The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 470 - 214: Su Wan, Will You Leave or Stay?

Chapter 470: Chapter 214: Su Wan, Will You Leave or Stay?

NBA owners reluctant to spend money due to personal financial issues are not uncommon.

For example, the Brooklyn Nets were later sold to a Russian tycoon.

Right after acquiring the team, he splurged on assembling the crazy "Four Giants."

However, after failing to win the championship and facing turbulent international economic conditions, his assets shrank by more than half in a flash, and he immediately sold off the team and fled.

There was also the Rockets’ owner who, soon after taking over, likewise splurged on building the Chris Paul and Harden "light bulb duo," vying for the Western Conference championship for several years.

But then the pandemic struck, his own industries faltered. The investment in the Rockets was abruptly reduced.

The Rockets also entered a stage of tanking and rebuilding.

That’s human nature, isn’t it? You can’t expect an owner to bankrupt themselves but still blindly pour in massive funds to maintain the current lineup.

Although such a situation has something of the United States "die a comrade, but not a poor comrade" flavor to it.

But...

At this time, the subprime crisis had not yet erupted; it seemed that the Simon Group had gotten wind of it early and began adjusting their cash flow to avoid being affected by what was to come.

Herbert, being able to have a talk with Su Wan at such a time, seemed rather straightforward.

Su Wan could understand his actions.

But he also needed to start thinking about his own future path.

This summer, his rookie contract would expire.

Even if the hopes of winning the championship this year seemed distant.

Four years, three championships, and still a "Dynasty," Su Wan remained a phenomenon-level rookie with hopes of surpassing Michael Jordan in on-court achievements.

Su Wan didn’t mind the team rebuilding.

He was only 23 years old, with plenty of time to wait for the Pacers to construct another "king’s army."

But the real crux of the matter was that the Pacers couldn’t retain such a lineup...

You can’t spend two years building a team, win a championship, and then spend another two years building all over again just to win another championship, right?

If it were Su Wan’s team, he as the owner would definitely have no complaints.

The issue was, he was also a "wage earner."

Every man for himself!

What he should consider...

What choice would be most beneficial for himself!

As the car passed Sailor Tower, waiting for the traffic light, Su Wan looked at his poster under the night sky, observing the natives passing below. He noticed many looked at his poster first, then at the Sailor Tower.

Undoubtedly, Bolis was his "city of followers."

Half a month had passed since Su Wan’s conversation with Herbert. New Century Financial Company declared bankruptcy, and the "subprime mortgage crisis" arrived, creating chaos on the United States stock market. It was on this day that Artest and Larry Bird shifted from a "Cold War" to a "Hot War."

Artest was a fool, but his agent certainly was not.

The main business of the Simon Group was real estate; with the impact of this "housing bubble," they too could only hope for the best. The Pacers had no possibility of re-signing both Artest and Su Wan that summer.

Therefore, they had to make the first move, demanding a contract renewal from Larry Bird.

"Big Bird" rarely exhibited such impatience.

The reason for his impatience was that negotiations for Su Wan’s renewal were not going well.

Tyrone relayed Su Wan’s words—they still insisted on waiting until the end of the season to discuss the renewal.

Other Pacers players also felt at risk.

Although they didn’t have contract issues,

with various rumors about the Pacers’ ownership by the Simon Group, they genuinely feared that the owners, in an effort to save money, would sell them off.

This wasn’t unnecessary worrying...

With Artest’s renewal requiring money, Su Wan’s renewal would be even more so.

How could the team afford to keep both of them?

Trading these players to free up salary space seemed to be the most direct and effective method.

Tinsley and a few others were noticeably going solo more often on the court.

Moreover, with the younger O’Neal’s season-ending injury, the Pacers suffered a "seven-game losing streak" in this period.

It was unclear which area was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

At the end of January, the Pacers’ ranking dropped from first to third in the Eastern Conference. Artest’s agent’s repeated unsuccessful contract talks led the "Beast" to declare in front of the media: "If I don’t see the contract renewal I want before the All-Star Weekend, then trade me before the All-Star Weekend!"

His words set off an explosion throughout Indiana.

The management was extraordinarily angry, the fans’ moods were not quite right, and some Indiana media, like arguing with a girlfriend, began to dredge up the past.

Every city has its quirks.

Especially these smaller cities; it was probably pride under the guise of inferiority.

The Magic Team’s management did not appreciate players bossing them around or making extra demands. Even a player like Tim Duncan, who wanted his family to fly on the team’s private jet, was turned down.

The Pacers’ management was such that no matter how much you stirred things up, it was fine, but you couldn’t bring it into the public eye.

Take for instance the matter of Artest’s contract negotiations.

No matter how many harsh words were said in private, it was fine, but if you threaten with a transfer or trade in front of the media, well, that’s unfortunate—you want a trade, right?

Then I will trade you!

That was exactly how Artest ended up leaving the Pacers.

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