Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 323 A Twist of Fate

The media provided further interpretations of the remarks made by Chen Wang and James after the game.

Regarding Chen and Wang's lenient and understated approach to the derby victory, some media reporters praised Chen and Wang's gentlemanly behavior, believing that many of his pre-match remarks were merely psychological tactics and not his true thoughts, and therefore there was no need to criticize him.

James expressed that he had done his best, that his teammates were not performing well today, and reiterated the old argument about bringing in heavyweight stars, which became the new focus of discussion.

Brad Nick, the Lakers columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News, is a proponent of this view.

He started by analyzing the Lakers' recent crushing defeat, then extended to the necessity of strengthening the Lakers' roster, and reminded everyone that it is still December, with plenty of time and games to catch up. If the Lakers can strengthen their roster before February, then anything is possible.

Of course, there are also opponents who are mocking ESPN LA, which is ESPN's Los Angeles branch, providing live sports broadcasts and news coverage for California.

ESPN LA basketball columnist Mead Hewitt went all out.

He didn't hold back in mocking him on Twitter: "Reinforcement, reinforcement, that's a label that comes with LeBron James. No matter where he goes, reinforcement is always the topic."

I honestly don't know if LeBron James came here to play basketball or just to have fun. It reminds me of party organizers who organize parties for profit and fame, not to enjoy the fun.

I don't want to speculate maliciously, but ever since he went to the Heat, he's been obsessed with forming teams, recruiting, strengthening, and creating an All-Star starting lineup, which has become something he enjoys doing endlessly.

A player of historical caliber shouldn't constantly talk about strengthening the team; that's hard to earn respect.

However, there are also moderate neutrals.

Fox Sports reporter Cameron Hunt appeared quite rational.

He shared his thoughts on this on his Facebook page: "In this league, even with superstars, there is a need for reasonable role players. Obviously, the Lakers' crushing defeat in this game should show us what the Lakers' weaknesses are."

LeBron James is a player who brings his own system to the table. He needs more shooters, and he won three championships under this system.

The Lakers' current problem is that Magic Johnson's team-building philosophy has clashed with that of their star player, LeBron James, and head coach Luke Walton has become the victim.

The Lakers are currently ranked tenth in the Western Conference, but the gap isn't too large. Strengthening the roster is a must for the management. With historical superstars like LeBron James and Chris Paul, the Lakers need to focus on repairing the roster and building a championship-caliber team.

These three opinions became the focus of discussion in the Los Angeles basketball community after the Lakers' crushing defeat, and the Lakers' management finally couldn't sit still any longer.

Lakers president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka came out together for an interview.

Magic Johnson acknowledged that he bears responsibility for the team's current record, but reiterated that the Lakers' traditions will not change.

Pelinka, on the other hand, was more tactful. He confidently told reporters that the team's reinforcements were ongoing and that a huge surprise would soon be presented to Lakers fans.

"Our goal has never changed, and that is to win the championship."

"We will not be mediocre; we Lakers are a powerhouse."

"That's really interesting!" This interview clip was playing on a television set mounted on the wall at the Clippers' training facility.

Most people found it ridiculous and believed that Pelinka was simply fabricating a lie to appease public anger.

After his mockery, Dillon noticed that Chen Fang's expression was serious.

The morning training session was very enjoyable. The boss gave everyone a Rolex watch as a gift, while Chen Fang received a Patek Philippe. This didn't make the others envious, because without Chen Fang, none of them would even have a Rolex.

Chen Fang, who had just been smiling, suddenly became serious, which puzzled Dillon.

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?"

"It's okay, you go ahead and practice, I'll go find the coach."

Watching Chen Fang leave, Dillon sensed something was amiss. His mind wasn't as rough as he appeared; on the contrary, Dillon was a very intelligent person.

He knows what is right and how to do it in a way that benefits him.

Rivers and Brian were watching the video, and Mazura was doing video analysis. When they saw Chen Fang's serious expression, all three of them stopped working.

"what happened?"

"Have you seen the interview with the Lakers' general manager?" Chen Fang asked.

"I saw it, so what?" Brian asked, puzzled.

"We're in a bit of trouble."

Chen Fang had a premonition that the Lakers might not have made this decision without this crushing defeat, but now they have indeed taken action ahead of schedule.

"Reinforce?" Brian didn't pay attention.

“Yes, I think the Lakers are serious,” Chen Fang said.

Mazura quickly took out her computer, browsed through the web to find the video, and projected it onto the screen.

Upon reviewing it again, several people made some discoveries.

"It seems that the Magician was nodding slightly when Pelinka spoke."

"While the magician was speaking, Pelinka remained calm, his eyes were narrowed."

They all noticed something amiss.

"But so what? Who are they going to strengthen?" Brian was a little puzzled. Although he came from the Lakers, he didn't have a good impression of Pelinka.

"What can an agent do?" he then said dismissively.

Rivers looked at Chen Fang, who sat down and said, "Davis, if we use our connections, I'm sure they're already in talks with the Pelicans."

Rivers pondered for a moment, then took out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts.

