Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 376 An Interesting Next Season
July 1st is the opening day of the NBA free agent market every year.

Players can begin meeting with teams to discuss contract terms, but teams cannot officially sign contracts with players until after 24:7 on July 6.

In other words, from the 1st to the 7th, these 6 days are the negotiation window, also known as the signing freeze period, during which players can make verbal commitments about where they will go next.

Today is June 30th. As the team leader, Chen Fang has sufficient authority to access information in the trade market. Starting from this day, any team with trade needs will engage in a three-way collaboration among management, coaching staff, and core players to recruit or sign players.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Chen Fang returned to the Clippers base and waited quietly in the operations hall.

A flood of information and rumors was flying around, keeping Lawrence so busy he couldn't stop moving.

On the contrary, Chen Fang and Rivers were very free. Their task was simple: to express their opinions when making decisions.

The Clippers' primary target is Butler, but this information is still top secret. Lawrence is still gathering information, subtly trying to understand the latest developments in the free market, and directing his key players to constantly obtain reference information from other players and well-informed individuals.

"How's your leg?" Rivers asked.

"I had my stitches removed and went for a follow-up appointment yesterday. The doctor said the recovery is going very well, and I expect to start rehabilitation in about a week," Chen Fang replied.

"It seems you really want to compete in this World Championship."

“Yes, we must fight. It’s a matter of national honor. I’m not just using my skills to make money for myself. As a person, I should have greater aspirations.” Chen Fang’s answer made Rivers nod.

"I look forward to your performance at the World Championships, but I must remind you not to get carried away."

"I understand, but when it comes down to it, there aren't so many trade-offs and balances." After the finals, Chen Fang didn't dare to make any boasts and was quite confident.

“It’s always a good thing that you’re so clear-headed.” Rivers is appreciating Chen Fang more and more these days.

He had seen many superstars after winning championships, and their words and actions changed drastically, with most becoming arrogant. He had previously planned to leave calmly after winning the championship because of this clear understanding, but since then, he had found that Chen Fang had become more reserved.

This was the kind of potential that only those who could accomplish great things and establish a dynasty possessed. Rivers found it hard to refuse this challenge and honor, so he changed his mind.

When he learned that Chen Fang was still willing to accept Butler, he was overjoyed. Regardless of the outcome, it meant that Chen Fang had matured further and had a better understanding of how the league worked.

"Did you know? Leonard opted out of his contract and became a free agent," Rivers changed the subject.

Back on June 24th, the day after the championship parade, Leonard officially declined his $21.3 million player option for the 2019-20 season, thus becoming a free agent.

This news immediately became a bombshell, and he was seen as the biggest fish in the offseason free agency market.

Despite Leonard's loss in the Finals, his leadership ability has been proven, and the Raptors and Clippers are just one step away from winning the championship.

The Raptors, Lakers, and Mavericks are the biggest contenders for Leonard's signature. These days, Leonard's team is open to accepting offers from any team.

But this is only the information available to fans. In the league, Leonard's thoughts are a mystery, but his direction and attitude are clear.

That means offering a maximum salary while joining a very strong team with a good chance of winning the championship.

The Raptors are trying to retain Leonard, and their advantage lies in his Bird rights, which could allow Leonard to sign a 5-year, nearly $2 million mega-contract.

Without a doubt, this will be the highest salary in the league.

The Lakers have everything Leonard wants.

James and Davis are strong enough, and the Lakers' prestigious background aligns with Leonard's team's commercial interests. Leonard wouldn't allow a mere $500 million shoe contract to happen when he was with the Spurs.

More importantly, Leonard is a Los Angeles native, a native of Southern California.

Chen Fang remained silent, his brows furrowed.

In the previous life, this summer, the entire media storm revolved around where Leonard would go, and the fact that the Lakers had outmaneuvered James became the biggest hot topic.

