Champion Creed
Chapter 355 - 355 145 Sometimes we really can't afford to upset Roger requesting monthly tickets!

355: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (requesting monthly tickets!) 355: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (requesting monthly tickets!) The summer of 1996 did not feature a champion’s return or a touching Father’s Day championship story.

There were no more conspiracy theories about the Bulls deliberately losing two games to the SuperSonics just to win the championship on Father’s Day.

Moreover, no ill-meaning individuals questioned whether Jordan, lying on the locker room carpet and sobbing in his brand new AJ, had staged that iconic photograph.

The team that won 72 games failed to secure the championship, and the Orlando Magic went from being shaved to doing the shaving.

Although it wasn’t as explosive as the mutual shaving of the 24-year playoff, it was still a display of dominance.

History had completely changed that summer.

At the same time, an awkward truth was born: ever since Roger entered the league, Michael Jordan hadn’t even made it to the finals, let alone won a championship.

If it had just been his first year back, that might have been excusable, but being stopped outside the finals by the same opponent two years in a row dealt a fatal blow to Jordan’s dominance.

Thus, Reinsdorf’s mindset was completely different from his historical counterpart.

He was still struggling, unsure if Jordan was truly worth a historical salary of $30 million.

After Jordan secured his fourth championship in the original summer of 96, Reinsdorf had been reluctant to offer $30 million, let alone now, with Jordan being locked out of more than consecutive Eastern playoffs.

It wasn’t just about Jordan; Reinsdorf was even considering whether he should seriously commit to rebuilding.

Once, Michael Jordan had used his personal capabilities, prestige, and commercial value to force the Bulls to delay rebuilding, creating a miracle.

But now?

Did he still have that kind of influence?

Now that Jordan couldn’t even make it to the finals, would the Bulls team still listen to him, keeping this aging, thoroughly squeezed roster?

The relationship between the Bulls and Jordan had undoubtedly reached a crossroads.

In the days following the end of the season, aside from Roger’s arrogant award acceptance speech, the hottest topic was undoubtedly about transfers.

Although the free agent market had not yet opened, various rumors were already flooding the sports news pages.

In the rumors, the total value of new contracts for Alonzo Mourning and Juwan Howard had already reached into the billions, with annual salaries also worth millions.

The league was officially entering an era of billion-dollar contracts and million-dollar annual salaries.

Mourning and Howard could be considered stars, but not top-tier.

If they could earn million-dollar salaries, then how much were Shaq and Jordan worth?

Roger, once again, spoke up for Shaq, believing he deserved a big contract.

How much of that the Magic Team would take into account, however, remained unknown.

The most tumultuous offseason in NBA history began in the summer of 1996.

It was unclear how much Shaq and Jordan were worth, but Pippen had already filled the bathroom sink with his tears.

He looked at his salary of less than $3 million for the season and nearly cracked his molars biting down.

What was even worse was that this contract had to last another two years!

In two years’ time, Mourning and Juwan Howard would earn ten times what he did!

And to think that Roger would earn that much in just one year, Pippen’s heart ached even more!

At that moment, Pippen longed to lie in Larsa’s arms for comfort, his own tender consolation.

But…

Why did that kid Marcus keep sticking around my house and bothering his aunt day after day?

It was so annoying!

Before the free agent market officially opened, the 1996 NBA Draft came first, bringing together a group of young people from all over the globe with remarkable talents to join this brutal game.

An hour before the draft started, Jerry West was all about Roger: “Damn that Roger, that arrogant bastard!”

Why was Logo so angry?

It wasn’t because Roger had specifically targeted him; in fact, Roger had never spoken a word to Jerry West after playing professional basketball for three years.

His fury stemmed from Roger’s interference with his plans.

Yes, again.

Roger led his team to crush Jordan and then swept the SuperSonics 4-0, severely hindering Logo’s plan to capture Shaq.

After winning the championship, the likelihood of Shaq staying with the team had certainly increased, which was the first time Roger interfered with Logo’s grand ambitions.

The second interference occurred last night.

Last night in Atlantic City, reporters saw Roger and Shaq appearing outside a casino.

As it wasn’t an official interview, the reporters could only ask some casual questions.

One of the reporters asked Roger, “Who do you think will be the 1996 NBA Draft number one pick?”

Roger casually replied, “Maybe Kobe Bryant.”

Logo didn’t know whether this statement would affect the draft, but Roger’s words undoubtedly put Kobe more in the spotlight.

What if, just what if the Philadelphia 76ers or the Celtics really picked Kobe among the top six?

After all, by now Roger had become a very influential player.

And many teams believed that Roger understood Kobe better than most, recognizing his true value.

Previously, Logo had already discussed with his longtime partner Elgin Baylor.

He would send Cedric Ceballos, an All-Star forward averaging 21 points over two seasons, and center Divac to the Clippers, provided that the Clippers help him pick someone at the seventh slot.

This year’s draft featured a so-called “super draft group of six” consisting of Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, and Antoine Walker.