NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 839 "Escape" from the Eastern Alliance. (No main character chapter)

On Monday, July 2, 2012, after free agency began, a news report by the Los Angeles Times sparked heated discussions among sports commentators:

"Dwight Howard is considering leaving Cleveland, and his agent, Dan Feigen, says they have rejected the Cavaliers' contract extension offer."

The newspaper reports were relatively mild, but on Twitter, several sources familiar with the matter in Los Angeles have offered further details:
"After receiving an invitation from Magic Johnson, Howard is interested in playing in Los Angeles and has already made a commitment."

"."

The news went viral on social media last night. Cleveland fans didn't believe the rumors at all, but as of this morning, "Happy Beast" hadn't publicly responded, which disappointed many fans.

Cavaliers fans cannot understand why Howard, who has always been "loyal," would make such a choice.

Meanwhile, Celtics superfan Bill Simmons offered his interpretation in an ESPN column, and after reading the article updated this morning, onlookers finally understood:
"Dwight Howard started a wave of people leaving the Eastern Conference."

The article's title may have confused casual fans, but after reading it, they begin to understand the young man's choice, and Bill Simmons' explanation seems quite reasonable:
"After this year's finals, more and more young people realized that they still couldn't break Lee's dominance in the next four years."

"For many years, players in the Eastern Conference have been waiting for an era to end, but now, Howard is the first young player to compromise with reality. He doesn't want to struggle for another four years."

"Kevin Durant's success has shown young players another path; in the Western Conference, they have a better chance of reaching the NBA Finals!"

“We shouldn’t criticize this choice. Dwyane Wade is still the best perimeter player to defend Lee, but four years later, he will be 34 years old.”

"Staying behind takes courage and comes at a price. We pay tribute to Wade, but the Heat are destined for defeat."

Not only this article, but ESPN's data experts also wrote a season summary after the draft, which also contained some very impressive points:
"It didn't surprise me that 34-year-old Li averaged 45.5 points in the Finals, but his 100% shooting percentage and 120% true shooting percentage left me speechless with shock."

“We don’t know if Lee will maintain this miraculous form for the next four years. Perhaps only God can answer that. The only thing I’m sure of is that Lee is devouring another group of young players.”

"Carmelo Anthony is 32 years old four years after leaving the Western Conference. Considering the competitive environment of the Nets, it may be difficult for us to see him return to the conference finals."

"A similar situation will occur with the 03 class of players, who may be replaced by another group of outstanding young players in 2016."

"This situation is somewhat cruel for these young people who are hailed as the Platinum Generation, as everyone is under Li's rule."

"."

ESPN has been hyping this up for over a decade, but this year they've surprisingly stopped. However, the content of their article is chilling for young players, since no one can guarantee that their physical condition will remain excellent after they turn 30.

Derrick Roth is the best example. After winning the MVP, he suffered a series of injuries this season. After Li You won the championship again, the young man was abandoned by the commentators, and no one believed that he could return to his peak.

After four years of wasted time, will he still choose to leave the Eastern Conference?

Howard's team gave an honest answer, and Adidas seems to strongly support this choice. After Rose's "fall," their star player, "Happy Beast," should at least play in the Finals once to expand his influence.

That afternoon, what made it even harder for Cavaliers fans to accept was that Deron Williams also suspended negotiations with the team.

Although the stated reason was to travel to Las Vegas early to participate in the national team's training camp, this seems a bit too early. The earliest arrival time at the training camp is Friday, and it seems that Deron Williams is also planning to leave!

Atlanta-based sports reporters also tweeted updates on the Hawks' negotiations with Joe Johnson, and to the disappointment of local fans, the star player wanted the team to send him to the Western Conference.

This cowardly act prompted many fans to flood Joe Johnson's social media with comments. Joe Johnson, who had been burying his head in the sand, updated his social media before bed:
“I have never made a trade request. I just want a change of work environment. Regardless of how it is viewed, I will always love Atlanta and thank everyone for their support over the years.”

"."

Being an ostrich can be useful. Joe Johnson was criticized by fans until the wee hours of the morning after updating his Twitter account. Cowards are not popular anywhere. In contrast, Kobe Bryant's tough guy qualities stand out!
-

On July 4th, the United States celebrated Independence Day, and The New York Times finally reported on Li You's story on that day.

Contrary to the expectations of many onlookers, Li You did not fly to the UK as he did last year, but returned to New Mexico. The photos published in the newspapers were also quite "interesting".

Li Youzheng, who was participating in the election campaign, was chatting intimately with local Pueblo residents, while in the background was a billboard criticizing Martin Heinrich, a candidate for Senate from the Democratic Party, for his "hypocritical" remarks.

The general election will be held this November, with elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives taking place at the same time.

Despite the fact that New Mexico is generally blue and the Elephant Party hasn't invested many resources, Lee Yu has set no budget limit for this election, and his regional ads on social media are "overwhelming."

