Champion Rules

Chapter 221, Section 217: The Most Hilarious Show in History (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

The trade between the Rockets and the Spurs was very sudden.

In fact, just a week ago, the Spurs' roster reinforcement targets were focused on Richard Jefferson.

The Spurs' team-building model has remained largely the same for many years, consistently relying on two types of structures: either building a twin-tower combination or pairing Tim Duncan with a top-tier wing defender.

Having both would be ideal, but even just one would be enough to make the Spurs quite competitive.

If it weren't for Lynch's kind intervention, #23 would have truly experienced how competitive this combination was. Although Duncan sometimes makes LeBron James-esque blunders on the court, such as inexplicably losing the ball while dribbling, this doesn't diminish his dominance as he progresses through the playoff rounds.

With Bruce Bowen aging, finding a top-class wing defender has become a top priority for teams in an era where centers are scarce.

When the Spurs are in a period where they can "occasionally gamble" on spending money, Richard Jefferson is undoubtedly the first choice.

However, Yao Ming's sudden appearance on the transfer market completely reversed the strategy of Spurs general manager RC Buford.

Yao Ming and Richard Jefferson had similar salaries; the only difference was that Yao Ming's contract was one year longer than Richard Jefferson's.

But equally significant is the stark difference in their playing levels.

Richard Jefferson hovered on the edge of All-Star status throughout his career, while Yao Ming was already a recognized All-NBA-caliber center, having been selected to the All-NBA team for four consecutive seasons.

Based on this, RC Buford believes that trading a contract for one more year for a star player of a much higher caliber than Richard Jefferson is a worthwhile investment.

Thus, the transaction took place unexpectedly.

The Spurs' last major investment was acquiring Ben Wallace, which helped the team reach the NBA Finals and showcased the pinnacle of defensive basketball during the Dark Ages against the Knicks in 2007. However, due to Wallace's weaknesses on offense, the Spurs ultimately failed to reach the ultimate championship.

Currently, Yao Ming is a low-post scoring weapon averaging 20 points per game. At the same time, he also possesses considerable rim protection ability.

The Spurs believe that this crucial signing will not repeat the mistakes of the past.

After the trade, Charles Barkley joked, "Yao Ming is probably the only one who can avoid being rubbed bald by TD because he's too tall."

Kenny Smith believes that "once Yao Ming integrates into the Spurs, Duncan will be rubbed bald by Yao Ming."

In any case, this is good news for the Spurs' two foreign guards.

After years of being bullied, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili finally found their saviors.

However, the buzz surrounding Yao Ming joining the Spurs didn't last long.

At this moment, the entire basketball world's focus has shifted to LeBron James's future—not just because he is a top superstar in the league, but because everyone wants to know whether he will ultimately make the choice that has been questioned as "cowardly".
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Carmelo Anthony has a hard time understanding what his good friend LeBron James is doing.

Prior to this, they had already engaged in a series of in-depth exchanges.

They have confirmed a highly disruptive plan—if all signings and trades go smoothly, the Detroit Pistons will be able to simultaneously possess Deron Williams, Richard Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James.

Three of these players were members of last season's All-NBA Team, and all four are All-Stars.

This is undoubtedly a dream lineup, especially for a market the size of Motor City.

And it's important to know that, unlike previous star-studded lineups, all four of them are currently in their prime!
The only problem is the salary. The combined annual salary of these four people is about $5200 million, which almost directly fills the entire salary space.

Fortunately, Joe Dumars had already prepared for this, and he stated more than once last season: "No player on the team can guarantee his position."

With Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups' contracts expiring, and following several moves by the Pistons, the team now has only three contracts remaining on their roster this offseason: Carmelo Anthony, Zach Randolph, and Kwame Brown.

This gives the piston a great deal of room to maneuver.

Of course, the Pistons' willingness to make such a large investment is also related to the change in team ownership.

Pistons owner Bill Davidson's health has been very poor in recent years. This year, he was even confined to a wheelchair and only attended two games at the Palace of Auburn Hills this season, causing fans to be very worried about his health.

People's fears came true; Bill Davidson's life ended not long ago, his life forever frozen at the age of 86.

The man who bought the Detroit Pistons in 1974 for $600 million after 17 years of not making a profit was undoubtedly a basketball enthusiast.

But his widow, Karen Davidson, was not so fond of it.

