One Year Left to Play

Chapter 625: Chapter 193: Two Fat Guys

Now O’Neal is no longer that happy big baby.

After being eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic offered O’Neal a 5-year, 50 million US Dollar contract, which he rejected. After the free agency market opened, he began looking for teams to give him an unlimited contract clause, the same "Jordan exception" named after Jordan’s re-signing with the Bulls.

But the teams O’Neal wanted to join all quickly signed inconsequential deals, effectively nullifying the clause they held.

The Spurs and Dallas Mavericks offered him a huge contract worth about 100 million US Dollars over 7 years, but he didn’t want to go to places like Dallas and San Antonio.

Then, the Magic increased their offer. Before the Olympics started, they offered him a 5-year, 56 million US Dollar contract, an annual increase of 1.2 million US Dollars.

To go to Spurs, Mavericks?

Seeing today that the Bulls gave Jordan a 30.14 million US Dollar one-year contract, and the Knicks gave Alan Houston a 5-year, 50 million US Dollar contract, both using the "Jordan exception," O’Neal was even more unhappy—Is the gap between him and Alan Houston only 6 million?

Moreover, after failing to get Jordan and signing Alan Houston with the "Jordan exception," the Knicks completed an early renewal with Patrick Ewing with a 4-year, 68 million US Dollar declining contract. Ewing will still make 14.5 million US Dollars at the age of 38 in the 00-01 season, and 20.5 million US Dollars in the 97-98 season.

Olajuwon also completed a 4-year, 56 million US Dollar early renewal.

David Robinson reached a verbal agreement on a 5-year, 72 million US Dollar renewal with the Spurs, waiting for him.

And Moning, who immediately re-signed with the Heat for over 100 million US Dollars for 7 years after the free agency market opened, even Juwan Howard received a 7-year, 100 million US Dollar contract.

Previously, O’Neal didn’t mind the rookie contracts of Kidd and Glenn Robinson, as the average salary wasn’t high.

But to stay with the championship-contending Magic with abundant entertainment resources in Orlando, he would only earn an average salary of 11.2 million US Dollars? Or he would have to go to that lousy place San Antonio and partner with David Robinson?

The Magic’s justification was strong—Anfernee Hardaway’s contract would expire in 97, and they needed to save money for Anfernee Hardaway’s contract.

While drooling over Jordan’s terrifying 30.14 million US Dollar salary, O’Neal welcomed the iconic NBA figure—Jerry West.

For the Logo Man, O’Neal politely welcomed him into the living room, asking the servant to prepare drinks and snacks.

After a short and polite conversation, the Logo Man got straight to the point: "Shaq, would you like to come to Los Angeles?"

At this moment, the Logo Man coming to find him, O’Neal certainly knew his intentions, but he was a bit puzzled—didn’t the Lakers already extend an offer to Campbell?

No one associated him with the Lakers regarding his future, because for the past two years, the Lakers had been cultivating players to counter him. Almost no one, including himself, thought the Lakers would want him.

O’Neal directly replied, "I don’t want to."

The Logo Man asked, "Why? Is it because of Aix?"

No, is it that direct? O’Neal thought he was blunt enough, yet didn’t expect this veteran to be so straightforward.

"I’ve been living in Orlando for half a month since you started participating in the Olympics, waiting here, and I’ve seen a lot of things..." the Logo Man seemed to be talking to himself, "I think this place is not worthy of you. You should be on a bigger stage. Only Los Angeles can let you shine with all your brilliance. There is Hollywood and the Lakers. Do you see? Superman, we have Ultraman here, a charming screen character like Superman. Do you want to live in Disney forever? If I were you..."

At this point, the Logo Man paused, and O’Neal was eager to know what the Logo Man left unsaid.

He liked what the Logo Man was saying; he enjoyed living in the spotlight.

After pausing for a moment and observing O’Neal’s expression, the Logo Man smiled and said, "If I were you, I would choose to go to the Lakers, to partner with Aix, I would go to fight for Hollywood’s spotlight... If he makes me unhappy, I would definitely return to the Lakers, and I’d want to be his boss. Of course, you have to have the confidence to win his respect on the court."

O’Neal was stunned—Zhang Hao, are you really not one of your own players?

Is it something a person does to make trouble for your own genius?

At this moment, the Logo Man took a stack of papers from his briefcase, which was obviously a contract.

"Shaq, I love you. I like centers the most, you know. I will create all the conditions for you to become Aix’s boss, for example, this..."

O’Neal looked at the contract the Logo Man pushed toward him. The first page listed the salary, not various clauses.

The first year, 10.78 million US Dollars... The last year, 23.57 million US Dollars, starting from the sixth year, the salary was over 21.43 million US Dollars, higher than any existing or newly signed player’s salary in the league except for Jordan’s 30.14 million US Dollars!

A total of 127 million over 7 years, it was a "Jordan exception" style contract!

O’Neal was stunned: "No, no, it shouldn’t be like this, you should offer me 90 million, and then I would counter with 100 million!"

"..." The Logo Man didn’t expect this answer, almost choked, but quickly recovered his composure and responded, "I told you, I will create all favorable conditions for you to fight for the boss position. The most direct way is to give you a contract like this...but to truly win Aix’s respect, you’ll have to rely on yourself."