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Text: Broken Boat Cold
Edited by Broken Boat Cold
Preface
The NBA free agency market is ever-changing, and the dust has settled on three consecutive signings overnight! The Magic spent a lot of money, the Clippers won two cities in a row, and DeRozan's whereabouts are even more intriguing, who got the maximum salary contract? What about the two new signings signed by the Clippers? How is DeRozan's deal going?
The Clippers' ambitions
The Clippers are a big swing in the free market this time! first signed back Kay Jones on a non-guaranteed contract, followed by the signing of this year's No. 46 rookie Cameron Christie for four years and $7.9 million.
The two signings, while not top-notch, show the wisdom of the Clippers' careful planning, and while Kay Jones hasn't played before, the Clippers clearly value his potential, a player who is recovering from injury.
Christie is likely to be an important rotation for the team in the future, and Christie is a potential rookie who performed quite well at the University of Minnesota last season, averaging 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 39.1% from three-point range.
Interestingly, Christie is the younger brother of the Lakers player, and the two brothers play in Los Angeles together, which is rare in NBA history, and the two signings of the Clippers both strengthen the team's depth and lay the groundwork for the future.
However, the Clippers' ambitions clearly don't stop there, they are actively trading Tucker and Westbrook, aiming directly at DeRozan, and if DeRozan eventually joins, the Clippers will take their strength to another level.
This team is interpreting the competitive spirit of "if you don't advance, you will retreat" with practical actions, and this series of operations of the Clippers undoubtedly let fans see their desire for the championship.
After losing George, they did not give up on themselves, but were more active in looking for opportunities in the market. This never-say-die spirit is the charm of professional sports.
Magic's big gamble
In this big game of free agency, the Magic can be described as a shocking move, they agreed to a five-year, $224 million contract extension with Wagner Jr., which is enough to make the entire league look at it.
Wagner Jr., the No. 8 pick in 2021, has seen his growth with the Magic, averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season, proving that he has become the core of the team.
The Magic's move is undoubtedly a declaration to the whole league that we are determined and capable of keeping the rising stars we have cultivated, but there is a jaw-dropping rider to this contract.
If Wagner Jr. is selected to the All-Star team in the 2024-25 season, the total value of the contract will soar to $269 million over five years, which is undoubtedly an incentive for Wagner Jr. and an expectation for the Magic team to perform in the future.
I have to say that the Magic team has made a lot of money this time, in today's NBA, the maximum salary contract often means that the team has absolute trust in the player, and the Magic team is willing to give Wagner Jr. such a generous contract, obviously optimistic about his future development prospects.
However, this contract also puts a lot of pressure on the Magic, after all, Wagner Jr. has not yet reached the level of an All-Star level, and such a large contract will undoubtedly limit the team's future operating space.
This is a big gamble on whether Wagner Jr. can really grow into the leader of the team in the next few years, and this operation of the Magic team also reflects the helplessness of the small ball city team, in the case of not being able to retain the star.
They can only bind the potential rookies they have cultivated through high salaries, which is very risky, but it is also a desperate move for them to survive in the brutal NBA market, and in any case, this big gamble by the Magic team.
will become one of the focus of the NBA in the next few years, can Wagner Jr. afford this heavy responsibility? What does the future hold for the Magic? Let's wait and see, this big gamble is not just about trust in Wagner Jr.
It is also a kind of planning for the future of the whole team, they obviously hope to build a strong team that can gain a foothold in the East with Wagner Jr. as the core, looking back at the history of the Magic team, they have produced many superstars.
Such as O'Neal, Howard, etc., but unfortunately, these stars eventually chose to leave, this large-scale contract extension, may also be an attempt by the Magic team after learning the lessons of history, but relying on one player is far from enough.
The Magic also need to build a complete system with the right role players around Wagner Jr., and they have improved significantly last season, but they are still some way from the playoffs, and the Magic's coaching staff will face a huge challenge.
How to maximize Wagner's potential and how to better integrate him with his teammates all require careful design from the coaching staff, and for Wagner Jr., this contract is both an honor.
It's also the pressure that he'll need to keep improving in the coming years and prove to the league that he's worth the max contract, which will be a tough but full of opportunities.
