Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 286 Focus on the future, the Empire of Tomorrow
The San Francisco skyline looks beautiful today.

After finishing his post-match physiotherapy, Chen Fang returned to the hotel. He didn't check his phone or go online to look for news about the day.

I simply sat cross-legged in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the night view.

He gained a lot from this match.

Reflections on confidence and the playoffs.

The Warriors' next game will certainly not be easy for him; there will be many difficulties and challenges ahead. But Chen Fang is no longer afraid of these.

People don't have to wait until they can crush their opponent to have the courage to fight.

Courage resides within the heart and body, and whether it is roused depends solely on one's own boldness.

He slept soundly that night.

The next day, the expected fatigue arrived. This familiar feeling was strong, and a sense of emptiness after being overdrawn lingered in my limbs.

Today, the team will maintain their form and practice tactics in the designated training hall.

Rivers came over personally to inquire about Chen Fang's condition, and Chen Fang replied, "The same old problem, take it slow!"

This imbalance that follows an outburst exists in every player; after the initial excitement, people tend to become lethargic.

Rivers didn't seem anxious; he was relaxed as the two strolled along the hotel's greenbelt.

What are your thoughts after playing the first match?

"This victory was stolen!"

Rivers was not surprised by Chen Fang's answer. He nodded and said, "Green was forced to leave the court. Otherwise, the Warriors' system would not have allowed us to take the lead in the fourth quarter."

"Yes, but Green won't stay like this forever."

"The Warriors fear you, but not the Clippers. We lack a consistent scoring option, and it will be difficult for you to do it alone."

"But that's just how it is, and I won't complain."

“If you can think this way, then you’re on the right track,” Rivers said, admiringly.

Have you seen today's media reports?

Chen Fang shook his head: "It's pointless. When we lose, these people's faces will be uglier than ghosts."

“Haha! You’re right.” Rivers laughed heartily.

"Coach, how should we play in the next game?"

Rivers pondered for a moment. In fact, the coaching staff barely slept yesterday, spending the whole night brainstorming ideas about this.

"Rose has strained his thigh and will miss the playoffs."

Chen Fang's eyes dimmed. In fact, he had expected this long ago. Losing Rose meant that the Clippers were completely lacking in point guard.

"Neither Evans nor Wallace is capable of taking on the responsibility of starting."

"Right now we have to rely on Lou Williams, but he's better at scoring."

“Richard and Harrell can be effective inside, but they need support in transition offense and defense. In positional play, they are not very useful.”

“Zubac proved he could draw attention, but only if it was a sustained positional battle.”

"Kuzma was our top priority, but his skills aren't enough to make him effective against the Warriors' switch-heavy defense."

Rivers briefly pointed out the team's problems, and Chen Fang pondered them.

"so……?"

“Yes, maybe you’re better suited to playing combo guard.” Rivers was serious. Seeing Chen Fang’s hesitation, he said, “Yes, even if we play like in Game 1, there’s no hope, is there?”

"We can only mobilize the entire team to fight back now, not only for the present but also for the future."

"There's something I've always been reluctant to say: when we face the Warriors, our chances of advancing to the playoffs are practically zero."

"I thought we could rely on the Warriors' injury situation, but I heard that it's not serious and the Warriors will have their full roster for the next game."

Before the change, Chen Fang must have been very disappointed, but now he just smiled.

"The ball is round; anything can happen once you're on the court."

Rivers was relieved to see Chen Fang's open-mindedness.

"I need to go out this afternoon, is that alright?" Chen Fang asked.

“Go ahead, you’re free!” Rivers said. He might not have been willing to let other players go, but there must be a reason why Chen Fang wanted to leave.

The two walked to an outdoor coffee shop, and Chen Fang asked, "Want an Americano?"

"very good!"

After sitting down, Chen Fang asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Do you have suitable goals for the draft, coach?"

Rivers countered, "And you?"

Unexpectedly, the coach took the initiative, but Chen Fang was very frank: "There are some, but I'm still hesitant."

“What are you hesitating about? This conversation is very private, and I won’t tell anyone,” Rivers stated first.

