The longest river

Chapter 218 Sean Kemp (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

"Portland is already on the decline, while we are on the rise. They no longer have a chance to win the championship."

Pippen then gave his reasons.

You could completely feel the resentment he harbored towards Yang Shuai and the Trail Blazers.

If he can stay with the Trail Blazers and complete a three-peat with the team, he will become the only player in NBA history to have two three-peats.

But at this critical juncture, the Trail Blazers didn't even bother to inform him, and just dumped him on a rebuilding team like the Cavaliers, like throwing away trash.

Could the Trail Blazers have won two consecutive championships without him?!

The way the Trail Blazers treated their key players was truly disheartening to him.

And then there's Yang Shuai, who not only didn't speak up for him regarding his trade, but also had zero communication with him, which made him even more angry.

Fortunately, Phil Jackson saved him, bringing him from the basketball wasteland of Cleveland to Los Angeles.

He is now a loyal Lakers player and will do everything in his power to help the Lakers avenge their loss to the Trail Blazers.

At the Trail Blazers' media day, reporters were most concerned about Kemp's physical condition.

Kemp is still as fat as a ball.

Even though Carlisle set strict standards, Kemp only managed to reduce his weight to 140 kilograms, barely meeting the requirements to play.

This will undoubtedly lead outsiders to be pessimistic about the Trail Blazers completing a three-peat.

Although the Bulls completed a three-peat that year, they only won 57 games in their final season, ranking third in the league. This is why Jordan was unable to achieve a three-peat as MVP.

Pippen and Horace Grant are both seeking bigger roles, while John Paxson and Bill Cartwright are facing declining performance due to age.

The problems the Trail Blazers faced were the same problems the Bulls had faced as well.

Are you worried about Sean's condition?

A reporter from Fox Sports asked Yang Shuai a question in person.

"I believe he can overcome himself."

Although the reduction wasn't significant, Kemp at least made an attempt, which proves that what Whitcht said back then was true; the championship had ignited the desire within Kemp.

As for how much that desire is and how much it can change Kemp, we'll have to wait and see.

After all, Kemp's current state didn't happen overnight, and it's unrealistic to expect him to go back to his old ways.

"Do you think it was the right thing for the team to trade Scottie?" the reporter pressed.

"No matter what changes occur in the team, our goal is to help the team achieve a three-peat."

Yang Shuai expressed an expectation earlier. In fact, even if Kemp fails to lose weight, or is even cut because he can't play, it won't change his goal.

There was a little incident at the Trail Blazers' media day: Yang Shuai made Reed wear a pink backpack and dance with the cheerleaders, which was probably the gentlest rookie prank ever.

After the media day ended, the preseason officially began.

In the first preseason game, both Yang Shuai and Sabonis were sidelined.

Now that the new season's competition plan has been formulated, the preseason is the best opportunity to try it out.

It's not just Wallace and Billups, but also Kemp and Sura, and even rookies like Reed.

Reed's performance was also a pleasant surprise. Although he didn't have much long-range shooting ability, his drives to the basket were indeed very dangerous.

With the preseason over, ESPN has ranked the teams for the new season, and this time they've also included ratings.

The Lakers remain at the top of the standings, just like last season, and received a score of 99.

Pippen's performance in the preseason was impressive; he showed unprecedented enthusiasm, just as he said on media day, he was determined to help the Lakers defeat the Trail Blazers.

Moreover, with his coordination, Kobe and Shaq entered a rare harmonious mode.

Kobe also showed his improvement, and after taking over Rice's ball possession and becoming equal to O'Neal, he finally got his satisfaction.

The only bad news for the Lakers is that Fisher suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during the preseason and is expected to be out for at least three months due to surgery.

His absence will inevitably have some impact.

The Trail Blazers received a score of 97, ranking second.

Kemp's preseason form was worrying; Sura's poor three-point shooting in the preseason made people realize that his performance last season may have been just a flash in the pan.

