NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 841: Veteran Football Stars Have No Voice (Chapter Without Main Character)
On Thursday, August 16, 2012, the Cavaliers had just made a significant achievement, and this morning, a blockbuster trade was quietly completed.

The Lakers traded Steve Blake, Evan Turner, Lamar Odom, this year's 11th overall pick Meyers Leonard, and 2014 and 2016 first-round draft picks to acquire Dwight Howard.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the deal was both low-key and sudden. Gilbert had just promised a big contract, and then turned around and sold "Happy Beast".
While a host of sports reporters were still in a daze, Yahoo Sports' Wojnarowski then broke the news on Twitter:

"Dwight Howard's back injury is more serious than expected, and he may miss several weeks of the new season."

"During negotiations with the Cavaliers, Howard's team failed to make any commitments. Gilbert, not wanting to experience 'betrayal' again, took the initiative to facilitate the trade."

The news has been confirmed by Los Angeles media. Howard will indeed miss the opening game, but the Lakers believe he can recover from his back injury and are confident of re-signing him.

Jim Buss, as the current "helmsman" of the Lakers, immediately welcomed Howard after the trade was completed, updating his Twitter account with several posts:
"Superman is home!"

"Dwight's arrival will bring the Lakers back to the Finals. Los Angeles needs to get back to its rightful place!"

"."

Cavaliers fans are still unable to accept the news on social media. The two former stars have both betrayed them, and Gilbert's actions have also made everyone very dissatisfied. Injuries are not a reason for trades.

In this trade, both sides assessed Howard's injury. The Cavaliers believed that "The Happy Beast" would decline year by year, while the Lakers believed that Howard, despite his decline, could still be the core of the interior defense.

The two teams have different needs. Considering that Odom's contract only has one year left, the Cavaliers are out of a bind. They also don't have to worry about luxury tax issues when they re-sign Deron Williams to a 5-year, $9800 million contract.

However, Deron Williams was quite unhappy about Howard's trade. He agreed to re-sign because the team promised to maintain the current roster structure, but it turned out that this was just "tricking" him into signing the contract.

Fortunately, $9800 million is a huge sum of money, so Williams' team didn't complain immediately. After James' "Decision", Gilbert's team also grew.

On Monday, August 20th, Dwight Howard, who had returned to Los Angeles, attended a grand welcome ceremony prepared by the Lakers, with more than 2000 Los Angeles fans in attendance. The "Happy Beast" was overjoyed.

General Manager Kupchak and Jim Buss smiled broadly at the numerous media reporters, and applauded as Howard flashed his white teeth and displayed his number 12 jersey.

Los Angeles media have dubbed the Lakers' current roster the "second generation F4." Unlike the failed "old men's basketball" of earlier years, this time only Nash is getting a bit old; the other players are all in their prime!

Jim Buss was very satisfied with his actions. Since kicking Kobe and Phil Jackson out of the team, Jeanie Buss had completely lost her say and felt great about having complete control of the Lakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that Dwight will be healthier than expected, and our medical team has conducted a detailed assessment of this."

"Injuries will not be a hindrance for the Lakers. In the new season, under the leadership of Coach Scott, the new Lakers will return to where they belong."

Jim Buss, dressed in a black suit, confidently promised the crowd that with the addition of some veterans and role players, the new season would be a great start! Head coach Byron Scott also smiled.

Surrounded by a crowd, Howard sat down with a bright smile. Unlike other stars, "Happy Beast" was very popular, and the Los Angeles media were very satisfied with the trade.

Among the friendly questions, someone asked about the Lakers' tactical choices for the new season. Howard, however, seemed unconcerned, grinning broadly and boasting:
"Speed? I'm not one of those clumsy big guys. I can even participate in fast breaks!"

"I am very excited to work with a passer like Nash. This is an opportunity that many big men dream of."

When a reporter asked about Kobe's previous team performance, Howard made no attempt to hide his teasing smile, shrugged, and joked:
"Man, Kobe only likes to team up with MVP. Do you know why people are getting more and more annoyed with him? Because 'passengers' shouldn't flaunt their achievements."

