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As the final quarter entered garbage time, Barkley said: "This year we introduced Cassell, a point guard who averaged 19.8 points and 7.3 assists per game. He shot 49% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. I think Garnett has no shortage of helpers, but The Timberwolves are still not a top team."

"The Timberwolves are still short of Carter, O'Neal, Iverson, and Tracy McGrady before they can become a top team." Yang Rui continued.

Barkley laughed: "Didn't you say that Kobe was afraid that he and O'Neal would fight?"

Yang Rui smiled and said: "With these four people, the Timberwolves can at least reach the finals. If they lose in the finals, it must be because of poor defense. These four people failed to give Garnett enough support."

Smith laughed out of breath.

Yang Rui continued: "However, Garnett also made sacrifices for the team. His annual salary this season was 28 million. In order to give the team more salary space to recruit outstanding players, he renewed his contract in advance in 2003 and signed with the Timberwolves. He signed a five-year, $100 million contract. His salary next season will be much lower."

Barkley lasts. "It's a pity that even though Garnett took a salary cut of several million, the Timberwolves still can't recruit big-name stars, unless they are willing to cut their salary to come to Minnesota."

In the end, the Timberwolves lost 78-105, and the strength gap was obvious.

Cassell is a point guard who is good at using his body to play. Grizzlies point guard Baron Davis is stronger than him. Davis broke out this time, scoring 22 points and 12 assists. Cassell only had 14 points and 7 assists, which was much inferior.

Pau Gasol also played well, making 11 of 14 shots, 5 of 8 free throws, and scored 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist; Garnett made 11 of 22 shots, 8 of 9 free throws, and scored 30 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. 2 blocks.

Szczerbiak made 4 of 10 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and scored 10 points. No one in the Timberwolves scored in double figures.

That night, all the Garnett fans online went crazy. The commentary on TNT radio was so irritating. Did my "Wolf King" provoke you?

Some people think what Yang Rui said makes sense. Is Garnett really strong and always being held back by his teammates? His team never made it past the first round of the playoffs, with a tough Wolf King and lousy teammates.

There is a reason why Yang Rui blacklisted Garnett.

He has always been puzzled. In his previous life, he also had good statistics but failed to win with the Timberwolves. Garnett was praised to the sky. In the future, Kevin Love's statistics will be even better, but everyone said that Love is a data brush.

Garnett joined the Celtics in 2007, setting off a trend of league stars teaming up. A group of people actually said that he was the Celtics' key player, and said that teaming up at the end of his career was not called a teaming up.

When the Big Three of the Green Army got together, they were all vigorous and vigorous, and they were able to beat James, who averaged 30+ points per game in the playoffs. Pierce performed as well as Kobe in the finals, and Ray Allen's three-pointer sealed his throat. The Big Three are at the golden age of thirty-one or two years old, which some people say is at the end of their careers!

In 2014, Love also joined the Cavaliers and won the championship in 2016. As a result, he was evaluated as a pseudo-giant and a burden. Winning had nothing to do with him, and losing was all his fault.

As far as Garnett's career evaluation is concerned, Yang Rui feels that it's not that he is black, but that the NBA is too black. In this dark place, black stars are all uncles. A star with a buttery appearance like Love who averages 15 rebounds per game is a softie.

Yang Rui returned to Los Angeles and stayed at home for a week.

On March 16, he received a call from his agent John O'Connor.

"Jerry, Lakers owner Jerry Buss contacted me. He wants to invite you to dinner tomorrow night to discuss cooperation."

"Okay, when and where?" Yang Rui smiled slightly, what was supposed to come finally came.

As the season draws to a close, the Lakers have won some games, so they won't become the worst team, but they are firmly in the lottery.

This was expected by Yang Rui. In his previous life, the Lakers with Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins only finished 12th in the Western Conference. In the summer, they selected "Little Shark" Andrew Bynum.

Now, because the Jazz, Warriors, and Clippers are so poor, the Lakers are ranked 11th in the Western Conference, which is not bad.

The agreed location is Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills. Yang Rui also likes this restaurant. Its founder is Zhou Yinghua, known as the Chinese God of Food. It has been loved by celebrities in Los Angeles since 1973. The menu is based on Chinese and Western cuisine. People's tastes have been innovated.

Bass had reserved a private room so he wouldn't be disturbed by reporters.

Yang Rui arrived later, and when he entered the room, he saw only two people, the old Bass, who was still very energetic in casual clothes, and his son, Jim Bass, who was also dressed in casual clothes.

"Hello, Jerry, nice to meet you." Old Bass greeted him cordially.

"Mr. Bass, I'm glad to see you too." Yang Rui smiled and shook hands with the two of them.

"You can call me Jerry and call him Jim." Old Bass smiled.

Looking at today's posture, he guessed that Old Bass had already begun to train a successor.

Choosing a successor is the most important thing for a wealthy family. No matter which country or era it is, it is no exception. If it is not handled well, it will be very troublesome. Just like the Qing Dynasty's competition for the rightful son in Kowloon, a group of princes circled around a woman whose eyes were not focused, and in the end a tragic tragedy occurred.

Jerry Buss, the Lakers owner who has made nearly perfect decisions throughout his life, has now fallen into this vicious circle.

Buss Sr. has six children, four of whom have been excluded and will not become Lakers owners. The remaining eldest daughter competes with his second son.

On the surface, Bass's arrangement of the succession plan is the best he can do. Jenny is in charge of business operations and Jim is in charge of team operations, so the siblings must work together. Jenny made money, so Jim had the capital to sign the stars. On the other hand, if the team plays poorly, Jenny's business development will also have problems.

In terms of ability, Jenny is obviously stronger, but the old Bass faced the career difficulty of being a successor. Like all heads of family businesses, he chose to pass it on to his son rather than his daughter.

Jim Buss had the upper hand in the management battle because he had his father's support. He has a characteristic that was the reason why Bass chose him, that is, he never demands too much for his rights and never complains. He just doesn't like Jackson, an outsider, to be involved in too many things about the Lakers and is rather exclusive.

And Jeanie Buss is too strong and ambitious. She wants to seize the power and completely control the Lakers after Buss retires. She is a "Zen Master" in success and a "Zen Master" in failure. Jackson brought a championship to the Lakers. She helped Jackson squeeze out Lakers hero Jerry West, which was a big failure.

After ordering, Old Buss smiled and said: "Jerry, you must have guessed that we will come to you and have the intention to join the Lakers, so we will skip the temptation and negotiate the terms directly. I believe in your coaching Ability, vision for team building, and Jim is courageous and enterprising. With Kupchak as his assistant, the only thing he lacks is some hard results to speak for himself. He needs the help of capable people, and I hope you can help him. As long as you Your request is not too excessive and we can agree to it.”

"It's great, I just like working with people like you." Yang Rui smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't make excessive demands."

Yang Rui admired Bass's courage and efficient communication skills very much. He expressed several key points of cooperation in just a few words, which made people feel good.

Old Bass had a clear attitude. Yang Rui wanted money and people, but he had to stand by Jim Bass and be his helper. In this way, there will definitely be no family infighting among the Lakers in the short term.

The two sides hit it off immediately, and the internal harmony of the Lakers is also what Yang Rui wants.