Before the opening game even started, the front pages of sports media across the United States were completely ignited by the Boston Celtics ' two consecutive contract extension announcements.
The Boston Globe and ESPN simultaneously revealed details of the Celtics' core roster contract extensions in their morning news broadcasts on the same day.
Chris Paul Pierce, 6 years, $80 million, with a no-trade clause.
Ben Wallace, $60 million over 6 years.
In previous years, these two contracts might have only sparked the usual discussion about whether they were "worth it." But with David Stern having clearly announced the implementation of the "1:1 luxury tax" policy next season (2002-2003 season), the significance of these two contract renewals has instantly changed.
That afternoon, Larry Bird Coon, ESPN's top salary cap expert and renowned "CBA (Collaborative Bargain) encyclopedia," published a lengthy, in-depth financial analysis in his column titled "Bleeding Under the Crown: The Real Cost of the Boston Dynasty."
In this highly professional and logically rigorous article, Coon presented a stark economic calculation for fans across the United States.
With the contract extensions of Pierce and Big Ben taking effect, coupled with Kevin Garnett's max contract, the Boston Celtics' total guaranteed salary for the 2002-2003 season will inevitably soar to $88.42 million.
In the upcoming year of the luxury tax, what does that mean? We can look at the top three in the league's projected salaries.
First place: Portland Trail Blazers. Estimated payroll: $105.6 million. This team, invested in by Microsoft co-founder Chris Paul Allen, will face extremely high fines under the new policy. Including the team's daily operations, the Trail Blazers ' estimated total loss next year will reach a staggering $100 million. Chris Paul Allen is essentially using his personal coffers to keep the team afloat.
Second place: New York Knicks. Estimated salary: $93.45 million. Dolan is also a big spender, but the Knicks are backed by Madison Square Garden and the largest market in the United States. Even with huge luxury taxes, their terrifying revenue-generating ability can still allow the team to barely break even, or even make a profit.
Third place goes to our newly crowned champions, the Boston Celtics, with a payroll of $88.42 million. While Boston's basketball market is mature, it's not comparable to New York's. According to my actuarial model, even if the Celtics fully acquire TD Garden next year and maximize revenue, after paying operating costs and approximately $10 million in luxury tax penalties...
Celtics owner Lin Qi will face a direct net loss of approximately $20 million in the 2002-2003 season.
Larry Bird Coon concluded his article with a sharp and incisive statement. "This estimate may have an error margin of a few hundred thousand dollars, but it won't deviate too much. Lin Qi is a financial genius who can manipulate events on Wall Street; he couldn't possibly be unaware of this. Yet, he still signed both contracts without batting an eye. To retain this championship-caliber team and aim for a four-peat, this cold-blooded financier is willingly cutting his own veins and bleeding this team dry."
4 PM, the home team's locker room at Boston's New Garden.
With three hours to go before the opening match, the atmosphere in the locker room was unusually subdued, completely lacking its usual arrogance and boisterousness.
In the center of the long changing bench, there were several copies of the day's the Boston Globe and a printed ESPN column.
Chris Paul Pierce sat in front of his wardrobe, his hands clasped under his chin, staring intently at the bolded number "20 million" on the newspaper.
On the day he signed, Pierce thought he had made a huge sacrifice... He gave up a top salary, losing over a million dollars a year, in exchange for a veto right on any trade. He thought his boss was exploiting him.
But now, looking at this extremely professional analysis report, he suddenly realized the truth.
It turns out that the owner's statement that "the team's red line is 80 million" was not a pretext for negotiation at all. The agreement he signed with Big Ben directly caused the team to cross that red line, which will lead to huge losses for the team.
That's $20 million in real money. Lin Qi isn't the kind of professional manager who uses company funds for reimbursement; he's the sole owner. Every penny of that $20 million loss came from Lin Qi's personal pocket.
Not only Pierce, but Ben Wallace next to him also fell silent. This blue-collar player, who had worked his way up to become a championship center, looked at his $60 million contract and felt for the first time how scorching hot the dollars in his hand were.
Just then, the heavy wooden door to the locker room was pushed open.
Wearing a well-tailored black bespoke suit and a perfectly tied tie, Lin Qi walked into the locker room accompanied by head coach Rick Carlisle.
