104: 067: Either/Or_2 104: 067: Either/Or_2 The boss always watched his own team from a quiet corner where few paid attention, making choices and changes at the right time.
Reinsdorf believed in Krause, after all, he was the agent he had personally chosen.
As for Pippen, he was never the loyal good boy to begin with, so Reinsdorf had no objections regarding Pippen’s trade.
He had called Krause over today for a more important matter.
“I’ve always supported you, Jerry, but now, I must tell you about another plan for the team,” Reinsdorf said, unable to suppress a chuckle.
“About Michael Jordan’s return,”
In the 1994 NBA Draft, people were still talking about Jordan’s Successor.
Penny and Roger were not enough; Stern needed more angels to save the league’s declining viewership.
Fortuitously, the top three picks of the ’94 draft all seemed to have the potential to succeed Jordan.
In the freezing Milwaukee, they chose Purdue University’s junior superstar scoring forward Glenn Robinson.
This small forward, who had both immediate impact and potential, should have made Bucks fans jump for joy.
But their excitement was dampened because of Robinson’s declaration: “I want to be a hundred-million-dollar man!”
The Bucks fans were genuinely scared of a Jim Jackson-style tragedy occurring to them.
They feared they had picked a genius who refused to sign and play.
Have you ever seen a place where you can only pick but cannot employ?
Whether Big Dog would end up hunting for the Bucks, whether he would become a hundred-million-dollar man, his comments had already damaged his reputation.
Therefore, this year’s second and third picks were more beloved by the media.
Dallas selected 193 cm tall court conductor Jason Kidd with their second pick, and considering the scouting reports made no mention of him stealing teammates’ girlfriends, he was almost a perfect choice for the Mavericks.
Even more popular was the 203 cm tall Grant Hill, who helped Duke win the NCAA Championship in 1992.
He was refined and courteous, well-spoken, and even played the piano.
He would never, like some other popular rebel players, put his feet up on the table during a press conference and yell, “What can you do to me?”
He had the vision of a point guard, treating basketball like chess.
Yet at the same time, he possessed unrivaled personal offensive power, with all-around skills and a lightning-fast first step unmatched by anyone.
Coach K praised: “Grant is the key to unlocking everything for us.”
But most importantly, his father was a famous football player, and his mother was classmates with the First Lady Hillary.
His excellent education and family background seemed tailor-made for David Stern.
If this man became the face of the league one day, the entire NBA would say goodbye to the words crude, blue-collar, and low-brow.
After Penny and Roger, Stern saw Hill as the most promising Successor to Jordan.
But what he didn’t know was that Michael Jordan didn’t need a successor at all.
Because at that moment, the real Michael Jordan was discussing his return to the NBA in Reinsdorf’s office.
Reinsdorf took this meeting very seriously.
For this occasion, he wore a new tie adorned with the Bulls’ logo and polished the three championship trophies in his office to a shine, hoping to invoke Jordan’s fond memories of the past.
He understood what Michael Jordan’s return meant, For many past years, the Chicago Bulls had been the league’s highest-earning team.
Jordan’s return meant that Reinsdorf could continue to maintain that situation.
Reinsdorf wasn’t overly passionate about basketball; he was a businessman who needed to make money, and on this planet, there was no basketball player who could make money like Michael Jordan.
At least not at the moment.
So, he hoped to reach an agreement with Jordan today.
Both parties arrived at the appointed time, Krause accompanying Reinsdorf for the Bulls.
On Jordan’s side, of course, was David Falk.
As soon as Krause saw Falk’s greedy face he felt nauseated, Jordan had the same reaction seeing Krause.
But after meeting, they both shook hands with a polite smile.
“Long time no see, Jerry, the team did well last season, made it to the finals again.”
“Your popularity hasn’t diminished either, Michael,”
The world of adults is just so hypocritical.
But once seated, they quickly started to discuss realistic matters.
Michael Jordan had retired, but his contract with the Bulls hadn’t been terminated.
Last season, Jordan played baseball, but the baseball team he joined was also owned by the Bulls’ owner.
You could say that Jordan was still fulfilling his contract with the Bulls, just working for the baseball team.
His contract with the Bulls was to last until the summer of 1996.
This was also why Jordan only had the option to return to the Bulls; strictly speaking, he wasn’t a free agent yet.
Therefore, there wasn’t much to discuss in terms of salary; they just needed to continue fulfilling the contract.
However, what Falk was about to negotiate for Jordan was more important to him than his current salary.
Speaking as Jordan’s mouthpiece, David Falk took the lead: “Michael is very eager to return to the Bulls family, and it is a long-term return.
In fact, Michael has always aspired to win three to four more championships for the Bulls.
We all know, Michael’s era is not over!
But the premise of returning is that Michael’s three conditions need to be met.
Only with agreement to these three conditions will Michael consider returning.”