Link's performance in the game was honestly just okay, but he felt surprisingly zen about the whole thing.
After showering and changing, Link was just about to head out when a staffer from the team tracked him down.
"Link , Mr. Kupchak is waiting for you in his office. And… hold on," the staffer paused for a beat. "Your agent is in there with him, too."
Link blinked, then a knowing look crossed his face. Ah, I see.
That guy, Andrew, must have been too antsy to wait around. He probably went straight to the front office to start negotiating.
Link shook his head with a small, helpless smile, but a wave of warmth washed over him. In this strange new league, having a friend who genuinely had his back was a huge stroke of luck.
Link pushed open the General Manager's office door. Kupchak was sitting behind his massive desk, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Andrew Jon was wearing a cheap, ill-fitting suit, and his hair was carefully slicked back.
He was trying his hardest to look professional, but he still seemed awkward and completely on edge.
"Link , have a seat," Kupchak said, gesturing to the empty chair next to Andrew.
"Mr. Kupchak," Link greeted him politely, then gave Andrew a small, reassuring nod.
Andrew took a deep breath, as if that was his cue, and immediately jumped in.
"Mr. Kupchak, Link game performance speaks for itself! His shooting talent and his basketball IQ are exactly what the Lakers need! He deserves a contract that matches his value!"
Kupchak listened with a poker face, his fingers gently tapping the desk.
"Mr. Jon, we appreciate Link play, otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting here right now. But we have to consider the team's overall strategy. Link has only played three games; the sample size is still very small…"
"But he's improving in every single game!" Andrew argued fiercely. "And Link is a tireless worker—he's only going to get better!"
Kupchak fell silent, and the atmosphere in the room got awkward, fast.
The Lakers' bench actually had decent guys like Aaron McGee and Devin Green already. They didn't really need another deep bench player; they needed someone to take the pressure off Kobe.
Link clearly wasn't that guy yet.
Andrew started to get desperate. "Mr. Kupchak, Link actually got a tryout call from the Spurs, but he turned them down! That shows you how much he wants to be a Laker…"
"Oh? Is that right?" Kupchak raised an eyebrow and shot an inquisitive look at Link.
Link nodded. "Yes, Mr. Roger Ayers from San Antonio reached out to me."
"Roger, that guy…" Kupchak looked genuinely surprised.
The Spurs' scouting system is legendary across the league; they have a knack for finding hidden gems among low-level players.
If that was the case…
Kupchak thought it over for a moment. They were just signing a bench guy; no matter what, it wouldn't have a huge impact on the team.
"Alright. Based on Link performance, we are willing to offer a two-year contract worth $1.2 million total, with the second year being a team option. How does that sound?"
Kupchak's offer was clearly strategic. The fact that the Spurs were interested proved Link had something special.
If he played well this year, they could keep him for another year on a cheap contract. If not, they could simply decline the option. A win-win.
The sudden offer stunned Andrew, who immediately started doing the math in his head. $600,000 annually—a little less than the Spurs, but for a longer term.
"Mr. Kupchak," Andrew worked hard to keep his voice steady. "Considering the important role Link might play for the team in the future, we were hoping for…"
"One year, $900,000," Link interjected, cutting Andrew off.
He knew he couldn't accept a team option.
Thanks to the system, Link was absolutely confident in his growth rate. He didn't want to be locked into a year of premium performance on a cheap contract via a team option.
What he wanted was to prove himself this year without any pressure, and then go after a much bigger deal.
Kupchak clearly didn't expect Link to be so direct and tough. He leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing the young man.
"Link , you have to realize that for a player who has only played three professional games, that's a little unrealistic."
"It's a very sound investment, Mr. Kupchak," Link responded calmly, meeting his gaze without flinching.
Kupchak shook his head, indicating that, as the Director of Basketball Operations, he couldn't accept that price.
But before Link could say anything, Andrew suddenly sprang to his feet.
"Mr. Kupchak!" Andrew's voice was shaking with excitement. "You may only see a $900,000 salary, but have you seen the market effect Link brings?"
He took a step forward, placing his hands flat on the desk. "Yao Ming turned Houston into home team! And Link is the first Asian-American guard to make a name for himself with the Lakers!"
"Link interview after the opening night game generated serious buzz . I crunched the numbers: since Link joined the team, the Lakers' region viewership has increased by 3.7%! Lots of Asian people living in Los Angeles have bought season tickets because of him!"
"And that's not all! Think about it—if you sign Link , how many Asian brands will reach out to partner with us in the future? That $900,000 isn't just a salary; it's a marketing budget, and Link is your best spokesperson!"
Andrew was practically spitting fire, and Link couldn't help but be impressed—the guy had clearly done his homework.
Andrew's impromptu speech precisely hit the most sensitive nerve for an NBA General Manager: commercial value and market potential.
Kupchak fell silent. Yao Ming's effect was undeniable, and the Lakers' iconic brand, combined with a Asian -American player, might actually create some interesting chemistry.
The office was so quiet you could hear Andrew's heavy breathing.
A few seconds later, Kupchak slowly let out a breath, as if he had made up his mind.
"Alright." He picked up a pen and quickly jotted something on a notepad.
"One year, $800,000, fully guaranteed. Mr. Jon, that is the absolute best we can do. If you agree, we can get our legal team to draft the paperwork shortly."
$800,000—that was $100,000 more than the Spurs' offer, and it was fully guaranteed!
Andrew's heart was practically pounding out of his chest. He desperately signaled Link with his eyes, urging him to take the deal.
Link also realized that he couldn't possibly push the team for more right now, so he nodded.
"Okay, Mr. Kupchak. Thank you. I'm honored to officially continue playing for the Lakers!"
Kupchak stood up and extended his hand to Link.
"Welcome to the Lakers, Link . Now the pressure is on you. We hope you make this investment worth every penny."
Link shook Kupchak's hand, the huge weight finally lifting from his chest.
"I won't let you down, sir."
Walking out of the office, Andrew was practically spent, only to be immediately swamped by pure, unadulterated joy. He pumped his fist in the air.
Link's expression was much calmer. He knew $800,000 was just for now. With the system, his value was far, far more than that.
Link was confident he would solidify his spot in the Lakers' rotation this season.
This was only the beginning!