Champion Rules

Chapter 175, 171: This is practically buy one get one free! (Seeking monthly votes!)
With the No HandCheck rule being enforced more strictly last season, the NBA has been increasingly referred to as a reality show or a performance program.

This may indeed be a league with a strong commercial focus, but the fierce competition of competitive sports has not disappeared from the league.

For the players, the competition between them is brutal.

The same applies to the team's management.

Those who try every means to prevent their opponents from poaching their players are also trying every means to poach the opposing team's players.

Honesty hasn't completely disappeared from the world of NBA management, but it only occupies a small part of the rules governing survival in this world.

Sam Presti had just experienced such cruelty.

During the draft, the New York Knicks were blocked by multiple teams because they leaked their interest in Serge Ibaka in advance.

Even if these teams don't want Serge Ibaka, they don't want the Knicks to get him either.

Therefore, Sam Presti decided after the draft that the recruitment of Steve Nash must be done discreetly.

He couldn't afford to make another mistake; he had to be absolutely certain of getting this man to Lynch's side.

He met Lynch during a basic tactical training course for the 04 draft class. Later, with Lynch's strong recommendation, he became the youngest general manager in the four major North American leagues. His several successful trades laid the foundation for the Knicks' two consecutive championships.

They are not only friends, but also partners who help each other succeed.

Their relationship was very close, far exceeding the scope of ordinary colleagues.

Lynch's legend is Sam Presti's glory, so he was not just doing his job; his obsession was to prevent Lynch from failing.

Sam Presti devised a meticulous plan for this covert war.

He knew that if the Suns and Trail Blazers found out about Nash's plan to team up with Lynch, it would trigger a bidding frenzy and completely disrupt the Wind Prince's decision.

Therefore, this pursuit must proceed quietly, like a deep-sea undercurrent, in dimensions undetectable by the Alliance's radar.

So he first used the smokescreen of the Knicks wanting to offer Baron Davis a max contract extension to successfully divert media attention.

While the entire league was discussing this "poison pill contract," Presti's special assistant had already quietly flown to Portland to hold secret talks with Nash's team.

Following the initial conversation, Sam Presti will have further in-depth discussions with Nash's team via video conference.

The conversation covered the Knicks' plans to strengthen the team after acquiring Steve Nash, and of course, Nash's new contract.

Presti will only arrange a decisive meeting between Lynch and Nash once the team's strategic framework and the contract terms for the "Wind Child" are approved by Nash's team.

Although this new king of New York has his own aura of popularity, media exposure is no longer important at this point, because the outcome of the meeting can only be determined in binary terms.

If successful, the dust will settle; if unsuccessful, it will be too late for other competitors to find out.

The tactics employed included misleading public opinion, a complex itinerary that blended reality and illusion, and a phased release of sincerity for cooperation.
If James Worthy had the same thinking ability as Sam Presti back then, the female police officer who was entrapped would have been taken advantage of for nothing.

Ultimately, this all came to a close during Lynch and Nash's private dinner.

So when Steve Nash finally met Lynch, the Wind Child joked, "God, I feel like we're two secret agents meeting."

As Lin rose, the lingering scent of a cigar filled the air. A charming smile played on his lips as our fingertips touched. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope this restaurant didn't disappoint you, Steve."

While the waiter was pouring the Burgundy wine, Nash got straight to the point.

He wasted no time; his meeting with Lynch was not a ceremonial one.

In fact, this meeting was more important than any of his previous conversations with Sam Presti.

“I need the ball in my hands, you know my style,” Steve Nash said, his smile fading slightly. “Last season your usage rate increased significantly, and I know your dribbling and penetration have improved a lot. But I need the ball in my hands to be the most effective and provide the most help. Top scorers who can handle a lot of output might not be a good fit for me. This means that both of us need to make some changes.”

Steve Nash wasn't trying to compete with Lynch for the top spot. He knew perfectly well that at 34, he had no say in the game against Lynch, who had a Grand Slam season but was only 22.

What's more, now he's going to Lynch's team.

But Steve Nash's playing style requires him to have the ball in his hands, and for many years, his usage rate has never fallen out of the top two in the league.

