Champion Creed
Chapter 232 - 232 107 I will prove he is not worth it Requesting monthly pass!_2

232: 107: I will prove he is not worth it (Requesting monthly pass!)_2 232: 107: I will prove he is not worth it (Requesting monthly pass!)_2 If it were just Roger, that would be one thing, but if we’re giving Roger 18 million this year, how much should we give Shaquille next year?

Would the profit the team has finally started to see be sucked dry by Roger and Shaq?

However, Gabriel, taking office as the new GM, naturally wanted to showcase his abilities.

In fact, he already had a plan to cut costs.

So he picked up the torn pieces of newspaper and calmly assured DeVos, “Don’t worry, Rich, I can handle everything.”

The next day, Roger and Eric Fleisher arrived on time at the golf course where they had first met with the Magic Team.

Rich DeVos still tried to create a relaxed negotiation atmosphere, so he chose not to meet in the office.

Now the whole world was watching this signing, and everyone was eager to know if Roger would become the highest-paid player in the league.

Even DeVos himself felt the pressure was immense and needed some relaxation.

Rich DeVos didn’t start with the contract discussions but instead played a round of golf.

During the game, he asked Roger how he was getting on with life in Orlando and generously offered, “I have villas in New York and Los Angeles.

You’re welcome to stay at either location during the off-season.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mr.

DeVos,” Roger didn’t take the bait.

Right now, he was only concerned about the contract.

But soon after, the new general manager, Gabriel, presented a contract.

As promised, it was slightly more than Patrick’s, at 19 million.

“We really, really want you to have the title of the highest annual salary in history.

It’s quite a good publicity value for you,” Gabriel said.

Roger didn’t speak directly to Gabriel.

Eric Fleisher would speak for him, “Our expectation is a base salary of 20 million.”

Upon hearing this, Rich DeVos frowned.

A base salary of 20 million, does that mean there’s room for an increase?

Damn bloodsucking agents!

Who doesn’t know that the higher the players sign, the higher your cut?

All these people should go to hell!

Although DeVos’s expression was subtle, Fleisher caught it.

But this did not affect his continued bargaining.

He knew Roger’s worth.

“The first player in history with a 20 million annual salary, that is the title we want.

Patrick Ewing never brought a championship to the team, no, not even an Eastern Conference title.

Roger, however, has just led the team to glory; he is the Finals MVP, the core of the team.

And he’s still very young.

His salary should be significantly different from Patrick’s; 18.7 million and 19 million are not much of a difference.”

“19 million, Mr.

Fleisher,” Gabriel said.

“Roger surely has affection for Orlando.

We don’t need to hurt feelings over 1 million.”

Gabriel was still trying to play the sentimental card, but Eric Fleisher easily navigated the conversation:

“It’s precisely because Roger is fond of the team that we haven’t met with other teams, nor have we taken any calls from them.

Have we used other teams’ offers to pressurize the team?

No.

Have we intentionally released rumors of him leaving to drive up the price?

Also no.

We even prematurely promised to stay with the team during the championship parade.

Just because of this statement alone, I believe the Magic Team has already sold many season tickets for next season.

Just because of this statement, the TV networks and the league are already giving us the most nationwide broadcasted games.

I hear that next year, the league is even preparing to schedule the Magic to play games in China during the off-season.

Not every team can have such international influence.

This is the impact of Roger, an undeniable impact.

A base salary of 20 million, with a 15% annual raise, and a contract not exceeding five years, those are our conditions.”

John, do you remember the ‘Roger Rule’?

Hahaha, just kidding.”

John Gabriel of course remembered; don’t upset Roger was an ironclad rule that no one could escape.

“Eric, Roger, I swear in the name of God, we really want to continue working with you.

There is no team in the league that can offer you 20 million.

But to show we are sincere, I accept this offer, but the increase can only be 10%.

120 million over 5 years, you can go ahead and publicize this unprecedented offer.”

Eric Fleisher smiled and nodded.

This was the figure he and Roger had envisaged.

Roger hadn’t thought about a 30 million annual salary, even though Jordan did so in the original history.

But that contract was really special.

The reason Jordan was able to get 30 million was thanks to the Knicks and Ewing.

In the summer of ’96, to recruit Jordan, Ewing willingly cut his salary to 3 million and handed Jordan a 12 million contract offer from the Knicks.

However, 12 million alone definitely couldn’t sway Jordan; the keys were that the owner of the Sheraton Hotel, ITT Corporation, was willing to offer Jordan a 15 million endorsement deal—but only if Jordan played in New York.

Although this arrangement seemed to violate the labor agreement that prohibited any payment for “basketball services” through “sponsors, business partners, or third parties,” if managed properly, it was possible to get league approval.

After all, big-market cities like New York and Los Angeles always had the precedent of using commercial endorsements to attract star players.

In the end, these two amounts added up to a 27 million contract that Jordan could get from the Knicks.

So Jordan gave the Bulls an ultimatum: a one-year contract of over 30 million US dollars, and they had only one hour to decide whether to renew.