However, this news content is too far removed from most casual observers, and New Mexico is considered a "rural area." New Yorkers glanced at it and were immediately drawn to more interesting sports news:

"Kobe Bryant believed that Russell Westbrook was most like him in the league, and neither of them was afraid of difficulties and failures."

With training camp about to begin, apart from Durant who is preparing to attend the ESPY Awards ceremony, Harden and Westbrook have already arrived in Las Vegas to join the other players.

With young players planning to move west, Kobe's previous interview with Sports Illustrated has been brought up again. The Mamba seems to have spoken the truth: today's young players lack "competitiveness"!
Philadelphia also reported the news, but unlike New York, the Inquirer focused more on the 76ers' roster for next season.

Despite the current freeze, the 76ers have already decided to waive Elton Brand.

The main reason for letting go of this veteran, besides the fact that he was unwilling to continue playing in the Eastern Conference, was that Kobe didn't want to see any more "lazybones" in the locker room.
This was confirmed by head coach Doug Collins, who said that the Mamba will focus on training in the new season and lead the 76ers' young players back to the playoffs!
With veterans leaving, the team naturally needs to fill some gaps. Nick Young has agreed to join the 76ers after receiving a higher offer. At the same time, in order to solve the center problem, the team also signed Kwame Brown, a former teammate of Mamba.

Although the trade was met with complaints from Philadelphia fans, Doug Collins spoke up for the "past number one draft pick," and related articles repeatedly reiterated the newcomer's views:
“I am no longer the ignorant young man I used to be. I am grateful to Philadelphia for giving me this opportunity, and I am willing to take on any role.”

The 76ers still have a problem at the center position, but they have found a new target. Andrew Bynum has no intention of continuing to play for the Suns, and Nash is also preparing to leave. Philadelphia hopes to successfully take over!
Kobe's die-hard fans couldn't contain themselves when they saw the article in the newspaper. Were the management "Kobe haters"? Were they targeting "traitors"?

76ers general manager Tony DiLeo also addressed these issues in an interview, and when discussing potential reinforcements, he rather tactfully described a situation the team was facing:
"Kobe has very high standards, and after communication, we believe this is the most suitable option."

This is a euphemism; the truth is that most players didn't like playing with Kobe. If the Clippers hadn't been so stingy, Nick Young would definitely have stayed in Los Angeles.

As for Bynum, his reputation has been getting worse and worse since leaving the Spurs. The Suns' locker room was in turmoil, and the 76ers only took him on because they were familiar with the triangle offense.

Doug Collins has no intention of introducing a completely new tactical system. As the head coach, he just wants Kobe to play the basketball he is most familiar with.

Among current players, not many have experience with the triangle offense, so these two former teammates are decent options. The management has done its best to meet Mamba's requirements.

However, Bynum still needs a catalyst to join the team. The 76ers are waiting for the Cavaliers' decision. Howard's determination to leave will likely trigger multiple trades.

On Independence Day, Nick Young, who was in Philadelphia, was pulled by Thaddeus Young, the young leader of the 76ers, to participate in an event. With Kobe Bryant about to return, the championship forward plans to "compete" with the Mamba in the new season!
Nick Young, who had just arrived at the team, was unaware of the situation. After receiving a warm welcome from Philadelphia, the young man was overjoyed, and the basketball environment here was not as bad as described on social media.

Dressed in sportswear, Thaddeus Young glanced at the new recruit's smiling face and inwardly scoffed. This kind of guy really deserves a good talking-to from the Mamba.
This year, the 76ers' 11th draft pick went to the Lakers, who selected Meyers Leonard. However, this young man could very well become trade bait in a few months.

"Dude, I need to let you know about the current situation of the team. You know, Kobe is going to retire in two years, so he doesn't really have much say."

Hearing Thaddeus Young's whisper, Nick Young's dark face showed surprise. Although he had experienced Arenas' leadership during his time with the Wizards, he hadn't yet evolved into a "sycophant" and wasn't sure what his teammate meant.
"Bro, what are you trying to say? Do you think Kobe will make things difficult for me?"

"He'll definitely attack us during practice. This guy thinks he's some kind of superstar. I have no interest in experiencing the Lakers' training methods!"

Thaddeus Young got straight to the point: he wanted to unite his teammates to resist Kobe's "involution." Extra practice was out of the question; this wasn't New York, and every time they lost, the fans complained. He just wanted to slack off.

"You mean 4 a.m.?! Holy crap, is that real?"

Upon hearing about the Lakers' training methods, Nick Young immediately complained, but then, considering he had only signed a one-year contract, he didn't care. He just wanted to rack up some stats and hopefully return to the Western Conference.

"In short, there aren't many people in the locker room who support Kobe, and Coach Collins probably won't be able to stay with the team for long. You know, Philadelphia is going to have 68 losses next season."

