NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 809 The Birth of the "Rich Man's Line" (Daily Life Chapter)
On Thursday, September 29, 2011, star players gathered at the Players Association headquarters for another intensive meeting.

The content of this meeting was not related to tomorrow's labor negotiations; instead, everyone was discussing a major deal that had been halted.

Chris Paul, the main figure at the meeting, looked visibly frustrated and remained silent for most of the time; he genuinely hadn't expected the trade to encounter such a setback.

Union president Fisher was still explaining what had happened not long ago, but Kevin Garnett had no patience to listen to Fisher's rambling anymore. His face darkened, and he swore again:
"MF! What does the players' influence have to do with us? Why doesn't that son of a bitch Gilbert say something like that to Lee? He only bullies black people!"

"Every year we get ridiculed by the media and fans, and now they're telling us players can't continue to expand their influence? Is their brain full of shit?!"

"."

Garnett's furious complaints stemmed primarily from Gilbert's call last week at a meeting for players to focus on the game and avoid engaging in activities unrelated to basketball.

In response, the Cavaliers' owner deliberately brought up the old issue again, making a sarcastic remark about last year's "decision":
“LeBron James is clearly imitating Lee in every way. He even went to rallies with Jay-Z to campaign for votes.”

"I don't mean to condemn such behavior, but as an athlete, James crossed the line. He should focus on basketball, and the same goes for other players. Don't use the NBA platform to achieve other goals."

"The league should stop the unreasonable trades that are taking place. The Hornets are under trusteeship, so I urge that we vote on the future development of the trades."

These remarks were reported by multiple media outlets after the meeting. Undoubtedly, Gilbert was dissatisfied with the departure of the "Chosen One" and the trades planned by the Lakers.

However, the comments still stirred up a hornet's nest. Li You's influence certainly expanded beyond his immediate circle, but other players were unfairly criticized.
Look at LeBron James, who has been heavily praised by basketball commentators recently, but casual fans don't buy it. The reason is simple: the chosen one has only made it to the NBA Finals once since entering the league.

What truly made James famous this year was his Game 7 loss and his own poor performance, leading many to see him as the "second Kobe"!
Currently, the chosen one has successfully taken over the "bad boy" mantle from Mamba.
Without an MVP award or a scoring title, LeBron James' influence isn't actually that great. As for those who haven't experienced the Finals, they're not even qualified to discuss it.

Harden is the disrespected "Old Harden". His influence has been declining year by year. After being traded by the Celtics, he has become a joke. His loyal image is completely gone!

Garnett, still seething with anger, continued his tirade, while Pierce beside him grinned and spewed out a torrent of nonsense. As one of the few "high achievers" in the union, the original leader still held considerable sway:

"They're the ones who crossed the line! The transactions weren't illegal; they're trying to manipulate the free market based solely on their own ideas?"

Pierce rested his chin on his hand, looked around the conference room, and finding no one speaking, asked himself:

"In short, I think the union should protest clearly tomorrow. It's our right. As long as the rules aren't broken, the players should decide their own fate."

The two of them, working in unison, started promoting "autonomy" again. Loyalty was no longer something they needed to consider. Pierce deeply regretted his decision to take a pay cut last year.

James, Wade, and Anthony, who are good friends, didn't say anything. Actually, they were a little happy to see the trade being called off.

After all, the Big Three of Paul, Iguodala, and Stoudemire are very strong on paper!

In particular, Paul has learned a lot from Li You. If a "championship reaction" occurs, the Lakers will definitely become a stumbling block on their road to the championship. It's better to eliminate such a potential opponent.

Wade, who had previously argued with Stern, finally couldn't resist chiming in after hearing Garnett's endless rant:
“Those guys are trying to divide us. Lee is a member of the union, and his influence is the influence of the union. Although I don’t like the Knicks on the court, we need Lee at this time.”

"."

The meeting room fell silent. Caron Butler and veteran Theo Ratliff exchanged a glance, and the former quickly responded, saying:
“Li should be back at the University of Connecticut recently. I can invite him. He will help the guild solve its problems.”