The reality of treating the Lakers as a backup option, only to end up marrying the Clippers who are rich and handsome, while the Lakers, the backup option, foolishly tells the Pelicans to wait a little longer, is truly heartbreaking.

Of course, that's impossible now.

Chen Fang joined the Clippers and won the championship. No one on the team had any bad intentions. The biggest crisis Chen Fang faced when he joined the Clippers has been completely eliminated with the championship.

But you have to poop eventually; you can't hold it in.

Leonard started planning before the Finals even began. Later revelations revealed that as early as February 2019, Leonard told the Clippers what they needed to prepare before he might come.

Therefore, Leonard returning to Los Angeles is the general direction.

The reason why the Lakers were used as a backup plan in the previous life was simply because James was with the Lakers and the public opinion surrounding Durant's defection was still fresh in everyone's mind. Sending Leonard to the Lakers would be something they were unwilling to do.

Fortunately, James has reached the point of retirement. In 19, many media outlets reported that James was preparing for retirement, and James himself did not deny it.

If it weren't for the spurring effect of winning the championship in 20, James might have actually retired much earlier.

This is also why Leonard is still willing to keep the Lakers as a backup option, after all, compared to the Lakers, the Clippers' history is really not worth mentioning.

With the goal of returning home to play their hometown sport and simultaneously expanding their business empire, the Lakers are currently the top choice.

Back to the Raptors, they certainly tried their best to keep him, but the problem was that being in Toronto was too fatal. Leonard's trade to the Raptors was unavoidable, but he still made it clear beforehand that he had a gentleman's agreement with the Raptors to part ways amicably.

If he leaves, the Raptors won't hold a grudge, which is different from James' departure from the Cavaliers.

As for the Mavericks, Cuban has always coveted Leonard, but going to Texas would be no different from staying in Toronto, making that the least likely scenario.

So now it's just the Lakers and the Raptors.

Leonard didn't have many options. It seems that in this life, the Lakers have truly become his preferred team, and he has become the one Leonard desires.

The chances of him staying with the Raptors are slim. Even if they go all in on Paul George, would Paul go to that place?
Leonard first tagged Durant, then asked Irving, and finally approached Paul George, trying to persuade him to join the Clippers and usher in a new era.

As for the Lakers, they have always built their team by poaching superstars (Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, James). The management painted a picture for Leonard as "taking over Kobe's torch and writing his own dynasty on the biggest stage," elevating him from a top player to the pinnacle of the "era symbol."

"What are you thinking about?" Rivers asked when he noticed Chen Fang was lost in thought.

"Coach, I have a bad feeling." Chen Fang snapped out of his thoughts and continued, "Could you please call Lawrence over?"

Chen Fang's premonition was accurate, as everyone knew. Rivers immediately got up and waved to Lawrence, who was busy not far away.

Lawrence, who jogged over, didn't complain; he knew that none of them were the type to cause trouble.

After hearing Rivers' explanation, Lawrence looked at Chen Fang with a probing gaze.

"I have a strong intuition that Leonard is going to the Lakers to form an unprecedented Big Three."

One sentence stunned Lawrence.

"Wait, are you kidding me? Who said this?" Lawrence couldn't believe it at all, but seeing that Chen Fang didn't answer, he started to think frantically. Then he called someone over and asked, "I want to know the Lakers' current salary cap space. I need the exact data."

Soon, the answer came.

"$3250 million. After laying off Ruhr Deng, they paid the last $1000 million in installments over two years, so it went from $2370 million to $3250 million."

“That’s enough!” Rivers nodded, then asked Chen Fang, “Why are you so sure? Aren’t the Raptors good enough? They’ve proven that this roster can continue to contend for the championship.”

"Leonard is homesick, and he's reached his prime. If it weren't for me, the Clippers and Lakers would probably be vying for him now."

These words embarrassed Lawrence, as he felt his thoughts had been exposed. Rivers, who was also involved at the time, acted nonchalantly, feigning surprise: "Oh, is that so?"

