Chapter 129 What’s the matter?

"What is it?"

Tang Tian stopped and turned to ask.

"I want to talk to you."

Davis said, then glanced at Walker.

Tang Tian saw from his eyes that he wanted to talk to him alone.

After saying hello to Walker, Tang Tian asked him to wait in the car.

"Okay, what is it?"

Tang Tian asked after Walker left.

"I want you to teach me how to win a championship," Davis said.

"Huh?"

Tang Tian looked at Davis quizzically. This sudden sentence was a bit out of the blue.

He waited for Davis to elaborate, but the latter just stared at him with wide eyes and didn't make any other moves.

Is this… a recruitment?

Tang Tian was starting to catch on.

It's just that the atmosphere was a bit awkward…

If the Pelicans really sent him to recruit, then the management team must have had their heads stuck in a door.

But the way Davis looked with his thick eyebrows and big eyes was actually quite endearing.

"Are you telling me to go to the Pelicans?"

Tang Tian asked proactively.

"Yes, Mr. Demps asked for my opinion. He asked me if I would like to play with you, and I am very willing. You are a champion, and you have a super big heart. We would be a great fit."

Davis said.

Tang Tian nodded.

"You agree?"

Davis looked pleasantly surprised.

*Pfft!*

Tang Tian almost spat blood.

I nodded to get you to keep talking!

Don't be so adorable!

"Keep talking,"

Tang Tian said.

Davis realized what Tang Tian meant after he said that.

"Coach Williams is also very willing to coach you, and he also played under Popovich, saying you would also be a great fit."

Monty Williams played under Popovich? That was the first time he'd heard that.

Seeing that Tang Tian still hadn't reacted, Davis continued.

"Our team is rebuilding, and you'll get more opportunities than with the Spurs. You have a chance to become an All-Star here."

When Davis said this, Tang Tian couldn't help but scratch his forehead.

I'm already an All-Star starter, bro!

Your lobbying skills are really too bad.

"Anything else?"

Tang Tian asked when he saw Davis stop.

"I'm done."

Davis shook his head.

"The Pelicans sent you?"

Tang Tian asked.

"No, I'm here with Nerlens for the draft today. I just happened to see you when I came out."

Davis shook his head.

Tang Tian nodded after hearing that.

It was alright if he came on his own; it was just that Davis was a little cute, not that the Pelicans' management was really stupid.

"I'm still a member of the Spurs. I'll be a restricted free agent after they extend a qualifying offer, so let's wait until the team contacts me. This is about my future career, so I can't give you an answer."

Tang Tian continued, afraid that Davis would misunderstand.

Besides, he probably knew Davis's comprehension skills, so he spoke as plainly as possible.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to join us. Eric and I have been training."

Davis continued.

Tang Tian nodded, indicating that he understood.

After chatting for a few more words, Davis went back to the stadium first.

Looking at Davis's tall and thin back, Tang Tian suddenly felt that he had gotten to know Davis in a new light today.

But Davis's words also made him realize that he probably wouldn't have peace for the next period of time, and he wouldn't be able to train properly.

"What did he say?"

Back in the car, Walker asked curiously.

"What else could he say? He admires me, and came to meet me."

Tang Tian said with a smile.

He didn't tell Walker the truth, because he was afraid Walker would start recruiting him again.

The Spurs hadn't extended a qualifying offer to him yet, and he was still theoretically a Spurs player, so he didn't want to talk about these topics too early.

The draft was on June 28th, and there were only three days left before the free agent market officially opened on July 1st.

After dealing with the draft, the management of each team finally freed up their hands to prepare for the upcoming free agent market.

The next day, Tang Tian received a call from Fegan early in the morning, saying that he had arrived in San Antonio and had received the Spurs' qualifying offer.

A one-year, $1.08 million qualifying offer. From this moment on, he officially became a restricted free agent.

The so-called qualifying offer is a one-year guaranteed contract offered by the parent team to the player.

The amount of the contract, the team's years, whether the rookie contract has been fulfilled, and the years are all related.

But it is basically 125% of the previous year's salary or the league's minimum salary + $200,000.

After the offer, the player will officially become a restricted free agent, and the parent team will also have the right of first refusal for the player.

For Tang Tian, as long as the Spurs were willing, no matter what contract he negotiated with other teams, he would eventually stay with the Spurs.

At the same time as sending this text message to Tang Tian, Fegan also told him that several teams had contacted him as soon as possible.

In the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, there are regulations on contact between NBA free agents and teams.

"A free agent can negotiate with teams at any time during the July moratorium, and after the July moratorium ends, they can sign a formal contract with any team."

The regulations are very clear: before the moratorium begins at 0:00 on July 1, teams shall not negotiate with players.

But for the teams, words are always something they can play with.

The so-called negotiation is a very difficult word to define.

The league's consistent bottom line is that as long as NBA teams and free agents do not engage in negotiations on contract details, it does not count as crossing the line.

So it is very common for teams to contact Fegan at this time, and it is not even a violation.

For example.

"Hey, Dan, I'm planning to throw a party. You and Tang should come."

Or for example.

"Hey, Dan, we're interested in signing Tang. We won't talk about the contract. We'll talk about ideals and the future."

And so on.

Anyway, you can't possibly know what they are doing, so the league can't control it even if it wants to.

This is also why, despite the regulations, a large number of verbal agreements are revealed as soon as 0:00 on July 1 arrives.

Tang Tian met Fegan in the apartment, and Fegan also gave Tang Tian the list of teams that had contacted him.

Lakers, Rockets, Bobcats, Pelicans, Hawks, Mavericks, Cavaliers.

A total of seven teams, four of which had rumors about them during the regular season last year, and the remaining three were new ones.

Of course, this is definitely not all of them. Poison pill contracts require salary cap space.

Some teams, such as the Clippers and Heat, who have psychological shadows from being beaten by him, probably also want to get him, but they don't have the salary cap space.

It would be difficult to trade for him, and they wouldn't risk doing so without getting a promise.