basketball never sleeps

Chapter 306 Thank you LeBron

Desert, big sun, big cactus.

Cole had no intention of appreciating the beautiful scenery. He lowered his head to take a sip of iced coffee, and used his peripheral vision to observe his former commentary partner next to him.

Grant Hill frowned slightly, and the balance in his mind swayed.

"You know I just became the general manager and haven't learned how to lie yet, so believe me, the Suns are the best team for you." Kerr repeated his previous advice again.

"But you were eliminated in the first round." Hill curled his lips.

"Well, even if you don't believe me, you have to believe Steve. He is the best point guard in the league. Although Mo's stats are better, he is not a team player compared to Steve. He is more like a dunker. He eats up too much ball possession, so other teammates can only act as shooters and watch him perform most of the time. The little emperor of the Cavaliers also has a similar problem. They are very good players, but they are definitely not top teammates.

Steve is different. Compared with personal performances, he prefers to create opportunities for his teammates. He is a real team player. He allows you to be yourself! "

"But I just want to be a champion, Steve," Hill continued honestly.

Kerr was unmoved, rolled his eyes slightly and continued, "And Phoenix has the best medical team in the league. We hired doctors from NASA..."

“There are good doctors everywhere, but what you don’t know is that the person who can make the decision is not necessarily a doctor.”

"Damn it, just listen to what I have to say first!"

After being eliminated in the first round, Hill was invited to be a commentator for TNT. Realizing that Hill would enter the free market in the summer, Kerr established a good friendship with Hill by virtue of his proximity.

After officially taking office as the general manager of the Suns, Kerr neatly put Marion on the market as requested by the boss, but he was not in a hurry to trade him. Instead, he focused his work on inviting Hill.

Because although there are many big fish on the market, none of them can better replace Marion's role.

Milicic's performance in the playoffs made people see the value of the space-shooting power forward. Duncan was eliminated in the second round, and Yao Ming, who switched to shooting, made it to the Western Conference Finals, which are also good proof of this.

Marion's three-point shooting is not very accurate, with a hit rate of 33%, but his output is good, averaging 2 shots per game. Among the power forwards on the market, apart from Milicic and Lewis, who is having a great time with the Bobcats, no one else can reach a similar level. However, Lewis' offer was too high, so Milicic directly refused.

Not to mention that Marion is the only reliable defender of the Suns, and he is also a top-notch player who plays almost every game and averages nearly 40 minutes per game.

Marion is dissatisfied with the decline in his tactical position, and the boss is also dissatisfied with Marion taking a maximum salary of 1500 million but failing to produce data of the same value. Both sides seem to be very unhappy at this stage, but they have not yet torn their faces apart. If they delay it a bit, maybe they can get along well in the future.

Kerr knew that the Marion trade could be delayed only if he could produce corresponding results.

and so.

Bro, you smell so good!

The Suns really need Hill. Ever since the Suns owner gave up Joe Johnson for $500 million, the Suns' small forward position has become a weakness that cannot be covered up.

Although Dio played well, his position was not small forward but inside, while James Jones was a pure tool man.

The main problem for the Suns being eliminated by the Lakers in the first round this year is that once they can't play fast breaks in high-intensity confrontations and fall into position, their efficiency will drop significantly.

Nash was tightly entangled by the "clean and hygienic" Paul, and Stoudemire, who mainly faced the basket, was unable to develop a lot of offense against Kwame Brown, who had the same level of talent. In the end, he could only watch Kobe wear down the Suns at his favorite rhythm.

At first glance, the Suns' small forward position didn't make any major mistakes, but they didn't do anything either, and that's the biggest problem.

Small forward or swingman is the position most suitable to showcase personal abilities. They have height and confrontation advantages over guards, and speed advantages over centers. If they can gain an advantage when facing the opponent's small forward... that means double-teaming, and it goes without saying what it means for Nash, a historical point guard, to be double-teamed.

Injuries took away most of Hill's talent, but did not take away his one-on-one ability, which is exactly what the Suns are in urgent need of.

Regardless of suitability, Hill is also important to Kerr.

At the very least, Hill can play the same role as those former All-Stars of the Knicks. He is famous enough to generate enough expectations from the owners and fans.

Hill averaged 13+6+6 last season, and he played 65 games in the regular season, and he seems to have finally come out of the shadow of injury. Although it is not as good as his peak, it is enough for a 35-year-old veteran.

