Williams's words resonated.

Tang Tian probably had some understanding of Williams's coaching style.

He was likely the same type of coach as Brooks of the Thunder, good at developing players.

The Pelicans chose to keep him even after sending away Paul, so it seemed not just because Williams still had a contract, but also because the management had carefully considered it.

"Tang, Mr. Benson is a legend in New Orleans. He's really invested in the team. He renovated the arena, and as long as players have difficulties, he'll do his best to help solve them when he knows about it."

Davis added at this time.

This time, the dull-looking Brow said something useful.

But looking at his expression, it should be heartfelt.

A good, willing-to-invest boss is definitely a plus. Just like Cuban of the Mavericks.

Although the Pelicans are also a small-market team, it doesn't mean the owner has to be stingy.

Moreover, what Davis said was just icing on the cake; what really moved Tang Tian was what Williams said.

Honestly, even the Spurs might not have done this.

The Pelicans really cared about him.

However, this kind of care seemed understandable.

After New Orleans was hit by a hurricane, although it was rebuilt, the population plummeted, and it hadn't recovered in so many years.

Although the team moved back to New Orleans, the market was starting from scratch.

They were even trying to attract tourists and increase traffic through tourism.

To put it exaggeratedly, as long as Tang Tian made a name for himself, it wouldn't be strange to see a Chinatown emerge there.

So, more than a year of tracking wasn't that much.

Moreover, the standard configuration of a team is an inside and outside core. He and Davis as a twin-star duo had a very high floor.

Add some role players, and the ceiling goes up immediately. Compared to the Mavericks and Rockets, the possibility of winning a championship was obviously much greater.

The only downside to going there was the smaller market.

But after experiencing the Spurs, he already knew that the size of the market had little impact on him, and New Orleans was indeed a very good choice.

The meeting with the Pelicans ended, and Tang Tian really needed to think about it now.

The Mavericks, the Rockets, or the Pelicans.

From seven to one, it became three to one.

Each of these three places had its pros and cons.

The good news was that he would have the entire free agency period to consider, so there was no need to rush.

At 0:00 AM on July 1st, US time, the NBA free agency market officially opened.

Compared to last year's scene with Duncan as the top player, this year's free market was full of big names.

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, these were all-stars who could definitely bring about qualitative changes to a team.

In addition, "Little AI" Andre Iguodala, and the Jazz's inside twin stars Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap;

JR Smith, who had just won the Best Sixth Man award, and Monta Ellis, one of the former Warriors' double guns;

"Manu" Ginobili, and former Lakers' prodigy Andrew Bynum, were all hot commodities in the market.

Nick Young, Tony Allen, Korver, Matt Barnes, Mike Dunleavy, etc. were also outstanding role players.

As well as many outstanding restricted free agents such as Tang Tian, Tyreke Evans, and Brandon Jennings.

This year's free agency market was really lively.

What was unexpected was that, just after the free agency market opened, a series of major signings directly settled those big fish.

Howard and the Lakers reached a 5-year, $118 million max contract, with the final year being a player option.

Earlier, news broke that the Rockets had launched a fierce pursuit of Howard and had even reached an agreement.

But the Lakers ultimately didn't know what method they used to successfully keep Howard.

In this way, after stopping in the Western Conference semifinals last year, the Lakers F4 continued to launch an impact towards the championship.

Almost at the same time, Paul also reached a 5-year, $107 million contract with the Clippers, with the final year being a player option.

Although the Clippers stopped in the first round last year, the team fired the previously struggling Del Negro and traded for championship coach Doc Rivers. The new season was their real season to set sail.

Right after these two signings, Iguodala's next home was also determined.

After leading the team to the best record in team history, he ultimately did not choose to renew his contract, but instead chose to sign with the Warriors for 4 years and $48 million.

It is worth mentioning that the Warriors did not have that much salary space at this time, and it could be foreseen that a trade would be reached in the future.

The Bobcats signed Al Jefferson to a 3-year, $41 million contract.

Jefferson got the highest annual salary contract of his career, which was also the biggest signing of Jordan's Bobcats career.

It seemed that compared to Tang Tian, he obviously preferred established stars like Jefferson.

With Walker and Jefferson as twin stars, after failing to make the playoffs last year, they could go a step further this year.

Paul Millsap and the Hawks reached a 2-year, $19 million contract.

……

This year's free agency market signings were all incredibly fast, which also led to bursts of heated discussion among fans on social media.

"What's going on this year? Why are all the signings so fast?"

"Of course you have to grab the big names quickly! Are you going to give the competition a chance?"

"Honestly, I really didn't expect Howard to stay with the Lakers in the end. Didn't they say he had a bad relationship with Kobe?"

"Rockets fans are heartbroken. They were saying that Howard was coming before, and if he came to Houston, he could get more money and play happy basketball!"

"I think it's still because of the regret of losing the game last season. They lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, and the Spurs finally won the championship."

"Yes, that's the main thing. It's certainly good to have more money, but everyone has ambition."

"That's good. If the Lakers strengthen again this season, they're still championship contenders. The West is still exciting."

"Speaking of excitement, haven't you noticed that Iguodala went to the Warriors?"

"Noticed, by the way, the Nuggets were third in the Western Conference in the regular season last season, and then they were eliminated by the Warriors in the first round. Is it really okay for Iguodala, as the core of the Nuggets, to join the team that eliminated him?"

"Defecting to the enemy! Didn't Ray Allen do that before?"

"Hey, this league is really like someone taking the lead, and then there will be one thing after another. The Celtics' Big Three started the Big Three era, the Heat's Big Three started peak bundling, Ray Allen started defecting to the enemy, and who knows what will happen after that."

"Maybe, perhaps, players will demand a trade during their contract?"

……

The fans were talking about it, and on the afternoon of the 1st, Tang Tian welcomed the last team he would meet with, his parent team, the Spurs.

The Spurs sent two people, Popovich and Buford, and the location was a local western restaurant.

The restaurant was chosen mainly for the convenience of drinking. Popovich ordered a bottle of 1982 Lafite.

ps: Special thanks to Lazy and Doesn't Want to Change Name and Lonely Little Fireball for the myriad rewards!!