CHAPTER 1268: CHAPTER 513: JUST MADE A CALL AND THEY SHOWED UP

Three-point basic skills, currently advancing purely through practice has become very slow. This playoff improvement was unexpected, belonging to extreme elevation. Further progress is the limit of talent, at the historical level edge, but practice is still necessary, mainly training through step-back threes, catch-and-shoot threes, and triple-threat stance shooting, integrating basic skills, techniques, and shooting value needs.

There’s still some distance to the upper limit of mid-range shots, which is his current focus for improvement.

As for techniques, it’s being discussed with Grove and Ingles. The time has been set, late July, after two weeks of commercial activities back home, train on the Hidden Mountain side.

Zhang Yang continues to dive into the nine-to-five training work...

Soon, a new month arrived, on the morning of July 1, the NBA announced the new salary cap, over 60.29 million US dollars.

Compared to the salary cap of the previous season, it decreased by more than 2 million, meaning even though the official NBA invested more promotional costs last season, and ticket prices for some popular playoff matches and ratings were high, the revenue for the entire season for 30 teams still declined by nearly 150 million US dollars.

Jarett Jack, Pietrus, Juwan Howard, Magloire, and other four new championship team members officially announced entering free agency, attracting attention from multiple teams.

After Zhang Yang finished training in the evening, he saw the news. The Hornets offered Jack a full mid-level offer of 29 million for five years... He didn’t know whether it was a coincidence or inevitable.

The next morning, Zhang Yang received news from the team that Jack’s contract was not matched, and the Magic Team also offered Pietrus a full mid-level contract of 17.36 million US dollars for three years.

Jack definitely doesn’t need to stay, opting for Collison, who has the lowest talent but the highest maturity.

But the small forward is still to be discussed. After breakfast, Zhang Yang went to Tuhang Stadium, where he was called for a meeting. After communication between management, coaching staff, and players, it was confirmed that Pietrus’s contract wouldn’t be matched. Boss Qiao already has the desired candidate and is preparing to collect some medical fees for his ribs.

Based on the current situation, Zhang Yang also had a target in mind, but first waits for Boss Qiao’s news.

After the meeting, Zhang Yang returned to the training arena, where there were already three people training.

The team’s three newcomers, real rookies, just selected rookies, but the ages... are all 22 and 23.

The familiar feeling came back again, rookie ages are all older than him, Zhang San. Speaking of which, after he entered the NBA, the Bobcats had four drafts, except for Ibaka, other rookie ages were older than him.

The team has three newcomers, real rookies, but the ages are all 22 or 23. This familiar feeling came back again, rookie ages are all older than him, Zhang San.

He remembered that yesterday when the coaching staff returned to work, they seemed to say today is the day for the rookies to assemble, to conduct some relevant training, preparation, such as the differences between NBA and college rules, the difference in court specifications, etc.

He wasn’t distant, took the initiative to greet the three: "Hi, Darren, long time no see, Wesley, Dante, very happy to become teammates with you."

Cunningham and Matthews both responded, looking quite different, seeming not very talkative, but Cunningham was clearly reserved, while Matthews was cold, somewhat like the little prince Prince?

Darren Collison enthusiastically came over and hugged Zhang Yang, saying: "Oh, Jack, never thought one day we could become teammates. In high school, you were different from us. When I was in 12th grade, you were only in your second year of playing and were already the best in California. Never thought you’d still be the unique one in the NBA..."

The two chatted for a while, and then three more people arrived, Afflalo, Ibaka, Alan Anderson.

Collison enthusiastically went up to greet Afflalo.

Afflalo, with the external cold yet internal flair typical of Los Angeles players, gave Collison a reluctant hug, then introduced Ibaka and Alan Anderson to him.

Afflalo and Darren Collison were true old teammates, in the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons they together formed UCLA’s backcourt barrier, known as the strongest defensive backcourt combo in NCAA, but unfortunately both years fell under the iron hooves of Noah and Horford’s twin towers, only achieving a runner-up and a Final Four.

And although Zhang Yang and Afflalo were in the same team for a year, Zhang Yang only sparred with Afflalo a few times.

After Zhang Yang and the other four exchanged pleasantries, he asked: "Aren’t you preparing for the summer league? Why are you here?"

Afflalo: "I’m leading the team this year."

Ibaka: "The coach wants me to play more games for practice, likely to increase playing time next season."

Alan Anderson: "I heard many European and Chinese teams are coming to select players in the summer league, I want to try it out."

Ignoring the first two, the veteran’s words surprised Zhang Yang, asking: "Didn’t Bernie say he’d provide you with a contract?"

Alan Anderson explained: "It has nothing to do with them. At the party after the finals, Bernie promised to give me a renewal contract, but you know, I’m no longer a part of the main rotation. Staying in the team would only earn minimum wage, I’m hesitating whether to go to Europe or China for gold mining where they pay higher, all tax-free, and I can get more playing time."

Zhang Yang looked at the ceiling, sighed, and asked: "Have you told the boss?"

Alan Anderson: "I didn’t dare, I’m afraid he’d beat me. That day Bernie promised me the contract in advance, he helped request it."