“So…” Chen Fang stared at Lawrence: “Butler has to come.”

"Isn't there an alternative?" Lawrence was no longer as confident as he had been a few days ago. He explained, "Butler is being pursued by at least five teams, including the Lakers. According to your analysis, he is now the Lakers' backup plan, but from what I've heard, the Lakers are quite reluctant to accept the conditions he's offered."

"To be the boss?" Rivers asked.

"That's roughly the idea. He's demanding a team status equal to James'."

"James will be hard to deal with, and the Lakers are no pushovers either," Chen Fang immediately concluded.

"Tell me the most likely answer." Although Chen Fang knew the answer, he didn't know the details.

"The Heat!" Lawrence said with a helpless expression: "Butler had been flirting with the Heat since the fall of 2018. When he was traded from the Timberwolves to the 76ers, the Heat were his first choice."

"Does the Heat have salary cap space?" Rivers interjected.

“No, they only have around 25 million, which is 7 million short.” Lawrence shook his head, then said, “The information I received is that it’s a sign-and-trade deal, which can help the 76ers recover some of their losses, and the 76ers’ management will also support this trade proposal.”

"So, both sides have reached a pretty good conclusion?" Chen Fang asked.

“Yes, Butler’s contract expires today. They’ll probably be drafting the contract soon and announcing the verbal agreement.” Lawrence felt frustrated; Chen Fang had given him too little time, and he was completely unprepared.

A silence fell over the room, while outside the meeting room, people continued to come and go busily.

"What can we offer?" Chen Fang broke the silence.

"Harrell + Beverley + 1-2 future first-round picks." Lawrence knew exactly what he had in his pocket.

"Have we not contacted the 76ers yet?"

"We made contact, but the 76ers were very indifferent."

"Why?" Chen Fang asked curiously.

"I don't know." Lawrence shrugged, but Chen Fang immediately realized that it was probably related to the Emperor.

"Have they met yet?" Chen Fang continued to ask.

"Yes, and after meeting with the Heat, Butler immediately canceled meetings with other teams." Lawrence's bald head glistened with sweat; he realized that Chen Wang was testing his management skills.

When key players are dissatisfied with management's actions, it can create many unforeseen dangers. Even if they had a good relationship before, things can change when it comes to their interests.

"Is there a phone?" Chen Fang thought for a moment and then asked.

"Yes, but the chances of them getting in are very low."

Chen Fang leaned back in his chair, initially not nervous, but his mood changed completely when he sensed Leonard was going to the Lakers.

He didn't want to be dominated by James; the combination of James and Davis was already a headache. "Who's close to Butler?" Chen Fang was unwilling to give up; he tried to find even the slightest possibility.

"Lowry is his best friend, and he's also Butler's daughter's godfather. He has a very good relationship with Wade, always regarding him as an older brother, and he's said to have a very good personal relationship with Embiid," Lawrence said, rattling off the details with ease.

Chen Fang smiled wryly. Each of these people had their own reasons for refusing to help him.

Chen Fang got up, leaning on his cane, and began pacing back and forth in the conference room. This was his way of thinking. The room was very quiet. Lawrence wanted Chen Fang to find someone else, but Rivers knew that there were actually very few people in the league who could be considered worthy of Chen Fang's attention.

Three minutes later, Chen Fang simply sat down at his desk, took out his phone, and scrolled through his contacts.

Now is the time to measure friendship.

He came up with a very roundabout way of thinking.

"Hey bro, I need your help."

"Yes, call Lowry, give him my number, I need to speak to him."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Fang didn't explain, but closed his eyes and waited.

Those few minutes felt incredibly long, and Chen Fang began to understand what torture truly meant.

The phone suddenly rang. Chen Fang saw that it was an unfamiliar number. Very few people could get through to this number.

"Hi, is this Kyle?"

"I'm sorry, it's embarrassing to contact you this way." Chen Fang's sincere opening remarks made Lowry on the other end of the phone also lower her stance.

