Capítulo 1326: Chapter 533: Final Battle (Part 1)

Even James himself didn’t expect such a move.

You heard from Harden that it was Durant who proactively proposed splitting up. Originally, Harden intended to renew his contract and continue the championship pursuit with Durant, but to everyone’s surprise, while the younger brother was ready to fight to the death, the boss was the first to back down.

Following your arrangement, Harden and DeRozan waited until Durant officially signed before signing with the Lakers, each securing a contract with a starting base max salary of 24.75 million, totaling 110 million over 3+1 years.

By choosing to team up with you, Harden and DeRozan both made financial sacrifices. Although the Thunder Team was unwilling to offer Harden the 35% max salary veteran designation, they were willing to pay a 30% max salary over 7 years. DeRozan, though unable to get a full 7-year veteran max, could still earn between a base max and a 7-year veteran max salary.

According to the rules, in order to sign a veteran designated max salary, the ‘virtual salary’ still occupies the salary cap space, counting the maximum amount of over 34 million.

To save face for your two friends, you chose to give up part of your salary, renewing with the Lakers at a starting salary of 31 million, totaling 140 million over 3+1 years. The starting salary was between a 7-year veteran max and a designated veteran max, with the last year at 40.04 million, freeing up enough space for the two to get their base max salaries.

This salary made both you, Harden, and DeRozan very satisfied. The salary increase this summer was exorbitant. You and Harden received contracts starting at 14.96 million in 2013, and DeRozan got a 3-year, 30 million contract renewal in 2012 extending through the 15-16 season; you were thrilled. Now, DeRozan’s salary had more than doubled compared to last season.

Additionally, the current contracts leave room to opt out in 3 years, at which time Harden and DeRozan would only be 30, and you would be 31.

On the third day after Durant signed with the Warriors, the Lakers officially announced signings with you, Harden, and DeRozan, once again stunning the basketball world!

Los Angeles fans were ecstatic. Hidden Mountain and Compton, both cities under Los Angeles County, regarded you as local talent, especially you, who had immense popularity in Los Angeles even before joining the Lakers. You three were dubbed the ‘Compton Three Giants.’

You also faced criticism, but it was not as severe as that directed at Durant…

The Lakers, originally a dynasty in decline and entering a rebuilding phase, were not particularly appealing to veteran contenders and quality role players. Their own quality role players were poached by big contracts from multiple teams in the summer, leaving only Louis Williams, Ed Davis, and Brandon Buss with active contracts, along with Clarkson and Nance on rookie deals.

Loyal fan Nick Young was still undecided about leaving right after Kobe Bryant’s retirement, and Tarik Black was hesitant to join the Rockets, worried about finding playing opportunities inside with Westbrook around.

But with the addition of Harden and DeRozan, you became hot assets on the free market once again.

David West rushed to Los Angeles overnight and applied to join the tryouts the next morning, eagerly signing a 1-year, 1.57 million veteran minimum contract.

In the summer of 2015, West had opted out of a 12 million player option to join Spurs for a minimum salary, partnering with Duncan, determined not to stop without winning a championship. Choosing between the Warriors and you, he chose your team. Last season, he was the best inside player on Spurs after Duncan and Aldridge.

Young and Black both chose to stay. The Lakers split the growing mid-level exception of 8.4 million. Young rejected an offer from the Warriors, renewing for 1 year at 4 million, while Black turned down an offer from the Rockets to renew for 1 year at 4.4 million.

Nene Hilario joined on a 1-year veteran minimum. This veteran center from the 2002 draft played as a backup for the Wizards last season, averaging 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block in 19 minutes per game.

Jose Calderon joined on a 1-year veteran minimum. This undrafted player from the 2003 draft and captain of the Spanish national basketball team was no longer capable of being a main rotation player but averaged 1.1 three-pointers per game at a 41.2% shooting rate with the Knicks last season, suitable for a backup role on the guard line for unexpected needs.

As the salary cap skyrocketed, each team’s available cash per year also increased, allowing the Lakers management to buy out the final year of Boyan Bogdanovic’s contract with Fenerbahçe Team in Turkey. After multiple negotiations, the buyout amount was set at 1.5 million euros, after which he signed a 4-year rookie contract. This Serbian talent, drafted in 2014, finally officially joined the team.

After a busy summer, the Lakers management finally filled up the roster.

Point Guard: Harden, Clarkson, Williams;

Shooting Guard: DeRozan, Bogdanovic, Calderon;

Small Forward: You, Young;

Power Forward: Davis, Buss, Nance, West;

Center: Nene, Zubac, Black.

As the training camp opened, voices doubting you and the Warriors continued, mainly because the centers on both teams were either rookies, role players, or veteran minimums.

During the three-peat period, you still had Gasol as an inside pillar. The traditional belief of ‘Whoever controls the center controls the world’ still existed.

Compared to the Warriors, you faced more skepticism. On the Warriors side, Thompson was the best off-ball shooter in the league, and Curry and Durant had both proven capable of playing off the ball. In contrast, the deepest impressions of you, Harden, and DeRozan were as isolation scorers. You, in particular, were called the ‘textbook of outside isolation skills.’