For example, the Lakers.
Next season, the league's salary cap will be $35.5 million, and the luxury tax line will be $40.67 million.
Players on the Lakers' roster next season still under contract include O'Neal with an annual salary of $17 million, Glen Rice at $7 million, and Kobe's newly signed $9 million...
These three big names alone add up to $33 million. Add Horry and Fox from the bench, which would be at least $3-5 million. With this calculation, the Lakers' payroll has already reached the luxury tax threshold. How large a contract can they offer He Xi Meng?
To be honest, He Xi Meng was quite curious.
Before the season ended, He Xi Meng and Kobe had chatted about his next contract. Kobe explicitly stated his desire to stay with the Lakers and continue playing, and also hoped that He Xi Meng would stay and fight alongside him.
Regarding whether to stay with the Lakers, He Xi Meng was reserved. If the Lakers' management could meet his conditions, He Xi Meng would certainly not mind staying with the Lakers, winning a few championship rings while "lying down," and then considering leaving. If the Lakers could not meet his conditions, then money alone might not be enough to sway He Xi Meng...
Kobe urged He Xi Meng to stay with the Lakers, but He Xi Meng did not advise Kobe to leave the Lakers. Instead, he advised Kobe to sign a short-term contract if possible, and not a long-term one. Three years would be best, four years acceptable, but preferably no more than five. This was because the league's revenue would increase rapidly in the coming years, and players' contracts would become increasingly large...
Of course, Kobe considered these statements from He Xi Meng to be merely his "speculation"!
The league's future salary cap would definitely rise, but no one knew to what extent or by how much.
The biggest advantage of signing a long-term contract was stability, security, and immunity from injuries!
Players were made of flesh and blood, not steel. It was possible to suffer a career-ending injury, and a long-term contract provided security in such a situation. It was akin to having a form of insurance.
He Xi Meng knew that Kobe's "iron body" would not suffer any major injuries in the coming years. But Kobe himself didn't know that! Kobe only knew that his stubborn personality and his all-out playing style made him prone to injuries, and that the longer the contract, the better...
Fine, since He Xi Meng couldn't convince Kobe, he would let Kobe decide for himself. And so, before the offseason officially began, Kobe had already verbally agreed to a 6-year contract with the Lakers management.
The contract prepared by the Lakers for He Xi Meng mirrored Kobe's contract: 6 years for $60 million! An average annual salary of $10 million, with $7.4 million for the upcoming season!
Within the Lakers' upper management, this long-term contract was not considered an insult to He Xi Meng's league status. This was because, comparatively, a point guard's value was truly not as high as a shooting guard's.
For example, Kidd's annual salary last season was only $6 million, and it would only be $6.8 million the following season.
If He Xi Meng accepted this new contract, he would at least surpass Kidd and become one of the top-valued point guards in the league. Of course, Iverson was an exception and couldn't be counted.
As a result, He Xi Meng refused the Lakers' offer without a second thought.
Jeanie Buss, who was full of confidence, was perplexed, not knowing where the problem lay.
The veteran owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Jerry West, the experienced general manager, were shrewd. When a contract couldn't be agreed upon, they continued to negotiate!
Jerry West smiled and asked He Xi Meng what his desired price was.
"If the asking price is too high, the team may not be able to afford it~"
Nonsense! How high could the second contract of a player like He Xi Meng be? Could the Lakers not afford it? The "Logo" man's words clearly aimed to put some pressure on He Xi Meng, urging him to be reasonable and not ask for too much.
As a result, when He Xi Meng spoke, even the seasoned Jerry West was stunned.
"I don't want a long-term contract, I want a short-term one!"
"Why?" Jeanie Buss couldn't help but ask. While players all over the league were pursuing long-term guaranteed contracts, He Xi Meng was trying to go against the grain, wanting to opt for a short-term deal.
"There's nothing to be surprised about. It's because I'm optimistic about the league's development! Based on my observations and understanding, the league's influence is rapidly expanding. Not only in North America but also in other parts of the world, such as China!"
He Xi Meng specifically pointed out China, of course, to remind the bigwigs in front of him: I have a vast Chinese market behind me, so you can't overlook it...
Jerry West remained noncommittal, puffing on his cigar, and continued to ask, "How short?"
"Three years would be best, not exceeding four."
"And the annual salary?"
"For a three-year contract, $30 million. For a four-year contract, $40 million, but I need a player option in the last year."
Both these contracts had an average annual salary of $10 million, but due to the shorter term, they were definitely more expensive than the $60 million over six years, though not outrageously so.
Jerry West exchanged a look with Dr. Buss. Jerry West then slowly said, "If it's a short-term deal, this contract is a bit high! It will put some salary pressure on the team for the next couple of years..."
He Xi Meng nodded, "If it helps the team's operations, I can take a slight pay cut..."
Upon hearing that He Xi Meng was starting to yield, Jeanie Buss's face lit up with joy. However, Jerry West and Dr. Buss did not. They leaned forward slightly, clearly waiting for He Xi Meng's next words.
As expected, after promising a pay cut, He Xi Meng immediately presented another demand: "However, I want some management authority! For example, to assist the team in scouting draft picks..."
As soon as He Xi Meng said this, even the usually stoic Dr. Buss was startled.
"Little Xi Meng, you still have a long playing career ahead of you. Why are you seeking management authority now? There's absolutely no need to focus on management work so early..."
"It's out of interest! As for me, whether I earn a million more or a million less, I don't really care. I'm also indifferent to my ranking within the team, but I hope to have some say and be able to contribute more to the team..."
It was evident that He Xi Meng's "honest words" did not receive affirmation from Dr. Buss or the "Logo" man.
Dr. Buss suspected that He Xi Meng was dissatisfied that his contract was not as large as Kobe's, while Jerry West suspected that He Xi Meng was unhappy that his team status was not as high as Kobe's.
In short, neither of them believed that He Xi Meng's desire for partial management authority was genuinely to participate in the Lakers' construction. They interpreted this "strange" behavior as He Xi Meng wanting to gain "team privileges" through this method!
Thus, the two sides engaged in a cordial, friendly, yet mutually suspicious negotiation revolving around salary, team status, and management authority as the three core points...