NBA: A collection of super busts

Fellman sighed, looking troubled and helpless. Then, with a determined look, he said, "Honestly, I really think highly of Ye. I don't think he's worse than James or anyone else. But we're a company with a board of directors and a voting mechanism."

"If it were up to me, I would definitely offer Ye a price of 100 million! But I have already used all my authority to offer Ye the best price. Any higher and the entire board of directors would not be able to approve it."

"But I really like and have high hopes for Ye. How about this, I'll use my personal savings and shares to take out another 200 million... no, 300 million! This is a small personal reward for Ye, and it's also our real bottom line, exceeding the initial price."

"Please think it over carefully. Call me anytime. I really, really want to work with you!"

After finishing speaking, Fellman gracefully extended his hand, shook hands with Ye Feng, and then turned and walked out of the room.

"That's an outdated trick." As soon as he closed the door, Reed said dismissively, "Good cop, bad cop—this old trick won't even fool a child!"

"Ye, don't worry, they'll come back for us! Besides, we have another target. The Adidas people will arrive this afternoon!"

"I'm not in a hurry," Ye Feng shrugged. "I'm even prepared not to sign any endorsement contracts for the first year. If no one is willing to offer me a huge enough check, I'll wait a year!"

"Let them know how powerful I am, how terrifying I am, and then they'll sign me for an even higher price!"

"So you're saying you're giving them a chance? A chance to sign you at a low price?" Edwards said, "And the only chance."

"That's how it is." Ye Feng nodded. "Next year, the price and the negotiation method will be different!"

While the discussion inside was raging, Klinsky, in the elevator outside, asked, "Boss, how's it going?"

"Not really." Fairman sighed. "I originally thought he was a brainless brute, an impulsive madman, but when he saw the $500 million check, he didn't seem tempted at all, as if it were just a piece of paper."

"It's hard to manipulate such a person with empty promises, empty promises, or anything else. It's also hard to move him. He has already set his price, so it's probably very difficult to lower it."

"I even suspect he's prepared to skip the shoe contract in his first year and just go straight to playing. He's confident, capable, and waiting for the right offer."

"He definitely believes that he will be even more valuable next year."

"Overestimating yourself! Being arrogant." Klinsky shook his head, indicating that Ye Feng was too conceited.

"Every successful person must have a very similar trait: arrogance."

"I think Ye is a good candidate, but he's asking for way too much. I can only hope that other firms will offer him lower prices."

Just then, Fellman's phone rang. He picked it up, glanced at it, and then shoved it back into his pocket with a huff.

Damn it!

I called you earlier but you didn't answer, what's the point of calling back now!

"Ding-dong!"

At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and as Fellman and the others stepped off, they happened to see a middle-aged man dressed like a butterfly swagger into the elevator and close the doors.

Even if this guy turned to ashes, Felman would still recognize him.

Sunny Vaccaro!

He's a big name in the entire sports world. Back then, he defied all opposition and brought Jordan to Nike, starting a brand new sports empire and making Nike stand out from the crowd.

After achieving great success at Nike, he switched to Adidas for some reason and became a powerful figure at Adidas.

Now, this guy has actually shown up too.

"It's alright," Klinsky said. "His authority at Adidas isn't that high. He had almost reached an agreement with James before, but Adidas changed its mind at the last minute and lowered its offer, which led to James joining Nike."

"This time, it will probably be about the same."

A traditional, respectable businessman like Fairman has the utmost contempt for a scoundrel like Sonny. After all, you would never use words like "respectable," "refined," or "sophisticated" to describe Sonny; he's more like a street urchin.

His behavior in the company has never been that of a proper manager, but rather more like that of a patriarch, a gang leader who protects his own people under his wing.

From his style to his way of dealing with people, this guy disgusted Fairman.

He snorted and said, "That's for the best. This big mouth, didn't he publicly announce that he was going to leave Adidas? And here he is, swaggering back. He's utterly shameless!"

Of course, Sonny was unaware that the people outside the elevator were mocking him. He didn't even see them. At that moment, he didn't see anyone. He swaggered to his floor and knocked on Ye Feng's door.

Unlike Fellman's methodical and orderly approach, this guy was incredibly friendly after knocking on the door, plopping down opposite Ye Feng and saying with a smile, "This is our second meeting, right? I never imagined you'd achieved so much last time!"

"I have to say, I really misjudged you; you far exceeded my expectations."

Then Sonny looked at Reed and said, "And you, I have to say, I misjudged you too. Before, you were just a nobody next to some big shot, but now you're the manager of a top rookie."

"But that's good news, right? We can both approach our second meeting with a completely different mindset."

Ye Feng knew about Sunny and Ye Feng's first meeting.

It comes from the memories he inherited.

It was the Adidas ABCD training camp a year ago, except that Ye Feng back then wasn't the same person he is now.

So if we have to say it, this was the second time Sunny had met Ye Feng, but the first time Ye Feng had met Sunny face to face.

"Have a glass of this," Sonny said, producing a bottle of wine as if by magic. "This is some good stuff; you can't buy it anywhere else."

"But I'm only 19, sir," Ye Feng said. "In California, you can only drink if you're 21."

"Get lost, I don't believe you haven't tried this stuff." Sonny rolled his eyes. "Besides, California law allows people under 21 to drink alcohol in private places under the supervision of a guardian, parent, partner, or other person."

"I can be your guardian for 30 minutes. Come on, have a taste first." Without waiting for a reply, Sonny poured out several glasses of wine. During this time, he also recognized Dina, another former teenage prodigy who had participated in the Adidas ABCD training camp.

Being recognized by Sonny made Dina quite happy; it was an honor for someone as insignificant as him to be recognized by such an important figure.