"Please speak, I'm listening."

"I need you to help me contact Jimmy, just like Demar asked you to call me."

“I need a reason,” Lowry said calmly.

“Kawhi is leaving the Raptors and he’ll be coming to the Lakers, so I need to find a helper.” Chen Fang’s words surprised Lowry, who asked him warily, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m not lying. I know it’s still a huge secret right now, but in a few days you’ll see I’m not kidding.”

After a long silence, seemingly lost in thought, Lowry finally spoke: "Why should I help you?"

"For no reason other than to vent your anger."

“What?” Lowry didn’t understand.

"If you guys win the championship this year, will Demar be depressed?" Chen Fang asked.

Lowry fell silent.

"So, if Leonard wins a championship with the Lakers, would you be happy?"

Lowry remained silent.

"Butler is your good brother, is it really a good thing for him to go to the Heat from the beginning?"

“I don’t see it that way, even though that’s what he thinks now, I’m confident I can convince him.”

"Coming to the Clippers to be number two?" Lowry couldn't help but taunt.

"Is that so strange? Am I not qualified to be the boss?" Chen Fang retorted.

There was continued silence on the other end of the phone.

"Isn't Pippen a 50-point player? Listen, I'm not looking for a little brother, I'm looking for a supporting player. The Clippers are far more worthy of him than the Heat. This might be the right choice."

Lowry's silence continued, and just as Chen Fang was about to give up, he spoke.

"I'll call him now, then you wait for my message and call that number again."

"Thank you." Chen Fang was overjoyed.

"You're welcome. Your previous words didn't move me. I just know that Jimmy deserves a better position in the league."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Fang looked at Lawrence and Rivers, who had been waiting quietly, and said, "It's a little bit successful."

Another wait ensued, this time exceptionally long. During this time, Chen Fang returned to his chair. Seeing the serious expressions on both of their faces, he started joking around.

"Even if we lose, it doesn't matter. The Lakers will have problems sooner or later. Even if they don't, we will still beat them."

"I'm sorry, Butler isn't coming, but I think we have other opportunities."

Chen Fang shook his head: "I don't think it's necessary for others."

"To others, Leonard is the biggest fish, but in my eyes, Butler is."

Rivers also offered his opinion: "I agree with Chen. Butler can play 3 against 4, and he can also be used at shooting guard. When he and Chen are on the court together, it is difficult for any team to completely shut them down."

"The Clippers' system has always been limited by the instability of their second strong point. Butler's arrival will take the Clippers to a new level."

"Even if the Lakers get Leonard, we still have the ability to compete."

Lawrence nodded naturally. He had made this judgment long ago, but due to Chen Wang's ambiguous attitude, he dared not mention it for fear of getting into trouble.

When a team wants to acquire a superstar, it's not just a matter for the management; the core leader is the key.

The phone suddenly rang, and the three of them perked up, then fell into a state of tension.

Chen Fang must have made the most anxious call of his life, not because of the pressure, but because he was worried about losing face after being rejected.

“I heard you were looking for me.” Jimmy Butler’s first words revealed his personality.

Their carefree attitude combined with their straightforwardness made for a fascinating display of expressions on speakerphone.

“Yes, I know you’ve made up your mind to go to the Heat, but I want to give it a try,” Chen Fang replied, keeping his composure.

"Oh, you're very well-informed, Prince Chen. I didn't expect you to take the initiative to recruit people. Isn't everyone saying you have a strong personality?" Butler's voice was full of sarcasm.

“Hey buddy, I didn’t call so you could mock me.” Chen Fang suddenly changed his tone.

"Ha, if just a couple of sentences make you angry, then if I came to the Clippers, wouldn't the locker room turn into a battlefield?" Butler's next sentence made Chen Fang burst into laughter.

