Almighty Coach

In the Clippers’ meeting room, the management was discussing Ronny’s contract renewal.

“Yesterday afternoon, Ronny’s agent contacted me again asking about the contract renewal. I told him the team was considering it. We have been delaying Ronny’s renewal for a long time. I think we should decide this now.”

He was speaking to a white man named Johnson, the new general manager of the Clippers.

When Dingtian Group took over the Clippers, the Clippers’ management was short on staff. After the Clippers changed hands, the former general manager left the company, so Xiao Yunan was temporarily responsible for the general manager’s position.

It was impossible for Xiao Yunan to handle both her roles as C.E.O. and general manager forever, so the Clippers hired Johnson as the latter. This way, Xiao Yunan could focus on her work as C.E.O.

Johnson used to play in the NBA. Although he wasn’t a superstar, he won the championship ring with his team. After retiring, he worked in the management of many NBA teams. He had many years of experience and was considered an NBA insider. He was the most suitable candidate the Clippers could find for the position.

Johnson wanted to achieve something immediately to get the team’s approval. Renewing Ronny’s contract at a relatively lower price was his chance to show his worth.

Johnson said, “Before, Ronny’s agent asked for $125 million for five years. This is indeed a bit much. I am confident that I can lower Ronny’s renewal price to $100 million for five years.”

“That price is still too high.” Dai Li was the first to shake his head. He then said, “Next season, Wood’s salary will cost us $35 million. If we give Ronny another $20 million, it will be hard for us to sign someone big.”

The NBA’s salary cap for was $99 million, and the luxury tax threshold was $125 million. If the team’s total salary exceeded this figure, it would have to pay a luxury tax. The Clippers were currently in the process of rebuilding their team and did not want to pay a luxury tax. Since there was no need for the team to perform well, it was best to keep the total salary of the players near the salary cap so that the team could save money.

The Clippers had a high-salary contract with Wood. If they renewed Ronny’s contract for $20 million a year, the team would only have $40 million left for signing new players. This wouldn’t give the Clippers much room to operate. The Clippers would only be able to sign on players with low salaries.

“It seems that our coaching staff thinks that Ronny is not worth much money.” Johnson looked at Dai Li and said, “But last season Ronny got a 19+5+3. This is a major improvement. I think it’s acceptable to renew the contract for five years at $100 million. His stats might improve in the future. If he joins the All-Star Team, this contract will give us a good return.”

Dai Li shook his head. “Ronny’s stats have improved, but only because he was the key player on the team. We used tactics that were designed to assist him. In fact, there was no improvement in his field goal percentage. He did not show a great performance in attacking or defending. Most of the time, he was focused on improving his stats and not on creating opportunities for his teammates. That is not what a team leader should do. Our coaching staff thinks that Ronny has fulfilled his potential and is not worth training.”

Johnson knew that Dai Li was the son-in-law of the owner, so he did not argue with him. Instead, he chose to compromise.

Johnson said, “Since the coaching staff thinks this price is too high, we will proceed with the previous offer: $90 million for five years. I will negotiate with him to reach this target.”

“Actually, I think that the price of $90 million for five years is still too high.” Dai Li shook his head again. “We selected Kumar this year. I think he is more talented than Ronny. He will be able to replace Ronny in two years. I have also been examining the free agents who are frontline players. I hope to find a replacement on the free market.”

“Coach Li, the free agent you are talking about, it isn’t Osef, is it?” Johnson asked.

“He is one of the options,” Dai Li nodded.

“Coach Li, I know that Osef is training at your center, but I don’t think that he can return to play! That guy is still addicted to drugs. He has become useless!” Johnson said.

“Osef has quit taking drugs,” Dai Li replied.

Johnson shook his head in disapproval. “After athletes get addicted, it is impossible for them to return to compete. None of the addicts I’ve seen can stay away from drugs.”

…

Dai Li and the new general manager, Johnson, had a disagreement and the meeting ended with their difference in opinion unchanged.

At the end of the meeting, Dai Li sat in the office alone, thinking about the next season.

