One year ago, May 20, 2008.

The Trail Blazers VS Lakers' Western Conference Finals began the day before.

After the training, everyone went back early to rest.

Only Paoer and Wayne stayed in the locker room, and they had to do something undescribable alone.

Paoer sat opposite Wayne with a serious expression.

Wayne stared at Paul and tried to look peaceful.

"You know, this round of series will be difficult. After all, Gasol cannot play at the moment." Wayne spoke first, after all, he took the initiative to have this conversation.

"Yeah, but we'll win, right?"

"We must win because there is not much time left for us." Now, Wayne opened the skylight.

The team did not renew Paul's contract with him in advance, and Paul also knew why.

Because he was just selected for the best team, the Wayne clause was triggered.

To renew the contract, that is, renew the contract with a maximum salary of 30%.

This means that the three Trail Blazers will occupy nearly 90% of the team's salary space.

This is an extremely unhealthy salary structure for the team.

Naturally, the team will not rush to renew the contract, not because Paul Allen is unwilling to pay luxury taxes.

But he has also experienced "thinking that you can succeed by spending money", and he knows who knows that some things cannot be handled by spending money.

To run a team well, it is far from a simple number issue as if it were to be willing to pay luxury taxes.

If you can succeed as long as you are willing to pay luxury tax, teams such as the Knicks and Lakers will never fail.

But this is not the case. It is much more complicated to succeed than this.

The first question is the first question. The NBA plays with human nature and worldly affairs.

That's right, human nature.

Only when players and coaches in a team are intimate can they achieve results.

After Paul's contract renewal, it means that Paul's salary will be higher than Wayne.

Although they are all 30% max salary, the salary is very different in the year of renewal.

Wayne is the MVP, and Paul is just his deputy. Paul's salary is higher than Wayne? Will Wayne have any ideas?

This is the first thing the pioneers need to consider.

Although Paoer and Wayne get along very well now, don’t forget that Kobe and O’Neal got along very well at the beginning. The Lakers definitely didn’t expect that the two would turn against each other in the end.

Moreover, the very important point of Shaq's departure was that in addition to having sex with Kobe, his salary was lower than that of Kobe.

As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers unless one male and one female.

For example, if you are like your sister-in-law, you don’t have to worry about these problems.

But Paul

He is an extremely competitive person, and he is also a person who needs the ball to play.

In these two points, he and Kobe are very similar.

What's different from Shaq? Wayne is still an international player.

International players are a bit special in this league? Because few people are willing to be deputy for an international player!

Why is Cuban so willing to spend money, but the Mavericks still have no particularly big-name players willing to join?

Very simple? Because Dirk is an international player!

Similarly? After Paul grew up completely, he might not necessarily want to be Wayne's second-in-command for the rest of his life.

The OK combination has to disperse even if it establishes a dynasty? What's more, the Trail Blazers who have just won the championship.

So, for the sake of the team, to be precise, to stabilize Wayne, the Trail Blazers are not afraid to act rashly at present.

It would be fine if you didn't make a breakup, but if you really make a breakup in the end and make Wayne unhappy, the Trail Blazers are the ones who suffer the most.

Interpersonal relationships? I can't explain it clearly.

What seems like a combination of Jordan and Pippen? In fact, there are many contradictions behind it.

The second question is whether Paul's health and strength are worth a 30% maximum salary.

Paul was injured at a critical moment in the playoffs last year, and Paul also suffered injuries this year in the regular season.

Although neither of them is a major injury, it means that Paul is indeed a susceptible physical condition.

The Trail Blazers did not hesitate to give Wayne a 30% maximum salary because Wayne has proved his strength as the leading star.

But what about Paul?

He may be a good young man? But is he really worth a 30% max salary?

The Trail Blazers are not sure either.

The last question is also the question that Paul Allen is most concerned about. The combination of Paul and Wayne? How high is the upper limit?

Leave Paul with 30% maximum salary, and all the salary space is locked down? It means that the Trail Blazers have no chance to try and make mistakes, and they can only go all the way to the black.

Because in this case, even if the lineup needs to be changed in the future, it will be a small change.

But what if this lineup cannot succeed?

After Wayne led the team to win the championship last season, Paul Allen was eager to win consecutive championships and even establish a dynasty!

If you miss a player like Wayne, you don’t know if there is still a chance to establish a dynasty.

Therefore, Paul Allen's trial and error cost is limited.

How many 5 years can a player have in his career?

How long can the peak period last?

If this combination cannot be successful, after both Wayne and Paul both have an expiration of their contract, the team will also need a period of pain to seek change.

After doing this, it has been delayed for seven or eight years. Is the window for the pioneers to establish a dynasty still there?

For these reasons, the Trail Blazers did not renew Paul's contract in advance.

They are still watching, watching the situation this season.

If Wayne and Paul can still win the second championship without Gasol, it is naturally the best.

If you can't get it, you have to carefully consider whether the second 30% maximum salary is worth it.

Of course, the team has not talked about these things with Paul yet, after all, they are more sensitive topics.

It is said that it is a matter of looking for trouble if you have nothing to do.

Everyone is adults, and although they all understand, there is still a big difference between poking or not.

But Wayne knew that ignorant escape was not a solution.

This kind of thing will be faced sooner or later. If you keep it in your heart and don’t say it, it will be more likely to be suspicious, conflicts will arise, and it will be detrimental to unity and cause trouble.

Therefore, today, Wayne wanted to make things clear with Paoer.

"We don't have much time left, but before that, I hope we can work together to leave something. No matter what happens in the future, at least not regrets now.

Hey, I have never played the finals with you, and I have never won the O'Brien Cup with you.

Chris, let’s create a glory that belongs to us.

I want to win once with you!”

Win with you once, this is the promise between Wayne and Paul.

Commitment between men.

Now, May 19, 2009.

It's the same Western Conference Finals, and it's also against the Lakers.

At the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers led by 8 points.

At the scene, almost all fans were proud of Wayne and Paul's magical performance in the first quarter.

Wayne and Paul both did the best on both offense and defense.

Paul scored 6 points, 3 assists and 2 steals in the first quarter.

Wayne scored 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first quarter.

If Kobe hadn't just made a three-pointer 5.8 seconds before the end of the first quarter, the Lakers would have fallen behind twice in the first quarter!

Although the Trail Blazers' performance in the first quarter was already perfect, completely suppressing the defending champion.

But Baoner and Wayne, who were resting on the bench, were not complacent.

After failing to win the championship last season, this season means that this season is almost the last chance to fulfill their promise.
To be continued...