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Chapter 203 After Winning the Championship, the Heroes Leave the Team (Second Update Across the Day!)

At this point in time, there are not many teams willing to make a trade with the Warriors.

First, in order to maintain their championship roster, the Warriors are unlikely to make trades using assets that other teams would be more interested in.

Secondly, as a team that just created a 75-win championship miracle in the 09/10 season...
The Warriors' draft picks are, to say the least, unattractive to other teams.

However, the Cleveland Cavaliers are an exception.

During the NBA Finals, LeBron James and his team made it clear to the Cavaliers' front office that the "Chosen One" would leave the team as a free agent this summer.
Therefore, cutting future expenses and officially starting the rebuilding process have become the Cavaliers' top priorities.

Is LeBron James definitely leaving Cleveland?

When Qin Yue learned over the phone that James was about to leave the Cavaliers, even as someone who had been through it, he was still shocked.

Because it was completely different from what he remembered.

Why are they different?
It's important to know that historically, this process continued until that crucial decision was finally made.
James informed Cavaliers fans and the Cavaliers management on a live television broadcast that he would be leaving Cleveland and taking his talents to Miami.

This is also the main reason why Cavaliers owner Gilbert later chose to publicly criticize James, leading to countless Cavaliers fans burning James' jerseys.

after all
Before James announced on television that he did not intend to re-sign with the Cavaliers, he gave the impression that he simply had some contract details that he had not yet agreed upon with his former team.

So now comes the problem.

Why did LeBron James so frankly tell the Cavaliers' front office during the Finals that he would not choose to re-sign with the Cavaliers?
The answer is actually quite simple.

That is, no matter how much suspense James and his team create for his departure, it will be difficult for him to cause an earthquake like Qin Yue remembered.

In Qin Yue's previous life, James, who made the "Decision 1" on live television, was the chosen one who had been selected as MVP for two consecutive years.

It's no exaggeration to say that you wouldn't be wrong to call LeBron James "near-best player in the league" at that time.

But now, James
Not to mention that he just led the Cavaliers to become the backdrop for the Bobcats' upset victory in the first round of the playoffs, in terms of personal prestige, there is always a Messiah from the Bay Area above him.

And most importantly, the team that James currently most wants to sign with is no longer what it used to be.
Therefore, if James cannot make a decision soon, the team may very well make other choices in this summer's free agent market.

therefore
To ensure that the team wouldn't abandon him and choose someone else, James had to be more decisive than Qin Yue remembered.

This forced the Cavaliers to abandon their hopes of keeping James and officially begin rebuilding.

"Who in our roster has the Cavaliers eyeing?" Putting aside his curiosity about James for the moment, Qin Yue asked over the phone.

"They've got their eye on Troy Murphy's expiring contract," Malone said.

The 10/11 season will be Murphy's contract year.

This makes Murphy extremely attractive to the Cavaliers, who urgently need to clear salary cap space.

However, Qin Yue couldn't help but feel a little sad when he learned that the Warriors were going to trade Murphy to the Cavaliers.

Although Qin Yue had made up his mind early on that he would not choose to play the role of a veteran in order to maintain the team's competitiveness.
But when it came to the point where he had to abandon his old comrades, Qin Yue, who was not made of stone, could not help but feel melancholy.

However.
Upon learning of the chips the Cavaliers had decided to give up, Qin Yue, who had been feeling sad, immediately changed his expression.

"Troy is an important backup for us!" Qin Yue said on the phone. "If the Cavaliers just want to trade some insignificant players, I absolutely cannot agree to it!"

"But what if the Cavaliers are willing to offer Antoine Jamison as trade bait?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Antoine Jamison".

On the phone, after a few seconds of contemplation, Qin Yue beamed and said, "Then I will personally knock Troy unconscious for the knight and ship him to Cleveland free of charge!"

Jamison's current contract has two years remaining, expiring at the end of the 11/12 season.

Jamison's contract value for the next two years is $1336 million and $1508 million, respectively.

Because the NBA will officially implement the super luxury tax starting next season with the signing of the new collective bargaining agreement this summer, players of Jamison's caliber are destined to be unworthy of the Cavaliers after losing LeBron James.

But the Warriors are different.

Because Murphy's salary in the 10/11 season was $1197 million, he already falls into the category of a high-paid bench player. Therefore, for the Warriors, if they could trade Murphy for Jamison, their roster would not only receive an upgrade.
And they don't need to pay too much for it.

of course
To make this trade happen, the Warriors would need to give up two additional draft picks.

"The Cavaliers hope we can draft a player for them this summer and then make a trade, and they hope we can include our 2011 first-round draft pick in that trade."

According to NBA rules, a team cannot trade its first-round draft pick two years in a row.

However, if a team drafts a player and then makes a trade, the rule can be perfectly circumvented.

Because the selected player is already an asset of a team, not a draft pick.