This means that the Trail Blazers have essentially lost Pippen compared to last season.

Moreover, Sabonis is another year older, and he seems to be finding it increasingly difficult to start.

ESPN believes the Trail Blazers will need Yang Shuai more than ever in the new season, and that need will continue to wear him down during the regular season, potentially creating problems for the playoffs.

On October 30, the Trail Blazers will play their first game of the new season against the Pacers.

If Carlisle hadn't come to Portland, he would have been the Pacers' head coach after Bird became the team's president.

But now, the Pacers' head coach is Isaiah Thomas.

In terms of roster, starting center Schmitz chose to retire, Mullin joined the Trail Blazers after being bought out, Mark Jackson left the team to join the Raptors, and then they re-signed Travis Best.

This is arguably the biggest roster change the Pacers have undergone in recent years, and their strength has clearly declined compared to before.

Before the opening ceremony, an award ceremony for the champion rings was held.

Although it was his second championship ring, Allen continued the tradition of investing heavily in the ring.

This time, he even gave each of the 20,000 audience members a commemorative ring worth over $100, taking his extravagance to the extreme.

This time, the team that's envious has changed from the Lakers to the Pacers.

Even though they're both playing ball, the difference between people is just that big.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of both teams took to the field one after another.

Pacers: Best, Miller, Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, Dale Davis
Trail Blazers: Billups, Sura, Young, Wallace, Sabonis

The Pacers jumped for the ball, and then they quickly demonstrated a tactical difference from the Bird era.

They stopped using spacing tactics and went back to their familiar traditional tactics: Jermaine O'Neal would post up, and Miller would run off-ball plays on the weak side.

Wallace was not at a disadvantage in terms of size and weight, so even though O'Neal was so strong, the effect of his attacks was only so-so.

His first one-on-one attempt went wide of the basket after being interfered with.

Turning back, Thomas focused his defensive efforts on Yang Shuai.

As a result, he missed again, because Yang Shuai was more focused on drawing defenders away from the game at the start, and the Trail Blazers' offensive focus was on the weak side.

Wallace set a screen for Sura, then cut the ball to the basket and received a bounce pass from Billups, driving over Miller to score a layup.

By the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers had already built a double-digit lead.

The Portland fans at the stadium were ecstatic.

They expected ESPN to be proven wrong, but they didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

However, more than being proven wrong, Wallace's performance surprised them even more.

华莱士在首节比赛里6投4中，三分球2投1中，罚球4罚3中单节得到了12分！
This is Barkley's first game as a commentator, and he is paired with Kenny Smith.

He displayed his talent for commentary right from the start, immediately spouting memorable quotes.

“Portland traded Scottie Pippen, but Hansen found his ‘Pippen’.”

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers defeated the Pacers 113-93.

杨帅得到28分8板8助攻的准三双，比卢普斯14分6助攻，华莱士全场18投12中，砍下了全队最高的30分外加10板3助攻。

Compared to Billups, who still needs more experience in matches, Wallace's skills are clearly already quite mature; all he lacks is opportunity.

For the Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on 7-of-22 shooting.

Although his stats were decent, he played very inefficiently and rigidly, a far cry from the versatile striker he was last season who could play both inside and outside.

This highlights the importance of a head coach; the same lineup can produce completely different results when led by different coaches.

"Rashid is the most professional player I have ever met. No matter what the coaching staff asks him to do, he will do it without complaint and do it to the best of his ability."

At the post-match press conference, Carlisle gave Wallace extremely high praise.

After all, who wouldn't like a player like that?
"Charles Barkley described you as 'Hansen's Pippen,' what do you think of that comparison?"

A reporter from TNT asked Wallace a question.

“Scotty and I are completely different technically, but I’m happy to receive that kind of praise. Hansen said that our only goal this season is to win three consecutive championships, and I will do everything I can to follow him.”

