Champion Rules

Chapter 315, Section 311: Boys Among Men (Seeking monthly votes!)
Charles Barkley genuinely believes that more than half of the general managers in this league are a motley crew.

Their IQ is completely inadequate.

Sam Presti, a guy with a keen eye for draft picks, has been accumulating draft picks.

This is the key to the Knicks' ability to continue strengthening their roster and maintain their dynasty despite the immense pressure of exploding salaries.

But Magic general manager Otis Smith acted like a fool, handing over draft picks just for Jordan Crawford, who only had occasional highlights last season.

Honestly, if the Knicks really do surpass a three-peat, then at the victory celebration, without these general managers who traded draft picks to the Knicks, no one on the Knicks team would dare to touch their knives and forks.

When they went to nightclubs to celebrate, the general managers were always required to order two drinks for them.

Sam Presti has already solved the crisis of aging core players by drafting Kyrie Irving – although it is still unknown whether the newly selected number one pick is up to par, at least the Knicks have come up with a solution.

In this situation, someone actually offered the Knicks a draft pick; Charles Barkley thought he could be the general manager himself.

Clearly, Flying Pig Jazz underestimated the difficulty of this profession.

In fact, not every move Sam Presti made during his general manager career was successful.

Goran Dragic's contract extension deal fell through.

Despite numerous negotiations, Goran Dragic has not changed his mind.

He is grateful for everything the Knicks have given him, but now he wants to go out and try his luck on his own.

Even with the cautionary tale of Trevor Ariza's disastrous departure, the Slovenian didn't want to continue being just a substitute.

However, he agreed to leave on a sign-and-trade basis, and he was willing to leave some assets for the Knicks as long as his next team was the Phoenix Suns.

During this period, Lynch embarked on his European tour.

As in previous years, Milos Teodosic was a special guest at Lynch's European tour.

He continued to play exhibition games with Lynch and promote sneakers together, maintaining their long-standing friendship.

As last season's Europa League MVP, Milos Teodosic's popularity in Europe has soared.

After each event, European sports reporters would swarm around him, pressing him for details about his plans for the new season.

After losing to Barcelona in this year's EuroLeague final, Teodosic's contract with Olympiacos officially expired, and the future of this top guard has become a focus of attention in European basketball.

As one of the best defenders in Europe, he was naturally sought after by many top clubs.

Currently, the deep-pocketed Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow is leading the competition with a three-year contract worth €570 million.

This contract is quite lucrative, but compared to players with NBA backgrounds, the offer this newly crowned European MVP received seems rather meager.

The Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, a staunch supporter of Barcelona, ​​once mocked the former Real Madrid player:

"Milo is the least convincing MVP. He was squeezed out of Real Madrid by the younger Sergio Llull, and he never dared to accept the challenge of the NBA. The only thing he can boast about in his entire career is the game-winning shot against Spain in last year's World Championship, leading Serbia to a surprising upset and a place in the semifinals."

Luck won't always be on their side; in the semifinals, they still couldn't go any further.

This is Milos, he's the LeBron of European basketball—indeed impressive, but he's never truly been a top-tier player.

Ironically, the famous quote, "You play like LeBron," popularized by Lynch, has now landed on his friend Milos Teodosic's head.

Lin Qi could tell that his old friend wasn't in a particularly good mood this summer.

He was plagued by frustration over the contract falling short of expectations and harsh attacks from the media.

This is not just about money; it's also a rejection of his performance.

On the last day of his European trip, Lynch and his old friend headed to Belgrade, Serbia.

They received cheers like national heroes there.

Although they no longer play for local Belgrade basketball clubs, they still represent the city's honor as products of the city's youth training system.

During the bumpy return bus ride, Lynch noticed that Teodosic next to him was still staring intently at his phone screen, his fingers swiping frequently, clearly still engaged in tense communication with his agent.

Lynch reached out and gently pressed down on his busy fingers, interrupting him.

“Listen, Milos. In the NBA, your three-year contract would easily be worth over 570 million euros. With the title of King of Europe, they would have to give you a mid-level contract at the very least.”

Milos Teodosic nodded, then wearily waved his hand: "Don't listen to those media's nonsense. 570 million for three years in Europe isn't a bad deal, Lynch. You made hundreds of millions of dollars just from that crappy headset, so your standards for judging money are naturally different from mine."

Another excuse.

Lin Qi stared at his old friend's profile, which he was deliberately avoiding looking at, and decided that he would no longer allow him to avoid it.

"There are quite a few, but is this what you want? You told me back then that we were going to the NBA together."

Lynch hasn't mentioned making it to the NBA in front of him for several years.

Because he always has an excuse.

"I want to gain more experience."

"I need to recover from my injury."

"No NBA team will pay a buyout fee for me."

"I don't want to be separated from my family."

"I want to stay here for the European championship and the European MVP award."

Ha, some people play in Europe, but the more you look at them, the more they resemble the kings of Cleveland.

Of course, his methods were far less sophisticated than those of the King of Cleveland.

His excuses were mostly fabricated.

The Cleveland Kings, on the other hand, relied on a medical miracle—every year they would be eliminated from the season only to be reported to have serious injuries requiring surgery. Then, after a period of eating, drinking, and having fun during the offseason, their injuries would miraculously heal by the start of the new season!