Theo Ratliff's dark face also showed a look of approval. In fact, he had long been fed up with the constant arguing, and now he cast his vote in favor, saying:

"Li can guarantee everyone's interests, guys. This isn't a basketball court. Don't bring your personal biases here. Li respects everyone who works hard."

The star players tacitly agreed, and the role players attending the meeting, led by Butler, also voiced their approval. Everyone realized that while Bill Simmons' words were harsh, they made some sense.

-

On Friday, September 30th, Li You had to get up early after returning to his Manhattan townhouse home. However, the intensity of the game the night before was too great, and he felt a little listless when he opened his eyes.

After attending Fashion Week, the Olsen twins have been holed up in Manhattan lately. Elizabeth went to the film set to visit the succubus, and the two sisters practically dangle around Li You every day.

Catherine did the same, temporarily putting the studio's affairs out of her mind. She and Kristen Ritter stared at the computer all day, and the four of them would occasionally throw a party with Li You, forgetting all their friends.

The petite Olsen sisters were nestled in Li You's arms, entwined tightly, while also being embraced by two other girls.

Li You, who wanted to pull his arm away, was unable to move for a moment. The girls on the big bed were sleeping soundly, exhausted from last night's secretary party.
In the end, it was the thoughtful Catherine who woke up first. Seeing Li You blink, she bit her lip somewhat embarrassedly, pulled Ashley's arm away, slowly squeezed to her side, and whispered in his ear:
"Honey, will the stock price continue to fall?"

Li You felt helpless. Ever since the group invested in Nrtflix put options, they had become somewhat crazy. Every time the stock price dropped, they would throw a party. When it fell below $100, they even screamed loudly.

The speed at which this wealth accumulated was so fast that it generated an extraordinary sense of satisfaction. Even the usually calm Catherine was thrilled. In another sense, the US dollar was the best "stimulant".

Seeing the blonde woman gradually leaning over him, Li You whispered something and gently grasped her now slender waist. Catherine rolled her eyes at her lover, and their morning exercise began again.

After regaining consciousness, Kristen Ritter chuckled and joined the practice match. Once the Olsen sisters woke up, everyone moved to the bathroom, where the laughter continued until after 7 a.m.

At breakfast, Mary-Kate, wearing only a nightgown, had a rosy complexion. She hadn't been using any protection lately and had completely let loose, even starting to discuss her children.
“I should have planned this earlier. Lizzie told me it would hurt a bit, and I was definitely scared beforehand.”

Kristen Ritter, with her long black hair and wearing only a T-shirt, subconsciously joked when she heard the two sisters start discussing having babies:
"I swear, it won't hurt too much, and it will definitely be easier than what you did the other day."

Ashley glanced at Li You's flushed face. He had recently unlocked more knowledge, much of which came from his sister's secret advice. Thinking of his own "embarrassing" appearance, he subconsciously changed the subject:

"Honey, will the stock price continue to fall? How long will it fall?"

Catherine, with her blonde hair styled in a bun, looked at Li You expectantly. Everyone stopped eating; the allure of the US dollar was simply too great. Li You, engrossed in his breakfast, had to offer a brief explanation:

"To be on the safe side, we should be able to reach the highest returns in November."

Before she could finish her sentence, the girls cheered in unison. Ashley even sat up and nestled in Li You's lap, ignoring the slipped bra strap, giving him a passionate kiss and praising him loudly:
"Our hero, what theme would you like tonight?"

Seeing the excitement in their eyes, Li You hugged the squirming girl and waved his hand with a wry smile. Considering his physical condition, he changed his mind and whispered in her ear.

Ashley's body was hot, but she didn't refuse. Instead, she continued to wriggle in his arms, tilting her head back and whispering:

“I know Scar has several special uniforms, and I’ve prepared the blindfolds for them.”

"."

Around 10 o'clock, media reporters stationed near the Olympic Building quickly spotted Li You's iconic Cadillac Escalade ESV.