Previously, the outside world's attention to the Trail Blazers was focused on Yang Shuai and Pippen, and little attention was paid to Wallace.

It was only then that they realized that the hot-tempered Wallace on the field was actually so low-key and gentle off the field, a stark contrast that left a deep impression.

“I love Rashid, we all love him.”

Yang Shuai's expression was more direct.

When he first arrived in Portland, he saw Wallace's performance in the playoffs on the list Whitsit gave him, and he knew that Wallace was a player who could put up a tough fight.

But Wallace's performance still exceeded his expectations.

The Trail Blazers got off to a winning start and then went on a five-game winning streak, finishing the first month with a record of 11 wins and 2 losses.

Although their performance was not as consistent as last season due to tactical adjustments, and Sura and Kemp's performances were not as expected, they still achieved the best record in the Western Conference.

The main reason for this is Wallace.

华莱士在整个11月场均能够得到25分11板2.5助攻的全面表现，并且投篮命中率高达58%。

This performance earned him the Western Conference Player of the Month award for November.

Although Yang Shuai gave up a lot of ball possession, you also need to be able to take over the ball possession.

At the same time, in the latest episode of TNT, following the "Big Four Shooting Guards," Barkley, a forward, selected the "Top Five Forwards of the 21st Century."

They are: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Jermaine O'Neal, and Rasheed Wallace.

This conclusion was also endorsed by several other commentators.

While this is somewhat similar to dividing the five permanent members into the top three and the bottom two, this is currently the most suitable list if we want to form a five-person team.

After all, Malone is old, Kemp is past his prime, and players like Rasheed and McDyess are clearly not up to par.

After the show aired, the "Five Great Forwards" became a new hot topic among fans.

This boosted Portland fans' confidence in the Trail Blazers completing a dynasty.

The Lakers, a major competitor of the Trail Blazers, have encountered a problem that is neither too big nor too small.

Although they are close behind the Trail Blazers with a record of 10 wins and 3 losses, Fisher's absence still has a significant impact on them.

It's not just because Fisher is younger than Harper, but more importantly because Fisher has a three-point shot and can create space on the weak side.

The Lakers' starting perimeter players, including Kobe's three-point shooting, are inconsistent, making the spacing seem very cramped.

As December arrived, the Trail Blazers and Lakers, the two most watched teams, also experienced different changes.

Phil Jackson made lineup adjustments to address the team's spacing issues, moving Rick Fox, who has a reliable outside shot, to the starting small forward position, while letting Pippen play point guard directly.

This adjustment achieved results beyond expectations.

Pippen's size advantage at the point guard position forced opponents to increase their defensive efforts against him, which in turn gave OK more room to operate.

Even when facing defenders much shorter than himself, Pippen's three-point shooting became quite decent.

As for the defensive end, Pippen could match up against any point guard, except for speed-type guards like Iverson.

Phil Jackson proved to be the most qualified to speak on how to utilize Pippen.

On the other hand, during the Trail Blazers' game against the 76ers in early December, Sabonis was faked out by Iverson, causing his knee injury to flare up and he had to leave the game, and is expected to be out for about a month.

This forced Carlisle to move the 140-kilogram Kemp to the starting center position.

Kemp's offensive performance was actually not bad. Although he is very fat, he has not lost his midrange shot, which can meet the requirements of the Trail Blazers' spacing system.

However, his problem lies on the defensive end. His obesity makes him slow to move, and he becomes useless in a pick-and-roll, which puts a lot of pressure on the Trail Blazers' defense.

Carlisle was often forced to use Wallace at center in many games, and then have Schrempf partner with him in the frontcourt.

Looking back now, while the Pippen trade retained Billups and Sabonis, the returns from that trade were quite limited.

Moreover, given Kemp's current condition, it's impossible for the Trail Blazers to trade him for someone else.

The Trail Blazers have no better option than to wait for Sabonis to return.

It was at this time that Kemp did something incredibly absurd.