Normally at this time, Garnett would call Lin Qi's name, Artest would come up and joke around. But today, the entire locker room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Fifteen players wearing Celtics warm-up uniforms all looked up in unison.
Their eyes were incredibly complex. There was shock, guilt, but above all, an indescribable sense of awe.
In this cold, commercial league, there are countless examples of owners treating players like cash cows and ruthlessly dismantling championship rosters to avoid taxes (such as Jerry Reinsdorf in Chicago ). But someone like Lin Qi, who knew he would lose nearly twenty million dollars, didn't even flinch before slamming the check on the table, just to save his teammates, is truly one of a kind.
Lin Qi stopped and glanced at the crumpled newspapers, instantly understanding what the group of burly men were thinking.
"What's wrong?" Lin Qi said with one hand in his suit pocket, a nonchalant smirk playing on his lips. "The number one-rated team in America, the 'Villains,' is about to go on stage. What's with the long face?"
No one responded.
Pierce stood up, his voice trembling slightly. "Lin... is what the newspapers said true? The team is really going to lose $20 million next season?"
Pierce and Garnett knew Lin Qi's background better than anyone else.
A few years ago, when Lin Qi first took over the team's affairs, his salary was even lower than theirs.
It's true that Lin Qi made his money on Wall Street, but he's definitely not a super-rich person like Chris Paul Allen who treats his team like an expensive toy and doesn't care about paper losses.
These losses were real, tangible losses taken from him.
"Not that much. I did the math, and it'll probably result in a loss of around $17 million," Lin Qi said calmly, as if he were talking about the weather that evening.
After Lin Qi confirmed it himself, the breathing in the locker room became noticeably heavier.
Big Ben up, and the muscles on his perpetually expressionless face twitched slightly.
Garnett put down the basketball and stared at Lin Qi.
"Boss," Pierce took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, "If I had known it would exceed the mark by this much, I could have..."
"Shut up, Chris Paul."
Lin Qi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority, directly interrupting Pierce.
He walked to the center of the locker room, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally settling on Garnett, Pierce, and Big Ben.
"I know all your backgrounds, so don't pretend to be generous to me. I hired you to tear those softies who are trying to challenge Boston to shreds on the court, not to sit here and worry about my wallet."
Lin Qi held up one finger and pointed towards the dome of the arena outside the locker room, where the championship banner, symbolizing the highest honor, hung.
"I'm better at math than you guys, and I know what a $17 million loss means. But as long as the guys in this locker room can still play together, as long as you can bring that damn trophy back to me... nothing else matters. We're making history. Get excited, guys!"
Lin Qi patted Pierce on the shoulder, quite hard.
"Forget about luxury tax, that's none of your business. Go and bring that damn O'Brien Trophy back to Boston!"
Tell me, can you do it?!
Lin Qi's last words were almost a low growl.
This question was like a spark falling into a pile of dry tinder, instantly igniting the long-suppressed emotions in the locker room.
"Yes! To hell with the luxury tax! Boston is invincible!"
Kevin Garnett was the first to jump up, pounding his chest and letting out a deafening roar. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fervent "a man will die for one who understands him" spirit was burning fiercely within him.
"Fuck... Boston is invincible!"
Ben Wallace, Artest, Pierce... and the other players rose to their feet.
Garnett stretched out his arm and raised it high, and the others followed suit, raising their arms to meet his.
The entire Celtics team formed a circle.
Garnett hissed, "Ubuntu on three!"
Everyone's palms swung downwards in unison, erupting in a shout...
"1, 2, 3, Ubuntu!"
Accompanied by the screeching sound of shoes scraping the floor and the dull thud of a locker door closing, a roar exploded in the enclosed dressing room.
The tens of millions of dollars in book losses did not become a burden that crushed morale; instead, they became fuel that propelled the chemical reaction.
Rick Carlisle stood aside, watching the group of villains who had instantly ignited and were radiating terrifying killing intent as if they were real, and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe for Lin Qi.
A few minutes later.
The locker room door was pushed open with a thud, and the Boston players, heads down, rushed into the player tunnel without a word.
What awaits our opponents tonight is nothing short of a nightmare.