NOVPUBChapter 849: Chapter 531: The Honeymoon Period Ends Here_2 Chapter 849: Chapter 531: The Honeymoon Period Ends Here_2 Major draft prediction websites all ranked him in the early second round.
Although the Supersonics had a late first-round pick, they were more interested in using it to select a 3D wing because Roy would fully recover next season, and backup guards were not their most urgent need.
However, Yu Fei also knew that Roy was often injured and it was uncertain when he might need substantial time off again.
“Jeremy Lin from Stanford University is not bad,” Yu Fei said, “As for the others, I don’t know much.”
Presti had scouted Jeremy Lin and was impressed by the young man, but it was highly likely he wouldn’t fall to the 29th pick of the second round, and it seemed like a bit of a waste to use the 29th pick of the first round on him.
The team’s most pressing need was at the wing position, as the playoffs had shown; a versatile wing could always play a role, unlike guards and shooters.
“Frye, you should find some time to talk about renewing your contract,” Presti mentioned.
...
Objectively speaking, Yu Fei was about to become an unrestricted free agent.
His contract with the team, signed two years ago, was due to expire this summer, and by then Seattle had already become his kingdom, the dynasty was established, the team stayed put, and the new stadium was expected to be in use before 2016.
He had no reason to leave the team, so for both sides, it was simply a matter of going through the processes and signing the contract.
“Not now,” Yu Fei uncovered the issue that the management was unwilling to face, “As a representative of the players’ camp, I will not sign with any team until an agreement is reached between the labor and management.”
This was the most worrisome issue.
At the latest round of labor negotiations, the capital side reiterated the conditions from the All-Star Weekend; small-market owners demanded a hard salary cap and a reduction in the players’ share of the revenue.
Naturally, the Players’ Association disagreed, and the two sides parted on bad terms.
More and more information indicated that the NBA might face a lockout, and the divisions between the two sides were even more significant than in the summer of 1998.
Back then, the owners just wanted to plug the loopholes in the salary cap, but now, they really wanted to cut the benefits from the labor side.
As the newly crowned GOAT, Yu Fei was not just a representative of the players but also their leader. Although he held no official position in the Players’ Association, his mere presence at the negotiation table was a statement in itself.
In such a situation, he couldn’t be tied down by a contract.
Presti was just an employee; he had no stakes either with his superiors or subordinates. The only thing he needed to do was to complete his work before a full-scale shutdown.
“Then let’s talk after the issue is resolved.”
Presti hung up the phone.
“Aren’t you on vacation?”
At the moment, Yu Fei was lazily lying on a beach chair in Florida, squinting his eyes slightly and basking in the warmth of the sun. Beside him, Christina, dressed in a bright yellow bikini, walked over lightly with a mischievous smile on her face.
Christina’s fiery red hair shimmered in the sunlight, highlighting her fair skin and perfect figure. Her ample curves were even more enticing against the backdrop of the bikini, and her full bust and slender waist contrasted strikingly, while her long legs drew attention on the beach.
“I can’t help it, I’m a busy man,” Yu Fei responded softly, his gaze following Christina as she sat down beside him. In the light, her figure seemed even more graceful.
It’s difficult to describe his current relationship with Christina accurately.
Perhaps “transitional couple” is an appropriate term, akin to the legendary on-set romances.
There were old feelings between the two and then there was the exchange of interests; Yu Fei agreed to let Christina join his movie as the second female lead, thereby sustaining her heat as this year’s television personality, while she also brought warmth to Yu Fei with her MILF passion.
Yu Fei liked this status quo; they each got what they needed, which was, in a sense, very pure.
Afterward, Yu Fei called Christian Laettner.
Since Laettner became an official agent last year, under Yu Fei’s recommendation, he represented Stephen Curry, James Harden, and DeMar DeRozan. This year, Yu Fei advised him to secure the agency rights for Paul George.
Laettner did just that.
In less than two years, Laettner had gone from a newcomer to a rising star in the circle of agents.
Because both Curry and Harden had shown star potential in their rookie seasons.
“Heard any rumors?” Yu Fei asked casually, “Like some uninspired team thinks their rookie won’t make it and wants to offload them at a bargain price. Any news like that?”
“Frye, when did you become the general manager?”
Yu Fei laughed, eyeing Christina as she gazed at him from the side. Then, his mischievous hand landed on Christina’s Jushen Peak, which always garnered a 100% turn-back rate wherever it appeared.
Again, silicone is trash; only the all-natural is worth a grip.
“I did hear that Cleveland is planning to let go of Danny Green,” Laettner said, probably not expecting the news to be of use to Yu Fei, “The young man isn’t talented enough to get game time in Cleveland.”
Not talented enough?
“Do you think Kristen Stewart has talent?”
Yu Fei suddenly threw out a question that puzzled Laettner.
“Hm?” Laettner tried to answer, “I think she’s pretty good-looking.”
“Then Danny Green is fine too.”
As Laettner pondered the relevance of these two topics, Yu Fei had already hung up the phone.
