For instance, if a player could get a contract on the open market for about $1 million per year, Jerry Krause would directly offer a salary of $200,000, driving the player mad with what felt like an unreasonable proposition.
When both sides became irate and negotiation broke down, Reinsdorf would step in as the good cop, saying $200,000 was too little and offer to raise it to $800,000, imploring the player to accept the deal.
In that era, many players disliked moving around a lot. Staying in one city to play was a common desire. By using this tactic of low-balling and then raising the offer, a player originally worth $1 million would end up staying with the Bulls for $800,000.
Before standardized contracts and a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement, many team owners and general managers would operate this way, and Bird and Olajuwon had both experienced it.
