Chapter 1 Hell Is Empty, The Devil's On Earth

Looking at the bruises all over his chest, Kobe wondered if the world was ever going to be okay again.

He missed…

He missed the days when he was the only one who could elbow Su Feng!

But over the past year, Su Feng's elbows had gotten thicker and thicker, and the previous situation had been completely reversed in one-on-one matches.

"Your kind of post-up... has no technique whatsoever!" Kobe protested to Su Feng.

Heh, Kobe, so you have this day too?

"Did I just foul?" Su Feng asked with a clear conscience.

"Well, no." Kobe scratched his fluffy afro and said.

"Then was it a good shot?" Su Feng puffed out his chest and pressed.

"..."

In the training hall, after losing to Su Feng in both combat and debate, Kobe, with his jersey in his mouth and his elbow in his hand, retreated to the side, questioning life.

Wait... McGrady signed with the Raptors, all t

Re-signing Jordan might not be very profitable, but at least it wouldn't be a loss, would it?

……

And so, on the 2nd, Jordan finalized the negotiation that should have dragged on for a summer through a kind of tourism.

It's worth mentioning that in this life, without a championship defense, Jordan agreed to take a pay cut instead of a raise.

If you know this part of the Bulls' history, then you know...

In the summer before the 97/98 season, the "old rogue" deserved the title of "God" both on and off the court.

"I can agree to a re-signing of 25 million a year... but you must promise Scottie that you will give him some compensation after we win the championship next season."

To be honest, Jordan is not a good boss, but you can't deny that he is a good player.

Jordan needed Pippen, and through the EQ that God lent him, he saw Pippen's increasingly inflated jealousy.

In Su Feng's previous life, it was Jordan who laid the groundwork for vetoing the trade of Pippen for McGrady, which allowed Pippen to honestly return to play after retaliating against management.

Even if he was abandoned by the world, as long as Jordan gave him respect, Pippen was still willing to fight alongside Jordan.

But now, things are a little different.

When Jordan learned from other teammates that Pippen had not treated his damn foot injury after the season, Jordan knew that he needed to act.

In Su Feng's previous life, Pippen's left foot injury originally worsened in the later playoffs, and then completely exploded after making mistakes in the summer.

In this life, facing external threats, Jordan knew that only by unifying the inside could he solve the external threats.

In simple terms...

If OK harmony looks at Su Feng, then Bulls harmony...

Also depends on Su Feng.

History is always so surprisingly similar.

But the details have been completely changed.

Reinsdorf and Jerry Krause looked at Jordan's determined attitude and finally gave in.

Because...

No matter how much the Bulls need the future, if Jordan joins the Knicks or Trail Blazers next season, they will become eternal sinners.

And at that time, even if they wanted to sell the team, Reinsdorf might not be able to sell it at a high price.

"What about Dennis? I don't think keeping him is a good idea," Jerry Krause said to Jordan.

After letting out a long sigh, Jordan said to Krause, "I'll convince him."

"I won't offer him too high a price," Jerry Krause added.

"Then give him a price that you and he can both accept," Jordan said.

Krause nodded, and at this time, Reinsdorf added from the side:

"Phil's agent is asking us for an annual salary of 4 million... that price is really too high."

"I will not sign the renewal agreement until your negotiations with Phil are over."

Making concessions where concessions should be made, and not giving an inch where concessions should not be made, Jordan ended the negotiation with Reinsdorf and Krause after simply stating his position.

After thinking for two days, Reinsdorf compromised.

In Su Feng's previous life, the "Zen Master's" annual salary for next season would have reached 6 million US dollars.

In an era when most famous coaches could only get 1 or 2 million annual salaries, Jackson's asking price at the time was undoubtedly sky-high.

However, in this life, without a championship defense, the "Zen Master" finally reached an agreement with the Bulls to renew his contract for one year for 4 million US dollars.

The reason why Jackson chose to stay was simple, because in his opinion, the possibility of continuing to win the championship with Jordan was higher.

In Su Feng's previous life, after the 97/98 season, the "Zen Master" would have rested at home for a year before coming out to pick the Lakers' peaches.

However, before Jordan retired, never doubt Jackson's love for Jordan.

After all, only when you have been Jordan's leg pendant do you know how thick Jordan's thighs are.

After getting rid of the "Zen Master", Jordan was not worried about Rodman.

Although Rodman flatly rejected the Bulls' offer of 2.5 million US dollars for a one-year renewal, Jordan knew that Rodman could not go anywhere else.

The 36-year-old Rodman obviously overestimated his own value. In Su Feng's previous life, after winning two consecutive championships, it made sense that the Bulls' original offer to Rodman was too high.

Because in the future, after winning the third championship, Rodman would find that there were not many teams in this league willing to give him even 1 million US dollars.

Therefore, Jordan knew that Rodman would definitely come back.

In Jordan's view, Rodman's character was also the kind that would not admit defeat and would stick to his beliefs.

Other teams would more or less be concerned about Rodman's character and his checkered past, but Jordan knew that if he wanted to win the championship, the Bulls needed Rodman.

By the same token, Rodman also needed the Bulls.

Although renewing Rodman's contract would definitely offend Stern, Jordan, who was familiar with Stern's routines, knew very well...

He was already so miserable at this time that the little Jewish old man would not target him again.

So, what Jordan really needed to solve...

Was still his deputy, who in the world's population was already one level weaker than Su Feng and Hill.

