Chapter 947 Senbei Castle

"Big shark? Is the grizzly bear willing to let people go?" Savor said in surprise.

"Let's talk about it first," Cole said.

"My company still has things to do, including transactions. You have to hurry up. If you fall behind other teams, we won't even be able to drink soup."

Sarver nodded. He could make Cole the general manager and he still trusted him.

Cole is very lucky and has won five rings in his playing career. He hopes that Cole will bring luck to the Suns, just like Frank brought the hammer to the Suns.

After Sarver left, Kerr immediately contacted Grizzlies general manager Brian Colangelo, who had also just taken up the position and was the former Suns CEO.

"Hey Steve, I'd love to hear from you."

"Me too."

The two were acquaintances, having known each other since the Suns, and after exchanging pleasantries they got down to business.

"You want O'Neal? This is not cheap. What bargaining chips can you give?" Brian began to think about the Suns' bargaining chips.

O'Neal's annual salary is 20 million. The Suns want him. With the salary of a Suns player, unless it is Marion, it will take a lot of people to exchange for someone else.

"Kurt Thomas, Burris Diaw, Antonio McDyess, you can pay cash for the extra money."

Using three substitute insiders for the Sharks, Cole quickly provided chips.

When Brian Colangelo heard this, he shook his head and said: "We don't need Antonio McDyess and Boris Diaw. If you replace them with Marion, the deal can be completed."

"Marion?" Cole began to make a deal in his mind.

Without Marion, David Lee can step in. The latter's scoring ability is not weak and his rebounding ability is also very strong. He thinks it can be done.

Moreover, David Lee has tonnage in the interior, and the defense is now tempered. Without Marion, he believes that David Lee can be put into the starting lineup.

Brian Colangelo's consideration is that the Sharks are another year older, and the inside combination with Gasol is too slow. If Gasol and Marion team up, with Kurt Thomas as a substitute, it should be better. good.

The two hung up the phone and began to make final considerations.

At three o'clock in the afternoon on the 29th, after the application was officially approved, the Suns and Grizzlies announced the deal.

Marion was a little confused when he received the notice that he had been traded.

He called Li Ba and asked, "Tie Hammer, do you know?"

"what do you know?"

Li Ba is training on the virtual interface. He wants to take advantage of his retirement to upgrade his flycatcher level.

"I was traded, with O'Neal, to the Grizzlies." Marion said with some frustration.

Li Ba was a little startled when he heard this. What did the management want to do? Trade Marion. There is no starting inside line. Is it going to be rebuilt?

In his opinion, the current lineup does not need to be changed at all. If Kurt Thomas or David Lee are brought up, they can play a dozen games and enter the playoffs without any problem.

"Go ahead. The Grizzlies have Marbury, who is better than the Suns next season. Maybe you can get another ring there. You have four rings in your hand, and they are all the main players. As long as you stay healthy, you can win the next season." You can ask for a sky-high price for this contract." Li Ba said with a smile.

Marion was startled, but also smiled and said: "I hope so."

After ending the phone call, Li Ba entered training again.

Now that he has a lot of time, he is confident that he will complete the upgrade within half a year, so he invests a lot of time every day.

O'Neal changed clubs again. Neither he nor the media nor the fans caused any disturbance because they were used to it.

After completing the deal, Cole began to consider the issue of the back line again.

Rondo is weak in offense and strong in defense, but his offensive ability is too weak and he is completely left out, causing Li Ba to be double-teamed in advance in the paint area. This does not meet his team building requirements. The defense he wants is both offense and defense, so he will Rondo put it on the shelf.

Soon a team inquired about the price. He weighed it up and chose the Celtics. Rondo was exchanged for the Celtics' first-round pick next year and their starting player Delonte West.

West is a combo guard who averaged 12+4+4 per game last season, averaging 1.1 steals per game. He is both offensive and defensive, capable of three-pointers and mid-range shots, and can stretch the field. He is more suitable for the Suns' tactics than Rondo. .

The Suns no longer have a point guard. Although Westton was replaced, Cole still wants to introduce Chauncey Billups.

Soon, Billups' agent Andy Miller received a call from Kerr.

"Chauncy, the Suns have offered a five-year, $65 million contract. What's your opinion?" Miller then asked Billups.

"Without the Hammers, the Suns won't be very competitive next season, right?" Billups had some doubts.

"With O'Neal, they are still competitive, but I think it would be better for you to go to the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are okay inside, but the back line is weak, so you have a lot of room to play. Moreover, the contract they gave is bigger. , dollars are sincerity, so the Cavaliers are more sincere than the Pistons and Suns." Miller said.

Billups thought about it and realized what Miller was saying did make sense.

On June 30, the Cavaliers announced that they had signed free agent Chauncey Billups to a five-year, $72 million contract.

As time enters July, reinforcements continue.

On the 1st, Vince Carter announced his contract extension with the Nets, signing a six-year, $84 million contract.

On the same day, thanks to the reinforcements on the back line, the Cavaliers finally completed the contract extension with LeBron James.

These two signings have given the Cavaliers, who are already good in strength, a good improvement and are very attractive to the free market.

After that, the Cavaliers made another effort, first renewing Varejao's contract, and then signing Maurice Williams and Gerald Wallace from the free market.

As a result, the Cavaliers' salary exceeds the luxury transfer by nearly 10 million U.S. dollars, and they need to spend nearly 30 million U.S. dollars more every year.

But the Cavaliers' guard group has also become one of the few guard groups in the league, thus raising the strength of the entire team to a higher level and becoming a championship-level team.

Time has entered mid-July, and Li Ba’s family is still staying quietly in Napa Valley.

The girl's condition is stable and showing signs of improvement, and the whole family is in a good mood.

The name of the castle has already been changed, from Liba to Senbei Castle.

However, the brand change of Sifu Winery and wine has not yet been made, but it is already in progress.

At the end of July, the name change was completed, Sifu Winery officially became history, and Senbei Winery was born.

At the same time, the brand of wine was also changed to Senbei.

This is risky because Sifu is already an established top brand and Senbei is nothing.

However, this is required by the contract and must be changed, because Sifu is someone else's surname, and you certainly cannot continue to use it.

The change of brand immediately exposed the news about Li Ba in Napa Valley, and reporters flocked to the place.