$43 million salary cut, 0 points for debut! What James had a hard time doing, let Little Card finish first
The new NBA season officially kicked off with the start of the preseason. A lot of teams have made big changes this summer, and the Lakers used two preseason games to prove that role players do have more easy scoring opportunities when James is on the floor. Warriors here Paul can seamlessly integrate into the team system, relieve the burden pressure on Curry, Klay defensively occupies the No. 4 position, and also stated that he will not pursue a super top salary, not only Kutang chasing the three brothers is expected to end the Warriors, there will be more tactical changes in the hands of Kerr in the new season. The Suns' two preseason games, the Durant + Beal + Booker trio played only one, and the Nuggets, Oakgi incarnated as Durant, including Watanabe, Allen, Gordon have a good play, the Suns can expect a high ceiling in the new season. But there's one team that's easy to forget: the Clippers. The Clippers played the Jazz in the first two games of the preseason, one win and one loss, but there was a mystery.
Let's start with Wei Shao, who didn't play the first game of the preseason, played 15 minutes in the second game, shot 0 of 1, got 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers, and won by 14 points per game, second only to Leonard and George. ≤ 1 shots in a single game, the first time in Wei Shao's career! When the reporter asked with questions: You were also partnered with James Thick Eyebrows before, and now you are paired with Leonard George, you seem to be able to do more, what can you contribute to the team? Wilson said bluntly: I have to cut down on my shots, I can contribute energy on the defensive end, play the rhythm and organize the attack, I know how to connect the team together because we have Leonard and George. In the past few months, Wilson has officially completed the biggest turning point of his career: from a star to an ordinary defender.
Last summer, when all the Los Angeles media were advising the Lakers to send Wei Shao away, Wei Shao quietly executed his $47.06 million player option, which was paid more than the old Jen and thick eyebrows. The Lakers eventually sent Wilson to the Jazz before the trade deadline, and joined the Clippers with a base salary after being bought. After joining the Clippers last season, Wilson averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game in the regular season, shooting 48.9% + 35.6% from the field, both of which were much higher than the Lakers (41.7% + 29.6%); In the playoffs, Wei Shao averaged 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, and when George and Leonard fell one after another, Wei Shao really fought alone against the Suns' twin giants Booker and Durant, but it was difficult to stand alone.
After the start of free agency this summer, Wilson and the Clippers completed a 1+1 contract for $3.84 million for the new season and $4.03 million with a player option the following year. Wilson said this at Media Day: Money is not the most important thing for me, I know what my role is here, and I want to stay with the Clippers. With a base salary, but in the mini-camp, give all his teammates the best mobile phones, one for each person, as Tyronn Lue said, Wilson has played a leadership role since he came to the Clippers, and he knows how to rally this team around the taciturn Leonard and George. And since Wei Shao came to the team, Leonard has often shown a long-lost smile. Why did Na Wei Shao make his debut in the new season and only make 1 shot? Three reasons!
First, Tyronn Lue is different from Vogel and Hamm of the Lakers, although Tyronn Lue has a good relationship with superstars, but he is a very rule-abiding manager: superstars have on-court privileges, but ordinary players do not. To put it simply, Leonard holds the ball, no matter how he finishes offense, it is reasonable, and he will not be accused or even questioned by friends, but others cannot. Since last season's playoffs, Wei Shao has changed significantly, trying three points on the outside, basically dessert position, impacting the basket, at least 1 receiving point around him, rather than forcing the offensive frame every round, and there is a possibility of mistakes. The rest of the time, it's not Wei Shao's position, it's not Wei Shao's ball, Wei Shao basically won't shoot! Second, Wei Shao's own attitude!
In just a few months, the salary cut is close to $43 million, from the absolute core of the team to the base salary, anyone will have a psychological gap, but Wei Shao's way of taking the initiative to change himself is actually a very good transition: I am no longer one of the endpoints, I must create the best opportunities for my teammates, basically every round, through Leonard's hands. Finally, Wei Shao is also 35 years old, his physical strength has declined, and he has spent so much energy on the defensive end. To tell you the truth, in more than a year with the Lakers, by James's side, Wei Shao can't change himself! Perhaps the numbers on the team's salary chart are at work, with more than $40 million, Wilson is a very responsible player who knows he needs to score at full strength, but he has never been a consistent pitcher.
In the Clippers, what he gets is the base salary, but unlike the Lakers, since coming to the Clippers last season, George or Leonard have all praised Wilson as the core of the team and the absolute leader of the locker room. Perhaps what Wei Shao cares most about is not how much money he can take, but whether he can be respected. Perhaps it is precisely the more restrained core of Xiaoka, which is more suitable for meeting Wei Shao's spiritual needs, even if Wei Shao actively sacrifices his own data. As long as Leonard and George remain healthy, the Clippers will be terrifying this season, and they are also waiting for the final puzzle: Harden. As Wei Shao himself said, championship is no longer the only pursuit, and I hope he can finish it happily for the rest of his career.