So Chen Fang asked for paper and pen and wrote down a few names.

Rivers wasn't surprised after reading it; he simply said, "The idea is wonderful, but success is difficult."

"Yes, I don't think the Clippers will get that many high draft picks."

“Michael Porter Jr., I know him. I noticed him during his senior year of high school. I talked to Brandon Roy, and his talent and skills are the future of the league.” Rivers went on and on, clearly having done his homework.

"But his herniated disc is an irreversible problem. He didn't play in college and has been recovering. From what I've heard, his back injury is still there, and he will need further rehabilitation if he wants to withstand the intensity of the NBA."

Chen Fang nodded: "He's my brother. We've known each other since high school. I know very well how amazing his talent is. He will be the best wing player, even a better super 3D than Klay."

“His back injury is a big problem. I advised him to give up university and be patient in his recovery, but unfortunately, he was still impatient. He returned to competition early in February, which was terrible. His back injury worsened.” Chen Fang was exasperated. This brainless brother of his was still too anxious.

He was too afraid of his draft prospects and neglected his future life. Even though Chen Fang assured him that he would definitely make it to the NBA and that he should focus on his recovery and not worry about anything else.

But fate took a turn, and Porter Jr.'s back injury recurred, meaning any team would have to gamble on his future by taking a year off.

“In my experience, I wouldn’t accept him, and I would also advise the management.” Rivers could see Chen Fang’s heartache and regret, but despite his usual good-natured and slick personality, he made his stance serious.

Chen Fang didn't speak. In his previous life, Porter Jr. suffered three back injuries, which kept recurring. In the end, he had to wear ACP in his shoes for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation also caused walking problems due to lumbar spine imbalance. At 24, Porter Jr. was unable to bend over or accelerate, and relied on big jump shots to survive.

Rivers' words are clear and based on experience.

“Once there’s a problem with his lumbar spine, it’s hard to get rid of. The long regular season will force him to take constant rest. I really can’t be optimistic about what kind of future a player like that can achieve,” Rivers said.

Chen Fang remained silent. Porter Jr. had certainly made a name for himself, but his prime was very short. And he only knew about 24 years ahead of him. What about the future? Maybe he'd get his fourth back injury in 25, and it was hard to say whether he'd need a year of rest.

“Tray Young,” Rivers said, referring to the second person on the list.

"That's fantastic. If I had a high draft pick, I'd be willing to take the gamble, but in reality, the Clippers have no chance of getting it."

Chen Fang remained silent as he heard Rivers analyze, "Furthermore, he's a ball-handling specialist. If you're willing to let him handle the ball, you can play off-ball, but are you willing to do that?"

Chen Fang didn't speak. Yes, Trae Young and Alexander are the same type. The former hardly needs to wait, while the latter has a higher growth ceiling, but both of them are huge ball-dominant. Playing with them as teammates will inevitably result in a lot of back-and-forth running.

I wouldn't want to either.

The reason he still had ideas was because his relationship with Yang gave him confidence that he could resolve the issue. But looking back, why not agree to West's attitude and sign SGA?
“This is actually what the Clippers need!” Rivers pushed the name on the note toward them.

Jaren Jackson Jr.!
"He can swing between the number four and number five, has good physical talent and excellent defensive awareness, and his initiative in attacking the rim in college also shows that he has an offensive heart."

"Of course, he still has some issues, but these won't affect his draft position. It's a pity. If he falls out of the top five, I think we have a chance. If we really want to get him, we'll have to see what the teams of the top few lucky ones are lacking."

"In short, everything is unclear unless the team makes a firm decision, like discovering you, and trades their best assets for you."

Chen Fang remained silent, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"Coach, I regret talking to you about this."

"You have a backup plan? Is that right?" Rivers asked.

Chen Fang was surprised: "You can tell that?"

"No, I'm just saying this based on what I know about you. You're not a dreamer; you're very pragmatic."

So Chen Fang had no choice but to take the pen and paper and write down a line.

When Rivers saw it, he was genuinely surprised, and then burst out laughing.

