Behind The Spotlight Chapter 281
"Is that a good thing?" Amelia asked Lila.
"It's a good thing, it means James has caught the attention of the head coach." Lila was also surprised.
'Collin, the more I know you, the more I love you. Tell me, did you also expect this to happen?'
Collin was confident in James and his talent. He knew that once James showed his capabilities, he would attract attention.
Even if the Lakers Los Angeles didn't sign him, Collin was confident that another team would. A Golden Talent was no longer just talent, it was practically a superpower.
"What's your name?" Head Coach Moore asked James.
"It's James Michael Kobe, sir."
"So, James, I only have simple instructions. I want you to score points or make plays for the team."
"Yes, sir."
James nodded, and Coach Moore called for a substitution. The other players were confused as to why the head coach subbed a stranger into their game, but they followed orders and kept playing anyway.
"What are you guys doing!? Did I tell you to stop? Keep playing!" Coach Moore yelled at them.
If Collin were present, he would probably see the text floating above Coach Moore's head.
-- Phil Moore
-- Player Profiling (Yellow)
Because of Coach Moore's talent, he recognized that James possessed extraordinary potential, escalating the situation to the point where he wanted to see James play in a real game against NBA players.
The results were impressive.
James' team won, and James put up 21 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 62% from the field. Those were his stats after playing only half a game.
Even the official roster became curious about James. They were surprised he could match their intensity.
Coach Moore nodded, thoroughly satisfied with James' performance.
'Looks like the person they introduced is not that simple.' Coach Moore glanced at Lila and Amelia, who were watching from afar.
The Los Angeles Lakers' performance last season had been abysmal. They had finished 14th, second-to-last in the Western Conference, and held the third-worst overall record in the NBA. They had a strong, dominant center, but that wasn't enough, they desperately needed a playmaker.
Coach Moore had actually been preparing for the upcoming draft, hoping the franchise could land a new player with elite potential.
'... Let's give this guy a chance.'
Head Coach Moore made his decision.
...
...
...
"... I'm going to do what?" Amelia asked, staring at Lila in shock.
"You heard me right."
"No, no, please repeat that."
"You will be the one responsible for handling the contract negotiations. Good luck." Lila smiled slightly.
"Um..." Amelia wanted to protest, but she realized her role had officially shifted. She was no longer a nutritionist, she was a talent agent, and her job was to secure the highest possible value for her client.
She wasn't entirely sure she could pull it off.
"Do you have any advice, ma'am?" Amelia had heard that Collin and Lila held senior executive positions at Apex Network Talent and were true veterans in the industry.
"First of all, don't call me ma'am. We're the same age."
"I apologize."
"Second, ask for a high price. Based on their reactions, they're definitely interested in recruiting James. It'll either be a two-way contract or a standard NBA contract."
A two-way contract meant James would split his time between the D-League and the main NBA roster. It was basically an experiment, they could drop James whenever they wanted to.
A standard NBA contract was the real deal.
There were also other agreements, such as a 10-day contract, a rest-of-season contract, a training camp contract, and a rookie contract. Lila deduced that James would at least secure a partial spot on the official roster.
"How much should I ask for?" Amelia knew it was bold to ask her boss these questions, but she truly lacked negotiation experience.
"If it's a two-way contract, ask for at least $1 million per season. If it's a standard NBA contract, go for $4 million per season." She lied.
A typical rookie might only earn $300,000 to $400,000 per season, but Lila didn't elaborate further.
"What if they don't agree?"
"Then you have to convince them. Tell them James will be their lifeline," Lila explained patiently, knowing Amelia was new to this.
"You want me to bluff?"
"That's right."
"..."
"At the end of the day, it's up to you how you close the deal. Just remember: your job is to advocate for your client and find an amount acceptable to both sides."
'I get a 4% commission, so I guess I'd better work hard,' Amelia thought, resolving to push her nerves aside.
Lila watched her demeanor shift, impressed by how quickly she took control of her emotions.
Shortly after, someone from management contacted Amelia. She walked into a meeting room and found two men waiting for her: Coach Turner and a legal representative.
"Amelia, right?"
"That's me."
"We're offering James Michael Kobe a two-way contract. He'll split time between the D-League and the NBA depending on team needs. We'll pay him $250,000 for the entire season."
This year, the NBA pre-season was set to begin in October, leaving James about a month and a half to prepare. Pre-season was typically when rookies and new signees received playing time across 7 to 8 games, allowing franchises to evaluate players and finalize their rosters.
"I think James deserves $1 million."
Despite screaming on the inside, Amelia followed Lila's instructions.
Turner frowned and turned to the team's lawyer.
"$1 million is out of the question."
"Then..." Amelia didn't have a prepared script.
"We can offer him $350,000 for the season," the lawyer counteroffered. He had been instructed by the head coach to sign James, but with minimal expenditure.
"You saw what he did earlier. He scored 21 points, and his assists and rebounds were just as impressive. He should get at least $850,000," Amelia countered, expressing clear dissatisfaction.
It was at this moment the lawyer realized he was dealing with a genuine talent agent... and talent agents were notoriously greedy.
After half an hour of back-and-forth exchanges, both sides agreed on a final figure of $570,000.
"Make sure James shows up early tomorrow for his physical exam. If he doesn't pass the medical exam, this entire negotiation is void," Turner reminded her.
"I'll keep that in mind."
[Thank you for reading this novel.]