The continuous injuries made Hill once express the idea of ​​retirement in the first two years, but after experiencing a healthy season, Hill was unwilling to end his story.

He can no longer catch up with people's expectations of him as Jordan's successor, but he can still use his belated health to pursue his dream and win a championship.

For this, he is willing to accept a veteran minimum salary contract that does not match his data at all.

The former face of the league and former All-Star player was still able to produce quality main-team stats last season. As long as he gets the veteran minimum salary, the cost-effectiveness is comparable to clicking on a cheap princess to get the 40-year-old Mrs. Kurosawa.

However, the Suns' first-round exit made Hill hesitate.

Originally in history, the Suns were defeated by the Spurs in the second round. Considering the Spurs' easy performance in the last two rounds, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Suns have the qualifications to win the championship.

However, when the Suns met the Lakers with a healthy Paul and Kobe Bryant, they lacked a bit of luck...

I can only say that this is what the Western Monster Room is like.

Hill wants to join a team that is more competitive for the championship. His experiences in the past few years have made him unsure how many years he can maintain his current form. He no longer has time to talk about companionship being the most lasting confession of love. He just wants to add icing on the cake.

In short, men need to fight (baotui).

However, what bothered him was that Cole made him feel the sincerity and respect he had long missed.

Hill's superior background made him not as sensitive as those lower-class black people, but he suffered a lot from the controversy caused by his inability to play despite a big contract in the past two years and his poor performance when he played.

The Suns really need him. Unlike other championship-contending teams, he will most likely be a substitute.

Jingle Bell--

Hill picked up the phone with an apologetic look on his face and left.

Cole smiled in understanding and continued drinking his coffee.

"We need you, we still love you, don't you understand?"

"It's over, Anne. It's been six years. Our story has come to an end. You know that separation is a relief for both of us."

"No, dear, no, this family still needs you!"

"..."

Listening to the somewhat sensational and melodramatic conversation from afar, Cole silently turned his head and put away his ears.

Isn’t it said that Hill has a good relationship with his wife?
Or was it his lover in Orlando?

Tsk.

Kerr doesn't have much in mind for gossip, as it's too common in the NBA. Comparing the number of mistresses was even a common topic in the locker room in the early years.

As long as Hill doesn't do something like the Suns' "wife-beating duo" before, the others are just buddies.

After talking on the phone for a long time, with the ice cubes leaving a circle of water stains on the outside of the coffee cup, Hill sat back down with an apologetic look on his face.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting Steve."

"It's okay, I think we will be together for a long time in the future, and there will always be a time when you will wait for me." Cole replied humorously.

"Maybe... I have to say a few words of apology." Hill smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"what?"

"I can't sign with the Suns. The call just now was from the Magic's human resources manager. She hopes that I can renew my contract with the Magic." Hill said with a wry smile.

"Magic?! Oh, I'm not asking, do you still want to stay in the Magic?" Kerr was a little panicked and confused.

Hill shook his head and looked down at his moving ankle. "They said they found two other star players. If I stay, we can definitely compete for the championship... But I don't want to stay there anymore. My injury... Forget it, damn it, I don't owe those bastards anything, but... Fuck!"

Hill drank the coffee in the cup as if he were drinking wine.

"There's no need for you to feel guilty about the past few years. All contracts are commercial contracts, and most of your salary is reimbursed by insurance companies. You have to look forward, Grant." Cole said, trying to organize his words.

"They got Chauncey, and Chauncey convinced Milicic."

Kerr's breathing stagnated. The No. 40 pick in rebounding, the FMVP, and the -point space-type inside player in the finals, it seemed like there was indeed something to be done.

But the Suns are not bad either. Kerr quickly thinks about the comparative advantages of his players.

"Even if I don't want to stay with the Magic, they hope that I can renew my contract with them and leave as a bargaining chip to balance the deal. I can't refuse this." Hill's low voice blocked Kerr's dissuasion.

Cole wanted to tell Hill that he didn't need to put himself in a difficult position, but as a commentator for a long time his mind works very quickly.

The Magic brought in Billups and Milicic because Billups was from the Pistons, and Hill went to the Magic because of a falling out with the Pistons, so he will definitely not return to the Pistons.