“Very insightful, really, beyond my expectations. I only thought of part of it, but you thought of everything. Tell me, why are you so confident in thinking this way?” Rivers was genuinely curious.

“Brunson and I are good friends. He was also a potential rival of mine in college. Plus, they won the championship this year, which motivated me to learn more about them.” Chen Fang couldn’t say I was a prophet; he had to find some reasons.

“So I know they have a great group of players, and they’re all going to be in the draft this year!” Rivers looked down at the note Chen Fang had just written, shaking his head slightly before looking up: “Pack Villanova?”

“Yes, Brunson, DiVincenzo, Bridges,” Chen Fang admitted. “They are not high in the draft, but this is a mature team.”

"Point guard Brunson, scorers DiVincenzo and small forward Bridges."

"With Zubac and Richon, it's a great lineup."

"And what about you?" Rivers asked.

Chen Fang smiled and said, "I will play positions 1 through 3, depending on the situation on the court."

Rivers nodded, began to think, and then shrugged: "Brunson is too short, DiVincenzo is inconsistent, and I have high hopes for Bridges; he's a potential 3D player."

“They are all great and offer excellent value for money, but they need to be given enough time to grow.”

“Do you have the patience?” Rivers asked.

Chen Fang nodded: "I'm fine with it."

“But the team management has an idea to find immediate strength for you, and I believe this idea will become even more urgent because of this series.” Rivers’ words made Chen Fang think. He pondered for a moment.

"Really? I really didn't expect to go here."

"Yes, if you were matched with an All-Star, the Warriors might win."

Indeed, Chen Fang knew very well that he wasn't afraid of being given one now, and he was confident that even if Griffin made a comeback.

"You don't need an inside player, but a wing or combo guard."

To be honest, Rivers saw things very clearly. As long as there was one more strong outside shooter, Chen Fang could have an easy time.

Then, Rivers began scribbling on the paper, and after a while, he handed the note to Chen Fang.

After reading it, Chen Fang thought for a moment and felt that this was acceptable to him, so he nodded.

"I would be very happy if that were possible."

“But to do this, you’ll have to trade a lot of people,” Rivers said.

Chen Fang hesitated, but his gaze remained firm.

"I should be more professional."

Rivers stood up and patted Chen Fang on the shoulder: "That's right, this isn't your problem, and you shouldn't bear this psychological burden."

"Go do your thing," Rivers said, feeling the conversation should end.

After watching Chen Fang leave, Rivers tore up all the notes on the table.

"There will be a way that satisfies both sides!" he muttered.

Half an hour later, in a closed bar, Chen Fang saw his familiar brothers.

Jaren Jr., Blowing, Porter Jr.

"You guys really know how to pick a place!" Chen Fang looked around. It was daytime, and bars wouldn't be open. It certainly seemed like a good place to meet up.

“It belongs to a friend of mine, I’d like to borrow it,” Treyant said.

"My hair seems to be thinning!" Chen Fang tried to touch it, but was dodged by the wind. He cursed, "Damn it, I'm in college, nobody dares to say anything about my hair."

"Tsk tsk, I'd think you were the NCAA MVP!" Chen Fang, feeling a sense of familiarity, continued his trash talk.

"Fuck, I knew you wouldn't say anything nice when you came!" Chui Yang said helplessly, and the four of them randomly found a spot.

"Do you have champagne? I'm not drinking!" Chen Fang said.

“Yes!” Little Potter got up to get it, but Chen Fang stopped him.

"You're in such poor health, you should just lie down."

Upon hearing Chen Fang's words, Porter Jr. almost burst into tears. He was very depressed: "I've lost all my big contracts. Sigh, my draft position, my future prospects."

"In the current market, who has the highest priority?" Chen Fang asked.

Little Jialun and Chuiyang exchanged glances but remained silent.

"They're pretty much the same, right?" Seeing the two remain silent, Chen Fang said, "Rank doesn't matter. A few tens of thousands more isn't a big deal. Just listen to me, you'll both be rich in the future!"

