One Year Left to Play

Chapter 614: Chapter 189: Even My Grandma Could Lead the Bulls to a Championship (2)

The Lakers’ record looks better than it really is, and there’s a lot of room for improvement.

But Barkley’s attention has been caught, which surprised the Logo Man.

After mumbling to himself for a while, the Logo Man suddenly asked, "What’s the situation with Barkley?"

On work mode, Jim Buss immediately replied, "I privately told a few reporters that Barkley went to Hawaii, but his agent refused any interviews, saying he doesn’t want to discuss anything related to trades or player options right now."

So he notified the Phoenix Suns and then went off the grid to wait for news? Logo Man nodded, then said to Kupchek, "Mick, you continue talking to the Suns, don’t rush to agree, but don’t outright refuse either. If they show signs of refusing, leak to the media that the Suns’ asking price is too high."

Though the playoffs are still ongoing, both the Lakers’ and Suns’ seasons have ended, so they can take their time discussing and make trades after the finals conclude.

The primary target is another big guy, a good one, but not on good terms with the other big guy. That’s troubling!

Logo Man was puzzled thinking about this.

Originally, the team already had a talented player who irritated his target big guy, a key player for the team’s future plans. Now, the incoming big guy isn’t on good terms with this target big guy either.

Otherwise, accepting Barkley wouldn’t even be a question, especially since Barkley’s salary next season is only 4.7 million US Dollars!

Barkley is one of the few from the 1984 draft class who hasn’t made over 5 million US Dollars in salary.

For that ten-year plan, Logo Man had long been adjusting contracts, trading away Eddie Jones, Divac, and Sibaros, all with the aim of freeing up salary cap space.

The Lakers’ fringe players’ contracts expire this season, along with Campbell’s and the Magician’s contracts. After this season ends, only Zhang Hao, Van Exel, Anthony Peeler, George Lynch, Donyell Marshall, and Doug Christie will still have contracts, totaling just over 8 million. Even considering the 23 million US Dollars salary cap of the 1995-96 season, including the 3.3 million US Dollars cap hold for Campbell’s bird rights, they can still free up over 10 million US Dollars in space to offer a starting salary in the tens of millions, with a contract totaling over a hundred million under current rules over seven years.

And there will still be some remaining after signing a big contract.

Campbell is still untradeable... Instead, they even have to leak news about planning to re-sign Campbell. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Having salary space and a willingness to come isn’t everything when building a team. The fresh-off-a-rookie-season talent and the superstar they aim to acquire are both troublemakers who’ve offended many, causing significant issues.

As Logo Man decided to be patient, Jim Buss’s phone rang.

Apologizing, Jim Buss went to the window to take the call.

When Jim Buss returned, Logo Man and Kupchek noticed the young man’s strange expression.

Logo Man asked, "What’s up, Jim?"

Jim Buss shook his head, "Nothing important, my secretary said Axe is on the front page again."

Even on a holiday trip, getting on the front page? Logo Man thought Zhang Hao was certainly a natural-born Lakers player.

Since he said it’s not a big deal, it surely isn’t anything serious like an injury or causing trouble outside.

Nonetheless, Logo Man was curious about how Zhang Hao’s travel put him on the front page and asked, "What did Axe do?"

"He didn’t do anything. He initially planned to watch the finals but decided not to go..."

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Logo Man and Kupchek were puzzled.

How? Does the media even care if our Lakers’ talent doesn’t watch the game? And this makes the front page!

Jim Buss wasn’t finished, he continued, "Axe said the Bulls would definitely win the championship. He said with a first-team Pippen and defensive-first Rodman as teammates, even his grandma could lead the Bulls to a championship."

"Pfft... Hahaha... Axe truly loves to provoke Jordan!" Kupchek burst into laughter.

Jim Buss was holding back but couldn’t help it anymore.

But as the two laughed, they noticed Logo Man’s serious expression.

Kupchek stopped laughing and asked, "Why, Jerry? We aren’t afraid to offend Jordan, right? We even refused to trade for Jordan back then."

"Mick, Jim, didn’t you hear what Axe wanted to convey in his words?"

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The two thought hard, wondering what was being hinted at?

Though it felt tricky, Logo Man appeared pleased, enjoying a sense of intellectual superiority...

After indulging in this sense of mental superiority, Logo Man solemnly stated, "Axe is expressing his dissatisfaction with the roster!"

If Logo Man hadn’t said this, no one would think in that direction.

But as he said so, Kupchek and Jim Buss re-analyzed, it did seem to have that meaning!

"His words conveyed two meanings: one, a thirst for star teammates, and another, a hunger for a championship!

I am now quite concerned. If we don’t win a championship in the next two years, he may go to another team with a better championship prospect once his rookie contract ends."

Initially thinking the analysis a bit far-fetched, feeling Logo Man might be overthinking, the two found it made perfect sense after his explanation!

Considering Zhang Hao’s typically few words, he might actually choose such a way to convey his inner thoughts...