The first Clippers to stay this summer? The American media exposed that Wei Shao is very dissatisfied with the role and positioning of the team in the playoffs, or refuses to execute the player option contract, looking for better opportunities in the offseason, Harden: I hope Wei Shao can choose to stay, he is one of the reasons why I came here!
Text: Lao Kan Kanqiu
Editor|Lao Kan Kanqiu
The second round of the NBA playoffs is in full swing, and surprisingly, several traditional traffic giants in the West are all out, which is not very embarrassing. The Warriors led by Curry paid the league's highest luxury tax of 180 million, but they were unexpectedly eliminated in the play-offs, and they didn't even touch the threshold of the playoffs. Although the Lakers led by James crossed the threshold of the play-offs, they met their rival Nuggets in the first round and were beaten by Murray in two consecutive games, which seemed unwilling.
At the same time, the Suns led by Durant, although they are known as having the strongest offensive 'Big Three' in the league, played an efficiency of 1+1+1<2, and were swept out of the game 4-0 by the Timberwolves led by Edwards, which is a shame, and the owner Ishbia also began a drastic blood change operation just after the end of the season, Vogel, who had just been in office for less than a year, was directly swept away, and at the same time quickly reached a five-year contract of more than $50 million with the former Bucks championship coach Budenholzer, It is estimated that there will be more actions in the future.
Similarly, the Clippers led by Harden and the Cayenne team also suffered Waterloo in the playoffs, and were eliminated by the Mavericks led by Doncic and Irving 4-2. Compared with the Suns and Lakers, the Clippers, like the Warriors, are also paying the top two luxury taxes in the league this season, especially among their three giants, two giants are facing contract extensions, and the other giant, Leonard, successfully reached a three-year $152 million early contract extension with the team before the playoffs. However, Leonard, who has signed a contract, has stayed on the Clippers bench in a suit in the playoffs, unable to play because of an inexplicable knee injury, which is the most important reason why the Clippers have not been able to go further in the playoffs in recent years.
In fact, Leonard, who can play, is indeed worthy of any maximum salary, but the problem is that he was unexpectedly injured at a critical moment, which is indeed a big hidden danger for the other two giants who want to compete for the championship. According to the latest report from Clippers reporter Murray, an inside source revealed that George and his team are expected to choose to give up the $48.79 million player option contract for next season after July 1 to become a free agent and seek a four-year contract with a maximum salary. Previous reports have shown that both the 76ers and the Magic have shown a strong interest in George. However, in the playoffs this season, George averaged only 19.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 41.1/36.7/84% from three, and whether such a performance is worth the salary cap is also the biggest headache for the Clippers at present.
In addition, local media reporter Sam Amick in Los Angeles reported that Wei Shao and his team are negotiating with the Clippers management, and some insiders revealed that the two sides seem to have considerable differences about Wei Shao's role in the team, and according to Sam Amick, Wei Shao's team is in contact with several interested teams in the league to seek better opportunities, or become the first person to leave the Clippers this season!
Last offseason, Willow voluntarily took a pay cut and signed a two-year $7.9 million contract extension with the Clippers, with a player option for the second year. Wei Shao played the first 10 games of the regular season as the team's starting point guard this season, and after Harden joined the Clippers, the team unexpectedly suffered a six-game losing streak, and Wei Shao's compatibility with Harden was problematic and he was eventually squeezed to the bench. And, during the regular season, Wei Shao played in 68 games, averaging 22.4 minutes per game, 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals, shooting 45.4/27.3/68.8% respectively, of which playing time, scoring and assists were the lowest in his career.
In the playoffs, that number shrank even further. In the playoffs, he played 6 games, and Wei Shao only played an average of 18.8 minutes per game, contributing 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists, and his shooting rate was as low as 26%. As he said in the interview, "I've been here for so long and I understand the meaning of sacrifice, but sometimes that's not what you want to be, and that's part of the game!" ”
It's true that Wei Shao made great sacrifices with the Clippers, but the business alliance is like this, and there is never a perfect two-way rush. Before the end of the season, Harden said in an interview with the media: "I've known Westbrook for a long time, and our friendship is more than basketball, and he is one of the reasons why I chose to come here (the Clippers). I hope he chooses to stay, we all have something to prove and the same goal, and what better way to do that than in Los Angeles? ”