Champion Creed
Chapter 357 - 357 145 Sometimes we really can't afford to upset Roger asking for monthly tickets!_3

357: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (asking for monthly tickets!)_3 357: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (asking for monthly tickets!)_3 Kobe left Stern and headed to the broadcast booth to be interviewed by Ernie Johnson.

“Bryant, congratulations.

As a fellow high-school rookie, now a two-time FMVP, Roger thinks you should have been the number one pick.

What do you think about his assessment of you?”

“Thanks for his praise, he’s the confidence and benchmark for all high school players out there.

I can’t wait to face him on the court!”

A look of longing filled Kobe’s eyes; he was now genuinely an NBA player too, eager to dive into the competition with Roger.

At that moment, Kobe had no idea how difficult this path would turn out to be.

Nobody could have predicted that this was the beginning of yet another great rivalry.

Suddenly, soon after Kobe’s interview, David Stern took the stage and announced that the Los Angeles Lakers had traded All-Star forward Cedric Ceballos and Vlade Divac to the Clippers to get the still warm Kobe Bryant.

Since the Clippers had cap space, this trade did not require a financial balance.

In other words, Jerry West, in acquiring Kobe, also cleared significant cap space allowing the Lakers to flex their muscles in the free-agent market.

A master manipulator.

This was the sixth trade in history between the Clippers and Lakers, the last one having occurred in 1983.

And after 13 years, this one would change the fate of the Lakers.

O’Neal lay on the expansive hotel bed with Roger watching the draft show, freshly out of the finals, so the Dream Team had allowed him to attend the champions’ parade before reporting for duty.

Thus, O’Neal took this spare time to drag Roger to Atlantic City for a wild time, planning to hit the casino after the draft show to splurge the lavish overflow of dollars.

Roger wasn’t particularly interested in gambling, but trying it out was fine by him.

Seeing Kobe mention Roger, Shaq was also curious, “Do you think the kid can really be the next you?

Can his popularity ever match half of yours?”

“That depends on whether he can keep his little brothers in line; that’s the critical part.”

“What?”

“Never mind, Shaq, let’s head back early tonight.

Oh, by the way, how’s your contract renewal going?”

O’Neal shrugged: “My agent is still negotiating.

I don’t know what there is to talk about; the boss clearly promised me.”

Yes, he promised you that if you won the championship, he would give you a contract that matched your performance.

So, the question arises, what constitutes a ‘matching’ contract?

He thinks $15 million is fitting; you think it should be $20 million—definitely something to keep talking about.

But Roger thinks DeVos wouldn’t be foolish enough to let Shaq go.

In this history, there’s no Penny to interfere with Shaq’s renewal, nor is the Sentinel stirring things up.

Even if the price isn’t right initially, a few more negotiations should bring agreement.

In the subsequent draft, the Mavericks picked Lorenzen Wright at ninth, originally the seventh pick.

The Hornets took Tony Delk, this year’s March Madness MOP and Kentucky legend, with the 13th pick.

Because Kobe was picked early, some changes still occurred in the draft.

But they were all insignificant changes.

The key players still followed the original historical trajectory.

For example, Peja Stojakovic, who became a professional player at age 16, was still picked by the Kings.

And Steve Nash, aspiring to be a soccer or hockey star, ended up in Phoenix as a basketball player.

Another high schooler, Jermaine O’Neal, was picked by the Trail Blazers, and the Lakers, after getting Kobe, picked another point guard with similar tastes to Cao Cao at the 24th pick…

At the 29th pick, the Magic selected the 213-cm tall Caucasian center Travis Knight from the prestigious Connecticut.

He played four years in college, averaging 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2 blocks last season.

You read that right; those were his peak NCAA stats.

Even with a height of 213 cm, for a person lacking potential and immediate capability to be picked in the first round, Roger still found it absurd.

If you say height is everything, the 76ers might smack you with 229 cm Shawn Bradley.

God knows what John Gabriel saw in him, perhaps his robust physique could help Roger and Shaq carry a few more bags.

Truth be told, at that draft position, the Magic could have tried an NCAA Division II center with a terrifying physical presence.

Though he was only tall enough to play as a guard, if you dared to let him play center, he might surprise you with solid defense.

But the issue was, John Gabriel did not consult Roger and Shaq at all regarding the draft.

Last season, when Pat Williams was in charge, he would at least pretend to ask Roger who to pick.

Perhaps Roger and Shaq really had offended management, or perhaps John Gabriel truly believed he was the all-powerful head of the team.

Regardless, John Gabriel chose a path of independence in the draft.

This was not a positive sign; Roger could feel the rift between himself, Shaq, and the management.

The next afternoon, having had enough fun, the two flew back to Orlando.

The championship parade was just three days away, and Shaq was about due to finalize his contract, or at least reach a verbal agreement first.