Champion Rules

Chapter 271, Section 267: You're Out of Cards (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

LeBron James hates this offseason.

Because the media reports about him were full of ridicule.

Last summer, although he also faced a lot of ridicule, many media outlets were still wary of the Pistons' dominance.

As a result, all that's left this summer is ridicule.

No one believes that LeBron James can make any team successful anymore.

LeBron James' name is almost synonymous with the word "loser".

Even in the yet-to-be-released NBA 2K11 game, his rating has already fallen to the same level as Kevin Durant in his third year.

It’s incredible!
I should be in the same league as Lynch!
In fact, Kevin Durant also found it unbelievable: why is LBJ in the same league as me? You guys are so disrespectful!

LBJ could only sneer at all the contempt that had happened this summer.

Just wait, you have no idea how much power Chris Bosh possesses!
Once I merge with him, you'll see just how powerful I am!
LeBron James is waiting for Chris Bosh to make a decision.

The plan to join an all-youth team made LBJ feel insecure.

What if I can't lead them? No, what if they hold me back? Wouldn't I be completely finished?
Moreover, Chris Bosh is not the kind of person who cares a lot about his status on the team, and he believes that there shouldn't be too many problems with their cooperation.

The awkward thing is that Chris Bosh is currently very keen to sign with the Chicago Bulls.

However, the Chicago Bulls have already indicated through their beat reporters that they have little interest in LBJ.
Chris Bosh also told LBJ bluntly in the phone conversation: "Unless you have a plan that is more appealing to me, I will not give up Chicago for you."

Seeing this, LBJ immediately had his mouthpiece, David McMenamin, publish an article titled "Chicago is not the best choice for Chris Bosh."

The article lists many other options for Chris Bosh, and all of them have one thing in common: they could be on the same team as LeBron James.

The Chicago media was completely enraged. "Are you out of your mind?"
Chris Bosh just transferred teams, and you're all singing and dancing like this!
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times bluntly stated:

"A clown like LeBron will tarnish the great honor of the United Center. Do you know what the big 'big thing' that happened last season was? It was that LeBron James turned out to be a coward who tried to win by tripping Lynch when he couldn't beat him! That was the only big thing that happened last season!"

LeBron James felt the full force of malice in this world.

Why does nobody seem to like me?!

Am I, the number one draft pick in 2003, really so lacking in prestige?
You really better stop pressuring me.

If you push me too far...
I'll have to wait for Amar'e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, or even Paul Pierce to make a decision!
Ah, with so many legs, surely there's one I can hold onto!
LeBron James is not the kind of person who takes shortcuts; he loves the process of pursuing success.

Therefore, he will never sit idly by and let his team handle everything; he will personally be deeply involved in every negotiation.

The summer of 2010 was indeed quite crazy, with many big-name free agents and just as many star players being put on the trading block.

With so many variables, as long as you can grasp the most correct one, you can seize success!

The New York Knicks, of course, could not be kept out of the whirlpool of the transfer market.

After the championship parade, Raja Bell left New York and joined the Utah Jazz as a free agent.

Most of the New York Knicks players are eager for another championship, but Raja Bell is clearly not among them.

At 34, he believed he had no regrets about his career, and like Ron Artest, he had redeemed himself during his two years in New York, resolving his biggest inner conflict—he proved that he was not a heavy burden on Steve Nash.

Rather than bearing the immense pressure of competing for championships year after year, Raja Bale now prefers to go somewhere where he can earn money in peace and have more energy to spend with his family.

Furthermore, he hopes to secure at least a three-year mid-level contract to end his career.

Due to the lack of Raja Bell's Bird rights, the New York Knicks could not meet his salary demands and could only offer him a minimum salary.

Although the New York Knicks have a middle-class exception available, Sam Presti believes it would be a waste to use that valuable exception on Raja Bell, whose career has already declined significantly.

Steve Nash wanted to persuade her to stay, but he also understood Raja Bell's desire to spend more time with her family.

So, the Child of Wind wished him good luck.

On the first day of July, Raja Bell signed a three-year mid-level contract with the Utah Jazz, the team that made him famous, like a weary bird returning to its nest.

Of course, Knicks fans are not worried that Raja Bell's departure will significantly weaken the team.

Because all of New York knows who Sam Presti kept that middle-class exception for.

Transfer rumors surrounding Ray Allen have been ongoing.

Many teams are willing to offer this 35-year-old veteran striker a multi-million dollar annual salary.

The Miami Heat recruited Ray Allen.

The Detroit Pistons recruited Ray Allen.

The San Antonio Spurs recruited Ray Allen.

The Chicago Bulls recruited Ray Allen.