For top superstars like Lynch who can develop their own offense, what they need most is a teammate who can create valuable game value even when they don't have the ball.

But if Steve Nash doesn't have the ball, he's just a very accurate spot-up jumper at best.

Furthermore, top-tier superstars often need helpers to play a role on the other end.

For example, Kobe, who played alongside Shaq, was the best defender Kobe of his entire career.

With Pippen by MJ's side, over 80% of his energy would be focused on defense, allowing MJ to avoid being overworked on both ends of the court.

However, Steve Nash's contribution on the other end has been relatively negative; he was completely unable to help Lynch on the defensive end.

That's why Steve Nash had to meet with Lynch.

He needed to know Lynch's thoughts, and he and Lynch needed to explore a way to cooperate and unleash each other's maximum potential.

As a player with high basketball IQ, Steve Nash knew better than anyone that basketball is never a simple arithmetic problem of 1+1=2.

As a player with backbone, he is not the kind of person who would immediately soften his spine at the sight of an opportunity to work with a star player.

The key is whether these two peerless swords can be forged into an indestructible double blade.

Steve Nash doesn't want to waste the last few years of his career struggling to fit in with Lynch.

If talks with Lynch fail, he will eventually listen to offers from the Trail Blazers and the Suns.

Just as Lin Qi's slender fingers touched the wine glass, he suddenly remembered that he was still in abstinence from alcohol in preparation for the Olympics, and his hand, which had been hanging in mid-air, slowly withdrew.

"Steve, in regular time, you can play your basketball, you can play Steve Nash's basketball. You can handle the ball as much as you want, that's not a problem for me. I'm the kind of player who can play with and without the ball. I can reduce my low-post isolation and face-up drives; I'm not obsessed with those."

But when it really matters, I believe I'm more confident than you are.

As for defense, I've always been the one helping out the perimeter, so that's not a problem.

We can definitely coexist, as long as you don't mistake me for Amar'e Stoudemire.

Lynch's answer was confident and honest.

He believes that it is best to discuss things openly before cooperating, so as to avoid situations where eight-tenths of the military power is relinquished.

Lynch's words have made his stance clear: he needs absolute ball possession in crucial moments, and the New York Knicks are his team.

Steve Nash largely agreed with Lynch's words. He knew that Lynch was also a smart player, so he must have thought through the pros and cons of playing with him.

Lynch is a better hard-core player; his low-post offense and finishing ability around the basket are unparalleled.

While Steve Nash was highly efficient at finishing near the basket, his actual output there was quite average. His unpredictable, intricate, and elusive rim-attacking moves only shone occasionally.

Overall, Steve Nash's most threatening offensive weapon is still his jump shot.

However, in the highly competitive playoffs, the jump shot has significant limitations.

Steve Nash nodded: "I won't treat you as a second Amare. You certainly have absolute dominance in crucial moments. If you're really willing to reduce your isolation plays and ball handling in regulation time, our collaboration will be very pleasant."

“It’s not just pleasant,” Lynch said, pulling a gorgeous velvet pouch from his suit pocket. Two championship rings fell onto the linen tablecloth with a dull metallic tinkling sound.

"They should have been a testament to a three-peat, but last season... you and I, our goal was three rings. We need to trust each other, we need complete honesty."

I need to make sure you have the determination to build a dynasty, not just get a ring and settle for the last few years of your contract. Tell me, Steve, is your goal a ring? Or a dynasty?

Even two years later, when you're 36 and have already won a ring and a maximum salary, would you still be willing to burn everything for victory?

Tell me, Steve, what's truly on your mind.

Steve Nash was surprised by Lynch's audacity; he had never really thought about building a dynasty before.

In the modern basketball environment, only three dynasties have emerged in the history of the NBA.

These three dynasties made MJ, Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe, making them an unavoidable epic in NBA history.

Steve Nash was unsure if he could withstand the intensity of a dynasty.

His peak has passed, and his back injury torments him constantly. If he pursues a three-peat, he will face foreseeable enormous difficulties.

But those times of being looked down upon, those days of being abandoned time and time again, made Steve Nash yearn to be a part of an epic.