The only possibility is to be traded to...the Supersonics as a balance?
Kerr wanted to say something else, such as the Sonics had no shortage of players at the No. 3 position, and the Sonics' strength was greatly reduced once Milicic left.

But when he looked up at Hill again, the other party already had a determined look of "willing to die heroically".

"Don't persuade me, I owe it to Orlando."

No! ! ! !

……

Mo Wen did not watch the trading market with Presti, but took time out to fly to France with Heuman.

Parker and Eva are getting married on July 7th, and Heuman, who is also his agent, will of course be there. Mo Wen is about to sign a contract with Dior as a spokesperson, and was invited to join in the fun.

In order not to overshadow the guests, Mo Wen didn't even bring little Catherine with him. He just wore big sunglasses and ate the fruit plate with Human, but the tall guy with wheat-colored skin was still too easy to guess.

Mo Wen thought that his personal elimination of Parker would offset his popularity in the arrogant Gallic region, but he still underestimated his influence. When the crowd who were originally watching from the sidelines heard that Mo Wen was also there, they suddenly burst into the same enthusiasm as when they chased Meng Yidanzi.

In this era when computer and mobile phone entertainment are not yet popular, the influence of sports is still in the first tier.

The story of Mo Wen leading the Supersonics to win the bet of the century was even more groundbreaking than an ordinary championship.

Fortunately, Parker prepared enough budget for the wedding and hired a lot of bodyguards and police to maintain the situation.

"It's a good thing I didn't ask you to be my best man, otherwise tomorrow's newspapers might have reported you as the man marrying Eva." Parker said helplessly as he looked at Mo Wen, who looked like a music video in a casual suit.

"Okay, but Eva should be thankful that you are French and not British." Mo Wen raised his eyebrows at the couple.

"What do you mean?" Eva asked curiously, holding Parker's arm.

"Otherwise, tomorrow's newspaper might report that I'm the one marrying Tony." Mo Wen said as he jokingly put his arm around Parker's other arm.

"Fuck... stay away from me!" Parker, who immediately understood the English joke, decisively slapped Mo Wen's arm away.

Eva and Parker's wedding was not open to the public, but it was a grand affair. The mayor of Paris officiated at the City Hall, the wedding took place in the evening at Saint-Germain Cathedral, and the wedding banquet was held in a century-old castle. The venue rental alone cost more than 300 million.

Looking at Eva posing in various ways in front of the camera, Mo Wen felt that she might like the wedding stage more than the wedding itself.

Hugh Man, who was standing by, poked Mo Wen with his elbow.

"I thought you were going to have Ms. Schwarzenegger come in and help pick up some flowers or something."

"Catherine doesn't like publicizing. It would put too much pressure on her." Mo Wen understood his girlfriend's thoughts. In fact, he also didn't like to publicize his relationship. After all, people need some privacy.

"By the way, I wrote another song a while ago. Please contact the record company and record it as soon as possible so that I can use it."

"What style? Do you want me to help you find a chorus?" Human had a playful look on his face, hinting at something.

Mo Wen's mouth twitched. He knew why Heuman had that expression. Back then, they had collaborated on "Bet on Me" with Britney. After having fun once, the girl got addicted and wanted to do it again.

Mo Wen just felt it was troublesome to give others the treatment they longed for.

After becoming famous, the filter through which Mo Wen viewed the stars of his previous life became increasingly shallow, as the people he knew through different information channels were completely different.

When Mo Wen looks at those Hollywood goddesses now, he feels like he is looking at a cosplayer with a smoky voice and a Northeastern accent.

"No need, it's a marriage proposal song, remember to keep it a secret later." Mo Wen said in a low voice. ...

After returning from France, the signing and swap of Milicic has been basically agreed.

After the Magic made their offer, Billups gave the Pistons a chance to match the deal. The Pistons owner was persuaded by Dumars and was willing to change the final year's team option to a fully guaranteed one, but Billups was too lazy to argue with him. The trade freeze period had ended, so he decided to sign with the Magic for the money.

Sanders almost resigned on the spot out of anger. He let go of the main point guard without finding a replacement. How can he run a good team with this bunch of insects? !
Pistons fans were also quite dissatisfied with this, but Dumars quickly found a way to deal with it. He said he would do his best to pursue Kidd, who had a higher salary.

Not to mention, these remarks about burning newspapers at graves really confused the Pistons fans.

