Chapter 190 Buyout Market

After the release of this list, it sparked a large wave of controversy among fans on social media.

The focus of the controversy was naturally Tang Tian and James.

"Why is Tang ahead of LeBron?"

"Don't you know? This season, the league has been so biased towards the Pelicans. Xiao Hua publicly supported the Pelicans at the beginning of the season. Tang proposed that the team should have the right to challenge the referees, and Xiao Hua immediately went to the Development League to test it. Isn't this obvious enough?"

"That's right. Last season, the Finals ratings were dismal overseas. Xiao Hua clearly wants to promote Tang Tian to make money. Sima Zhao's intentions are known to everyone!"

"Sure enough, it's a conspiracy. Trash Tang Tian, you lost to the Cavaliers before, how can you have the nerve to be ranked second!"

"You group of haters, this is the league ranking, is this something Tang can decide on his own?"

"See, you said it yourself, the league decided it, you admitted it."

"..."

After James won the championship last year, his fans became much more high-profile than before.

Curry had already been flamed by them until there was nothing left to flame, and now that Tang Tian surpassed James, their emotions suddenly became infinitely high.

This was completely comparable to the 6 billion Kobe fans back then.

Tang Tian was speechless when he saw these comments.

He did hope that Xiao Hua was as biased towards the Pelicans as they said, but in fact, all Xiao Hua had done this season was put aside his previous prejudice.

As for the challenge right, it had been tested in the Development League for so long without any news. It was just a verbal response.

Weren't the usual "referee reports" still coming out?

Moreover, Tang Tian didn't have the mind to care about these things now. He was about to become a father, and besides training, he spent the rest of his time taking care of Olsen.

After pregnancy, there would soon be morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, frequent urination, and back pain, all of which were unavoidable physiological phenomena.

This care also distracted Tang Tian, and the competition between Whiteside and Jokic didn't develop in a positive direction.

The Pelicans' record fluctuated somewhat this week, with 2 wins and 2 losses in 4 games.

And their next game was at home against the Cavaliers, and this state might lead them to a losing streak.

"Honey, I'm fine now. If you're really worried, you can find a nanny. You should focus on your game, this is your season."

Olsen usually watched Tang Tian's games, and she knew that Tang Tian was distracted because of her.

Tang Tian nodded.

Being a father for the first time, he was indeed a bit too sensitive.

The last few months before delivery were when he should really be taking care of her.

One good thing was that the baby conceived in February would be born in November or December, so he would have more time in the summer.

After listening to Olsen's suggestion, Tang Tian asked Karl to find a reliable nanny the next day, and then focused his attention on the game.

Olsen was right, this was his season, and he had to be fully focused.

There were still 2 days before the game against the Cavaliers, and at this time, the league ushered in another important time node of the season.

March 2nd, the league's buyout deadline.

This year's buyout market still had a lot of attractive players.

The Knicks reached a buyout agreement with Stoudemire.

The Knicks had a good record this season, but Stoudemire's performance was very poor.

He had already fallen out of the team's rotation this season. Before playing the Pelicans, he only got 15 minutes of playing time because of Jayson Smith's injury.

But throughout the game, he only had 2 points and 2 rebounds on 1 of 4 shooting, and he was blocked once by Davis.

He had one year left on his $20 million contract, and instead of sitting on the bench with the Knicks, it was better to change the environment.

And a buyout for the Knicks could also help them save some expenses.

Ishmael Smith took the initiative to ask the Thunder to buy him out. He rarely had the opportunity to play for the team, and this buyout was also a gamble.

Prior to this, McGee, who had already fallen out of the rotation, was traded by the Nuggets to the 76ers.

The 76ers got McGee on the one hand to fill the salary floor, and on the other hand to obtain draft picks.

After McGee gave up part of his remaining 2 years and $20 million contract, the two sides also reached a buyout agreement.

……

These players all had a certain market.

Tang Tian hired a nanny to focus on the team, and Demps found him again.

Naturally, it was to discuss the buyout player market with Tang Tian.

"We have decided to buy out Reggie's contract, see who on the buyout market list is more suitable?"

Evans was the Pelicans' emergency player last season and performed well.

But after Jokic joined this season, he rarely had the opportunity to play, and with the team trading for Biyombo before, he had even less of a chance.

In this case, a buyout before the deadline was also for Evans' sake, so that the latter could join a new team and have the opportunity to fight for a new contract.

"My preference is Jason Richardson. He can bring experience to the team, and our wing can be further strengthened in depth."

Demps said his thoughts.

Richardson was a former slam dunk king, with excellent three-point shooting, with a career hit rate of 37.5%, he was the kind of player who was very suitable for the Pelicans.

Tang Tian shook his head.

Richardson didn't play a season last season due to injury, and his state was really unknown.

Moreover, the Pelicans didn't need veterans anymore.

They needed veterans last season because the team's young players hadn't grown up yet and needed veterans to lead them.

But this season, the Pelicans had already reached second in the West, and Davis had also matured.

Having Metta World Peace as the locker room leader was enough.

"Choose him."

Tang Tian pointed to JaVale McGee's name and said.

"Him? This guy... his brain is even worse than Hassan's..."

Demps had a headache when he said this.

Since O'Neal's *Shaqtin' a Fool* came out, McGee had become the "absolute headliner," almost every episode had him.

This also made McGee a player that general managers of various teams were hesitant to approach.

Like Beasley, he obviously had outstanding talent, and his strength in the NBA was completely at the rotation or even starting level, but very few teams wanted him.

Especially with the Pelicans' good record this season.

Recruiting such a locker room bomb was simply asking for trouble.

"He's fine, don't be fooled by those outside voices."

Tang Tian said with a smile.

Beasley was a real troublemaker, but McGee was different from him.

He just had occasional brain farts on the court, but he wasn't really a problem player.

O'Neal's *Shaqtin' a Fool* had magnified him, but he wasn't that big of a problem.

Of course, the most important thing was that McGee was known as the first center below the head, with outstanding physical qualities.

Compared with other players, he was still very young. If he could have the opportunity to perform, the Pelicans could continue to use him in the future.

Instead of saying that like Evans before, he only ended up being an emergency player because of his age.