In response, Qin Yue laughed and said, "If we can get Antoine Jamison, what need do we have for draft picks?" As someone who has been through it all, Qin Yue knew very well.
Jamison will still possess the skills of a near-All-Star forward for the next two seasons.

He can play off the ball and also initiate ball-handling offense by creating mismatches after a pick-and-roll with himself.

Without a doubt, with Jamison's addition, the Warriors' dynasty journey will be more secure.

Although Qin Yue was still very reluctant to see Murphy leave after confirming with Malone, Mullin, and Riley that the Warriors would make the trade with the Cavaliers after the draft.
But in the NBA, where friends come and go, only the championship banners flutter in the wind.
With the opportunity to strengthen the team right in front of him, Qin Yue, no matter how sad he was, had to accept the gift from Cleveland with tears in his eyes.

……

Four days later, the Warriors held a grand championship parade in Oakland.

Qin Yue didn't want to hide it from Murphy.

So after discussing it with Mullin and Riley, they decided to tell Murphy in advance that he was going to be traded by the team so that he could be mentally prepared.

However, it was different from what Qin Yue had imagined.
Murphy not only accepted it all with great composure, but the other party also turned around and lectured him, saying, "You are going to be the GOAT of this era, while I am just an insignificant pawn. You don't need to feel sad because of my departure, especially since my departure can make this team better."

Over the past few seasons, Murphy has won championship rings and signed big contracts.
For him personally, his career can only be described as that of a winner in life.

So when Murphy learned that his departure would bring back a near-All-Star forward for his beloved team, Murphy was not sad at all; in fact, he was genuinely happy for the team.

After all, Murphy, who is 100% certain to have his jersey retired by the Warriors in his lifetime, has long regarded this team and Oakland as his home.

In addition, Murphy received a promise from team owner Lacob during the championship parade.

"Troy, I don't know what your plans are for the future, but if you plan to come back after you retire, there will always be a place for you in the team's management."

In response, Murphy laughed and said, "Doesn't that mean I'll have the opportunity to become the leader of the Messiah in the future?"

Despite the fact that Murphy will be traded as part of the roster improvements this summer.

But for Lacob, who intends to build a good reputation for the team in the industry, he has long been prepared to treat these Warriors legends well in the future.

In fact, this is the right way to appreciate the legacy of basketball.

Because in the NBA, no championship hero can stay young forever.

If a team wants to contend for the championship every season, it must always maintain the vitality of its roster and the health of its salary cap.

……

After the championship parade, Qin Yue's decadent vacation officially began.

Because the Warriors would have to use the Cavaliers' first-round draft pick to acquire Jamison, Qin Yue lost interest in this year's draft.

It wasn't until the day after the draft that Qin Yue learned that DeMarcus Cousins ​​had been selected by the Wizards, who held the number one pick, and had become this year's number one draft pick.

Cousins, who stands at 211 cm tall with shoes on, was dubbed "Qin Yue N Generation" by major American media outlets early on, thanks to the efforts of his agent Jeff Schwartz.

As we all know, in recent years, any player who can be associated with Qin Yue has been guaranteed a significant increase in their draft position. So it is even more true for DeMarcus Cousins, who was widely favored before the draft and, apart from his somewhat unstable mental attributes, possesses all the qualities of a superstar.
After seeing the news that Cousins ​​had become the number one draft pick, Qin Yue glanced at the details of the 2010 NBA Draft.

The Philadelphia 76ers, holding the second overall pick, selected John Wall, who had gone from being the first overall pick to the second.

With the third pick in the first round, another "Qin Yue Nth generation" Derrick Favors was selected by the Nets, who successfully created the worst record in NBA history last season (excluding the shortened season).

Gordon Hayward was selected ninth overall in the first round by the Jazz through a trade-up.

Paul George, the famous "Silky Smooth Guy," was selected by the Pacers with the 10th pick in the first round.

The Bucks, who had been let down by Hasheem Thabeet for a season, selected "The Poet" Larry Sanders with the 13th pick in the first round.

To bolster their point guard position, the Celtics acquired the Grizzlies' first-round draft pick in a trade involving Tony Allen and selected Eric Bledsoe.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, asked the Warriors to use their first-round draft pick to select Tibor Pelles for them.

As for Lance Stephenson, the most famous player in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft, he remains with the Pacers.

The draft has ended.

The trade between the Warriors and the Cavaliers has been officially completed.

After trading Troy Murphy, Tibor Pelles, and the team's first-round draft pick in 2011, the Warriors acquired near-All-Star forward Antawn Jamison from Cleveland.

A few days later, the free agent market officially opened.
Compared to teams that are busy making earth-shattering trades, the Warriors are focusing their attention on the center position, which they desperately need to strengthen.

Veteran player Foyle has already announced his retirement.
Therefore, even though the Warriors have Qin Yue who can fill in at center, they still need to bring in a backup center this summer to ensure the team's interior depth.

……

PS: Second update across the day! Begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)