After her husband's death, she and her family had no intention of running the team and only wanted to sell the franchise.

However, with the Pistons' competitiveness declining, offers from major investors are far below Karen Davidson's expectations—according to recent Forbes data, the team is now valued at over $430 million. In reality, however, Karen Davidson hasn't received a single offer exceeding $400 million.

Therefore, she hopes to build a highly competitive team so that the team can be sold for a good price and cash out at a high price.

The Detroit Pistons had everything they needed to create greatness: strong salary support from the owner, excellent management from the general manager, and a strong willingness to cooperate among the star players.

Carmelo Anthony firmly believes that once this blueprint becomes a reality, he will reign supreme at the top of the league for a long time.

In previous in-depth discussions, Deron Williams approved the proposal, Carmelo Anthony readily agreed, and even Richard Hamilton agreed to a slight pay cut as a sign of sincerity.

However, at the crucial moment when everything was ready and the arrow was about to be released, LeBron James suddenly went missing.

No one could contact him.

Joe Dumas couldn't find him anywhere.

Even his close friend Carmelo Anthony was unable to contact him.

Nobody knows what he's doing, nobody knows what he's planning.

On an anxious night, Cameron Anthony told Joe Dumars, "LBJ probably won't be coming."

"You got in touch with him? Why did he back down?"

“No,” Cameron Anthony replied, “but I guess he won’t come.”

Carmelo Anthony's speculation is not unfounded. A roster with multiple stars means success, but it also inevitably comes with sacrifices.

The game lasts only 48 minutes, and there's only one ball on the field. With so many star players, the balance of possession and shot attempts inevitably shifts.

Some players will inevitably have to relinquish some ball possession, while others will inevitably have their shooting opportunities diluted. Some players' statistics will inevitably be diminished, and some will even have to take on the roles that belong to role players—these are precisely the problems that multi-star teams cannot avoid.

After Deron Williams clashed with Jerry Sloan during a game with Lynch last season, he has maintained a distant relationship with the Jazz. The entire Salt Lake City considers him the culprit for driving Jerry Sloan away.

Therefore, he desperately wanted to get rid of Jerry Sloan's shadow, and he was willing to make the greatest concessions as long as he could achieve his goal.

Despite being a three-time All-Star, Richard Hamilton essentially plays like a role player.

Carmelo Anthony is willing to sacrifice because team basketball is the key foundation that enabled him to win two championships when he first entered the league.

But what about LeBron James?

He was used to being in control of everything in Cleveland, and to being immersed in all-encompassing data.

Although his reputation has been lukewarm in recent years, he is still considered a contender, someone who is competing with Lynch, Wade, and Anthony for the throne.

If he ultimately joins the Pistons, his rival, at the peak of his career, just imagine the scene? He will bear the heavy stigma of being a traitor and endure unprecedented public condemnation.

This is similar to Charles Barkley joining the Chicago Bulls at his peak, which would definitely cause a huge controversy.

Therefore, Carmelo Anthony believes that LeBron James will not come to Detroit.

Admittedly, he has made numerous controversial statements over the years, and his reputation is not very good. But as a basketball player, especially as the "chosen one" who is in the public eye, he still has a sense of dignity and shame.

In the world of competitive sports, victory is of course very important.

However, there are some bottom lines that cannot be crossed, nor should they be crossed, even for the sake of victory.

Joe Dumars wholeheartedly agrees, arguing that LeBron James is ultimately a top-tier star, and far from being at an age where leaving a team is something that can be forgiven, as was the case with Kevin Garnett and Steve Nash.

But the Pistons' plans will continue regardless of whether LBJ is on the team or not.

This summer, the highly anticipated Motor City contingent has begun its preparations in the transfer market.

Top priority: lock in Deron Williams.

Deron Williams was the first to join Motor City, and he had to be the first.

Deron Williams first signed a max contract extension with the Jazz, and then joined the Pistons in a sign-and-trade deal, with the Jazz receiving Zach Randolph in return.

This trade not only gave the Pistons an All-NBA point guard from last season, but also freed up an additional $300 million in salary cap space, which formed the basis for a series of subsequent moves.

Immediately afterwards, the Pistons announced a three-year, $3400 million contract extension with Richard Hamilton, bringing the "Masked Man" back to the Detroit roster.

At this point, the Pistons still have $1500 million in salary cap space. If they really want to pursue an extreme move involving multiple superstars, they can still acquire another star player.