After that, the Supersonics reached a sign-and-trade agreement with Milicic, sending him to the Magic after signing a maximum salary contract in exchange for Hill, two first-round picks in 08 and 10, and a $600 million trade exception.

The Magic management finally canceled the trade option for Turkoglu. Both the 76ers and the Hawks made good trade offers for him, both of which were more expensive than a first-round pick, so the Magic management found Hill who was about to leave, and made use of the remaining energy of Old Dun to give him a chance.

In order to prevent Presti from being drowned in spit by Seattle fans, the Supersonics specially invited Mo Wen and Milicic to hold a press conference.

"I know you've been speculating whether there's any conflict between me and Mo, or between me and the team, but I can tell you very clearly once again, no, not at all. I love Mo, the SuperSonics, and the fans in Seattle. This is where I have all the good memories since I entered the NBA."

"When I first entered the league, I was taken care of by Mo. When I reported to the Pistons for my first training session, my first one-on-one match was with Mo. He beat me mercilessly at that time. To be honest, this was probably the time when I hated him the most.

When I found out that he was just a late pick, I was devastated. I thought I was a big dud - God, I can't even beat a late pick, how can I pretend to be a No. 2 pick? "

"You know when I started to regain my confidence? - Thank you, LeBron."

"I know that if I stay in the SuperSonics, I can easily win many championships. The dynasty may just be the starting point. Of course, I also believe that I still have the ability to do so even if I leave Mo Ge. This is the main reason why I left. I need to find myself."

"I always feel relaxed under Mo's protection. If I don't perform well, I pass it to him. If I don't know how to play, I pass it to him. If I'm tired, I pass it to him. He told me that I should learn to solve problems more by myself, but when you have a way out, you will never be able to develop your potential."

"I already have two... one championship, so I think it's time to see how far I can go."

At the press conference, Milicic explained the reasons for his departure.

Except for the Sonics fans who felt extremely regretful, supporters of other teams were all extremely excited.

You have to know that in the first year after Mo Wen came to the Supersonics, he won 69 games, and had an incredible home undefeated record. He almost made it all the way through the playoffs and swept the finals without any suspense. The dominance he showed made most teams aiming to win the championship feel despair.

Now, with Milicic gone, the only one left in the Sonics' interior is Tyson Chandler, who has no independent offensive ability, while Millsap and Craig Smith at the power forward position are just rookies last season and are very inexperienced.

At least the Cavaliers fans saw hope. Without Milicic, the Supersonics no longer have an advantage in the interior. According to their simple mathematical ability, the Supersonics beat the Cavaliers by less than 20 points per game. Without Milicic, a player who averaged 20+ points per game, the Cavaliers would definitely win if the game were to play again!
After Webber announced his retirement in the summer, the Cavaliers management immediately announced that they would try their best to bring in a star center in his prime in the summer.

Cleveland fans were ecstatic right there, thank God, the championship they had been longing for was finally coming!
Back to the SuperSonics, Presti was using the draft picks and championship guard Earl Watson acquired in the trade as bargaining chips to negotiate a trade for David West with the Hornets.

David West, who also ended his rookie contract, was very eager to join the team after hearing that the championship team was interested in him. However, the Hornets, who had the priority matching right, did not want to let go of a quality inside player easily. In their opinion, two worthless first-round picks and a backup guard were not enough and they had to pay more.

Mo Wen had no objection to the deal. Although David West could not shoot three-pointers and his static and dynamic talents were relatively ordinary, his skills and brain were very suitable for pick-and-roll, and his mid-range shots were quite smooth. Without Paul to feed him, his value would have shrunk and he could be acquired for less than tens of millions. Considering that Earl Watson, who was worth 600 million, was also sent away, it was definitely a good deal.

However, when Mo Wen was looking through the database prepared by Presti, he made a new discovery.

"Sam, can you trade for this person?" Mo Wen took out a file and waved it at Presti.

"Everyone in this file can be traded. Let me see..." Presti raised his glasses, and his face suddenly turned ugly when he saw the candidates.

"You know him? That's right, he's an Argentine national player, you must have played against each other in international competitions. You can trade him, but that bastard Buford is cheating us. He dared to offer a first-round pick for a second-round pick who had been on hold for five years. The contract that the player asked for was also lottery-level, 3 years and 1000 million. I participated in the scouting of him when I was in the Spurs. He is a good player, but the risk of trading him is still a bit high."

