Champion Creed
Chapter 773 - 773 262 Half a month is already my greatest mercy Vote for monthly tickets!

773: 262: Half a month is already my greatest mercy (Vote for monthly tickets!) 773: 262: Half a month is already my greatest mercy (Vote for monthly tickets!) Los Angeles has always been inseparable from the dazzling stars.

In the early 1900s, most film cameras and equipment patents were held by Thomas Edison’s film patent company in New Jersey, which attempted to monopolize the film industry for huge profits.

But this monopolistic behavior led to resistance from some filmmakers and the dispersed development of the film industry, prompting countless filmmakers to move to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles became the capital of the American film industry, even spawning artistic institutions like the San Fernando Valley.

This place became a gathering ground for movie stars, setting the tone for the star-studded Los Angeles.

After this, Los Angeles became synonymous with glamour, and of course, this is also reflected in the local basketball team.

Flip through their historical roster, and you’ll find names like George Mikan, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe, and Shaq.

They once gathered Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor at the same time, and also Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy.

An ordinary lineup cannot match the glamour of the dreamy Great Western Forum Arena.

Words like shining, luxury, star player, and spectacle define the Lakers and Los Angeles style.

Yet, even looking at the glittering history of the Lakers, the lineup in the summer of 2000 was quite exaggerated.

Kobe, Shaq, Hill…

The popularity of Kobe and Shaq needs no further elaboration, but how high was Grant Hill’s popularity?

Perhaps many are unaware that Fila also ventured into the basketball market, and Grant Hill was their only noteworthy spokesperson.

Last season, Fila’s sales in the US basketball shoe market were second only to Reebok and Nike.

Even Adidas was pushed out of the top three.

All of this was achieved thanks to Grant Hill’s influence.

Of course, Fila’s basketball shoes followed a low-price strategy, and one of the reasons they could achieve sales was not being as expensive as Reebok and Nike.

But Fila’s excellent market share was still inseparable from Grant Hill’s support.

It’s known that in the original timeline, after Grant Hill’s decline, Fila almost disappeared from the basketball market.

This means his popularity alone could boost a brand to rank its shoe sales third nationwide.

That’s the terrifying aspect of the Lakers’ lineup: three star players not only have outstanding personal ability but also enjoy immense popularity.

Moreover, they are extremely young.

The entire league was in panic, with Gregg Popovich of Spurs likening this transaction to “being mugged in Los Angeles’ Inglewood.”

Doc Rivers of the Magic Team believed, “If the Timberwolves are stupid cheating, then Los Angeles Lakers are smart cheating.

Me?

I’ve become Tim Duncan’s bargaining tool!”

Even Charles Barkley, who had found new employment at TNT, ridiculed: “Although the next season hasn’t started yet, I suggest giving the Best General Manager award directly to the great Joe Dumars.

Old Joe single-handedly created a historical superstar lineup.

Regardless of whether this superstar lineup is in Detroit, just say whether it’s a superstar lineup.”

Though this lineup caused much controversy, leading many owners to complain, hoping Stern would block the transaction as it would disrupt competitiveness.

But Stern couldn’t do anything; the transaction was indeed compliant with the salary balancing principle.

If one of the teams, either the Lakers or Pistons, were managed by the league, Stern would surely intervene.

But the Lakers and Pistons are independent teams.

As long as they comply with the rules, they can complete the transaction.

Sign-and-trade transactions are like this; it is impossible for the value of the exchanged chips to be equivalent.

If the Pistons don’t accept this transaction, they will have to let Grant Hill, whose contract is expiring, go for nothing.

With sign-and-trade, at least they’ll get two draft picks as compensation.

This is like spending money to buy scratch cards.

Jerry Buss’s decisive action rendered the luxury tax rule, which small market owners once hoped could restrict big market teams, ineffective.

Next season, the Lakers will have a big3 salary reaching 38.09 million, while the salary cap is only 35.5 million, meaning the Lakers need to pay a hefty luxury tax to maintain the roster.

But in the Los Angeles-sized market, even with a hefty luxury tax, the Lakers can still profit.

Big markets can still leverage spending for advantage.

Unless this lineup loses appeal within a year.

For Jerry Buss, it’s a big gamble.

The Lakers must win the championship next season, or this roster will lose box office appeal, then the expensive luxury tax will show its menace.

But what choice does Old Buss have?

He can only get on the gambling table.

If last season’s OK combo only narrowly lost to the Hawks, Jerry Buss could still make do with repair and use of the roster.

But the OK combo was directly swept away!

The Lakers were already a team with 69 regular-season wins, what more could they bolster?

The only way is to accumulate star players.

How did the Lakers’ glory of Showtime in the 80s come about?

Accumulate star players!

The Lakers not only had Kareem but also successively selected Magic and James Worthy, laying the foundation for their five championships.