"Kobe has had an excellent career, and I respect him a lot, but in the Eastern Conference, the conference finals are like the NBA Finals, and in fact, I performed better."

"Kobe bears a lot of responsibility for the failure of the past F4 combination, but we don't have a guy like that in the team now. I'm willing to make sacrifices for the team, and Amaré's championship experience can help the team!"

"Stop mentioning Kobe. He's not Lee. He's nearing the end of his career and may leave the league soon. Let's give the veteran some final respect."

"."

These words were a direct taunt, but most of the reporters present did not refute them. In the London Olympics, Kobe was the least efficient among the starting players and was unable to take over the game in crucial moments.

All signs indicate that Mamba is truly past his prime and is only suited to playing in the CBA league.

Veterans without real talent naturally can't have a say, and the 76ers changed their plans after the Olympics, no longer pursuing Bynum. The team will most likely have to make do for two years and sell tickets.

The Olympics exposed Kobe's true strength, and combined with Li You's performance in the Finals at age 34, it's hard to see how the Mamba can return to the core lineup of a championship-contending team.

At the end of the press conference, Lakers staff greeted Howard warmly, and the "Happy Beast's" smile was infectious to everyone present.

Seeing this, Kupchak was very satisfied. Regardless of the team's performance, signing Howard was worthwhile just for his popularity!

"I'm absolutely certain that we'll attract even more advertisers in the new season!"

Upon hearing the general manager's reminder, Jim Buss immediately smiled and patted his partner. Ever since MSG's stock price broke through $35, he had been green with envy. F4 was his "masterpiece," and he was now incredibly looking forward to the new season.
"It's not just advertisers, maybe we can talk to Time Warner again! I should have traded Kobe sooner, thank God the team is back on the right track."

The two chatted more and more happily. Although the salaries of the four players had already filled the salary cap, and they could only sign a few minimum-salary players, the management believed in the appeal of the F4 and thought that veterans would definitely come to join!

Howard, touring the arena and historical trophies, frequently exclaimed with delight, filling the room with a joyful atmosphere. The "Happy Beast" seemed to have cast aside his past "loyalty," and upon seeing the numerous trophies, only one thought occupied his mind:
"It's time for me to enjoy the benefits of a big market!"

-

On Thursday, August 23, after the Lakers formed their "Big Four," veteran Antawn Jamison left the Wizards to join them on a minimum contract, and with the newly signed Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles fans were in a long-awaited frenzy.

Discussions about the Lakers winning the championship have resurfaced on social media. The team is well-rounded, with both inside and outside players, and even has Lou Williams, who almost won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, on the bench – they are truly "armed to the teeth"!
Although Howard, who suffered a serious back injury, was unable to return to the court, he landed a bunch of advertising deals after arriving in Los Angeles. Compared to Cleveland, his exposure skyrocketed, even overshadowing his longtime teammate LeBron James.

Stoudemire, Nash, and Iguodala also readily accepted "Happy Beast," and the Lakers' family photo looked very harmonious, with everyone getting along well.

Shaquille O'Neal is both pleased and worried about his former team's resurgence. He appreciates the Lakers' treatment of his younger teammates, but disapproves of Dwight Howard's "Superman" persona and his pretentious behavior in Los Angeles.
TNT's show doesn't start until October, and O'Neal was itching to get started, so he could only sarcastically tweet:
"I hope the Lakers don't lose their championship spirit! There's only one 'Superman' in Los Angeles."

Compared to the Lakers' high-profile "new F4 combination," the Heat's reinforcements are extremely cost-effective. Elton Brand, who was waived, quietly signed a contract, and Miami only needed to pay $210 million.

James's recruitment efforts paid off. Brand disliked Kobe's attitude but was full of praise for the "Chosen One," repeatedly showering him with compliments after signing him.

"LeBron is a natural leader, just like Lee. Once you see his performance in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, no one will question my opinion."

After adding to their frontcourt, the Heat also used their mid-level exception to sign Ramon Sessions, further strengthening their point guard position!

