Chapter 438 Contract and Parade

Tang Tian nodded.

As the team's core, he had to step up and set an example.

Moreover, he had already purchased property in New Orleans, coupled with the team gradually getting on the right track and his increasing influence in New Orleans.

He had no reason to leave New Orleans.

"I'll sign a 3-year contract with a player option in the final year."

Tang Tian didn't need Fagan for his contract; he already had his own plan.

As a transmigrator, he knew that if history didn't change, the league would introduce the Designated Veteran Player Exception in October this year.

This rule was for players who had not changed teams (or were traded within their rookie contract), allowing them to sign a contract with a starting salary of 35% of the salary cap after playing for 7 years.

Because according to the existing labor agreement, only veterans who have played for 10 years or more are eligible to sign a contract with a starting salary of 35%.

So this measure can be regarded as greatly increasing the income of superstars, especially young superstars.

It's just that the league introduced this policy to avoid stars teaming up; those who have changed teams are not within the scope of this clause, so Tang Tian cannot enjoy it.

In this case, what he can sign is an ordinary max contract.

But even an ordinary max contract, the annual salary is related to seniority; the max salary cap for 0-6 years is 25% of the salary cap, and for 7-9 years it is 30%.

He would finish his fifth year after this season, and signing a two-year contract would trigger a bigger contract.

Dempsey agreed directly.

To put it bluntly, with Tang Tian's current status in the league, as long as he is willing to stay, he has the final say on what kind of contract he signs.

With Tang Tian's problem solved, the next ones were Holiday, Bojan, and Dinwiddie.

Especially Holiday, as an understated and quality combo guard, as long as the price is not outrageously high, a renewal is inevitable.

"Should we try to pursue Russell?"

Dempsey asked tentatively. Westbrook had a player option this season, and if he opted out, the Pelicans could completely go after him.

With Westbrook, Holiday would naturally not be needed.

Tang Tian shook his head immediately.

Although he and Westbrook had a good private relationship, and Westbrook was also the kind of player with high mental attributes.

But both of them were ball-dominant players, and their styles conflicted.

The Pelicans already had him and Davis, and if Westbrook came, one ball wouldn't be enough to share.

On the contrary, retaining the current lineup, a combination of ball-dominant and off-ball would be more reasonable, not to mention their mature chemistry with each other.

"I understand."

Dempsey probably had a clue in his mind.

Then his goal this summer, in addition to renewing Davis's contract and extending Tang Tian's contract in advance, was to keep Holiday, Bojan, and Dinwiddie, these core rotation players.

Of course, there was also the draft.

The Pelicans had a first-round pick this year, but it was the 30th overall pick.

Tang Tian knew that there were quite a few quality late-round rookies in this year's draft, so he gave Dempsey some targets to scout, and also told him to trade for as many late first-round or early second-round picks as possible.

The Pelicans' salary cap space was still very healthy now, but if they were to build around him, Jokic, and Davis in the future, with three max contracts, supplemented by quality role players at the ten million level, rookie contracts would be very necessary.

He was a transmigrator, and if he had a say, rookie contracts would be a benefit for his team.

Even if the players' progress was not as expected due to playing time issues, or they did not meet expectations, bargain hunting in the low rounds was not a loss.

The draft, free agency, player planning, these were all things for this summer.

Dempsey and Tang Tian finished talking, considering it advance planning, after all, according to his past experience, Tang Tian's judgment in this regard had always been the most correct.

Three days after the Pelicans won the championship, the Pelicans' championship parade was held in New Orleans as scheduled.

The whole city of New Orleans was empty; on this historic day, no one could sit still at home.

Just like the moment the Saints won the championship, witnessing the championship of the four major leagues again after 6 years was an unparalleled honor for them.

This city, which has suffered from hurricanes, was once again spiritually encouraged like never before.

However, this time the fans did not gather on the streets, but along the riverbank, waiting for the arrival of the Pelicans outside the one-meter cordon of the guardrail.

This was definitely a unique championship parade, comparable to an enhanced version of the San Antonio River parade.

Upstream of the Mississippi River, the Pelicans' players boarded the Mars Project amidst the cheers of the fans.

This super yacht worth nearly 140 million made its first public appearance in front of fans.

And in the sky above the yacht, there were helicopters filming the entire process.

Although the Pelicans' championship parade was in a small city, the investment was unprecedented.

Tang Tian, wearing a red suit specially chosen for him by Olsen, looked particularly eye-catching on the ship.

Stephenson's dress was also quite eye-catching, with big gold chains, small watches, a black shirt with a big cigar, completely in the style of a gangster boss.

The other Pelicans players also wore the clothes and accessories they thought were the most eye-catching, shouting and yelling on one side of the bow.

The celebration in the arena was their instinct after emptying themselves, and this time, it was real enjoyment.

The Mars Project yacht went downstream, and the players stood on one side of the shore, cheering and screaming at the fans on the shore.

This scene looked a bit like the farewell ceremony when American soldiers set sail in the last century.

In order to prevent accidents, the police were on the levee to protect the whole process, and also to prevent people from throwing debris on the ship.

However, the Pelicans also considered it very carefully, they prepared a lot of jerseys, basketballs, etc. for the players, let them sign them and throw them to the shore.

This kind of interaction made the fans on the shore extremely excited.

Especially those who grabbed basketballs and jerseys, they must be too excited to sleep tonight.

The yacht docked at the downstream port, and the Pelicans' players were interviewed on the boat, talking about some interesting things after winning the championship, to further increase the interaction.

It has to be said that Dempsey did a great job in this regard, especially in the player-fan interaction, which can greatly enhance fan loyalty.

The yacht finally went upstream along the other side of the river bank and arrived at the port outside the arena, and then took a car for the final street parade.

In this section, an unprecedented scene was seen in the parade.

After the Pelicans' players waited for the car, they kept shouting "Pelicans champions," the slogan they had shouted in the playoffs.

From the port to outside the New Orleans Arena, the slogan "Pelicans champions" resounded over the New Orleans Arena.

The Pelicans' players also shouted along, the feeling was indescribably refreshing.

This slogan, which I don't know who shouted it first, has now become an inseparable symbol with the Pelicans.

ps: My mother was transferred to another hospital today, I was busy all day, and I will be busy tomorrow, I will update 2 chapters these two days, and I will update 3 chapters after these two days, and I should be able to restore 4 chapters in about a week.