The summer of 1998 slowly faded away in the autumn breeze.
The taste of victory gradually disappeared in the rainy autumn of Portland.
For the fans here, and for the Trail Blazers players, the fragrance of the perfect 77-win season was enough to savor for a long, long time.
Until the preseason training camp began, most of the Trail Blazers players were busy participating in various activities.
Unlike the 1980s and early 1990s, the NBA's influence is now greater, with a wider reach and higher revenues from commercial activities.
Take Kobe Bryant, for example. He just turned 20 and is about to enter his third professional season. The Trail Blazers have already secured him with a 5-year, 62 million US Dollar contract, which will officially take effect in the 1999-2000 season.
This means Kobe's salary matches that of Pippen, who has fought in the NBA for many years and achieved numerous accolades.