To reduce the strain on James and Bosh, the Heat also signed Chris Anderson, who was waived by the Nuggets, on a minimum contract, significantly increasing their roster at the power forward and center positions compared to last season.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, head coach Spoelstra clearly stated his purpose in making signings:
"The Heat need to better prepare for the long regular season, and bringing in a big man doesn't mean abandoning their existing tactics."

"The Pacers gave us a lot of trouble in this year's playoffs. By adding these excellent players, the team can use different tactical systems in the series."

After completing their roster improvements, thanks to the cost-effective contracts of their "Big Three" and a slight increase in the salary cap, the Heat have just barely reached the luxury tax threshold. Pat Riley has perfectly executed his job. Besides the team's new additions, a sports business magazine also broke a previously unnoticed story:

"LeBron James will leave his agency CAA and part ways amicably with Leon Rose and William Wesley."

“Childhood friend Rich Paul will be James’ new representative, and he has already quickly earned the respect of league executives and owners.”

"."

In the afternoon, the Clippers also announced that Blake Griffin's knee surgery was very successful and that he had officially signed a supermax contract extension with the team.

In order to compete with their crosstown rivals, the Clippers also signed JR Smith to a full mid-level exception contract. Combined with the previously signed free agent Matt Barnes, the Knicks' second team is about to emerge again.
Although many fans criticized the "copying homework" approach, most commentators gave the trade an A- rating!
JR Smith and Tayshaun Prince are both playing alongside Li You, allowing for a seamless integration into the Clippers' existing system. Chris Paul also doesn't need to worry about the new additions' adaptation issues.

Compared to the Lakers, the Clippers are by no means weak, and their bench also has a player like Jamal Crawford who excels in chaotic situations. Both Los Angeles teams are rapidly rising.

-

On Monday, August 27th, Sina Sports across the ocean released another bombshell: Tracy McGrady has confirmed his signing with the CBA and will play for the Qingdao DoubleStar team for the next season.

After two months of rumors, all the fans are thrilled to see that Trish is actually here!
At this year's London Olympics, the Chinese men's basketball team performed well. Despite Yi Jianlian's knee injury, they made it into the quarterfinals again thanks to the outstanding performances of Yao Ming and Wang Shipeng.

His outstanding performance has also increased the popularity of basketball. Now that McGrady has joined the CBA, he has added fuel to the fire of the already heated basketball atmosphere.

Wang Shipeng's performance at this year's Olympics was impressive. In interviews, he repeatedly thanked Kobe Bryant for his guidance, which deeply moved Kobe's die-hard fans.

"The Chinese team also has a disciple of the Mamba!"

McGrady didn't choose to join a championship team, but instead "took the toughest path." This noble choice made fans proud, and many young people mocked the Mamba on social media while singing his praises.
"McGrady is just a 'driver'!"

CCTV Sports is also using this time to warm up for Friday's Basketball Park program, which will feature an interview with McGrady, taking fans on a journey through the illustrious career of the "washed-up second man".

On Friday the 31st, at 18:35 p.m., many veteran fans were glued to their TVs, and when they saw the familiar "soulful calves," memories of the Rockets involuntarily surfaced in their minds.

After leaving the Heat, McGrady did not accept offers from other teams and went straight to the other side of the ocean, wanting only to replicate Kobe's success!
Wearing a white tracksuit, McGrady warmly embraced host Liu Xingyu, and both smiled in front of the cameras.
"I think this is a huge surprise for Chinese fans. We will be able to see Tracy McGrady in the new CBA season!"

"."

Before releasing the interview, the program naturally reviewed McGrady's career, showcasing the superstar's numerous accolades to fans:

"Most Improved Player Award, Adidas ABCD Training Camp MVP, Yahoo! Best Player Award, Sina Slam Dunk King, Most Stylish One-Handed Ball Handling Award, Most Beautiful Calves Award;"

"35 Seconds, 13 Points Award; Most Graceful Self-Throw-Off and Dunk Award; Most Mesmerizing Gaze Award; Most Handsome Pull-Up Dunk Award; Defense-Based Award; Best Defense by Nowitzki Award; Kobe's Choice: Most Difficult to Defend Award."

