Chapter 91: Challengers

"Antetokounmpo broke through! He easily shoved past Gay and went straight for the dunk!" Malone watched in awe as Giannis dominated the court. "How does he play like that?" he muttered, marveling at the young Greek phenom's emerging strength. The "Greek Freak" was starting to bulk up, showing glimpses of the powerhouse he would one day become, someone capable of overpowering nearly anyone in his path.

Jake, sitting courtside in a sharp suit, studied the game intently, his face impassive. When he'd initially started building his team, he'd considered both Giannis and Jokic as potential cornerstones. Both players had unique abilities, the type of talent that could define a franchise's future. But there was an obvious conflict: their styles were almost impossible to mesh. Building a true powerhouse team was more than assembling stars; it required balancing strengths, making each piece complement the others.

If he'd chosen both Giannis and Jokic, one would have to take a back seat, Jake mused. In that setup, either Giannis would dominate as the primary star, leaving Jokic as a souped-up version of a supporting big man, or vice versa, with Jokic commanding the team and Giannis filling in as a boosted version of an athletic forward. In the end, Jake went with Jokic, sensing that the offense could run more fluidly through him, even if it meant leaving out a future MVP like Giannis.

"Greg!" Malone's urgent yell interrupted Jake's thoughts. "Get ready. Once there's a dead ball, you're in. Lock down Antetokounmpo! Don't let him drive like that again."

Oden nodded as he shrugged off his warm-ups, preparing to step in. Malone glanced over at his muscular frame with satisfaction. Greg Oden had become an essential part of the team, a reliable player after some earlier struggles in his career. Now, he did whatever was asked without any fuss, recognizing this chance was one he couldn't take for granted. Even better, Oden came at a bargain rate, and the team held rights to negotiate an early contract renewal—an incredible win for the franchise.

As Oden prepared, Malone turned to Jake, who was scrolling through his phone. "Jake, if we extend Oden's contract early this season, what would that look like?"

Startled by the sudden question, Jake pocketed his phone and thought for a moment. "Oden's on a three-year, $12 million deal from last year, with a team option after this season," he explained. "We can use the early bird rights to extend him. If we go by the early bird rule, his contract can't be less than the full mid-level exception. But," he added with a knowing look, "there's a workaround. We can structure the renewal at 175% of last year's salary, which would put him at around $7 million annually."

Malone's eyes widened. "So we're talking around $28 million over four years?" He was stunned by how manageable that number was compared to some of the eye-watering contracts around the league.

Jake laughed. "Not quite. By the time we add in bonuses and league requirements, it'll be closer to $30 million or more."

Malone rubbed his hands together. "Sounds like a steal to me!"

But Jake quickly tempered his excitement. "Don't get too excited. Ben and CJ are both entering the third year of their rookie contracts, which means they're eligible for early extensions. We've got Ben's full bird rights and CJ's early bird rights, so we'll have to plan around their new deals. And next year," he added, almost as if ticking off a mental list, "Jokic's up for a renewal."

He counted on his fingers as he went through the future expenses. "Then there's LaVine. Whether we trade him or keep him, his price tag next season will be a lot heavier than it is now."

Hearing all this, Malone's initial excitement over Oden's extension faded. "So, basically, we're on a very tight schedule?"

Jake nodded. "Yep. We need results by next year at the latest. We've got to make the boss believe this lineup can contend for a championship, or we're back at square one. Remember, going over the luxury tax doesn't guarantee a title, but championship teams almost always pay it. A few franchises have managed without it, but those are rare cases—usually with rookie contracts or massively undervalued star deals. It's not something we can bank on."

He listed the few exceptions: "The '05 Heat had Wade on a rookie deal, the '14 Spurs kept their stars on reduced contracts, and last year's Warriors had Curry on an underpaid extension. They're the only ones in recent history who've won without a heavy tax. But those situations are one-in-a-million."

"So, time's running out," Malone said, his enthusiasm dimming as he absorbed the harsh realities.

Jake added one more thing, voice steely. "And the league's changing. Antetokounmpo is the kind of talent that can turn everything upside down. If he stays healthy, he's going to be a massive hurdle. While we're racing to reach contender status, other teams are doing the same. We might look like the next big thing now, but it won't take long for new challengers to emerge."

Malone nodded, understanding the significance. As they watched the game continue, it was clear the league had become a hotbed of rising talent, each team vying to shape the next dynasty.