Special Contract

After returning to Paravilla Stadium, Li Chen began warming up. Training would start soon.

"Hey! I remember your contract expired today. Why are you still here?" Odom sneered.

He was getting a little scared—scared that if Li Chen stayed with the Clippers, he might take his place. So he wanted Li Chen to leave and join another team.

"Hey, Odom, stop picking fights for no reason. Coach hasn't shown up yet, so he must be discussing a contract extension with management," Elton Brand snapped.

Li Chen tugged at Elton Brand, then stepped forward and said calmly, "Are you scared?"

Odom's gaze flickered. "Hmph. Me? Scared of you? What a joke."

Odom forced himself to look calm and let out a disdainful snort.

Li Chen didn't say anything more, nor did he pay Odom much attention. Today, he planned to shoot 3,000 shots and raise his Open Three-Pointer skill from D rank to C rank.

Meanwhile.

In the Clippers General Manager Office.

"Mr. Baylor, you saw Chen's performance yesterday. I hope the team can offer him a minimum-salary contract."

Elgin Baylor didn't answer right away. Instead, he fell into thought.

Alvin Gentry added, "Chen is an extremely hardworking young man from the East. He gets up very early to train every day."

"Oh? How early?"

Elgin Baylor perked up with interest. He had once been a basketball player himself, and a very good one at that, though he hadn't had much luck.

That was why he valued hardworking players.

Alvin Gentry thought for a moment. "Around three or four in the morning."

"Are you sure?" Elgin Baylor looked straight at Alvin Gentry and asked in surprise.

Alvin Gentry nodded. "Yes, sir. I saw it with my own eyes."

Elgin Baylor nodded. He had already decided to keep Li Chen. It was only a minimum-salary contract, and if Li Chen proved himself, a player that hardworking was bound to become a force to be reckoned with.

Hard work could make a person more likable, especially in the right circumstances. It was a point in a player's favor.

Just then, someone knocked on the General Manager Office door.

The two men in the office turned toward it.

Elgin Baylor was only slightly surprised before calling, "Come in."

A moment later, the door opened, and Bill Duffy walked in.

Before Elgin Baylor could speak, Bill Duffy introduced himself.

"Hello, Mr. Baylor. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bill, and I'm Mr. Li Chen's agent."

Alvin Gentry was somewhat surprised. He knew that kid Li Chen spent all his time training. How could he possibly have had time to find an agent? It left him baffled.

Alvin Gentry might not have known who Bill Duffy was, but Elgin Baylor, as the Clippers' general manager, dealt with players' agents all the time. How could he not know Bill Duffy? The man was famous for being good with people—a real sly fox.

Bill Duffy smiled and said, "You two don't need to be surprised. I was the one who approached Mr. Li Chen."

What he meant was clear: he thought highly of Li Chen's potential, and he was putting another bargaining chip on the table for the negotiations ahead.

Elgin Baylor knew exactly what Bill Duffy was thinking. He hadn't expected the agent to think so highly of that Eastern Kid, which made him wonder if he might have found a hidden gem.

Everyone knew Elgin Baylor had been called the "eternal runner-up" as a player, and his coaching record had been a mess.

Now he needed to prove himself as general manager and add a brilliant chapter to his otherwise bleak career.

Although Elgin Baylor was tempted to take a gamble, he was still only a team general manager and had to answer to the team's shareholders.

After thinking it over, he said, "I can offer a minimum-salary contract worth $500,000."

Bill Duffy frowned slightly. He had confidently promised Li Chen he'd negotiate a contract worth over a million dollars. But now...

Bill Duffy couldn't possibly accept Elgin Baylor's offer. And so...

After a fierce back-and-forth, Li Chen's annual salary was finally settled.

His salary for the first year would still be $500,000, but with additional conditions.

If Li Chen averaged more than 10 points per game for the rest of the season, his salary would rise to $1 million.

If the team made the Playoffs with his help, his salary would rise to $2 million.

If the team made the Western Conference Semifinals with his help, his salary would rise to $3 million.

If the team made the Western Conference Finals with his help, his salary would rise to $4.03 million.

If he met all the conditions above, Li Chen would receive a three-year, $13 million rookie contract.

If Li Chen could make it to the Western Conference Finals, his salary would be equivalent to that of a number-one overall pick.

After his rookie contract, he would receive a maximum-salary contract.

The number-one overall picks were given contracts of three years plus an option year. If Li Chen really proved himself, he would earn over ten million dollars more than the 2003 number-one pick, James. Of course, that depended on Li Chen proving himself.

As for winning a championship, Elgin Baylor and Bill Duffy had tacitly avoided mentioning it. They both knew the truth: aside from averaging more than ten points a game, everything else was just talk.

The conditions were just meant to motivate Li Chen and tell him that the team valued him. As long as he performed well, he would definitely get a huge maximum-salary contract after his rookie deal.

If Li Chen couldn't even average 10 points per game...

The NBA wasn't a charity. Everything depended on your own ability.

Meanwhile.

Just as Li Chen finished training for the day, Bill Duffy called to say the contract had been settled and went over the specific terms with him.

Then he told Li Chen that he could renew his contract with the Clippers the next day.

Li Chen was surprised. He hadn't expected Bill Duffy to pull it off so well.

In his previous life, people had said that players' agents were leeches. But now he understood that they had the ability to do the job, and their work was worth the price.

Lost in thought, Li Chen nodded and said simply, "I understand."

After a moment, he added, "Um... thanks for this."

Bill Duffy paused on the other end of the phone. "Heh! You're as polite as Yao. Your people in the East really are likable."

Li Chen smiled without saying anything. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he hung up.

After hanging up, he quickly called out, "Brother Zhizhi, wait a moment."

Hearing Li Chen call to him in Chinese, Wang Zhizhi paused. He stopped and turned to look at Li Chen.

"Li Chen, do you need something?" Wang Zhizhi asked in Chinese, surprised.

Li Chen looked a little embarrassed. "I want to ask you a favor."

Wang Zhizhi asked in surprise, "Me? What can I do for you?"

"Brother Zhizhi, I need to take 3,000 three-point shots today. Could you rebound and pass the ball to me?"

"Ah?" Wang Zhizhi felt dizzy. Three... 3,000 three-pointers?