Because there weren't many women in Portland, he went to Seattle to have some fun. As a result, he was so exhausted that he slept until noon the next day and missed the team's training session.

The impact of this incident was severe, and Carlisle immediately imposed a suspension on him.

This also led to a conflict between Kemp and Carlisle.

In fact, after Kemp joined the Trail Blazers, it was clear that he had a tanking mentality and didn't care much about playing time.

However, even if it's a suspension within the team, it's a real deduction from the player's salary. With Kemp's current salary, it's a real deduction of 130,000 to 140,000 per game.

Because of this conflict, Whitchett also returned from the Seahawks.

He gave Kemp a severe scolding and then spoke to Yang Shuai privately.

He hoped Yang Shuai could help persuade Kemp.

"Bob, I'm just a player."

Yang Shuai is somewhat dissatisfied with Whitsit's hands-off management style this season.

More importantly, he didn't know how to persuade Kemp.

Whitsitt initially said that Kemp had developed a new passion for basketball, but in the end, it turned out that the passion Kemp showed when he joined the Trail Blazers was very limited, so limited that it was negligible.

Kemp seems more like he's just there to grab a championship ring. Like trying to wake someone who's pretending to be asleep, what can Yang Shuai's colleague say in this situation?
"It was my oversight. If he continues with this attitude, we will have no choice but to consider buying him out."

A hint of helplessness appeared in Whitsit's eyes.

His feelings toward Kemp were complex.

When Kemp was drafted, he was not mature enough. Despite his exceptional talent, he was not a good pick in the draft and the SuperSonics management did not have high hopes for him. It was Kemp who defied the opposition and selected him with the 17th pick.

Whitsett's choice proved to be correct. Kemp became a key player for the SuperSonics in his second year, and later made the All-Star team and helped the team reach the Finals.

So for Whitshire, that was his proudest "work" as a professional manager.

When the work gets dusty, he naturally wants to clean it again.

Unfortunately, it's like first love; the most beautiful time is when he/she remains in your mind. But when you actually rekindle the romance, all that beauty will shatter in the face of reality, like a filter.

Upon hearing this, Yang Shuai couldn't help but stroke his chin.

Kemp's previous poor form was largely due to public pressure, but missing training can affect team morale, and a buyout is indeed the only option if a trade is not possible.

A buyout is not a pardon; it will still count against the team's salary cap.

Although the Trail Blazers are already a super cap team, the fact that they will suddenly lose more than ten million dollars in cap space every year for the next four years is still a headache.

Moreover, the key point is that a buyout means losing more than ten million in assets for nothing, and the room for subsequent reinforcement is also reduced.

"I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee anything."

Yang Shuai finally put his hand down and said.

Whitshire's eyes lit up the moment she heard that.

However, before trying it, Yang Shuai gave Whitsit a heads-up.

"Bob, if I feel the team is in disarray, I will reconsider the future."

Yang Shuai is a time traveler, and he will not be bound by so-called "loyalty".

Whitsit was stunned, but he quickly understood what Yang Shuai meant.

After the next season, Yang Shuai's 100 million yuan contract will have a player option.

If Yang Shuai chooses to opt out, it essentially means he will leave the Trail Blazers.

Upon realizing this, Whitch was instantly drenched in sweat.

Kemp was his first love, but Yang Shuai was his true goddess. If he lost this goddess, his career as the general manager of the Trail Blazers would be over.

Although he could have gone to other teams to find another way out, only those who have worked for the Trail Blazers know how many benefits there are in working under Allen.

“I understand. I will explain to Mr. Allen and ask him to assign the work there to someone else first.” Whitsit was not stupid, and he was decisive enough.

The next day, Yang invited Kemp to his home for a meal.

Kemp was very polite to Yang Shuai.

It wasn't just because of their private interactions, but also because, as a former rival, he knew exactly how strong Yang Shuai was—something that couldn't be fabricated through media marketing.