Although this will mean the Pistons will have to rely on veteran minimum contracts and the mid-level exception to add role players, the allure of an ultimate multi-star roster is still hard to resist.

However, the Pistons' actions abruptly stopped there; they did not continue to strengthen the team and suspended all their activities.

Everyone knows the unspoken truth: the Pistons reserved this position for LeBron James.

The Detroit Pistons are all set and now they're just waiting to get through to LeBron James.

Of course, most people share Carmelo Anthony's view. Now, a shortcut lies before LeBron James.

Everyone in the world knows that if he had chosen Detroit, he would have had a much easier time winning the championship.

But what's the point?

Is playing Scottie Pippen alongside Carmelo Anthony what LeBron James wants?
It's worth noting that Scottie Pippen himself dreamed of breaking away from MJ and winning a championship on his own.

Even though he has six rings and even though his collaboration with MJ made him famous, he still wants to get out of MJ's shadow.

Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to willingly jump into this shadow.

It's impossible for any superstar in the world to aspire to be Scottie Pippen at their peak.

The Pistons still couldn't get through to LBJ by phone until ESPN announced that LeBron James would be participating in a nationally televised program called "The Decision".

Obviously, LBJ will announce everything on that show.

Before that, he wouldn't communicate with anyone.
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NBA Commissioner David Stern believed "The Decision" was a bad idea because he knew that LeBron James would most likely leave Cleveland.

This is a devastating blow to the persona he has been cultivating.

Furthermore, this behavior is highly likely to thoroughly enrage the investors.

The next round of labor negotiations is approaching, and David Stern doesn't want this kind of thing to make the negotiations more difficult.

Therefore, David Stern prefers to let LBJ handle transfer matters in a conventional manner.

However, the "Decision" program had already been planned a month ago, and like the Titanic crashing into an iceberg, it couldn't be stopped.

This show is no longer just a show for LBJ, because it has attracted a lot of sponsors.

Nike is willing to sponsor the show, but not to appear in a prominent position – clearly, they don't have much confidence in the program either.

Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and the University of Phoenix also got involved, purchasing advertising slots.

The show's advertising sales were quite impressive, generating a total of $400 million in revenue. This is a very substantial amount for any show that is only an hour long.

The sponsors will not suspend the program.

ESPN will not suspend its programming.

LeBron's team will not suspend the show.

This is an opportunity to change the way free agents are selected, and LBJ and his team desperately need this opportunity to reshape their voice in the league.

After the show premiered, viewership surged rapidly, eventually surpassing 1000 million.

Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and Sam Presti are among them.

But the show was frustrating from the start, and in an effort to build momentum for the final moment, host Jim Gray asked 18 completely irrelevant and trivial questions before making a decision.

Viewers were furious, as the Q&A sessions seemed to be artificially lengthening the program, purely to sell advertising space.

Sam Presti shook his head: "You know what? I think LeBron James is more of a businessman than a professional player. This show may not be a good show, but it's definitely a money-making show."

Nearby, Lynch, who was smoking a cigar, smiled slightly: "Your judgment of people is as accurate as ever, Sam."

Where do you think he'll go? Chicago? Cleveland?

"Neither," Lin Qi replied casually.

Sam Presti's eyes widened instantly: "Wait, you really think he's going to Detroit? He's going to announce on a nationally televised show that he's a... damn coward?"

Lin Qi exhaled a smoke ring, his tone playful, "Maybe it really is? I'm not a coward, I can't understand that kind of thinking."

"Damn it!" Sam Presti cursed. "If he really goes to Detroit, we're in big trouble. Four All-Stars in their prime? Fuck!"

"The competition isn't a one-person affair, nor is it a four-person affair. So, it's still uncertain who will be in trouble."

"No, no, no, I still don't believe LBJ would choose Detroit, that's too outrageous. I know LBJ sometimes likes to be very abstract, but not to this extent."

The program continued its lengthy setup, and by then, rumors were already circulating on social media that LeBron James' next destination was the Detroit Pistons.

It wasn't difficult to get the information, because the pilots and crew of LBJ's private jet were certainly notified that they needed to submit flight plans and know whether the plane was going to be loaded with fuel for Cleveland, Chicago, or Detroit.

However, social media was still in its infancy at that time, and people had not yet developed the habit of watching TV while using their phones, so this explosive news did not spread widely.