The Portland Trail Blazers' offer was particularly outrageous; they were not only willing to offer a multi-million dollar annual salary, but also a four-year contract with Ray Allen, even knowing that he wouldn't be worth that much at 39 years old in four years.

They are willing to pay any price to create a championship window for Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, who are already in excellent form.

Despite all the temptations, on the evening of July 1st, the news that every team general manager least wanted to see still appeared.

Woj broke the news at 8 p.m. that the defending champion New York Knicks used their mid-level exception to sign Ray Allen to a two-year contract!

Three minutes later, the league officially confirmed the signing.

Although Ray Allen is not the biggest star in this year's free agent market, this signing has still sparked heated discussions.

Because he only took half of its market value!

After Ray Allen publicly stated that he wanted to join the Knicks, the media widely believed that the Knicks would make some trades to free up salary cap space for him.

But to everyone's surprise, Ray Allen accepted a mid-level contract.

For Ray Allen, money is no longer the most important goal.

Given his current assets, as long as he doesn't squander them like those uncultured, foolish black men, he can ensure that he and his children will have no worries about food and clothing.

He craved the ring, he craved victory.

Given the choice between losing 1000 million a year and winning 500 million a year, he would rather choose the latter.

In an interview, Ray Allen made no secret of his choice: "I didn't choose New York, I chose Lynch, I chose the championship."

Lynch's unexpected move to form a super team completely demoralized LeBron James.

Some people would even take a pay cut to team up with Lynch.

Someone asked to team up, but nobody responded!

This damn society is probably sick.

LeBron James maintained close contact with the San Antonio Spurs for some time afterward. The world knew that the Twin Towers Spurs were just one quality wing player away from success. And neither that poker-faced guy nor that Eastern giant were the type to care about their role on the team.

But when the Spurs announced they had traded Tiago Splitter, James Anderson, and Matt Bonner for Gerald Wallace, whose contract was expiring and who had no intention of re-signing with the Bobcats, LBJ's hopes were dashed once again.

Although Tim Duncan opted to take a pay cut to re-sign with the Spurs this summer, the Spurs still have no intention of paying LeBron James a maximum contract.

Even if the "Tractor King" (a famous Chinese tractor manufacturer) ran his tractor production line until it was smoking, he still couldn't afford to support so many players with huge contracts, given that Yao Ming was already a star.

Compared to LeBron James, Gerald Wallace is a bargain, with his contract costing just over $1000 million.

If the Spurs chose to let go of LBJ simply to save money, then that would be understandable.

But Mike Finger, the Spurs beat reporter for the San Antonio Star, clearly doesn't think so.

"Compared to LBJ, Gerald Wallace's professional attitude is clearly a better fit for the Spurs. He's a tough guy who will always give 100% on the defensive end."

The Spurs desperately need players who understand sacrifice, and LBJ clearly isn't that kind of player. This article stung LeBron James, because it practically said, "LeBron isn't even as good as Gerald Wallace."

LBJ tore up the San Antonio Star during an internal team meeting in mid-July.

"This is outrageous! At first they just said I was inferior to Scott, now I'm not even as good as Gerald Wallace!?"

As a chosen one who was adored by the media even before his debut, LeBron James is very unaccustomed to everything that happened this summer.

Although his reputation in the media has deteriorated over the past few years, Nike at least has the ability to back him up.

This summer, when even Nike Media stopped protecting him, he became the target of public criticism.

Rich Paul pressed his hands down, trying to reassure the team's foundation: "LeBron, forget about the Spurs, that team was never a good fit for us. We have a really important meeting the day after tomorrow. I firmly believe that it will turn things around for us."

LeBron James sounded a bit deflated: "Where? It's not going to be another embarrassing place, is it?"

“No,” Rich Paul waved his hand confidently, “that’s definitely a place that needs you.”
-
LeBron James never imagined that he, who entered the league as the chosen one in 2003, would spend his life wandering around small towns like a refugee.

From Cleveland to Detroit, and now to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City is not much more glamorous than Cleveland and Detroit, and is even more gloomy.

And there's one element that infuriates him immensely—Kevin Durant.

The city is already filled with the presence of Kevin Durant, with Nike posters about him everywhere, just like Cleveland was once covered in his Nike posters.

Clearly, Nike is eager to realize the ambitions it couldn't achieve with LeBron James by betting everything on Kevin Durant.

Kobe is getting old, and it's uncertain how many more years he can play.

Nike continues to search for a new future.

It's still uncertain who this future will be, but it's certain that it won't be LBJ.

Even though LeBron James has not completely given up on negotiations with Nike, the balance of resources has already tipped ruthlessly.

This made LeBron James's jealousy pound hysterically!
This guy who looks like a construction foreman, threatening to drink the actress's bathwater?