"New MVP Idol Award, Lee Woo's Recognition Award"

As the video was released, images of various awards came to mind, and fans watching on television couldn't help but recall McGrady's illustrious career.

The highlight reel perfectly captured McGrady's superstar status, and in a subsequent interview, the veteran was moved to tears by the fans' well wishes.

No wonder Kobe liked the fans across the ocean. Compared to the basketball environment in the United States, this place is paradise. No one questions his Excel spreadsheets, and no reporters ridicule him from time to time.

Host Liu Xingyu was surprised that NBA star players were so easily moved to tears; Kobe Bryant had also shed tears last year. Only after McGrady calmed down did Liu continue with the question:
"I think many fans, like myself, are wondering if you will continue to pursue a championship in the future?"

"After watching this year's Finals, many fans still believe you can return to All-Star form."

34-year-old Li You has shown superhuman strength, and die-hard fans believe that even if 33-year-old McGrady cannot return to his peak, he can still return to All-Star level with hard work.
Upon hearing this question, McCready could only give an awkward smile. If it had been asked by American media, he would have felt that they were using Li You to mock him.

"I'm sorry to have disappointed my fans. I don't want to lie, but it's very difficult for my body to return to its previous state."

"As for the championship, it is very difficult in the NBA. Even young players like Durant and LeBron may not have many opportunities in the next few years."

"After this year's Finals, it's almost a consensus among all NBA players that Lee will continue to dominate for the next four years."

When the two reminisced about their Rockets careers, McGrady naturally raved about his great teammate Yao Ming, completely forgetting that he had criticized Kobe's teammates when they were in the United States.

When Liu Xingyu finally mentioned choosing the Qingdao team, McGrady's expression turned serious, revealing his superstar demeanor, and he solemnly promised the camera:

"I have no interest in playing for a strong team with a championship tradition. I came to China because I want to leave my mark!"

"I will bring Qingdao its first championship in team history this season, which is my gift to Chinese fans."

-

On Saturday, September 1st, American sports media finally discovered the situation across the ocean. To the surprise of many sports commentators, McGrady's promise made hundreds of millions of fans excited.

On Sina Weibo, which was launched not long ago, McGrady's number of followers almost caught up with Kobe's. Compared to the Mamba who won an NBA championship, the "second-best player who has faded into obscurity" seems to be more popular.

Even without winning a championship, he's already like this. If he really leads the Qingdao team to a championship, McGrady's popularity will surpass Kobe's in no time!

With the election drawing ever closer, the news report cited by The Washington Post has only garnered attention from a small segment of the population:

“Whitney Porter, a spokesperson for Democratic Senate candidate Martin Heinrich, was shot while campaigning in New Mexico’s Third Congressional District.”

Sports fans naturally don't care about this kind of news; unless the person at the White House experiences such an incident, ordinary shootings are not worth mentioning.
This Friday, Reggie Miller will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame. Pacers fans are happy for the veteran and are also looking forward to Miller's speech.

As everyone knows, Reggie Miller is aggressive and trash-talks constantly on the court, but off the court, he is gentle and kind. Over the years, apart from the occasional sarcastic remark, he has always been a good guy.

Reggie Miller was asked about his speech by so many friends that he had to update his Twitter account in advance to avoid raising expectations:
"God, I'm not going to stand up and talk trash in a situation like this. I can't do that, so don't expect me to perform like Michael Jordan."

"Regarding the speech, I only want to emphasize the often overlooked spiritual qualities and thank everyone who has supported me."

"."

While onlookers were still joking about whether Reggie Miller would launch a "Mamba Mentality" like Kobe Bryant, an unnamed source within the 76ers team revealed:
"The 76ers' primary goal for the new season is to end their 64-game losing streak in the regular season."

"Management doesn't believe Kobe can turn around the current market, and the 76ers' free agency market is basically closed."

"."

(End of this chapter)