The summer of 2014 is particularly humane compared to previous years.

First of all, Randolph took the initiative to cut his salary by 6 million in order to retain the team's championship framework.

Just when people thought that the 6 million award was ruthless enough, Dirk Nowitzki came with something even more ruthless.

Nowitzki, who was able to earn an annual salary of 22.72 million in Dallas last season, decided to take the initiative to cut the salary to give the Mavericks room to operate in the free agent market. The new contract he signed with the Mavericks is only 7.97 million a year!

Originally, Cuban offered Dirk a year-on-year contract worth $20 million. After all, Dirk averaged 21.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, as well as 49.7% shooting percentage and 39.8% three-point shooting percentage.

Although he is old, he is still an indispensable and important combat force for the Dallas Mavericks.

However, Dirk righteously rejected Cuban's double-team. He had never had a manager before. Of course, unlike others, Dirk bargained not for a higher salary, but instead hoped that Cuban would give him less.

In the end, there was a contract of only $7.97 million.

7.97 million a year, which is undoubtedly seriously inconsistent with Dirk's ability. He voluntarily cut his salary by 12 million US dollars, twice that of Randolph!

You know, even Garnett, who has no more oil in the fuel tank, has just signed a contract with the Nets for one year and no 12 million yuan.

Dirk's 7.97 million is incredible.

However, these things that do not conform to business laws and business standards have indeed happened.

Randolph, Nowitzki, and Duncan, who took the initiative to cut salary last summer, all told everyone a truth - NBA is far more than just a business.

Of course, these people who are willing to cut their salary and stay in the original team are only a small number of people. Most players in the free agent market still make choices that are more in line with business rules.

On July 12, 2014, one month after the Miami Heat failed in the finals, LeBron James ended the biggest suspense of the summer.

James rejected the five-year contract between the Heat and Pat Riley and chose to return to Cleveland, signing a 2-year, 42.18 million 1+1 contract with the Cavaliers.

In an instant, the news of Randolph and Nowitzki's salary cuts were suppressed by James. No one expected that when Miami reached the finals for four consecutive years, James actually chose to leave again when he was able to fight with his good brothers!

“Before no one cares where I play, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. This is where I walked out, this is where I ran, this is where I cried, this is where I bleed, and it always has a special place in my heart. My connection with Northeast Ohio is greater than basketball, I didn’t recognize that four years ago, and now I recognize it.”

This time, although James did not do any live broadcasts across the United States, he still posted a seemingly touching text on social media.

Four years ago, I was extremely angry about James' departure, and even "revenge on society" because of this, which ruined the possibility of Paul and Kobe joining forces with Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers. After learning that James was back, he immediately licked it, "Welcome home, King James! I am happy for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio State. No one deserves a championship more than them."

Although I have experienced it once, watching James and Gilbert sing together on social media, Link felt that this was a nonsensical farce, which was even more nonsensical than Randolph's salary cut of 6 million yuan.

Hometown basketball? Break? For Cleveland?

Link dared not say that these were fake, but these were by no means the main reason why James returned to Cleveland.

The main reason why James returned to Cleveland was very simple - he could no longer beat Link when he stayed in the Heat, so he had to find stronger and younger helpers to defeat Link and the Grizzlies.

However, this most real reason is packaged under seemingly high-end words such as "hometown basketball".

The fans are not fools either, they understand better than anyone else. Especially Miami fans, they finally experienced the mood of the Clevelanders four years ago.

So everything that was staged in Cleveland four years ago is now repeated in Miami.

Extreme Heat fans burned the Heat No. 6 jersey worn by James in the street, and they also verbally abused them while burning the jersey. At this moment, they believed that James "betrayed" him.

In addition, on North 29th Street near Miami Avenue, James' face has been blackened by fans on a giant mural of the Heat family portrait.

And those Cleveland fans who burned the James Cavaliers jersey four years ago were also licking like Cavaliers boss Gilbert.

