary in the league, and his salary this year has exceeded US$50 million.
He will also become a free agent this year.
If Wang Yi signs with another team, he can get a maximum salary of about US$290 million over four years.
If he signs with the Kings, he can get a five-year, $400 million contract.
The average annual salary can reach 80 million US dollars.
So if he renews his contract with the Kings, his contract will be the largest contract in NBA history.
However, Wang Yi still did not give them a definite answer.
Chapter completed!