Unlike the commercially available version, this extended vehicle is essentially a custom-made White House model, complete with a reinforced chassis, bulletproof armor, run-flat tires, and medical equipment.

After a short rest, Li You had fully recovered. Facing the swarm of cameras as he got out of the car, he maintained a polite smile. The reporter from the Daily News was the quickest, asking a question through the crowd:
"Li, are you here to end the negotiations? New York fans want to see the game as soon as possible!" "I'm just here to seek a win-win situation. Right now, I'm just like the fans, wanting to get back on the court as soon as possible. You know, we just celebrated the 2012 championship, and I need to get the trophy back as soon as possible."

Li You jokingly commented on the activities of the New York fan club, which made the New York reporters present laugh heartily. Everyone praised him loudly, and the more enthusiastically he praised him, the happier everyone became.
Li You patiently answered questions from several professional media outlets, including ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and Fox Sports.

Executive Director Billy Hunter, with his white hair and impeccably tailored black suit, quickly greeted Li You with a hug and a greeting, then began whispering in his ear. Following behind, Fairsher acted like a lackey, a far cry from his sophisticated demeanor of the previous week.

When everyone arrived on the 15th floor, Peter Holt, chairman of the Labor Relations Committee and owner of the San Antonio Spurs, immediately stepped forward to hug and greet them. The old man is considered a representative of small-market teams and was very much looking forward to today's negotiations.

With gray hair and frameless glasses, Miami Heat owner Mickey Arison smiled broadly, shook hands with Li You, and then looked around the conference room meaningfully, saying:

"This is the ideal meeting format, Li. Thank you very much for coming. I believe we will soon achieve a win-win situation!"

"The meeting was held in small groups, and the small group was held in large groups." Today, the investors only had two representatives, the union had three including Old Fish, and the league also had three. Stern was naturally the one in charge.

Li You sensed that the other party was dissatisfied with the argument at last week's meeting; having more people had actually caused problems. He didn't comment on this, but simply smiled and explained:
"Our main purpose today is to discuss the issue of super teams. I understand that many teams want regional broadcast revenue sharing, but I think it will be difficult for everyone to reach an agreement."

"If we take a step back, we can set reasonable rules. As long as information is transparent, everyone will eventually understand each other."

David Stern, who was coughing a bit, breathed a sigh of relief. Limiting super teams is like putting a "golden hoop" on a big market, and he used to be very worried that the Knicks wouldn't cooperate.

It seems that, under Li You's guidance, most local fans have accepted some of his views.

At 10 a.m., the meeting began, and Li You, as the union representative, quickly proposed a "win-win solution":
"Basketball is constantly evolving, and in my opinion, the continued development of streaming media will eventually narrow the gap between small and large markets."

"What we need to do now is to give it a push and temporarily bring the two sides to a balance, and the new luxury tax line can achieve this goal, which is why we are here today."

The union lawyer has already distributed the first draft to several people, which contains a relatively detailed introduction to the Tier 2 luxury tax.

Peter Holt watched intently. Although he didn't quite agree with the streaming media's outlook, Li You showed absolute sincerity compared to previous meetings.

"Deprive them of their right to use the full middle-class allowance, biennial exception, and sign-and-exchange policy?"

Mickey Arison repeated the statement with a questioning tone, and Billy Hunter from the union side then briefly explained:

“I know many people don’t want to see a team that is ‘dominated’; only by imposing appropriate penalties can the competitive environment be effectively improved.”

"On this point, Li had discussed it with Mr. Dolan a long time ago. Cooperation and mutual benefit are what we should do."

Adam Silver was somewhat surprised that Li You would give up the advantage of a large market. If this luxury tax plan is implemented, future dynasty teams will face difficulties.

After exchanging whispers, David Stern smiled, leaned forward, and said gently:

"This is indeed a win-win proposal, and I think the board of directors will support it. A good start foreshadows success, and we can continue to discuss supplements to this plan."