“It’s very interesting, this is a challenging hypothetical.” Chen Fang continued, “I know that the Heat have given you the position of leader, Spoelstra has promised to build the team around you, and even given you some freedom as a point guard. Moreover, the Heat’s team culture, training intensity, and discipline are 100% a match for your personality.”

"Since you know so much about it, why do you still want to try?" Butler, clearly aware that Chen Fang had seen through his intentions, became serious.

“You’re going down the wrong path, and what you’re seeing is all an illusion. I can’t prove my words, but time will tell.”

"A detour? Are you saying I won't win a championship with the Heat?"

"We couldn't have it anyway, are you kidding me? How can the weak East compare to the West? We're all players, there's no need to argue about this."

Before Butler could refute, Chen Fang quickly said, "The detour I mentioned will get you kicked out of the Heat sooner or later."

Chen Fang made a startling statement, speeding up his speech so that he wouldn't give Butler a chance to speak: "Yes, the contract doesn't lie. Four years from now, you'll be 35 years old, and all you'll have gained with the Heat is the possibility of leading the team to the Finals."

"Yes, you've proven your leadership abilities, but do you really think the Heat will build a super team for you? A Big Three? Don't be delusional. What you did with the Timberwolves didn't make other stars very fond of you."

"Riley has always preferred to develop talent from within and find hidden gems among undrafted players. He is unwilling to give up first-round picks or quality young players for non-top stars. So, you wasted your prime years with the Heat and were eventually kicked out by the Heat when you were trying to retire by signing a second max contract."

"Have you forgotten what happened to Wade? The Heat are a very rational team, with iron discipline. You like them now, but haven't you thought about whether this double-edged sword will eventually cut you?"

"I'm not calling to beg. I can find new help even without you, and I'll still be the most powerful one then!"

Lawrence and Rivers were stunned; Chen Fang's rapid-fire words almost made them freeze.

"Oh, I can tell, you're here to settle old scores." Butler's words were harsh, but his tone was surprisingly weak.

Clearly, Chen Fang's words reminded him of something he hadn't considered before.

"I'm here to play basketball, not to make friends. When the Clippers' general manager asked me what kind of reinforcements we needed, I just said your name. No reason why. Without you, the 76ers are just a pile of mud."

“I like your playing style. It gives me a glimpse of what a dynasty is all about. If you’re willing to come to the Clippers, I can responsibly promise that no one will betray you there. Compared to the Heat, the Clippers are God.”

"Haha, your sweet talk is even better than your tricks on the court. Are you kidding me? What promises do you have?"

"I'm sorry, you don't know me very well, so I forgive your ignorance. I am stronger than you think."

"Hehe." Faced with Chen Wang, who was even more domineering than him, Butler suddenly felt a little unsure.

“Come to Los Angeles, and you’ll change your mind. I’ll be waiting for you here.” Chen Fang made a decisive decision without further ado.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of pacing. A dozen seconds later, Butler's voice rang out: "See you tomorrow!"

"Beep beep!"

Chen Fang looked at Lawrence and Rivers and said with a smile, "The rest is up to you."

Lawrence nodded first, then hurried off to make arrangements. As he reached the door, he turned to Chen Fang and said, "This is the most brilliant recruitment I have ever seen in my life."

Rivers also let out a long sigh of relief, clearly having been holding his breath and listening intently.

"Fantastic. You'll be a big name in the league sooner or later. Amazing." Rivers also gave his assessment. He had things to do; Butler was coming, and the coaching staff's respect was very important.

After the two left, Chen Fang was alone in the conference room. He reflected on his performance just now and felt a little vain.

"It feels like I've found that feeling again back in Dongsheng, when I tricked Xue Yi and Captain Yue, haha!"

Chen Fang slumped down in a relaxed, reclining position, then began to daydream.

If Leonard, James, and Davis can still win, would James' fans still dare to bluff in this world?
What an interesting future!
Suddenly, Chen Fang felt a strong sense of anticipation for the next season.

(End of this chapter)