Chapter 1260: Chapter 399: Cleveland Is Full of Hope Again?
Andrei Kirilenko has already verbally agreed to sign with the Cavaliers, but Cleveland fans are still uneasy.
After all, they have been betrayed by Carlos Boozer before.
Cleveland fans know that all verbal agreements are as fragile as the "Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact" of 1939.
Until the free agency market officially opens, and until the Russian puts that ridiculously long name on the contract, the Cavaliers don’t truly own AK47.
Every day before the official signing is a torment for Cavaliers fans.
Warriors fans, however, are in a completely different mood. Not only have they just won the championship, but the summer of 2005 just began, and they’ve already received good news.
Last season, Jason Richardson grew to become the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game. He rejected teams that promised him a higher tactical position and resolutely chose to renew with the Warriors, continuing to be a diligent role player.
He announced this news during the championship parade speech, and the tsunami-like cheers from the San Francisco fans made Jason Richardson feel it was all worth it.
Jason Richardson certainly knows that if he went to other teams, he could get more shot opportunities, more chances to showcase, slam dunks without restraint, exert less effort on defense, not bear huge pressure, and could easily break 20 points per game.
Maybe he could even make it to an All-Star game and enjoy being a star player.
He seriously considered the possibility of such a choice and admitted that this future was highly attractive.
After all, alongside Roger and Amar’e Stoudemire, he would forever only be the third guy on the team.
And when people talk about the third guy on a team, that person’s status is just a bit better than an ordinary role player.
Between choosing to be a star player and a role player, it doesn’t even seem to be a choice.
Most media also believed that Jason Richardson’s departure was a foregone conclusion.
But in the end, Jason Richardson decided to renew with the Warriors.
As a player who grew up on the streets, with a heavy street vibe, Jason Richardson firmly believes in a saying: "To do well, you need three things: be ruthless, loyal, and have many brothers."
Last season, Roger, without hesitation, stood by him during his dispute with Allan Houston and resolutely had the team trade away Allan Houston. It should be noted that Allan Houston was "the man next to the king," and he was qualified to use a locker next to Roger.
In the Warriors’ locker room culture, the owners of the lockers on Roger’s left and right sides are Roger’s appointed "Divine Hands."
But Roger gave Jason Richardson fairness. He did not favor or protect Allan Houston because he was one of the "Divine Hands." Roger insisted that the one in better form and more eager for victory become a starter, protecting the entire team.
Jason Richardson has always been very grateful for this, so someone who values loyalty highly like him could never abandon the Warriors and betray Roger at this time for a higher tactical position.
Roger let go of Allan Houston for his fairness, if he were to leave now without a word, it would be too inhuman.
In Jason Richardson’s view, leaving when the team has no hope is understandable. But to easily abandon a good brother when the team is still competitive is simply beastly behavior.
Even if staying means being just a jester, Jason Richardson is determined to assist Roger in building a dynasty.
Moreover, the Warriors’ renewal offer to Jason Richardson is not low. Several teams were willing to offer Jason Richardson an average annual salary of ten million, and the Warriors were also willing to give him three years for 30 million.
Mikhail Prokhorov’s first standard for renewing a player is whether Roger needs him, the second standard is that the renewal won’t hinder the team’s development.
As for salary? That’s not even considered a standard; the Russian doesn’t even consider the contract’s price.
Compared to the entire development of Mission Bay, the Golden State Warriors’ expenses are hardly worth mentioning.
Just like that, Jason Richardson successfully returned to the Warriors, continuing to fuel the establishment of a dynasty.
Actually, Roger had already mentally prepared for Jason Richardson’s departure, as he had encountered similar situations too many times.
For players like Jason Richardson, leaving the dynasty being built for a higher renewal price and tactical position is understandable.
Because Roger admits that even if a dynasty is really established, 80% of the credit would count toward him alone, 10% belongs to Stoudemire, and everyone else would have to split the remaining 10%.
Whether in basketball games, football games, or soccer games, the cake is never evenly divided.
Some people don’t even get a slice, like Dwyane Wade, whose status even lowered after back-to-back championships.
No matter how much the media and coaches emphasize that this is a team sport, they cannot change this distribution imbalance, with superstars always being the ones profiting the most.
So, role players are often full of interest and motivation for the first championship ring of their career, but back-to-back or three-peat championships aren’t as attractive to them.