Chapter 748: Chapter 748
On July 2nd, the second day of free agency arrived.
This day in the free-agent market was particularly quiet, or rather, other teams were also waiting for the outcomes of Irving and James.
However, on this day, an old acquaintance of Hansen arrived in Cleveland.
Yao Ming, or more precisely, Ming Zhao Rime came specifically to Cleveland to find Hansen.
He is now the president of the Basketball Association, and finding Hansen was naturally about national team matters.
In February, during the jersey retirement ceremony, the two had a brief exchange.
Even before Yao Ming took office, East University had successfully bid for the 2019 Basketball World Cup.
This was also the first world-class basketball event hosted by East University since the 2008 Olympics.
After sitting down, the two talked a lot, with Yao Ming discussing his experiences from participating in the Olympics.
"I understood very clearly at that time that it was my only chance in this lifetime to fight at my doorstep."
Yao Ming reflected on why he was willing to risk his career back then.
A game can be restarted, but life can’t; once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone.
Hansen agreed to Yao Ming’s invitation, partly because his thoughts aligned with Yao Ming’s—such chances to compete in major events at home are rare.
Additionally, it was because Yao Ming is now the president of the Basketball Association.
Yao Ming initially contacted him when he was injured, reminding him not to play for the national team while injured, which left a good impression.
However, Hansen proposed a condition to Yao Ming.
While he was here, he might as well share some Shanghai footwork with Jokic.
Having visited Olajuwon’s classes before, Hansen knew Jokic couldn’t match Olajuwon’s speed; in comparison, Jokic was actually closer to Yao Ming.
Especially in the application of low-post techniques, Yao Ming could be very helpful to Jokic.
Just as they were practicing, suddenly a big piece of news broke out on social media.
Curry, who had kept silent during the James and Green disputes, finally spoke:
"We succeeded in 2015, and we can’t lose anyone."
This choice was not unexpected. If James were willing to sit down and talk with Green, Curry’s personality would gladly make him a mediator.
But now, with a choice between two, he couldn’t side with James, as Green represented the Warriors’ honored group.
If he chose James, the Warriors’ locker room would be completely blown up.
Curry’s statement essentially closed the curtain on this drama.
It wasn’t just the significance of Curry to the Warriors but also because he was a free agent this year.
If Curry were truly angered and decided to leave, the Warriors would be completely doomed.
Therefore, this maneuver by James was thwarted by Curry, and he was already destined not to return to the Bay Area.
New York and Los Angeles, the two largest cities, were already beyond his reach.
Cleveland, this so-called hometown, now belonged to Hansen.
Now unable to go back to the Bay Area, where else could he go?
Even Hansen had no idea what the answer to this question would be.
On July 3rd, the free-agent market saw significant movement.
One of the big fishes in the market, Hayward, announced a five-year max contract returning to the Jazz.
Although nothing had happened with Griffin, this move by Hayward essentially closed off the Warriors’ fallback options.
If the Warriors hoped to find replacements in the free-agent market, they could only continue downward searching for players like Jrue Holiday, Millsap, and Gallinari.
The pressure on the Warriors’ management increased significantly.
Yao Ming returned to East University after instructing Jokic, and Jokic took Dedmon to test his training results.
The free-agent market remained quiet for two days.
Then, on July 5th, with only two days left in the free agency freeze period, Eastern Irving’s drama had results.
The Bulls were ultimately forced to agree to Irving’s request.
However, it was not simply a deal with the Celtics; rather, they reached a four-team trade.
This four-team trade was tantamount to an earthquake in the East.
The specific contents of the trade were:
The Bulls sent out Irving, Jimmy Butler, and received Fultz, Jahlil Okafor, Ri Riqi, John Collins, Jerry Baylor, and draft picks from the Celtics and Pacers;
The Celtics sent out Little Thomas, Crowder, Ri Riqi, and an unprotected future first-round pick, receiving Irving;
The 76ers sent out Fultz, Jahlil Okafor, Jerry Baylor, receiving Jimmy Butler, Crowder;
The Pacers sent out their 19th pick in 2017 John Collins, a future first-round pick, a future second-round pick, and received Little Thomas.
The most surprising aspect, naturally, was the 76ers. All along believing in the process, they finally abandoned their faith.
Actually, before last season’s draft, their process pioneer Sam Hinkie had already left his position. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝙣𝙚𝙩
Now with the opportunity to enhance the team’s strength, they naturally seized the chance.
After the trade, the 76ers possessed a highly competitive lineup in the East: Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Crowder, Saric, Embiid.
Embiid shot 36.7% from three-point range in his rookie season, making the lineup not as spatially constrained as expected.
If Embiid could stay healthy in the new season, and the 76ers’ management wisely used their rookie benefits to strengthen the bench, their competitiveness would be significant.
The Celtics were the least surprising; Little Thomas’s performance fluctuated greatly against the Cavaliers last season, and if they targeted the Cavaliers, upgrading the Point Guard position was necessary. With their assets, Irving was their ideal target.
Plus, Durant also had a strong personal inclination towards playing with Irving.
As long as Irving didn’t stir up trouble again, the Celtics’ paper strength could be said to have significantly improved after the trade.
On the Pacers’ side, with Teague’s contract expired, using minimal draft picks to acquire an All-Star Little Thomas to retain Paul George was acceptable to them.
As for Bird looking down on Little Thomas, in May this year, right after the Pacers’ season ended, Bird had already resigned from the position of team operations president, leaving the scene.
To speak of surprises, Hansen did not expect George not to request a trade.
You could say that his words as an "idol" indeed changed some of George’s thoughts.
As for the Bulls, with Irving causing such a stir, they pulled the plug directly. Having long intended to rebuild, they started over.
All they got from this deal were young players.
Simply from the perspective of trade and rebuild, it was a massive gain for them.
But if you showed these assets the Bulls acquired to Hansen, his evaluation would be a single sentence: the Bulls truly have no hope of revival.
There truly wasn’t even one that could play.
Speaking of it, if Irving hadn’t lashed out at James back then, this year Nike should have pushed hard for James to go to the Bulls.
After all, Chicago is a big city, and Irving’s and James’ playing styles quite fit.
But unfortunately, there were no ifs.
With the drama in the East concluded, the developments on the West side became the focal point.
When July 6th arrived, and with the freeze period nearing its end, James finally announced his new decision on social media.
"New Orleans is a city plagued by trauma; they need a sports revival, and I will go there to join hands with Anthony Davis to create a future."
When this decision was made, social media exploded.
"Is this fake news? LeBron actually going to a small city like New Orleans?"
"Is this poverty alleviation basketball?"
"You know what, you really know what, now it seems only AD fits the bill; strong enough but relatively inexperienced. If LeBron goes, he’ll be the major leader, and the team has competitiveness."
"Why should AD be the second fiddle to you, LeBron? The son of the United States is no less impressive than your so-called former Chosen One."
Amidst a heated debate, someone quietly posted a message.
After the end of last season, Anthony Davis dismissed his previous agent, and his new agent’s name is Rich Paul.