"Sean, don't you feel like you're dreaming?"

Halfway through the meal, Yang Shuai suddenly remarked...

“When we were kids, we were worried about eating and sleeping, but now we can have whatever we want, just like a king.”

After listening, Kemp immediately smiled and nodded.

As a fellow Reebok spokesperson, Yang Shuai's story was certainly known to him. In fact, his own childhood wasn't much better; he was born in a slum and would probably have died on the street long ago if it weren't for basketball.

Even in high school, he almost ruined his basketball career by stealing because he didn't have the money.

Entering the NBA was like going from hell to heaven for them.

"Cheers to the present."

Kemp smiled and raised his glass.

Regardless, he was the luckiest one compared to his childhood friends.

After finishing his drink, Yang Shuai looked at Camp very seriously:
"Sean, would you like to go back to the past?"

Kemp smiled and shook his head without the slightest hesitation.

Remembering past difficulties is simply a way to cherish the present more; no one really wants to go through those difficulties again.

"I used to think about how much money I spend every day, and whether I would go bankrupt very quickly if I lost my job in the NBA."

Yang Shuai, however, remained serious.

"Come on, Hansen, if you can go bankrupt, then all the players in the league will go bankrupt!"

Kemp thought Yang Shuai was talking nonsense.

After Jordan retired, Yang Shuai became the highest-paid player in the league, both on and off the court. Even if the NBA were to disband tomorrow, Yang Shuai could still easily become a multi-millionaire based on his influence.

Yang Shuai smiled, poured Kemp another glass of wine, and then looked at Kemp seriously once again:

"how about you?"

Kemp was taken aback by the question.

It wasn't that he thought he would go bankrupt, but rather that he had never considered the issue.

“I remember you once told me (bragging) that you have 11 children, and if the mothers of your sons don’t go to work, how much child support do you need to give them each month?”

"It's $100,000."

Before Kemp could answer, Yang Shuai had already given his answer. Since he asked, he must have already done the calculations.

"...Are there that many?"

Kemp was clearly shocked; he hadn't even noticed those numbers before.

"You can call your financial assistant and ask."

After listening, Kemp also picked up his phone, and after making the call, he couldn't help but wipe his sweat.

That number was no less than what Yang Shuai had said.

After a while, he let out a long breath and a smile returned to his face.

"That's not a problem."

He now earns over 500 million a season, which is more than he can afford.

Seeing Kemp like this, Yang Shuai could understand why the opponent went bankrupt in history; he really had no sense of crisis whatsoever.

What if you lose your job?

"If you don't have 20 million in your bank account, the alimony alone will bankrupt you in the future."

Yang Shuai's next words were even more realistic.

If you lose your job, that means a fixed expense of over a million dollars every year from the very beginning.

This doesn't even include the money Kemp himself squandered.

Kemp was already drenched in sweat.

Don't even mention 20 million; he doesn't even have 200,000 in the bank right now.

The phrase "unemployment equals bankruptcy" was not a distant prospect for him.

He had never paid attention to these things before, but when Yang Shuai actually slapped him across the face, he was genuinely flustered.

Yang Shuai seized the opportunity and went on to recount his meeting with Whitchett earlier that day.

“Bob told me that if I continue like this, he will buy me out, I will get a sum of money, but I will probably lose my job.”

If the desire for a championship is all a lie, then the only thing that can motivate Kemp is money.

After all, the argument between Kemp and Carlisle was essentially because the suspension caused him to lose money.

So, would you like to go back to the past?

Yang Shuai looked at Kemp in front of him and spoke again, but this time the same question had become a soul-searching inquiry.

Kemp didn't answer, because the answer to the question was already obvious.

He would never want to experience that hellish life again.

“Sean, you’re only 30. If you can put in some effort, you can stay in this league for as long as possible.”

Child support is required until the child turns 18, and no matter how hard Kemp tries, he can't hold out until then.

