The Pope of Basketball Community

In the morning, Yang Rui, who was on vacation at home, received a strange call.

"Hi, this is Jerry Yang, Mr. Yang?"

"It's me, who are you?"

"I'm Glenn Gruward, the Raptors manager. I got your call from the players. Do you have time now?" Glenn was very polite, with a very low posture.

"Yes." Yang Rui swallowed and spit.

During the rookie game, Billups, McGrady and Yang Rui exchanged phone calls, and he instantly guessed why Glenn was looking for him.

The Raptors are out of the regular season and entering the offseason. Besides wanting to sign him as the coach, is there any other possibility? Without being a coach, which idiot would abandon the powerful Knicks and go to remote Toronto to join a bad team?

Yang Rui's excited heart was in his throat. In the eyes of everyone, the Raptors are a hopelessly bad team, but in his eyes, the Raptors have a bright future, because next season there will be McGrady and the Raptors. The Carter brothers, with Christie, point guard or Billups, what level of outside line is this? !

More importantly, the Raptors still have Marcus Camby, who is a great defensive player, but there are potential injuries.

"Mr. Yang, you are a free agent in the summer. If we ask you to be the head coach of the Raptors in the new season, are you interested?"

"Nice to meet you, Glenn, just call me Jerry, I'm very interested." Yang Rui laughed, straight to the point.

In his previous life, Glenn Gruward made a classic deal. After selecting Antawn Jamison with the fourth pick, he traded down for Vince Kattega, the fifth pick, for cash compensation.

In college, Jamison was the leader of North Carolina, and his evaluation was higher than that of Carter. However, after entering the NBA, Jamison was not as popular as Carter because of his style of play. The Raptors' most glorious years were created by Carter.

Yang Rui, confident of making the Raptors a championship team, discussed it with Glenn on the phone.

They mainly talked about the goal of building the team and the number of years of the contract. The Raptors' management hopes that Yang Rui can build an offensive team that can score a lot of points, and doesn't even need a record. As long as he can lead the team to play well and attract fans, he is qualified.

Glenn wanted to sign a three-year, five-million-dollar contract with him, which is considered a low salary among coaches, but considering Yang Rui's age, he was already sincere, but Yang Rui refused.

"How about signing for a year first?" Yang Rui smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if the salary is low."

Glenn's brain can't keep up with Yang Rui's thinking, who thinks that the signing time is too long? There are quite a few people who sign cabbage prices for three years. Even if the last year is a team option, they should be careful, so that they feel more secure and have more time to prove themselves.

"Jerry, can you tell me why you only want to sign for one year?"

Yang Rui smiled and said: "Because I want to make a bet with the management. If the Raptors can't average 100 points per game next season, or fail to make the playoffs, I will lose. If I win, except when the contract is renewed In addition to the salary increase, there is another condition."

"You said you will enter the playoffs next season? Is this possible?" Glenn was stunned. This season, the Raptors are the worst team in the Eastern Conference and the second worst team in the league.

Yang Rui's ambition is too big, so big that people feel that he is completely bragging, but he only signed a one-year contract. If he can't brag, he will have no job in the future.

Glenn felt that even famous coaches like Pat Riley, Old Nelson, Phil Jackson, and Sloan would not dare to boast about such a thing.

"Of course it's difficult, so I want to bet. If you do it, there should be rewards, right? If the Raptors enter the playoffs next season, I will have a certain say in the management and have suggestions on the draft and signings." , veto power, because there must be players suitable for the system in order to achieve results." Yang Rui said seriously.

He didn't even mention the salary for the first year, and the other party gave it casually. Anyway, the coach's salary is generally not high now, and the next season will still be shortened, so there is no profit.

As long as the results are obtained in the first year,

He was a hot commodity when he renewed his contract. The Raptors will not give him a salary increase. Other teams are likely to poach people with high salaries.

For Yang Rui, this is a godsend opportunity. The Raptors have too much room for improvement, and there are still many potential players.

"If you really lead the team to the playoffs, even if you don't bet, the boss will definitely give you more rights." Glenn's heart was moved, this pie was too greedy.

"I will do my best. Glenn, in the new season, I will select two rookies who are not wanted in the free market and fit the system. Can the second-round or undrafted rookies be brought in?"

As long as there is a list of free agents, Yang Rui, a promising player in the future, can find it. With the foresight of a reborn man, he is better than all the scouts on this planet. The Raptors gave him the draft pick and the right to trade... This blessing, the boss's ancestral grave will have to be faked.

Glenn got hot-headed and promised: "As long as you sign the contract, I will definitely trade the players you want. I also have a condition. If other teams negotiate with you, can you give priority to the Raptors? In terms of treatment, you can Let's discuss it again."

Glenn believes that Yang Rui has moved more than one team. If a strong team signs a high-paying long-term contract, they will be caught blind. Some well-known coaches in the league will not consider the Raptors, and they cannot compete with strong teams.

The top scorer Stoudemire was also sent to the Trail Blazers in the mid-term. The Raptors have no future in any way now, and can only rely on McGrady to attract people.

"Glenn, don't worry, I like Toronto very much. There are many Chinese people there and the atmosphere is good. It's not a big surprise. I will directly refuse invitations from other teams." Yang Rui gave him a reassurance.

Is it just because there are many Chinese? Glenn thinks this explanation is quite reasonable. Isn't it because of this that they want to invite Yang Rui? A Chinese coach can drive the football market, and Yang Rui will become a star among the Chinese, his popularity and status will be greatly improved, and he will not worry about exposure.

It looks like a win-win. Although he is young, his vision is very sharp.

"I made this bet, so let's do it first. I wish you and the Knicks win the championship this season. I am optimistic that you will beat the Bulls in the next round." Glenn laughed.

"Thank you for your kind words."

After hanging up the phone, Thomas Bentley couldn't wait any longer, his voice trembling: "The Raptors want you to be the head coach?"

"Yes, the general manager personally called. I have to go to Toronto next season to develop. You have a few months to consider whether to join me."

Yang Rui's sense of superiority is overwhelming now! He is only 24 years old this year, and he was sent to the orphanage in summer. The actual date of birth is unknown, so he must not be too old. The 24-year-old NBA head coach, this record is unprecedented, and there will be no one in the future.

He didn't waste time negotiating, and directly identified the Raptors. It is impossible for other teams to have three super potential stars. In addition, the Raptors have always had a garbage record, so going there is tantamount to "buying the bottom".

Thomas laughed and said, "What are you thinking about? I will go to Toronto, where I will push away clients and stop working as an analyst. We can still invest together in Canada."

"Before that, let's see how I win the championship!" Yang Rui said loudly, full of pride.