"I'm not considering it either. My dad wants me to do a joint trial, but I don't want to," said Little Jialun.

“I’m not going either!” Chuiyang said.

“I have to go…!” Little Potter cried, then explained, “If I don’t go, I might be eliminated.”

"Seriously!" Chen Fang tapped the table earnestly.

When the three of them looked at him, Chen Fang said, "I know why you've come. First, to watch my competition, and second, to discuss something with me. After all, my talent show tactics are quite amazing, and you want to hear about them."

Seeing that all three nodded, Chen Fang continued, "Let me make this clear first: if you listen to me, I will speak; but if you don't intend to listen and just want to take a look, then I won't waste my breath."

Chen Fang's words left the three of them silent for a long time.

Little Potter spoke first: "I'll listen to you. I suffered because I didn't listen to you before. My dad scolded me to death. Everything you said before has come true. You are a prophet."

When Porter Jr. said that, Chui Yang chimed in, "I can't guarantee that. I have to listen to my agent and family."

“Me too!” Jaren chimed in.

"Okay, then let me give you my suggestions first!" Chen Fang had already made two preparations, and after talking with Rivers, he finalized his idea.

"Trae Young is still aiming for a high draft pick, so that if he goes to a weaker team, he can easily prove his worth."

Seeing Trae Young's surprise, Chen Fang said, "Don't glare at me. I've also considered bringing you to the Clippers, but I'm sorry to both of you. If you have the ball and I have the ball, how are we supposed to play? Unless you promise me right now that you can switch between playing off-ball and on-ball, I'm willing to let the management gamble on you!"

One sentence was enough to deflate Trejan's spirits, and he tried to explain, "You know, I really can't play off the ball."

“So go to a weaker team. We’ll talk again in three years.” Chen Fang’s words had a hidden meaning, which Trae Young naturally understood. He nodded dejectedly.

Turning to look at Xiao Jialun, Chen Fang frowned: "You've grown taller again?"

"Yes, now it's 211!" Little Jalun couldn't hide his pride.

Have any teams contacted you?

After a moment's hesitation, Little Jalun admitted, "Yes."

"Push it, wait for the Clippers to come!"

Chen Fang's words startled all three of them so much that they almost stood up.

“Yes, the management will go all in on you, just like they went all in on me!” Chen Fang gave a precise answer.

"Tell your agent to start moving in this direction from now on, and management will contact your agent!"

"Okay!" Jia Lun nodded hastily, shocked.

"You might have to suffer a little and your ranking might drop, but you deserve that loss!" Chen Fang didn't offer any comfort; with his current status and position, he had the right to do so.

None of the three objected. They were joking, didn't they see how Chen Wang took down the warrior yesterday?

The internet is going crazy; Chen Fang's leadership and combat prowess are simply off the charts.

To be honest, all three of us were very nervous to meet Chen Fang today. Chen Fang is no longer the unknown figure he once was; he is now the most sought-after big shot in the alliance.

In his rookie year, he put up incredible numbers. Anyone would know that with Chen Fang, he was destined for a championship.

Finally, he looked at little Potter, who had a pitiful expression on his face.

"Since you say you'll listen to me, then I'll be frank!" Chen Fang said slowly.

"Withdraw from the talent show, and I'll pay to completely cure your damn lumbar spine."

At those words, little Potter's eyes widened, but a few seconds later, he seemed relieved.

"That's what my dad said too, but I want to make money."

"I have plenty of money. Come to the Clippers in next year's draft, I guarantee it!" Chen Fang said.

"You only need to focus on your recovery. I will have the medical team monitor you throughout the entire process until you are fully recovered."

"This is my plan. The three of you should think it over carefully. I don't have enough time. Remember, today's content is also a late-spring talk. No one is allowed to leak it."

Chen Fang really doesn't have much time. Since it's difficult to deal with the Warriors, he should focus on next year.

Based on the roster he and Rivers came up with, Chen Fang is confident that the Clippers will have the strength to win the championship next year.

Be patient for two years, and tomorrow's empire will be born!

(End of this chapter)