Everyone in the meeting room seemed very satisfied. The small market appeared to have received strong support, and on this point, the board of directors would most likely have no further disagreements. Punishment was a good thing!
On the evening of the 30th, Yahoo Sports provided detailed coverage of the more than four-hour labor meeting. Adrian Wojnarowski, having received information through an insider, praised Li You's influence and concluded with the following assessment:
"Li's arrival brought a spirit of cooperation to the room! This is the first time everyone has reached a consensus."

In addition to its usual praise of the GOAT, ESPN also provided detailed coverage of David Stern's remarks to the media after the meeting:
"Both sides have expressed their willingness to reach an agreement. As Li said, a win-win situation is the best solution. After three months, we have finally begun to understand each other."

However, when discussing the schedule later, Stern denied ESPN's idea of ​​resuming the regular season, and offered his own prediction:
"60+ games should be the ideal scenario, and fans will definitely be able to see this year's Christmas Day games by Christmas at the latest."

-

On Saturday, October 1st, the Las Vegas All-Star exhibition game proceeded as scheduled, and Kevin Durant, who is active in various leagues, once again became the focus of commentators' attention.

He scores like crazy whenever he steps on the court; Durant looks to be in great physical condition, and Oklahoma City fans are going wild. Clearly, the young man is starting to realize his potential!
Li You has been resting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas recently. Since Kobe went to the other side of the ocean, Li You has been keeping a low profile, and the media has begun to focus more on young people.

When Durant finished training in the morning, he was quickly surrounded by reporters. When talking about the new luxury tax plan, his dark face was full of excitement:

“I like the penalty clause. You know, in the past, big city teams could always find suitable players as long as they were willing to spend money, which was obviously unfair.”

"Modern basketball emphasizes teamwork, and when our roster has sufficient depth, we can defeat any opponent!"

The Thunder are actively searching for a suitable big man. Krstic is not up to the level of a championship center, and Durant has been actively recruiting during this period.

When the topic of honors came up, a delighted Durant threw "humility" to the back of his mind and unabashedly declared:
"Why wasn't I the MVP? Many commentators seem to have forgotten the few things that matter in the league: 'loyalty.' In that respect, few people can do better than me!"

"I will never take shortcuts; that's not something an MVP-caliber player should do."

"A 23-year-old MVP, I think that's pretty good. It's one of my sources of motivation for the new season. I think the Thunder are ready for the Finals."

"."

The luxury tax reform benefits small-market teams, and the Grizzlies have suddenly received extra attention. However, Zach Randolph pulled a big stunt by inviting a leaf seller to his party.

This move greatly disappointed the fans. After only one good season, the big black guy got cocky!

On the same day, the Warriors officially announced their new head coach: Mark Jackson accepted the invitation, left ESPN, and took over the young team.

On Monday the 3rd, unable to hold a press conference, Mark Jackson shared his thoughts on the Warriors via Twitter, posting multiple updates and praising Stephen Curry highly:

"Stephen also has an incredible shooting touch, which many people overlook. In my opinion, he will become the next superstar to come close to Lee in the future!"

Wherever Li You is, there are New York fans. When they heard that a rookie from a bottom-tier team was dreaming of getting close to the GOAT, everyone chimed in with their opinions in the comments section.
Curry recently bought a house in Widdington, North Carolina, near Charlotte, while continuing to rent in San Francisco. This move seems to indicate a lack of confidence.

The Charlotte Observer's column criticized the outspoken Mark Jackson and even predicted that Curry would soon be traded.

Small-market teams have suddenly received extra attention, which is clearly a new "bonus" for the league. It remains to be seen which team can seize the opportunity.

In the afternoon, LeBron James, whose popularity had suddenly waned, announced his withdrawal from the exhibition game. The "Chosen One" avoided interviews and explained to his fans via Twitter:

"In the coming months, I will reduce the number of interviews I give and devote all my energy to basketball. Criticism and ridicule will only make me stronger. My only opponent is myself!"

"Let's go Heat! #RevengeSeason (Angry) #TheWashedYoungKing (Crown) #Miami'sNewLeader (Black Kid) #ChasingGreatness (Rockets) #LeBron'sGang (Crown)"

"."

(End of this chapter)