482: 180: When the Fire Goes Out (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_2 482: 180: When the Fire Goes Out (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_2 A team’s top two stars playing during a game, it’s hard to imagine winning.
Leading 2-0, the Magic flew to Salt Lake City with an advantage.
It looked like the Utah Jazz, just like Rockets and the SuperSonics in the previous years, were going to be easily crushed by the Magic.
Fortunately for them, due to the Magic not yet adapting to the thin air of Salt Lake City, their performance in Game 3 wasn’t very good, and the Jazz managed to take a game back.
As a result, the series score was now 2-1, with the Utah Jazz needing just one more home victory to even the series.
The entire Jazz team was spirited, not just because they were on the verge of evening the score, but for another reason:
“Roger said his biggest regret was never having lifted the O’Brien Trophy at home?
Well, I will make up for his regret.
This year, he will definitely attend an award ceremony at the Orlando Arena, only it will be our ceremony!” Karl Malone told the press with firm confidence after Game 3.
As it turned out, the Utah Jazz could indeed win games.
What did it matter that they were behind 0-2 before?
The Jazz only needed one more win to slap the arrogant Roger’s face.
However, Roger was not worried.
The altitude of Salt Lake City wouldn’t continue to hamper the team for two games in a row.
Externally, most of the media still believed that the Magic had a very good chance to lift the trophy in Salt Lake City.
But nobody knew that a shocking event that could shake the whole team was about to happen.
Between Game 3 and Game 4, John Gabriel, the general manager of the Magic, appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
He discussed many topics related to labor negotiations with the host John Anderson, and talked about many possible new proposals for the next round of labor talks.
And finally, John Gabriel inevitably spoke about the Orlando Magic.
“John, we just talked about the luxury tax,” the host began to shift the topic to the Magic, “so, if this new clause really passes, how would you and Mr.
“We’ve stated long ago that our primary goal for the Magic is to avoid the luxury tax as much as possible, an understanding Mr.
DeVos and I reached a long time ago.”
“But Shaq and Roger’s contracts alone have already exceeded the salary cap, and by the start of the ’98-’99 season, when the new collective bargaining agreement is to be implemented, Roger’s salary will be as high as $26.62 million.
This means it’s impossible for the Magic to avoid the tax.”
“That is indeed the case, so we must prepare for everything.
We believe that we can maintain competitiveness even without triggering the luxury tax clause.
If a player’s contract amount is too large and affects this basic strategy, we’ll find a way to solve it.”
This was an answer that seemed calm on the surface, but was as fierce as a nuclear explosion underneath.
John Anderson also sensed this: “Do you mean, if necessary, you would let go of Roger?”
Gabriel immediately denied it: “No, we will never let go of Roger!
What I mean is, others may leave!”
DeVos and I agree that when it comes to running a team, we have to think long-term.
As we know, the Celtics used to be the league’s longest-standing green miracle.
But after 1986, they also went through a full 11-year drought.
I mean, rebuilding is something every team goes through.
In this respect, both Roger and we have to be patient.”
Gabriel’s words were like a preemptive inoculation for Roger, the “11-year drought” hinting at the team’s future plans—they weren’t planning to spend so much money to compete for championships anymore.
This season, the revenue of the Magic hadn’t grown much compared to last year.
The Orlando market is only so big, nearly saturated.
And this summer, Shaq’s departure was a foregone conclusion, with the team set to continue aging.
It was foreseeable that the Magic would temporarily step out of the championship contention.
If Roger could accept not paying the luxury tax in the future, if he could accept a model where “decent results are enough and occasionally competing for the championship” then both sides could continue a win-win partnership.
But what if Roger really couldn’t accept it?
Gabriel didn’t say, but he and DeVos already had plans: If Roger really couldn’t accept it, the Magic might start anew!
Actually, DeVos had always been conflicted about this.
Anyone could see that Roger was a cash cow, but as Ewing said, “We earn a lot, but we also spend a lot.”
This cash cow also cost a fair amount.
He was expensive on his own, and adding “accessories” to this cash cow cost even more.
If more profit couldn’t be squeezed from Roger, what was the point of keeping this cash cow?
So, “letting go of Roger” was no longer a prohibited topic of discussion.
Of course, another very important reason DeVos would consider letting Roger go was that Roger was not “one of their own” in the eyes of the management.
Over three years, DeVos and Roger’s honeymoon period lasted a very short time.
It wasn’t long before they had their post-coital cigarette.
From the moment Roger publicly took Shaq’s side, they were no longer friends.
The Magic’s management played almost the exact same role as the Bulls’, disrespected and even insulted by their own star player.
Roger was not the kind of player who was utterly loyal to the management, nor was he a good partner to DeVos and John Gabriel.
If possible, DeVos naturally preferred to have an obedient core.