DeRozan's decision-making moment
At the same time as the Clippers and Magic made big moves, the whereabouts of another heavyweight star, DeRozan, have also become the focus of fans' attention, according to the revelations of well-known reporter Woj, DeRozan's trade negotiations with the Kings have entered a white-hot stage.
With a deal expected in the next day or two, DeRozan, the only big player left on the free market, seems to be finally settled, and the Kings clearly have their sights set on the All-Star guard.
Their positive attitude also makes a trade much more likely, and if the deal goes through, it will undoubtedly further enhance the strength of the Kings and make the competition in the West even more intense.
Interestingly, the Lakers seem to have rubbed shoulders with their favorite star once again, and the Lakers have been playing DeRozan's idea, but their hesitation may have caused them to miss another opportunity for the Purple and Gold team's performance in free agency.
It's really flattering, always thinking about making the other party retreat, but he is only willing to take out a chip like Russell, which obviously doesn't work in the highly competitive NBA market, if DeRozan joins the Kings.
It will undoubtedly bring a qualitative leap to this team, and his all-around performance of 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game last season proves that he is still the top player in the league, and his arrival will greatly improve the offensive firepower of the Kings.
It provides strong support for the team to hit higher goals, but the addition of DeRozan also means that the salary space of the Kings will be further reduced, how to balance the team's salary structure.
How to make DeRozan form a good chemistry with Fox, Sabonis and other players will be the challenges that the Kings management needs to face, and it has to be said that DeRozan's transfer, no matter who ends up.
will have a significant impact on the landscape of the entire league, and as an experienced All-Star, his addition is enough to change the fortunes of a team and for those who miss him.
I am afraid that he will be in a more passive position in the competition for the new season, and DeRozan's choice is not only about his personal career, but also a reshuffle of the strength pattern of the entire league, to see where the All-Star guard will finally choose to settle down.
The Clippers' blueprint for the future
In addition to signing Kay Jones and Christie, the Clippers also made a blockbuster deal to sign Harden on a two-year, $70 million contract.
This series of operations undoubtedly shows the Clippers' desire and determination to win the championship, and the addition of Harden has made the Clippers even more powerful. This 1+1 contract is cleverly designed to give Harden enough respect and retain flexibility for the team.
The $35 million annual salary is not low, but it is definitely worth the money for a superstar like Harden, who averaged 21 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game last season.
It is enough to prove that he is still one of the top players in the league, and what is more exciting is that the Clippers are also actively seeking to bring in Kevin Porter Jr., a young player who has 50 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists against the Bucks, and is undoubtedly Harden's best partner.
With a height of 1.98 meters, a three-point shooting rate of over 40%, and the fact that he is a fan of Harden, this combination is simply a perfect match on the offensive end, but the Clippers' ambitions clearly don't stop there.
They are aggressively trading Tucker and Westbrook with the goal of targeting DeRozan, and while DeRozan seems to be more inclined to join the Kings, the Clippers have enough leverage to give them an edge in this competition.
If DeRozan finally joins, the strength of the Clippers will go to another level, after losing George, the Clippers avoided a high contract of 4 years and 212 million, creating space for the introduction of new players, this decisive choice, showing the wisdom and courage of the management.
They are not bound by high-salary contracts, but choose a more flexible way to build a roster, and this series of actions of the Clippers undoubtedly shows their desire for championships, from Harden to Porter Jr., and then to DeRozan, who may join.
Every step of the way is paving the way for the championship dream, and this team is interpreting the competitive spirit of "advance or retreat" with practical actions, and their future blueprint is exciting.
epilogue
From the Magic's gamble to the Clippers' elaborate layout, from DeRozan's choice to the fierce competition between teams, every decision can change the landscape of the league.
It's not just a game between players and teams, it's a battle of dreams and ambitions, and no matter what the end result is, this never-say-die spirit is the charm of sports.
Reference: Beiqing.com 2024-07-01 "Harden will sign a two-year 70 million contract extension with the Clippers"
Baidu Encyclopedia "July 1, 2024, Derrick Jr.: Jones signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for 3 years and $30 million"
Beiqingwang 2024-07-06"Exposing the magic of Wagner Jr.'s contract renewal for 5 years, up to $270 million"