"Then it must be him." Mo Wen said after a moment of hesitation.

"what?"

"David West can supplement our immediate combat power, but the overlap between his role and Paul (Millsap) will definitely affect Paul's training. This Argentine has a different style. He has enough inside singles ability and can enrich tactics without affecting Paul's training, so he is the one chosen."

Mo Wen flicked the file, he almost missed this "diamond".

Luis Scola, the only reliable power forward in Yao Ming's career, was dubbed the "floor flow ceiling" by fans for his outstanding footwork, agile turns and soft touch.

The biggest impact of Milicic's departure on the team is not that he took away the inside organization and three-pointers, or the tacit pick-and-roll with Mo Wen, but his inside singles.

Inside singles are an important part of a team's space. Space does not only mean pulling out to shoot three-pointers. If the efficiency of inside singles is high enough to attract help defense, it can also bring great bonus to the offensive space.

Although David West is half a level higher than Scola in terms of star level, team building is not a simple stacking of stars, but depends on chemical reactions. Scola is obviously more suitable to fill the vacancy left by Millsap.

Presti was indeed capable. After watching two hours of video footage of Scola collected by scouts, he immediately took action and contacted his old boss.

Buford reacted very quickly to the surprise. While shouting "You're a good bargain," he quickly communicated the details with Presti. The deal was finalized and completed that night, and was filed with the league.

In other words, Presti left early and didn't know that Scola had actually fallen out with the Spurs.

Because the Spurs hold his signing rights but are unwilling to sign, Scola has fired shots at the Spurs in the media several times.

"I don't want to go to the Spurs at all, ever!"

It's just that the news didn't get through because the media that interviewed him were all Argentine media.

Although Scola performed well in international racing, FIBA ​​and NBA are two different competitions. There are many international players who cannot adapt to the NBA. Buford's psychological bottom line is two second-round picks. It would be a big profit if he could exchange them for a first-round pick, even if it is not valuable.

It must be said that the Spurs also really need this first-round pick in the big deal they are planning.

"With this draft pick, and we add two more, that's enough leverage. It's time to make a decision, Pop."

Both the Spurs owner and general manager Buford looked at Popovich.

"There's nothing to decide. We have to make this deal in order to keep Tim."

Popovich sighed as he looked at the Argentine in the photo.

He built the Spurs' edifice with his own hands, but now he has to tear down a wall with his own hands.

There is no way. Duncan can opt out of his contract next season, and he rejected the team's contract extension offer in the summer.

Although Duncan has never publicly complained or forced the abdication in front of the media like Kobe did, it is not necessary to shout to convey the message. Just like women in the new era, just expressing rejection is enough to make people panic.

The local media in San Antonio likes to praise Duncan for his loyalty.

But Popovich knew that these illusory titles were not enough to bother a normal graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

The Admiral had already used up all his favor to persuade Duncan to come back. There was only one reason why this seemingly stupid guy chose to renew his contract in 03, and that was for the team to win the championship.

There is not much to enjoy in life in San Antonio. Only the champagne after winning the championship is sweet enough. But because of Mo Wen's existence, Duncan has not tasted that taste for four years.

Instead, it was the failure that all historical superstars hated so much that was stuffed into Duncan's mouth again and again.

Duncan didn't complain about anything, but his frequent singles in the last game of the playoffs showed his dissatisfaction with the helpers around him.

The Spurs management team foresaw that if the Spurs could not bring enough help to Duncan this summer, the team would face a turmoil that would shake its foundation next summer.

Fortunately, there are many big fish this summer. Excluding Kobe, who is impossible to trade, the Spurs still have many options.

Just adding the ability to match Mo Wen's scoring, certain defensive capabilities, and not being able to completely hollow out the Spurs, the range is very small.

After a round of screening, the most suitable trading partner is only the neighbor who wants a low-maintenance lifestyle and can't afford a "beautiful wife".

Rockets, McGrady.

After forcing Yao Ming to leave last year, McGrady fell into the same predicament as Kobe.

With enough ball possession and close guidance from Olajuwon, Bynum's growth rate was not bad, but McGrady couldn't wait.

After the team's revenue plummeted, Alexander no longer wanted to keep McGrady.

Although McGrady can still attract many fans to buy tickets, both Alexander and Mo Gou are good at mathematics. A little calculation can lead to the conclusion that he cannot sell tickets that cover his 2000 million worth.

