Chapter 382 Continuing the Winning Streak 6 (1/2)
Knowing this David Falk understood what Jake was saying, he didn't need to make sponsorship money because he could get rich otherwise, so he had better focus on the best contracts than getting any contracts for him.
”I get that Jake, so you just want the most lucrative contracts, it helps me a lot because I can deny many smaller companies.”
”Yes, tell companies I only accept a contract of up to 4 years, and it has to be worth over $ 1 million a year, if they think it's not worth it, say I win with two companies endorsements $ 3 million, gives more than $ 1 million a year and I signed this contract in 1996.”
David Falk was going to say that Jake was asking a lot for an athlete who was debuting in the NBA, but after hearing that Jake currently earns more than $ 3 million a year he understood why Jake didn't want bad contracts.
”I understand, I'm going to say that to companies, and to the shoe company, which one do you prefer to sign with?”
”Just like I said before with Nike, but I want a $ 52 million contract for 5 years, if they think it's too much, say you're going to talk to Adidas, name Kobe Bryant that received almost $ 8 million a year from his contract.”
”Nike hated losing the endorsement with Kobe Bryant a few years ago, and I managed to win an NCAA title and won some individual awards, so you might get a deal with them.”
David Falk naturally knew these negotiating tactics and how he had many years of contact with Nike and everyone knew of his good talent vision, so maybe Nike would accept this deal that David had no doubt would be profitable for Nike.
But David was really surprised at how Jake had already thought of these negotiating techniques, so he could understand why Jake was able to earn over $ 100 million in a few years because he was talented at negotiating.
”I want to ask you to try to do something for me, David.”
”You can tell what it is.”
”I want you to try to make a deal with one of the NBA teams so they can trade some players for a draft pick, so I can go to that team in my debut season.”
”This is very hard to get Jake, you're very good and you're sure to be a star in a few years, but it's a big risk for a team to bet on a rookie, especially when we don't even know if that team will choose you.”
”I know, but I'm asking you to just try, I want to play on the Lakers team and they already have a history of doing something like that.”
”It will be very difficult, they risked a lot to do that with Kobe Bryant, and in this team, you are not going to be the main player, you better stay as the main player of a weaker team for a few years and then go to a winning team when I have more experience.”
”I'm asking you to just try, I know Lakers general manager Jerry West dreams of having an offensive trio to get the Lakers to win an NBA title, they already have Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal with me on the team. they will achieve that.”
”Tell him that with me on the team I guarantee they will win 3 NBA titles over the next 4 years, and negotiate a contract for me that allows me to lose some running marathon games so my salary may be lower.”
”It will be a good marketing move for the Lakers and they will save on salaries, I know they want to hire Glen Rice for a salary that will be over 5 million dollars a year, I can do better than him for 5 million dollars in 3 years.”
David thought it would be very difficult to negotiate with the Lakers for such a contract, and even though David did not know that the Lakers intended to hire Glen Rice, he also thought it was very dangerous for Jake to guarantee that he could win 3 NBA title in 4 years.
Few players have been able to do that in all of history and the Chicago Bulls team have been able to do that because they had Michael Jordan and many other good players, Jake could be a star and a very good player, but he could not compare with Michael Jordan.
But David felt it was just worth trying to talk to Jerry West about it, Jerry West had already done it with Kobe Bryant and it worked and he really wanted a team with 3 talented attacking players.