He never received a maximum salary because Mark Cuban felt he wasn't worth it when he turned 30.

Even now, after winning two MVP awards, Robert Salvo still feels he's not worth it.

He won some victories and gained some honors, but he was never a revered legend.

In the world of competitive sports, what you can always clearly see are those who persevere in their pursuit of victory. What you can always clearly hear are the anthems of victory.

Now, he has the chance to break free from that damned contempt that has haunted him his entire life.

When he inscribed his name on the list of dynasties, everyone would acknowledge that he was an epic.

Steve Nash took a sip of red wine, stared at the dark red liquid in the glass, and made a decision.

"I'd rather crumble on the floor of Madison Square Garden than rot in the annals of history."

“Steve, we have no problems. If you feel the time is right, you can contact Sam anytime to finalize the contract.”

“OK, I’ll contact him when I get back. I’m really looking forward to our collaboration,” Nash paused, then fixed his gaze on Lynch again. “And Raja…”

Lynch gestured for the waiter to remove the plates and said seriously, "I was just about to talk to you about this. We are very willing to offer Raja Bell a contract using the middle-class exception. But the key is that he himself has to be willing to join."

“Why would he refuse?” Nash looked puzzled. “Is it because he clashed with you on the court before? No, no, no, he’s not that kind of person. He clashed with you only for the game, it had nothing to do with personal grudges. You should know Raja’s professionalism.”

Nash always believed that Raja Bell disliked the Knicks because of Lynch.

Because he and Lynch had engaged in verbal battles in the media more than once, and exchanged countless trash talk during games.

“Oh, so you didn’t know,” Lynch took a sip of soup, “the one with a personal grudge against him isn’t me, it’s Sam.”

As Lynch recounted Sam Presti's past with Bell, the fountain outside the restaurant began to play music.

The neon lights refracted by the water droplets shone on Nash's thoughtful face, and only after the last note faded did he reveal a confident smile.

“Give me three days,” Nash tapped his fingers on the tablecloth in a light rhythm, “and I’ll have a mid-level contract ready. Raja will be showing up at preseason training camp in a Knicks jersey.”

"You are very confident."

"Of course, because he trusts me the way the Knicks players trust you. We're teammates, Lynch, not fake friends who can part ways over a text message."
-
Raja Bell still remembers the day he was kicked out of the Spurs.

The scorching sun of San Antonio beat down on the parking lot outside the training facility, allowing him to smell the mingled scents of sweat on his jersey and the tarry smell of rising asphalt.

He hung up the phone, and the notification of his layoff made his hand holding the phone tremble slightly.

Tim Duncan met him and asked him what happened.

After learning everything, Duncan's hug felt like a boulder from the Virgin Islands pressing down on Raja Bell's ribs. The silent superstar offered his sincere blessings: "I wish you all the best, and you will find your home."

Even a superstar like Tim Duncan hugged him and wished him good luck in the future.

The person who made the decision to let him leave didn't even spare a trace of affection for this abandoned, undrafted player.

That figure in a suit and tie still makes him grit his teeth in the middle of the night.

He never told anyone about it because it was a difficult time that he himself didn't want to recall.

So Raja Bell struggled when Steve Nash chose to go to New York.

He couldn't join Sam Presti's team, but he didn't want to break his promise.

Today, Steve Nash invited him to his home to talk. He knew exactly what the conversation would be about, but he hadn't made a decision yet.

The familiar swimming pool, the familiar lounge chairs, the familiar heatwave.

This time, it was Raja Bell who was struggling internally.

“Raja,” Nash said, taking a sip of chilled juice from his deckchair, “you’re not really going to retire and sell burritos, are you?”

Raja Bell sprang up from his recliner: "What the hell? What happened? Do you have some kind of teleportation technology? Why New York?! You clearly went to Portland, so why are you in New York now?!"

“It’s very complicated. But I assure you, New York is the perfect place for us.”

"It's just the right fit for you!"

"Why? The tough team culture in New York ensures your playing style won't be criticized, and my presence and Lynch's presence will give you plenty of open three-point opportunities. Besides, we have a chance to win a ring; we can beat the San Antonio Spurs, who have plagued us for years! Is it just because you don't like Sam Presti?"