Osef has too much baggage. It is understandable that Johnson would have reservations about him.

As for Kumar, he is still a rookie. He has never played in the NBA. It is normal for Johnson not to trust him.

It wasn’t good that the general manager didn’t share the same opinion as him. Dai Li was worried, and he massaged his temples.

There was suddenly a knock on the door. Dai Li shouted, “Please come in.” Wood entered.

“Wood, what do you need?” Dai Li asked.

“Coach Li, I want to talk with you about the recent situation with training.” Wood sat down, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally said, “Coach Li, I feel that your training is very effective. I feel that I have recovered a lot. My knees are much better than before, but they are too damaged and it’s impossible to return to my previous condition.”

Dai Li thought for a second and asked, “Is the effect of the recent training not meeting your expectations?”

Wood did not answer but, from his expression, Dai Li could tell he was right.

According to the promise Dai Li made, Wood’s knees would be restored to their pre-injury state. Now, it seemed that this recovery was somewhat slow. It seemed that a full recovery was far away. Thus, Wood already started to give up.

Dai Li laughed involuntarily.

Wood’s knees had suffered multiple injuries, and most of the damages were irreparable. Some of their functions had stopped working. To get Wood’s knees back to their pre-injury state, an athlete’s patch was required.

Since an athlete’s patch could only last for twelve months, Dai Li did not immediately use one for Wood. He hoped to wait until the start of the season to use it. It seemed that Wood was getting impatient waiting.

“Wood, our training has only just begun. We will only start to see the results in early September. If you gave up now, wouldn’t it be a pity?” Dai Li asked with a smile.

Dai Li’s confident smile affected Wood, but he still seemed somewhat uncertain.

Dai Li asked, “Wood, tell me why you wanted to become a basketball player in the first place?”

“Michael,” Wood replied without hesitation.

“I almost forgot, you are from Chicago. When Michael was creating the Bulls Dynasty, you were still a child, right?” Dai Li asked.

Wood nodded, “Michael has greatly influenced me. In fact, at the time, Michael was the idol of every child and teenager. We dreamed of becoming like Michael when we grew up, of becoming the ‘The God of Basketball.” If it weren’t for Michael, I might not have played basketball. I might have gone to college like an ordinary person and found a regular job after graduating.”

“After you were selected by the Bulls, I guess you felt that you were getting close to your idol?” Dai Li smiled casually. “It seems that he is not only your idol but also your role model. You must’ve wanted to become just like him.”

“When I first entered the NBA a few years ago, I used him as my goal. The longer I stayed in the NBA, however, the more I discovered how great he was. No one in this world can surpass him,” Wood sighed.

“So you are not going to chase after your role model anymore? Although you may not achieve all that he did in his career, you have always been on the path to catching up with him. Now that you realize you may not be able to surpass him, you gave up?” Dai Li asked solemnly.

“No, I didn’t give up!” Wood said without hesitation.

Dai Li changed his tone of voice. “Since you have not given up on chasing your role model, what are you doing here? You should be sweating on the training ground right now. Your leg injury is as such. I think you can be completely rehabilitated, but you have no confidence. The possibility is right in front of you. Even if it is only a small possibility, you should try very hard. If you try, you won’t be mad that you failed. You won’t feel any regret!”

…

Wood left Dai Li’s office. The image of Wood’s back when he was leaving emerged in Dai Li’s head.

Because of the power of a role model, Wood had embarked on the path of basketball. Although Wood could never surpass the “God of Basketball,” the “God of Basketball” had planted a conviction in Wood’s heart. Dai Li believe that a person with conviction would not give up.

Dai Li suddenly had a bold idea.

Wood needs an athlete’s patch to restore him to his previous condition. There should be a lot of players like Wood in the NBA. Instead of focusing on one player, why not go all out?

Dai Li picked up the phone and dialed the number of the team’s data analysis group.

“This is Dai Li. I need a list. I want a list of players who have gotten worse because they faced certain issues or retired for various reasons in recent years. It is best if they were stars or superstars. I want those who were the best players. Don’t miss anyone!”