Therefore, the Rockets put McGrady on the shelf at the beginning of the offseason. Alexander, who had already decided to learn from the Clippers and eat the minimum living allowance, did not reject the inquiry from the Spurs, a team in the same state.

Anyway, the mechanism of tanking is there, and after two years of accumulating talent, the fans will still come back and buy tickets.

On July 7, the Spurs sent Ginobili and Horry, their two first-round picks, and the Magic's 17 first-round pick from the Supersonics in exchange for McGrady and Novak from the Rockets.

McGrady and Duncan, who almost teamed up in Orlando, finally reunited in San Antonio under the guidance of fate.

The alliance was in uproar.

What the hell, Duncan actually has a helper at the scoring champion level?

Okay, okay, it’s so curly, right?
The next day, Kobe's drama of forcing the abdication suddenly came to an end. The Lakers sent Odom, Sean May and three first-round picks to get Jermaine O'Neal and Ike Diogu.

The Lakers officially formed a trio of high school students (Kobe, O'Neal, Kwame Brown)
(Paul: Discrimination against college students?)

James and Wade, who were participating in the US men's basketball training camp, showed their disapproval in front of Agua after seeing the sports news of the day.

"Hahaha, brother, why don't you let the Nuggets move to the East? Given the current situation in the West, can you make it to the playoffs next season?"

"With so many stars in the West, you must have accumulated a lot of experience. I really envy you."

Melon looked up at the sky and didn't want to talk at all.

He could only pin his resentment on Milicic once again. If it weren't for Milicic, he should have been the one to go to the Pistons!
At this moment, James is really glad that he is in the Eastern Conference. The departure of Billups has made the Pistons no longer threatening. Wade cannot be strengthened because of O'Neal's big contract. The reorganized Magic seem threatening, but the Magic's No. 3 position is no match for him.

Looking around the entire Eastern Conference, there is not a single rival!

"As long as you are willing to come, we will have no rivals in the East!" Danny Ainge looked at Harden sitting across the seat with deep affection.

"LeBron is nothing, he just has a group of good teammates. As long as you and Vince come, the Eastern Conference championship will be ours. Look at those idiots gathered in the West. By the time they win the West, they probably won't have the energy to compete with us. Kangmuang bro?" Paul Pierce put his arm around Harden's neck.

Garnett lowered his head. He really didn't want to come to Boston. McHale had hinted several times before that he could be traded to Boston, but he refused.

The Celtics are the pioneers of equal rights in the NBA, but Boston is one of the cities in the United States with the most serious racial discrimination, and no black people like to play here.

Just because of his big contract, his options are still too narrow.

The Supersonics and Suns, the teams he wanted to join, both declined his offer. At the beginning of the offseason, Kobe took the initiative to tie up with O'Neal, and all the paths he had thought of were blocked.

There are many teams that want him, but there are only a few teams that have the strength to compete for the championship and the chips to trade for him.

If it were only Pierce, he would also look down on the Celtics.

But if the Celtics can get Carter as well, then they will be attractive enough to Harden.

“Wait until Vince signs the contract.”

"If Vince comes, then you come. It's a deal!" Pierce grinned excitedly.

Garnett really wanted to say maybe, but he knew that he had to pick and choose, so he could only respond vaguely - um.

With Harden's "yes", Danny Ainge handed Carter a contract that made his heart bleed.

The Celtics did not have enough salary space, so he still used a first-round pick to send Szczerbiak to the Bobcats to get a trade exception in order to offer this big contract.

Since Billups failed to be hired, Carter became the most cost-effective outside star in the free market.

Pierce gets $1600 million, Carter gets another $1600 million, and then they trade it for Harden's $2400 million. These three people alone will fill the $5500 million salary cap for next season.

Considering the three first-round picks that the Celtics had to spend to trade for Harden, it can be said that he burned up all the chips that the Celtics could trade.

But after trading souls, they eventually gained superhuman powers.

On July 7, the night Carter suddenly announced that he would join the Celtics, the Timberwolves and Celtics made a seven-for-one trade that was unique in history. The Timberwolves went east, and the biggest fish of this offseason finally came in. Pierce, Carter, and Garnett all held up Celtics jerseys, showing their white teeth.

"The young people's game of playing house is over. We will establish a new order and a new rule here like our predecessors in the team's history!"

(End of this chapter)