Raja Bell looked at Nash with some surprise. Nash shrugged: "Lynch told me everything."

"Then you should know that we'll probably have to go our separate ways, buddy. How can I go back to eat the bones he throws at me like a garbage dog?"

"Are you playing for him, Raja? The honors you win are yours, the contracts you win are yours, the respect you earn is yours. And you can prove to Sam how stupid he was back then. Every bullet that pierces the net will make Sam hear the heartbeat of his own stupidity, and every time he lifts a trophy, the spotlight is a slap in the face."

Raja Bell's Adam's apple bobbed violently as his gaze was fixed on the shattered reflection on the water's surface.

He saw himself standing blankly in the San Antonio parking lot, clutching a cardboard box, and Tim Duncan's hesitant silhouette as he left. Finally, all the images collapsed into the ripples in the pool before him.

"You're a fucking wizard." Bell suddenly deflated and slumped back into the recliner, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. Then he grabbed Nash's juice and gulped it down, letting the icy liquid run down his chin and into his collar.

"Let them prepare the contract, but I have one request: hang a punching bag in the weight room with a picture of Sam Presti on it."

“Trust me, Raja,” Nash laughed, “If Lynch says so, you can put up a picture of Sam in a maid outfit.”

"Come on, if Lynch had to choose, he would definitely choose the picture of LeBron in a maid outfit."

A day later, Stephen A. Smith announced three signings for the Knicks on ESPN.

Unlike the somber mood when the Lakers' Big Three were announced last season, this time, the die-hard New York fan was all smiles.

He knew that New York's brief night was over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, at this moment, the basketball hearts of all 23 time zones across the United States are trembling for New York, as the gears of the Knicks dynasty begin to mesh again!"
The New York Knicks signed free agent Steve Nash to a three-year max contract, and the former MVP will become the young Caesar's right-hand man next season.

Meanwhile, the Knicks signed Bulls guard Ben Gordon to a one-year, $600 million contract. The English assassin was the Bulls' leading scorer last season, averaging 18.6 points per game. However, he desired a max contract and refused to sign a long-term deal, instead planning to spend another year proving himself before testing the waters in the 09 free agent market.

He firmly believes that New York, the basketball mecca, is the most suitable stage for him to prove himself.

Finally, the Knicks used their mid-level exception to sign Suns guard Raja Bell. It's worth noting that he had previously rejected a Knicks offer three years prior.

But perhaps because of Steve Nash, he changed his mind this time.

The New York Knicks have filled their salary cap again, and the King of New York, Lynch, has begun exercising his maximum contract this season.

This is our brand new future, this is our brilliant present.

ESPN's camera cut to the erupting crowd in Times Square, where fans were excitedly stomping on LeBron James figurines to celebrate the moment.

Although these three trades have nothing to do with LeBron James, as the mayor of New York City, this is what he has to take responsibility for.

Whether excited or angry, LBJ becomes the target of New York fans' venting.

During the live television broadcast, Stephen A. Smith's voice pierced the sky and reached across the entire United States.

"At the end of last season's Finals, Finals MVP Kobe Bryant said that Lynch had not yet completely dominated the league."

No, he will soon find that Lynch’s reign has not been interrupted.

Last season, the Lakers only briefly touched the edge of the throne before the night fell.
-
This is absolutely a damn buy-one-get-one-free deal! Some stupid management is making this league a mess! — Gregg Popovich was furious when he learned that the Knicks had actually bought two of the Suns' starting guards in one go.

Now, there's a really scary question: DeShawn, Raja, and Ben – who is the second-best shooting guard in the East? – Charles Barkley joked on his show.

Sam's handling of Steve's signing deserves an A+, as he gave the Trail Blazers and Suns absolutely no chance to compete. He did an excellent job; the youngest general manager in North American sports history has matured. —The New York Times

I cannot understand Lynch's cowardly act of recruiting another MVP while he is at his peak. LeBron has never actively recruited any star player, nor will he join any star player. —David McMenamin's column.

Nonsense, who would recruit a guy who lost to Dwight Howard? — Marc Stein's column.

(End of this chapter)