Chapter 694: Chapter 694
The return of the former player Delavadova can also fill the loss at the Cavaliers’ point guard position.
However, Hansen just glanced and skipped this offer because Parker is a marginal player, and he has injury concerns.
As for Monroe, he is even more useless. The Cavaliers already have TT in the same mold, and TT’s defense is better.
Moreover, sending Irving to the Bucks is not a good choice. The Bucks already have Antetokounmpo and Middleton; they just lack a good point guard.
If Irving is sent there, the Bucks will rise early and become a big trouble for the Cavaliers in the East.
The second offer is from the Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe, TJ Warren, and the 2017 first and second rounds.
This was also quickly dismissed by Hansen because it was equivalent to trading Irving for Bledsoe, which does not seem worthwhile.
Hansen continued to look down the list, swiftly scanning through most of the options.
Because these trades were mainly point guard swaps, but after the trade, it all amounted to a downgrade for the Cavaliers.
Halfway through, he stopped and turned to ask perplexedly: "Isn’t there anything from the Pelicans?"
He had seen the rumors and was quite interested in swapping Irving for Huoledi.
Even though Huoledi’s three-point shooting is weak, his defense is top-notch, which could free him on the defensive end and share some organizational pressure.
"They have now set their sights on DeMarcus Cousins."
"And Huoledi’s contract expires this summer, and they never agreed to include a first-round pick."
If that’s the case, it is indeed risky. If Huoledi, like Deng back then, doesn’t enjoy staying in Cleveland and just leaves, it would be a huge joke for the Cavaliers to trade Irving for a six-month use of Huoledi.
Hansen continued down the list and soon saw the Celtics’ offer.
Little Thomas, Crowder, rookie Ri Riqi, and a first-round pick.
This was the most sincere offer Hansen had seen so far.
Little Thomas was at his peak, Crowder was a top 3&D, and there was also a rookie and a draft pick.
However, it’s impossible for the Cavaliers to send Irving to the Celtics, and it’s even more impossible to have Hansen play a tactical supplement role like Durant for Little Thomas.
By this time, most of the offers had been reviewed.
Hansen’s gaze eventually settled on the Bulls’ offer.
This was the only offer involving a third team.
The chips the Cavaliers could receive were: Wade, Covington, Korver, and the 2017 first round.
The name in this list that caught Hansen’s attention was Covington.
Covington, standing at 1.98 meters with a 2.17-meter wingspan, stable three-point shooting, and outstanding defense, is one of the best 3&D players currently in the league.
Perhaps the "one of" can be removed because he caused more trouble for Hansen in previous matchups with the Bulls than Crowder did.
Moreover, Covington can defend positions from the 2 to the 4, and his defensive effect on James is quite good, much better than Tucker, who is currently in the Cavaliers.
In the previous Christmas game, although the Cavaliers won, it was impossible for Hansen to simultaneously guard both James and Curry on the defensive end.
Trading for Covington is very worthwhile.
As for the rest, Wade still averaged 18+ points per game with the Bulls this season, while Korver is the most stable off-ball shooter currently in the league, consistently delivering a 40%+ three-point shooting rate, with a past season record of 49.2% on six three-point shots per game (and early records of 53.2%).
Their arrivals, as he had said before, could greatly boost the Cavaliers’ bench strength.
The Cavaliers didn’t have a first-round in this year’s draft, but the Bulls’ pick would likely bring a mid-round first-round rookie.
Hansen ultimately chose two options: one from the Bulls and another not among the current offers, from the Pelicans.
Because if they can convince Huoledi to sign an early renewal contract with the Cavaliers after the trade, that would also be a suitable choice for the Cavaliers.
Moreover, sending Irving to the West is better than sending him to an Eastern competitor.
As February arrived, Irving’s trade was finally settled.
The Cavaliers reached a three-team deal with the Bulls and the Hawks.
The Cavaliers traded Irving, Dunleavy, and Hawes, gaining Wade, Covington, Korver, and the Bulls’ 2017 first-round pick;
The Hawks traded Korver, receiving Dunleavy, Hawes, and the Bulls’ 2019 first-round pick;
The Bulls traded Wade, Covington, and their 2017 and 2019 first-round picks, gaining Irving.
Although there had been ongoing rumors, the official conclusion of the trade still sent ripples through the league.
After all, a defending champion trading away the team’s second in command in the title-defending season was unprecedented in NBA history.
James’ supporters were in a frenzy.
This time, they didn’t claim that Hansen was teaming up, because it was evident that trading Irving for Wade was undoubtedly a downgrade for the Cavaliers.
Some of James’ fans were even moved to tears.
From 2003 to 2016, after waiting for 13 years, James was finally set to welcome the first championship of his career!
The day after the trade was completed, Wade passed his physical exam, but due to the need to find housing and other logistics, he wouldn’t meet with the Cavaliers until the following day.
However, that evening, Hansen received a call from Wade.
In the call, Wade only mentioned one thing, which was about playing one-on-one.
On the way to the training facility, Hansen was filled with thoughts.
Previously, he included the Bulls’ trade option mainly because of Covington, as a strategy against the Warriors.
Wade’s arrival could be considered a surprise or a coincidence.
But Wade was also special to him. Follow current novels on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
Because Wade was the first NBA star he ever met.
Moreover, Wade had given him substantial support before entering the NBA.
However, they didn’t become teammates but rivals on the court.
Hansen repeatedly shattered Wade’s championship dreams.
Gratitude and resentment, with gratitude and resentment to follow, they had quite a storied relationship.
Unexpectedly, in Wade’s career twilight, they eventually became teammates.
Sometimes life is just that peculiar.
It’s hard to believe that it has been exactly 8 years since their first meeting.
Hansen parked outside the training facility and walked in.
The new training facility had been in use since last summer, with a highly modern feel just like the renovated locker rooms.
As he reached the entrance, he already heard the sound of a basketball bouncing on the floor.
Opening the door, he immediately saw Wade.
Compared to 8 years ago, Wade’s biggest change was probably his more prominent jawline.
In terms of a typical guard’s career, Wade had just turned 35, which was still at the tail end of his peak.
For instance, Kobe was still performing at an All-Star level at the age of 38 last season.
However, Wade’s knees accelerated his decline, and while he could still play, he no longer had his peak dominance.
Hansen, having played against the Heat many times over the years, had a profound sense of Wade’s changes in ability.
Upon hearing the door open and seeing Hansen, Wade’s expression was indeed complicated.
Last summer, the Cavaliers had offered him a contract, but he declined it.
Like West and other old-school players, he didn’t want to join a team that had repeatedly defeated him, as they despised such "defection" behavior.
However, trades were beyond one’s control.
Moreover, this season in Chicago hadn’t gone smoothly for him.
Playing as a point guard hadn’t worked well, and the head coach, Hoiberg, even hoped he’d play as a substitute.
His last stint as a substitute dated back to his rookie days, which made him feel quite humiliated.
In a sense, he was jumping from one form of humiliation into another.
However, looking at Hansen and reminiscing about their shared history, he smiled with acceptance.
Perhaps it was all destined.
All-Star Western Conference starters: Irving, Hansen, Derozan, Durant, Antetokounmpo
Reserves: Little Thomas, Lowry, John Wall, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Millsap, Jokic
Eastern Conference starters: Curry, Harden, Leonard, James, Anthony Davis
Reserves: Westbrook, Conley, Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Cousins, Little Jordan, Little Gasol