But as Yang Shuai said, the longer Kemp stays in the league, the longer he can live a carefree and happy life in "heaven".

On the second day of training, Kemp began to work hard to lose weight with the help of the team's strength and conditioning coach.

"Hansen, what did you say to Sean?"

Seeing Kemp covered in sweat, Whitsit, who was observing from a distance, couldn't help but speak to Yang Shuai.

He discovered that although Yang Shuai was young, he could actually do many things that seemed impossible.

Whether on or off the field.

Yang Shuai just smiled and didn't explain.

Whitshire wisely refrained from pressing the matter further.

"If Sean can really get back to his peak, that would be wonderful."

However, he couldn't help but daydream.

Kemp is not only 30 years old, but he was also an All-Star player just two years ago.

If he could go back, it would not only allow his "work" to continue shining, but also prove how correct his previous trade of Pippen for Kemp was.

Yang Shuai did not participate in Whitsit's fantasy moment, but turned around and continued training.

He didn't think his words would make Kemp realize his mistake, and he wasn't even sure how long Kemp's weight loss would last.

If it were that simple, Camp would have already lost weight.

Or rather, Camp has been ruined by alcohol and flour, and can never become the "Rain Man" he once was.

However, Kemp's current choice shows that his words have brought him a sense of crisis.

Even if it's not much, it's still a good thing for the Trail Blazers.

It won't get any worse than it is now.

Christmas is just around the corner, and the annual Christmas battle is about to begin.

Unlike the usual East-West showdowns, this year's Christmas Day game is a Western Conference showdown between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers, marking the first meeting between the two teams this season.

This Christmas game took place at the Staples Center.

The stadium was packed, and the Los Angeles fans' faces were filled with Christmas spirit and anticipation.

The Lakers were incredibly frustrated after losing to the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals last season.

From the moment they acquired Pippen in the new season, they've been itching for revenge.

The two teams are currently in completely different situations. The Lakers have overtaken the Trail Blazers to take the top spot in the Western Conference after a winning streak since the beginning of December.

As the saying goes, "Strike while the iron is hot," now is the perfect time for them to take their revenge.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss made a rare appearance in the VIP box in the stands.

Besides his children, Jerry West was also by his side.

West opposed the Pippen trade because he believed it would lock up the Lakers' future.

This deal was largely driven by Phil Jackson, but its eventual success was due to Jerry Buss's approval.

Old Buss's agreement wasn't necessarily out of support for Jackson, but rather because he had lost patience with the "OK combination".

In fact, the rumors from last season were not unfounded. The team was unable to win the championship and had constant conflicts with each other. Old Buss had already considered breaking up "OK".

Trading for Pippen now is essentially giving this duo one last chance.

After all, the Lakers can't have a better roster than they have now.

If we succeed, we can aim for more championships; if we fail, we can simply dismantle the group.

While Pippen's contract is difficult to trade, what if he were paired with Kobe or Shaq?
During the pre-game warm-up, Pippen appeared particularly spirited.

Although he went from being "Pippen the Second" to "Pippen the Third" after joining the Lakers, he still controlled the ball!

This unique role allowed Kobe and Shaq to get along very well with him off the court, and he had a very comfortable time with the Lakers.

And after waiting so long, he could finally vent his anger on the Trail Blazers.

He will prove to Young and the Trail Blazers tonight how foolish their decision to give up on him was.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both sides were announced.

Trail Blazers: Billups, Sura, Young, Wallace, Kemp

Lakers: Pippen, Kobe, Fox, Oakley, O'Neal
With three minutes remaining before the start of the match, both sides were making their final tactical arrangements.

Just then, a huge commotion suddenly broke out at the scene.

The sound attracted the attention of the team members on both sides.

The reason that caused the commotion was quickly displayed on the big screen at the scene.

Jordan arrived late with a beautiful female companion.

(End of this chapter)