Isn't this a farce, what's it?

But no matter what, James' return to Cleveland did greatly increase his chances of winning the championship.

After James decided to return to the Cavaliers, the famous bookmaker Bovada updated the championship odds of the new season. The Cavaliers' championship odds soared to 1 and 4, leading the league! The defending champion Grizzlies' championship odds were only 1 or 5. The worst was undoubtedly the Heat, whose championship odds instantly plummeted to 1 or 50, tied for 1 and 16th place with the Pelicans.

In an instant, the Miami Heat went from a favorite to a team that won the championship to an insignificant team. The Cavaliers instantly changed from a team that competed for the No. 1 pick to a favorite to a favorite to a favorite to a favorite.

At this point, Link had to admit James' influence. No matter which team James went to, he would make that team immediately a contender for the championship.

Link watched James join the Cavaliers according to the original historical development trajectory, and was full of expectations for the new season.

A younger and stronger challenger? It seems that the finals will no longer be a boring 4-0.

Of course, except for other teams, not everyone within the Grizzlies themselves is as great as Randolph.

Nick Young, who has won two championship rings and is very happy with the Grizzlies, chose a bigger contract and left Memphis.

When Nick Young joined the Grizzlies, he was in a low career period. Therefore, the contract he signed with the Grizzlies was very cheap.

In the past two years, Nick Young has undoubtedly achieved his value. He not only won two championship rings, but also allowed people to see his strong strength. Whether in the regular season or the playoffs, once Nick Young feels, his scoring explosive power is no less than that of a superstar.

So, the Los Angeles Lakers used a four-year long-term contract worth $21.5 million to leave "Yang Shaoxia". Last season, his annual salary for the Grizzlies was only more than $1 million...

Although Nick Young left, Link and the others of the Grizzlies gave him blessings instead. Randolph's salary cut was 6 million, which was indeed great, but you can't use Randolph's standards to restrict others. You can't blame others just because they don't learn from Randolph.

Everyone has the right to choose. It would be too stupid to tear everyone off because Nick Yang left.

Nick Yang has been able to make a fortune in the past two years with the Grizzlies, which is also a success.

Nick Young also posted a long article on social media to thank the Grizzlies, Memphis fans and teammates, and especially Link.

"You let me know what a professional attitude a professional player should have, which inspired me a lot." This is the biggest gain that Nick Young said Link had brought him.

As usual, even if any players leave, most of the Grizzlies have "peaceful breakups". Of course, except for the two "old almanacs" Mayo and Guy.

After Nick Young, Miller, Old Miller also joined the Cavaliers with a two-year, $6.5 million contract and returned to James. He knew that the Grizzlies are now short of salary space and cannot meet their salary requirements. So he also chose to break up peacefully.

"I still love the fans here, love this city, thank you for everything that has brought me. I will always love Memphis." Mike Miller did not complain, and Link and the others also blessed Miller.

But after leaving Nick Young, a sharpshooter who can score 44% of three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs, the Grizzlies' shooting ability outside the three-point line inevitably made people start to worry.

The remaining outside lines of the Grizzlies, Conley, Delavidova, Tony Allen, Jimmy Butler, Iguodala and others are not long-range shot experts. Without a shooter, it is difficult to move forward in today's era.

A shooter may not need to score many points, but the tactical significance is irreplaceable. Old Miller and Nick Young average only a few points per game, but they are standing outside the three-point line. Will Wade dare to double-team Link?

Now, the Grizzlies suddenly have two such roles that shock the three-point line. The impact on tactics is still very huge.

Chris Wallace must now hate the Cavaliers very much, hating them intercepting Joe Harris as a sharpshooter in the draft. He had long said that the Grizzlies would need players like Joe Harris.

Looking at the entire free agent market now, there seems to be no three-point shooter with good quality and low price.

Just when Wallace was at a loss, Link's personal relationship chain played a role.
Chapter completed!