The NBA is a commercial league, and all great games are based on popularity and profit. So there are a lot of trades every year, and players are trying to play while they are often dealing with layoffs, buyouts, and trades. The strength is not strong enough, there is no initiative in the alliance, and it is more like a commodity. Only superstars are not for sale in the team, because they are the guarantee of attracting money. But it's as strong as James, who was also traded when he was younger, 1 for 6 at the age of 26, do you know what the chips are?
James has always been a representative of non-sale. He has played for three teams in his career: the Cavaliers, the Heat, and the Lakers. Among these three teams, Lao Zhan has all led his team to win the championship. And during his tenure with the team, the team not only had guaranteed results, but also sold tickets very well, plus the sales of jerseys and merchandise, each team made a lot of money. As the face of the alliance, his influence is unquestionable.
So far in his career, he has averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game, and even at the age of 39, he still holds a contract with a maximum salary, averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game, which is impeccable. So every time before James' contract expires, the home team will offer a contract extension in advance, and the major teams in the league will also throw olive branches. James, who was at his peak, said that 30 teams in the league wanted him, and it was not an exaggeration.
The reason is very simple, because in 2010, James stayed with the Cavaliers for 7 seasons, and the small ball market and the management did not give up, and he couldn't produce results every year, no big stars wanted to come, and he couldn't trade good teammates. In the end, James chose to leave the Cavaliers, and at that time his contract was about to expire, and it was naturally not cost-effective to let James go for nothing. On the other hand, there is not enough space for the Heat, so Lao Zhan's salary cut is the best way to sign first and then change.
At that time, the Cavaliers signed James to a six-year, $110 million max contract, and then traded him to the Heat, in exchange for three first-round picks, a second-round pick, a draft swap and a trade exception worth $14.5 million. The deal was a great success at the time. Because if James leaves as a free agent, the Cavaliers won't get anything. But the three first-round picks are full of gold, which also laid the foundation for the later selection of Wiggins, Bennett and other champions.
Not only that, but the $14.5 million trade exception was also close to the maximum salary at the time, so it was enough to trade for an All-Star caliber player. Lao Zhan joined the Heat team and led the Heat team to win 2 championships. returned to the Cavaliers in 15 years, and later succeeded in winning the championship, which is inseparable from the foreshadowing laid by this transaction.