Why should he! ?

People always criticize him for not winning enough, but what about KD? He has only played in one series in his entire career, and he lost.

Both were third-year students playing in the playoffs for the first time, and both were eliminated in the first round. What makes him better than me?

LeBron James shook his head violently, forcefully dispelling these churning thoughts.

He didn't want these things to interfere with his negotiations later.

He couldn't let these distractions interfere with the negotiations—even though he knew all too well that this emotional black hole couldn't be easily filled by simply shaking his head.

When LeBron James and Rich Paul saw the white-haired old man, he didn't smile.

His expression was even a little too serious.

Jerry West slowly stood up from his seat and shook hands with LeBron James without even exchanging pleasantries: "It's great to have you here, LeBron. Let's get started."

There were no fancy city tours, no lengthy team previews, and no massive PowerPoint presentation teams.

The Thunder only recruited Jerry West, and he planned to get straight to the point.

This doesn't feel like recruiting a star player at all; it's more like recruiting an insignificant role player.

"Focus, LeBron." The man with the logo suddenly raised his voice, like a hammer slamming into the dull air, pulling LeBron James back to his office. "Focus!"

He gazed intently at LBJ, his eyes, which seemed to pierce through countless storms, as if peeling away layers of defense and noise:

"Trust me, LeBron. As long as you stay focused, you're still the player who can achieve great things. That's why I called you here. I know what you're going through, but ultimately, there's still hope for you."

Jerry West knew he had built a team with incredible talent, but the team was too young.

They lack experience, and their individual abilities are far from reaching the limits of their potential.

Even their minds are not mature enough.

A guy who goes to nightclubs every day looking for an ass bigger than Charles Barkley's.

One who dreams of becoming the Slam Dunk King every day.

There's an even more outrageous one who wishes he could live in Scarlett Johansson's sewers.

But now the Thunder's strength is stuck at an awkward crossroads.

They are neither capable of continuing to rely on tanking to acquire top talent, nor have they reached the level of contenders for the championship.

As an ambitious trader, Jerry West does not accept mediocrity.

Either sit back and do nothing, or aim straight for the throne!
It took him a considerable amount of time to convince the stingy board to sign a max-contract player in free agency, as this was the best time to build a top-tier team.

Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and James Harden are still on their rookie contracts, so the Thunder can still benefit from those contracts.

Adding an experienced and capable star player to this foundation would undoubtedly elevate the entire team to new heights.

Of course, Jerry West knows very well why LeBron James underperformed in Game 5 of last season's Eastern Conference Finals.

At the negotiating table, he didn't waste any words, his gaze piercing towards LBJ like a hawk:

“You can be the team now, but the future of this team belongs to KD and Stephen. If you can accept that, we can work together. If you can't, there's no need for us to waste our time.”

His tone was cold and direct, each word like an icicle piercing the bone.

LeBron James felt a sense of humiliation at being stared at so openly.

Rich Paul seized the opportunity to make a request, attempting to salvage the situation:
"Since LeBron is the current star, we also have the means. We need Chris Bosh, and the Thunder have plenty of cap space to sign both LBJ and CB. You know Jerry, Chris Bosh's style is a great fit for LeBron, if he..."

Jerry West waved his hand dismissively at Rich Paul: "Enough! Where do you think this is? New York? This team isn't going to spend money to sign two max-contract players. Besides, Chris will squeeze KD and Serge Ibaka's playing time, we're not signing him."

Rich Paul was speechless; he hadn't expected the logo's rejection to be so uncompromising.

But he hasn't given up fighting for LBJ's rights: "Listen to the logo, you know the power of the OK combination, you know the greatness of Showtime, so you should also know that a stellar lineup is worth any price!"

"Ha," Jerry West let out a short, contemptuous snort, a cruel smile curving his lips. "Don't you guys understand? What chips do you think you have left? Listen to LeBron, don't you get it? You're out of cards!"

The sound pierced through LBJ's body, causing a tremor within him.

Logo stood up, his sharp eyes surveying the awkward situation on the other side of the negotiating table:

"You've run out of cards. Once the game is over, the so-called prestige of a superstar will depend on the opponents and teammates."

What do you think Jason Kidd can ask of the Lakers right now?

What do you think Paul Pierce can ask of the Heat right now?

What demands do you think Dwight Howard could possibly make of the Magic?

And you, LeBron, are no different from them.

You all have no cards left.

Stop talking about Chris Bosh, I don't want to hear that nonsense.

"Whether you sign or not is your decision."

After finishing his statement, Logo looked into the distance through the office window.

That's the direction of Kevin Durant's giant billboard.

(End of this chapter)