When the sensitive words were mentioned, Thaddeus Young involuntarily lowered his voice. Although it was an Independence Day event, there were many sports fans present, and this record was currently "taboo" and could not be mentioned at all.

Nick Young nodded, his face expressionless, but inwardly he felt a pang of regret, wishing he had stayed in Los Angeles.

Although the mid-level contract was good, the "trouble" in the locker room still gave him a bad feeling.

-

On Wednesday, July 11, the Lakers completed a blockbuster trade after the freeze period ended:
They traded their 2013 first-round and second-round draft picks, their 2014 second-round draft pick, and their 2018 first-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Steve Nash.

Without triggering the Tier 2 luxury tax, a sign-and-trade deal brought Nash to Los Angeles, where he will team up with Stoudemire again. Both are happy about the deal and have been actively interacting on social media since the trade was completed.

However, this trade came at a cost. Barnes and Felton are both free agents, and the Lakers seem unwilling to re-sign them; only Lou Williams received a new contract. Across the ocean, Chinese fans, besides focusing on the London Olympics at the end of the month, are also paying close attention to the Rockets' moves.

To the disappointment of fans, Luis Scola's negotiations "broke down," and while Jeremy Lin was promoted to the starting lineup, Kyle Lowry, who had conflicts with head coach Michael Jordan, was traded to the Raptors.

The 2013 first-round draft pick was good, but it didn't help the team much. As for the relatively unknown Gary Forbes, he was automatically ignored by fans.

The trade that shocked the commentators the most was the Hawks' "move":
In exchange for Joe Johnson, the Brooklyn Nets received Kris Humphries, Jordan Farmar, John Petro, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams, a 2013 second-round draft pick, and a 2017 first-round draft pick.

Although the players they acquired were too "role-playing," Kris Humphries performed well for the Nets last season, partnering with Garnett and becoming a well-known "no-fly zone" in the league.

The Hawks failed to meet Joe Johnson's desire to play in the Western Conference, the Suns were interested but unwilling to give up any assets, and many other teams believed that "Hawk King" was a playoff liability and not worth trading.

After trading away a number of fringe players, the Nets continue to strengthen their roster, bringing back team legend Jason Kidd on a 3-year, $900 million contract!

Meanwhile, through the Russian owner's connections, Andrei Kirilenko was also "on his way," and the Nets went completely "crazy," successfully forming a "multi-star" team.

Although the Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn, longtime fans still follow the team, especially after Kidd's return, which caused a surge in discussion on social media.

Kidd didn't disappoint the fans either, expressing his "longing" via Twitter in the afternoon:
"Thank you for the support from the fans in New Jersey and Brooklyn. I will bring the championship experience back to the Nets!"

"."

Not long ago, the Russian owner successfully renewed Garnett's contract for 3 years and 3400 million dollars, fulfilling all the promises made at the time. However, Garnett almost broke down on the spot after seeing Kidd's tweet.

Even without New York players, he couldn't escape the "championship experience." While fans expected interaction, Garnett remained silent, while Anthony posted multiple tweets:

"Billy King and the management deserve praise for their actions; it's time to change the basketball landscape in New York!"

"I can't wait to get back on the court! The Nets are about to rise!"

That afternoon, the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles hosted the 20th annual ESPY Awards ceremony. In the evening, a large number of sports stars gathered on the red carpet, and this year ESPN will broadcast the event live.

Although the Thunder suffered a crushing defeat in the Finals, Kevin Durant is still a "winner," with impeccable individual statistics. It can be said that the Thunder lost, but the MVP did not!

The area outside the red carpet was somewhat crowded, with most of the reporters holding cameras focusing on the elegantly dressed ladies.

For example, Maria Sharapova, who is wearing a blue dress and has a tall figure and a new hairstyle, is petite but exceptionally upright; Hayden Panettiere, the girlfriend of boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko.

Danica Patrick, a beautiful female driver who has become very popular in recent years, shows off her great figure in a pink suit;

Olivia Moon, a washed-up TV reporter who has appeared in films and television dramas in recent years, wearing a low-cut purple dress.
Every time a celebrity posed in front of "ESPY 20," it would elicit a cheer, until Kevin Durant appeared in a burgundy suit, and the scene suddenly became somewhat quiet.

The new MVP's outfit shocked many people, but Durant, wearing large black-rimmed glasses, was unaffected. People greeted him along the way, which made the young man feel particularly good.

After the photoshoot, an ESPN reporter immediately interviewed Durant, avoiding questions about his styling and directly asking about tonight's awards:

"Kevin, congratulations on your nomination for Best Male Athlete and NBA Player of the Year."

"I think most fans would like to know how you spent this period after the Finals loss?"

