The Pope of Basketball Community

Yang Rui was very relaxed and set out his own conditions for joining as if chatting with friends.

"First of all, I want to trade rights and draft picks. Every time I go to a team, this is my bottom line. This has absolutely no harm to the Lakers, only benefits, because I have a better vision than everyone else."

Old Bass immediately agreed. "No problem. Kupchak will try his best to deal with whoever you want. As long as the team can win the championship, it doesn't matter if they pay the luxury tax."

Yang Rui is so happy! He won't hear such words in the Raptors and Wizards. The owners of both teams must avoid luxury tax and make transactions when the salary is reasonable.

The Lakers are so wealthy that they have paid the luxury tax for many years and don't even care.

Yang Rui smiled and said: "Then I will add another request. Yao Ming must be traded to the team in the summer. Except for Odom, Kobe, and the three lottery picks in the summer, everyone else in the team can be used as bargaining chips. Nick Si can pick whatever he wants, and next year’s first-round pick can also be traded away.”

Jim Bass chimed in. "George, Rush, Cook, and Walton are all young people with potential. Isn't it a pity to send them away?"

"No, in my opinion they have little potential, and the Knicks may not be interested in them either. According to my plan, the Lakers will be completely rebuilt this summer, and there will not be many left from the original lineup."

"But Yao..."

Jim Buss also wanted to raise a question, but the old Buss raised his hand to stop him and said with a smile: "No problem, I guarantee that Yao Ming will appear in the Lakers team next season."

Buss knew what his son wanted to ask and was worried that Yao Ming's inability to play would affect the Lakers' performance. Indeed, Yao Ming's performance in the Knicks was very poor. No matter how you look at it, he is a parallel import. But if Yang Rui is confident in cultivating Yao Ming, he must give him enough trust.

The cooperation between the two parties should be based on trust, not to mention Yang Rui's previous record? Once Yao Ming performs at a high level, with the Chinese market behind him, the Lakers will make a lot of money.

Yang Rui was very satisfied with this answer, but at the same time he looked down on Bass.

Buss is worthy of being the useless successor who destroyed the Lakers. Yang Rui has trained so many inside stars. He also doubts that Yao Ming can't play well. This is not careful, but indecisive, and even looks down on Chinese players. Also on the floor, Yao Ming completely defeated Brad Miller.

Old Bass asked: "Is there anything else?"

"There is a very important point. When you renew Kobe's contract, you can offer him a maximum salary, but don't give him the right to veto the trade. He has character problems and is difficult to train. Without O'Neal to lead the lottery, he should recognize his own Position, if he doesn't obey, the Lakers will be in the first round of the playoffs with him as the core."

Old Bass frowned. "What if Kobe doesn't renew his contract with the Lakers and asks to leave?"

Yang Rui smiled and said: "You are overthinking. Although Kobe's IQ is not high judging from the Eagle County incident, he should not be low enough to give up the big market of Los Angeles and go to a bad team. Of course, he can also go A strong team with stars competes for the championship, but then he will be the second in command for life. Does he seem like the kind of person who is willing to take second place for the rest of his life?"

Old Buss' brows immediately widened. Yang Rui understood Kobe's character and the method of control, which was the right to veto transactions.

The Lakers will not trade Kobe, but they can use this as a threat. If he does not obey the command, Yang Rui will deal with him.

"How do you know I plan to give Kobe Bryant the right to veto the trade?" Old Buss asked.

"Because Phil Jackson has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Kobe in public, and the news has mentioned several times that the Lakers are preparing to trade Kobe. Coupled with the Eagle County matter, Adidas and Kobe's termination of the contract, he will definitely feel very insecure. The Lakers have lost Without O'Neal, if Kobe leaves again, there will be no star left. His agent will probably provide some additional guarantees." Yang Rui explained.

Old Bass swallowed and spit. He didn't know that Yang Rui had seen news about this in his previous life and thought that Yang Rui had deduced it. He has never seen such a person before, and it seems that he can only be described as "genius".

Jim Buss asked: "If you don't give the right to trade, what if Kobe really leaves?"

Yang Rui laughed.

"It's very simple, just let him go, as long as there is salary space, and sign him in the free market. I am confident that I can lead the Lakers to win the championship, and there will definitely be people willing to join. If Kobe chooses to leave, let him regret it for the rest of his life."

When Kobe leaves Los Angeles, he won't have so many good teammates. He will never win five championships like Yang Rui did in his previous life and become the second shooting guard in history.

Old Bass smiled and asked: "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course, there are two things that attract me to the Lakers. One is that they are located in Los Angeles, I love this city, and the other is that they have the best owner in the league. Kobe does not attract me, it is dispensable. With his current reputation, To be honest, I don't even want to coach. The Cavaliers contacted me, and if they were in Los Angeles, I would choose the Cavaliers without even thinking about it."

The Lakers have been working on public relations for Kobe's image, but as the Eagle County lawsuit continues, they feel unsure. In Yang Rui's previous life, the lawsuit lasted until September 1, 2004, when Kobe was found not guilty and he had already renewed his contract.

The Lakers management is in a strong position when it comes to contract extension negotiations.

Old Bass smiled and said: "You are really rude and not low-key."

"Haha, to be successful as a coach, the most important thing is ability. Larry Brown is quite low-key. Just wait and see how I will torture him next year." Yang Rui said confidently.

Jim Bass complained in his heart that he didn't like Yang Rui's character, it was too crazy.

While eating Chinese food, the three of them discussed some more details, and Yang Rui decided on the coaching staff.

Next season, the first thing Yang Rui has to do is to bring Jeff Hornacek to Los Angeles and give him an assistant coaching job, otherwise it will be too boring.

It is also necessary for Yang Rui to get a high salary. The specific contract period and amount should be discussed in detail with his agent. The Bass family is not short of money and will definitely not treat him badly.

Finally, Yang Rui said: "If you feel uneasy, you can sign a simple agreement with me some other time, and we will formally sign the contract after several big deals are completed in the summer. Because if it is announced in advance that I will join the Lakers, many teams will know my vision. Well, maybe I don’t want to trade with the Lakers.”

"This couldn't be better." Old Buss smiled and said: "Jerry, joining the Lakers must be the right choice for both of us."

"Of course, it's hard to succeed even if powerful forces join forces." Yang Rui nodded.

Jim basically didn't speak, he just accompanied and listened. He now admired his father's vision.

Before coming, Old Bass told him that Yang Rui would definitely agree, and predicted all the conditions Yang Rui might offer.

Yang Rui turned down many invitations last summer, including those from the powerful Suns, and obviously wanted to find a big city team to join. His buying a house in Los Angeles is a clear signal. He can only fancy the Lakers, not the Clippers. A smart person will not do stupid things.

What puts pressure on Buss is that Yang Rui blasts Larry Brown. If he blasts Brown away, he may join the Knicks, which is also a big city.

Therefore, after Yang Rui sprayed Brown for the second time, Buss took the initiative to find him. He was afraid that the Knicks would make the first move. He is also overthinking, because the assassin Thomas traded for Marbury, and now Yang Rui will not go to the Knicks even if he kills him.

It was a pleasant meal. Yang Rui left first, followed by Bass and his son, leaving their contact information. In June, Kupchak will contact Yang Rui, and the draft and trade will have his approval in advance.

Yang Rui felt a stone fall in his heart. He can live in Los Angeles permanently from now on!