"Scottie... I've agreed to renew my contract with the team," Jordan said to Pippen on the phone that day.

"Really?" Pippen, who was on vacation, felt a lot more at ease after hearing this news. After all, he had experienced Jordan's first retirement, and he knew that if Jordan left, the Bulls would definitely become a pool of stagnant water.

"Also, this time I renewed my contract... I agreed to a pay cut." Jordan added on the phone.

"Pay cut?" Pippen couldn't believe it. How could Jordan, who was so meticulous, agree to a pay cut?

"Yes... because I asked the boss if I agreed to a pay cut, whether they could make up for some of your salary after winning the championship next season...

I'm very happy, they agreed."

Perhaps, the most roads Pippen has ever walked in his life are Jordan's tricks.

Of course, Jordan would not agree to a pay cut for no reason.

Therefore, even if he took a pay cut, he had to find a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Jordan felt that this was a good opportunity to resolve Pippen's jealousy.

It seemed that it didn't matter much that Jordan took 5 million US dollars less, because he could still receive the league's highest salary of 25 million US dollars.

But...

Some words have different meanings when you express them in a different way.

Michael chose to take a pay cut for me?

Pippen was shocked.

And he also persuaded the management to give me more money after this contract ends?

Pippen cried.

"I heard that your left foot has been injured all the time, go and treat it quickly!

You know, I can't win the championship without you!

Scottie, you know, in my eyes, you are even more important to this Bulls team than I am." On the phone, seeing Pippen being hooked, Jordan continued to cry miserably.

"I..."

How annoying, what Pippen hated most at this moment was why there was no knife beside him?

At this moment, the thing Pippen wanted to do most was to ride a horse and carry a knife, and then shout:

I, Scottie Pippen, am Jordan's left hand when I am alive, and Jordan's right hand when I am dead!

"Also, I bought you a supercar, I hope you will like it," Jordan added.

"Michael..."

Ah! Stop talking!

If you keep talking, I will really have to kneel down to you!

On this day, the jealous heart of Second Master Pippen was easily shattered by Jordan.

What replaced it was an iron and blood heart called "willing to bleed and sweat for Jordan"!

Speaking of which, in Su Feng's previous life, after the end of the 96/97 season, Jordan would give Pippen a sports car that he received as a bonus after winning the FMVP. In this life, although Boss Jordan paid for it himself, Second Master Pippen still got the sports car in the end.

In addition, the Bulls' coaching staff is not as ruthless as Pippen said.

In Su Feng's previous life, after the end of Pippen's own cheap labor contract, in order to help Pippen get a big contract, the Bulls helped Pippen earn nearly 20 million US dollars more through a sign-and-trade.

And in the future, when Pippen was about to retire, the Bulls also offered him a retirement contract.

To put it bluntly...

If you naively think that Second Master Pippen was exploited, then you would never imagine that Pippen's career cumulative salary is actually more than Jordan's...

……

Chicago, after showing off a wave of operations, Jordan finally brought the Bulls back on track.

But if he wants to win the championship, Jordan believes that this is far from enough.

After all, Su Feng had already warned him once, and Jordan didn't want to taste failure again.

"We need to strengthen."

According to the Bulls' renewal plan, Jordan's renewal will be arranged last.

Because this is the most cost-effective way to use bird rights under this system that does not yet have luxury taxes and maximum salaries.

So, before the Summer League started, Jordan called Jackson.

"We need someone who can deal with Su."

And you may not believe it, Su Feng...

This "ordinary" high school rookie was actually ranked first in the "Zen Master's" mind as someone who needed to be targeted.

"I plan to have the assistant coaches recruit more free agents who are good at defense in the Summer League. In addition, I have sent scouts to Asia.

Michael, have you heard of Hu... Wei... Dong?" After struggling to pronounce Hu Weidong's name, the "Zen Master" added.

"I heard Scottie mention it, Phil, if that's the case, then I'll leave the team's reinforcements to you...

But I must remind you that even if Dennis agrees to stay, we still need a big man.

Because when we need to fight with our opponents, now, Toni (Kukoc) has become our weakness." Jordan said to Jackson on the phone.

"I understand, don't worry, Michael..."

Okay, although the 97/98 season has not yet started, after communicating with Jordan, the "Zen Master" has vaguely felt that next season...

It is very likely to be the last season for this Bulls team.

Therefore, after hanging up the phone with Jordan, the "Zen Master" wrote a group of English words in his notebook.

And the Chinese literal translation means:

The Last Dance.

……

Let's put aside how the Bulls' lineup for the new season will be composed.

On the other side, breathing in the air of Beijing in the 90s, Su Feng decided...

To get a bowl of Zhajiangmian (noodles with fried sauce) first!

"Su, Kobe, you can't both throw your luggage to me!" McGrady, walking behind Su Feng and Kobe, complained to the two of them.

"Tracy, in the NBA, rookies all come here like this. If you don't believe me, ask Kobe," Su Feng said, winking at Kobe.

Kobe nodded and said, "Tracy, this is a test for you as a rookie from us as seniors!

So, be a man and take good care of our luggage!"

McGrady: "..."

Perhaps at this moment, the thing McGrady regretted most was why he came to China with these two bastards...

……

ps: A 7000-word chapter is here! There will be three updates today! The first update is here! The second update is coming soon!

ps2: Congratulations to 65tyyy for becoming a Grand Alliance! Thank you again to 65tyyy for the reward!