Durant, head bowed, felt a pang of sadness upon hearing about the Finals. Although he was certain he would win two trophies, he couldn't help but share:

"It has been a tough time, you know. This is my first time in the Finals. I don't focus on personal stats, but losing four games in a row is really hard for me to accept."

“After returning to Oklahoma City, I locked myself in my house. Every time I watched the video, I would feel frustrated and cry. I should have done better, but I didn’t realize it at the time.”

"Failure is also a valuable experience. Li has shown me how to lead a team, and I will do better in the new season."

It seems hard to imagine the towering Durant silently shedding tears alone at home. The young reporter, suppressing a smile, asked again the question that the onlookers were curious about:

"We all know that the US men's basketball team's closed training camp is about to end. Kevin, tell us about your feelings about training camp. Has Kobe injected 'victory' into the team?"

When asked about his national team trip, Durant looked a little strange. In fact, apart from his good teammates, hardly anyone paid any attention to the Mamba.

Tomorrow is the warm-up game against the Dominican Republic, and Durant, still giving Kobe face, gave him a rather tactful reminder:

"Kobe played well, but I'm the core of this team, you know. As an efficient scorer and co-captain, my job is to tear apart all defenses."

"As for other things, I don't pay attention to them. If you have the chance, you can interview the other co-captain, LeBron James. He's more in charge of the locker room. I think everyone did a great job!"

"."

The young reporter, who understood the unspoken meaning, blinked. If it weren't for Coach Krzyzewski's closed training camp, they would have gone to watch the fun long ago. Rumors were circulating that Kyrie Irving almost got into a fight with the Mamba.

Durant shook his head after the interview. His main task was to persuade the team's management to keep the current roster. Jeff Green was recovering well, but they still hadn't reached an agreement on a four-year, $36 million contract.

Thinking about the Thunder's "stingy" performance, Durant sighed inwardly. This year he finally realized the difference between a small market and a big market. If it were New York, perhaps this wouldn't be a problem.

-

On Monday, July 16, the Suns signed free agent Luis Scola, while the Nets signed Dan Gazuric, further bolstering their roster.

Last week's ESPY event was a great success. Although the Knicks, who won the All-NBA Team award, only sent Kyrie Irving and others to accept the award, many people began to admire 34-year-old Lee Yu after he "shared his championship experience" on stage.

"The greatest player in history demands the most of himself every day. As young people, what right do we have not to work hard?"

Although Kyrie Irving didn't say what specific training Li You did, as an athlete himself, the general public knows very well that at this age, diet and training are both indispensable for maintaining physical condition!

The Summer League is still ongoing, and the Knicks are being led by Jimmy Butler and Lance Stephenson this year.

Although the latter is a third-year player, he responded enthusiastically this time, determined to show off his progress.
While New York fans haven't seen any improvement in their ball skills, everyone agrees that their boxing level has risen dramatically!

During the game that night, Butler and Stephenson got into a fight on the bench, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.

Stephenson, who had the upper hand, was caught off guard and immediately broke down after being pulled away, shouting:
"You son of a bitch! You spineless coward who only knows how to flatter! You should just stay in the Development League!"

"."

The conflict between the two players became a trending topic on Twitter, revealing that the Knicks' locker room was not united, and even "family members" were fighting.

On Thursday the 19th, Anthony Davis was called up to the US men's basketball team as a replacement for Blake Griffin, who suffered a knee injury.

That evening, the American team, who had flown to Manchester, once again experienced Li You's influence. Manchester United had won the championship again this year, and advertisements for Red Football Capital were everywhere.
Although Lee Yu did not come to the UK, the mainstream British media gave it extensive coverage, and some even began to analyze that the "Lee family" would take root in New Mexico, which would be a clear signal if they won the Senate election.

As for why he abandoned New York, there are also professional analyses. In short, in Manchester, the general public is more concerned about Li You's life than the so-called NBA superstar.

As a rookie on the team, Anthony Davis may have been a junior member, but he was well taken care of by his older brothers in the locker room. LeBron James really likes rookies!
Before the game started, Kobe rallied the crowd, and after a brief response, they ignored him. Meanwhile, James chatted jokingly about the recent free agency market:

"Tyson, the Mavericks don't seem to be making many moves. Does Jason Terry want to leave the team?"

Chandler didn't deny it; Kidd's departure was a signal. Speaking of Terry, the championship striker smiled and recommended him:
"If you can convince Pat Riley to sign Terry, his championship experience can be a great help to you!"

"."

Kobe remained silent. When he heard Anthony join in the boasting, the Mamba became even more annoyed. Thinking of Irving, who had almost punched him, he pulled a long face and quickly left.

Anthony Davis chuckled inwardly at the sight. The washed-up James Harden should finally shut up. Remembering how Harden had lectured him when he first joined the team, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

"The 'passengers' also want to lead the team?"

"."

(End of this chapter)