“If I do, I will know,” he said.

He made a phone call, then went outside, and Rivers returned five or six minutes later.

His expression was unpleasant, and his voice was hoarse.

"Chen Fang, your premonition was right."

"The Lakers are brewing a blockbuster trade with the Pelicans."

“But they don’t have any chips!” Brian exclaimed incredulously.

"No, they have them!"

As a seasoned veteran, Rivers can instantly understand the ins and outs of things once he has figured them out.

“Ingram, Paul, plus the scraps, all in is possible.”

"The Pelicans couldn't keep Davis in his contract extension year. Davis wanted to leave, and there was no stopping him."

"Instead of letting value disappear, let's make a big profit and start rebuilding."

With a few words, the matter was quickly explained. Chen Fang did not speak; the truth was just like that. It was just that in the past life, they had Lonzo, but now they had Paul.

"Paul is willing?" Brian shook his head and sighed; in fact, he had already accepted the possibility.

"Paul was unhappy with the Lakers. James was too dominant, and he couldn't even control the situation."

"Wait!" Mazura suddenly spoke up.

“Perhaps we need to think more broadly,” Mazura said.

"Perhaps this is a three-way deal."

These words made Rivers' eyes light up, and Chen Fang jumped to his feet.

"Rocket!" he blurted out.

Rivers' first reaction was to look at him, and then he praised him, "After you retire, you will definitely be a qualified manager. You have enlightened me."

"So, not only the Lakers are getting reinforcements, but the Rockets will too?"

"Davis went to the Lakers, Paul went to the Rockets?" Brian realized.

Chen Fang exhaled a long breath, and the powerful thread of fate began to activate.

Instead, he felt calm.

"What do the Rockets have to offer to satisfy the Pelicans?" Brian asked.

“You don’t need to bring anything, just a good relationship, plus draft picks,” Rivers explained. He knew all too well about this.

“Anthony might go to the Lakers,” Chen Fang said.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"Davis, James, Anthony," Brian muttered to himself, then gave a wry smile.

"This lineup is a bit scary."

“Yes, once James is given some reinforcements, he can unleash the power of his system.” Rivers also felt a headache coming on.

"And with Paul on the Rockets, Harden can focus on offense, perfect!" Brian immediately thought of all this.

"If this actually comes to fruition, the difficulty for us to win the championship will increase dramatically."

"Our opponents aren't the Warriors, they're three of them!" Brian realized everything, and his face turned incredibly grim.

“No, this is actually a good thing,” Chen Fang suddenly said. The three of them looked at him in surprise.

"If we maintain our first place in the West, then we won't face any of the three teams in the first round: the Warriors, the Rockets, or the Lakers."

"Given the Lakers' slow start and James' adjustments, they can make the playoffs, but definitely later on."

"Therefore, it's highly likely that the Warriors or the Rockets will face the Lakers."

"No matter who wins, it won't be easy for them to escape unscathed; we have a better chance."

Chen Fang's words made the others frown, but Rivers was the first to understand, and he smiled.

"Now we need to do something."

"With an absolute record, they will lead the West and force the Warriors and Rockets to fight for second place. Perhaps in the end, they will all be scrambling to avoid the Lakers."

"The Lakers have become a weapon in our hands!"

The haze lifted slightly, and the four of them began a discussion in the conference room.

"We don't need any trades. The current roster just needs the players to get playing time. We have enough strength to face anything," Chen Fang confidently told the coaching staff.

"A trade would only disrupt the great team atmosphere we have now. Even if we don't get it this year, we'll only be stronger next year."

"We're on the rise!"

That was practically a done deal, so Rivers voluntarily abandoned the idea of ​​making reinforcements.

Finally, Rivers asked Chen Fang, "When do you think this trade will begin?"

"It's highly likely to happen before the All-Star Weekend in January."

Rivers thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Actually, I did consider finding someone to leak information and ruin this deal," he said.

Chen Fang remained silent. In fact, the deal had indeed been botched, causing a great uproar. The Lakers and Pelicans called it off, and James took the opportunity to tank, announcing an indefinite absence due to his groin.

Until the offseason, the Lakers were lucky enough to get the 4th pick, and used this pick as a pretext to restart the trade with the Pelicans.

Ultimately, the three-way trade added one more championship to the Lakers' all-time championship tally, and this ring gave LeBron James the confidence to declare himself the greatest of all time.

Therefore, in Chen Fang's view, he could not go against his original intention.

A super-powerful executioner should be doing this kind of thing.

Whether it's Curry or James, he'll have to play the villain and stop them.

In their last game of December, the Clippers hosted the Spurs.

Despite DeRozan's hard work, in order to secure the top spot in the West, Mazura proactively adjusted the rotation, increasing Chen Fang's playing time from 28 minutes to 35 minutes.

31 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.

This also allowed Chen Fang to maintain his third place in the league's scoring list, behind Harden's 35 points and Paul George's 28 points.

Chen Fang leads Giannis Antetokounmpo by 0.1 points with 27.8 points.