Moreover, the Detroit Pistons are the least likely and most improbable of all the options.

Such unfounded online rumors were naturally disregarded.

More than halfway through the program, the long and agonizing ordeal finally came to an end, and the host finally asked that question: "LeBron, what is your decision?"

Lin Qi's lips curled up slightly, with a hint of cold amusement.

The whole world is betting that LeBron James wouldn't be so despicable as to completely shed the "competitor" label in front of millions of viewers and become the most contemptible coward and traitor.

Even someone with Sam Presti's unconventional thinking found the idea absurd, like a nightmare.

Therefore, Lynch was very much looking forward to seeing people's expressions after they got the answer.

That would be absolutely shocking!

LeBron James' Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze seemed somewhat unfocused, and he uttered the world-shaking sentence in a low, slow voice: "This fall, I'm taking my talents to Motor City and joining the Detroit Pistons."

Time seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second, and then an overwhelming force crashed onto the screen.

The studio fell into a deathly silence. Jim Gray's professional smile froze and shattered, and deep in his pupils was an undisguised sense of astonishment and absurdity. He had anticipated many answers, but he never expected that LeBron would so blatantly choose to desert, joining another superstar at the peak of his career.

Among the few teenagers invited to participate in the program, one of them let out a loud, incredulous, and extremely sarcastic "pfft," which seemed to light a fuse, followed by more low gasps and gasps of cold air, weaving together into a suppressed yet contemptuous wave of sound.

In front of the television, Cameron Anthony choked on the champagne he had just drunk and coughed violently.

He stared at LBJ on the screen with an extremely complex expression—was there joy? Of course there was, but more than that, there was a sense of absurdity.

The reason this guy didn't answer the phone before wasn't because he was being tough, but because he wanted to make money off the "Decision" show.

That's it.

"Heh," Carmelo Anthony chuckled softly, unsure whether he was laughing at LeBron James or himself.

Lin Qi's smile suddenly widened, eventually turning into a clear and cold sneer: "Heh, as expected."

His all-knowing eyes held no shock, only utter contempt: "The chosen one? Ha! Just a bandwagon player. Oh no, he's the father of bandwagons. He doesn't even have an excuse like Kevin Garnett, to try everything before seeking a home!"

Sam Presti reacted completely differently. He was initially stunned, then suddenly covered his face, digging his fingers deep into his hair: "Holy shit!!! It's Detroit!!! Four All-Stars!!! Holy shit holy shit!!!"

NBA Commissioner David Stern's face turned ashen. He had a premonition that something was wrong, but when it actually happened in such a public and humiliating way, the impact was far greater than he had imagined.

He could almost see the owners furiously raging at the labor negotiation table. LBJ's announcement of his departure on a nationally televised broadcast insulted the Cavaliers' management and fans, completely escalating the conflict. And the fact that star players were teaming up during their prime would completely destroy the competitive balance.

After a brief silence, countless families in Cleveland erupted not with boos, but with a tsunami of anger, mockery, and utter contempt.

They cursed and slammed their jerseys and souvenirs on the ground, smashed them against the television, or set them on fire.

Those who had once supported LBJ felt the deepest betrayal, and countless curses echoed in the living rooms of countless families.

"coward!"

"traitor!"

"He was scared! He was afraid of Lynch! He was afraid he couldn't win on his own!"

A local Cleveland radio sports commentator even lost control during a live broadcast, shouting: "The most cowardly decision in history! LeBron James has killed the meaning of 'competition' on the basketball court! This is a dark day for the NBA!"

After a moment of excitement, Pistons general manager Joe Dumars broke out in a light sweat.

The public outcry and deep-seated hatred that this decision brought far exceeded their expectations.

This is not a guarantee of success; it's more like sitting on the crater of a volcano about to erupt.

On the screen, LeBron James forced a smile, trying to appear confident, but it seemed more like he was putting on a brave face to hide his deep-seated cowardice.

He continued, "Together with Cameron, Deron, and Rip, we will usher in a great era, and we will win many championships."

As soon as he finished speaking, a barely perceptible glint flashed in the depths of his eyes. His pre-prepared boastful words now seemed utterly pale, ridiculous, and guilty.

Stephen A. Smith posted a message that received likes from most fans:
"LeBron has just announced the most cowardly decision to the world in the most crude way."

From this day forward, he had no need to compare himself to Lynch anymore.

(End of this chapter)