When asked by reporters about the top scorer, Chen Fang smiled and shook his head.

"I'm still young, that's not what I'm focusing on right now."

"Winning games allows us to adjust our lineup and develop better chemistry with our teammates."

Just as Chen Fang said, the Clippers started their winning streak at the beginning of January.

Philadelphia 76ers, Felix Suns, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans.

Seven-game winning streak!
With a record of 36 wins and 7 losses, they not only hold the top spot in the Western Conference but also the best record in the league.

"The Clippers have been unstoppable this season, especially from late December to today, the 14th, when they achieved a 14-game winning streak under Chen Wang's leadership."

"The Los Angeles Clippers' longest winning streak is 17 games, which was achieved in the 2012-2013 season. Let's see if Chen Wang can break this record!"

Faced with the Clippers' dominance, the league's rivals are taking notice.

"Unbelievable, I don't know how the Clippers did it, it's a miracle." Barkley is really starting to like the current Clippers. He feels that Chen Wang's temperament suits his taste. He doesn't care about any superstars at all, and no one can do anything about it.

I'm not afraid to fight anyone!
"We need to see that after playing the Jazz, we'll face the Warriors at home."

"The Warriors are the biggest obstacle to the Clippers breaking the record."

"If that happens, given the Clippers' current morale and form, it's hard to predict how many consecutive wins they could achieve."

The media is creating hype, and the Clippers have now become the league's trump card for manipulating media attention. Whether it's the Clippers vs. Warriors, Clippers vs. Lakers, or Clippers vs. Rockets, these are all highly anticipated matchups worth promoting.

Then, a reporter raised a serious question.

Can Chen Wang now be considered the face of the alliance?

This argument sparked huge controversy as soon as it was published. Some media outlets argued that it was not enough, because without the added honors and championships, it should not be counted.

However, some reporters believe that, at least for now, the hot topics and focus of the entire league are related to the Clippers, and that Chen Wang's leadership ability and statistics are in no way inferior to other superstars.

More importantly, in this season's MVP voting, Chen Fang is leading Harden, Curry, Giannis, and Leonard.

So when the Clippers beat the Jazz, extending their winning streak to 15 wins, a reporter asked Chen Fang about this.

"A storefront?" Chen Fang laughed heartily.

"Isn't this something only Americans are qualified for?" Chen Fang asked half-jokingly, then quickly explained, "It's a joke, don't spread it around."

He then replied seriously, "It's too early to say. I'm just an ordinary player, nothing special!"

This answer made the reporter roll his eyes; Chen Fang clearly didn't want to answer the question and was just pretending to be clueless.

So the reporter asked his job question: "What are your thoughts on the next game, a home game against the Warriors?"

"My opinion? No, we've played so many games against the Warriors, and every game has been very close."

"In our hearts, the Warriors are the toughest team we can beat. We need to work together and give it our all."

"As for the team's historical records..." Chen Fang paused, stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before speaking: "To be honest, we care a lot, but experience tells us that the more you care, the faster you lose them."

"So we don't discuss this in our team. We just play each game one by one, and whatever the result is, it's something we should remember."

Just as the reporter was about to ask another question, gasps suddenly erupted from the press conference, and soon, the reporters in the audience all changed color and took out their phones.

In the blink of an eye, several reporters had already left their seats and run out.

This had a ripple effect; soon, most of the reporters had left.

"What happened?" someone asked.

Tomer Azali, a Clippers beat reporter in the front row, took out his phone and walked towards Chen Fang.

"The Lakers made a trade." He said gravely.

"Davis has come to the Lakers!"

Chen Fang's expression quickly calmed down after his initial surprise. He took the phone and read it quickly.

"Oh, this is a big deal," he exclaimed.

2019年1月16日，北京时间是1月17日。

The Lakers, Pelicans, Wizards, and Rockets made a four-way trade.

The Lakers traded Paul, Ingram, Josh Hart, JaVale McGee, Moritz Wagner, Lance Stephenson, and the right to swap draft picks in 2022 and 2023.

They got the Davis, Howard, and Anthony they had always dreamed of.

The Pelicans traded Davis to Ingram, Josh Hart, Moritz Wagner, Lance Stephenson, Brandon Knight, and draft picks in 201, 2022, and 2024, as well as the right to swap draft picks in 2023.

The Wizards traded Dwight Howard in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein and some cash.

The Rockets traded Carmelo Anthony, Knight, Isaiah Hartenstein, and 2021 and 2024 draft picks to acquire Chris Paul.

This was a blockbuster trade that shocked the league, strengthening both the Lakers and Rockets, while the Pelicans secured their future.

Subsequently, the Pelicans traded Josh Hart, Moritz Wagner, Lance Stephenson, and Brandon Knight.

In exchange, they received a large number of future draft picks.

"This is an arms race!"

"This also foreshadows that the competition in the West will be fierce this season."

Chen Fang returned to the locker room and, facing his panicked teammates, spoke in a deep voice.

"But our goal remains the same, brothers. This season, no one can stop the Clippers!"

(End of this chapter)