These were indeed his goals, but they were also his excuses for running away.

Since that serious injury years ago caused him to miss the NBA draft, his confidence in reaching that highest stage has been silently and completely drained away, like sand emptied from an hourglass.

Yes, some European players do not have their sights set on North America.

But Milos Teodosic is definitely not one of them.

As a close friend who grew up together in the youth training system, Lynch knew very well that this guy's dream had always been the NBA.

But now, like most ordinary people, he has had his edges smoothed out by fierce competition.

He has lost the courage to even try some things.

Upon hearing Lynch's words, Milos Teodosic's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.

"That was before, when we were young and naively thought we could control the world. Back then, we were just two boys. What can the daydreams of young boys represent?"

The bus slowly came to a stop in front of the hotel where the two were staying, and the conversation about dreams and cowardice came to an abrupt end, leaving only lingering ripples in the air.

Lynch returned to his room to rest; he was leaving Europe for Japan the next day.

It was afternoon, around 11 or 12 at night in the United States.

Social media remains lively, with various transfer rumors during the offseason becoming a carnival for the media and fans.

In fact, even Lynch couldn't help but get absorbed in it.

Currently, the core of the rumor storm lies with two super-big fish: Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

The former requested a trade at the end of the season, while the latter created a major event that shocked the entire league.

The Los Angeles Lakers almost ignited the entire league – they had already completed a three-team trade, and it was just a matter of time before Chris Paul, in his prime, was headed to Los Angeles to form a historic backcourt duo with Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba!
Furthermore, there are reports that the Lakers are also aggressively pursuing Dwight Howard, and that progress is quite good.

Charles Barkley joked on the show: If all goes well, the Lakers' lineup will be: Chris Paul at point guard, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, Tayshaun Prince at small forward, Dwight Howard at center, and my grandma at power forward.

Why my grandma? Because even if my grandma starts, the Lakers can still win the championship!

But in the end, this disgusting super battleship never came to fruition.

The Chris Paul trade was called off for one of the most dramatic "basketball reasons" in NBA history.

Since the New Orleans Hornets did not have an owner at the time and were under league trusteeship, theoretically, the owners of the other 29 teams in the league were temporary shareholders.

The deal was overturned when the "shareholders" felt fear of losing their interests.

Among them, Mark Cuban and Daniel Gilbert were the two who voiced the strongest opposition.

Having just lost Wilson Chandler, Mark Cuban was incredibly frustrated, feeling like he'd swallowed a fly. Everyone else was showing off, except me—why?!

Therefore, he vehemently opposed the trade. Daniel Gilbert, who had developed PTSD from the great Emperor LeBron James, opposed the creation of any super team. He wrote another joint letter, telling David Stern that if such a trade occurred, the owners of these small teams would have to sell their entire teams.

The cancellation of the trade that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers has undoubtedly upset many Los Angeles fans.

They didn't understand why a transaction that clearly had no violations would be stopped.

They couldn't understand what lineup, besides this one, could possibly rival Lynch.

While Lynch was still frantically reading reports about the trade, new news emerged regarding the Chris Paul trade—he was ultimately sent to the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers traded Daniel Granger, Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, and 2012 first-round and second-round draft picks, a package that beat the Los Angeles Clippers' offer, allowing them to successfully acquire Chris Paul.

The trade was unanimously approved by the league. Although the Pacers showed some potential last season, they were not a super team even with CP3 joining.

After all, the Pacers traded away their best player, Daniel Granger.

Although the Pacers had just signed David West, CP3's former Hornets teammate, their roster changes were still within the acceptable range for the team owners.

The combination of CP3 and David West hadn't made much of a splash in the West for years, so there was no reason for them to suddenly become a force to be reckoned with in the East.

Of course, this deal still sparked widespread discussion.

Lynch was particularly surprised by this.

Ever since crab-catching expert Ron Artest revealed that the Pacers were going to make a move, he knew that Daniel Granger would definitely leave.

But unexpectedly, Larry Bird traded him for Chris Paul.

Soon, ESPN data expert John Hollinger analyzed the trade:

"In the playoffs, we could clearly see that Daniel Granger was completely useless against Lynch—you don’t even need data analysis; even the most novice fans could see how badly Daniel was being tortured."

This is not meant to disrespect Daniel, but he and Lynch are definitely not in the same league.

Larry certainly knows that if the Pacers want to break through, they must not rely on a core player who will inevitably face off against Lynch.

Therefore, he decided to change the core player. He traded Daniel for CP3, who could avoid Lynch's pressure to the greatest extent and had a significant impact on the game.

From a strategic perspective, this deal deserves an A rating.

CP3 is currently the best point guard in the league, and we can look forward to Paul George's performance next season. Perhaps the Pacers will no longer be just a team of CP3 and David West.

We have reason to believe that this trade will elevate the Indiana Pacers' immediate competitiveness to a new level.

John Hollinger's analysis is very objective. The Pacers may not be a super team, but their fighting power should not be underestimated starting today.

Three minutes after the transaction, CP3 officially changed his social media profile picture and posted a very intriguing message:
Why does it have to be to beat Lynch in Los Angeles?

Last season, Lynch and CP3 had some minor disagreements.

It seems that the dwarf king has not forgotten all of this.

Considering that his feud with Rajon Rondo lasted throughout his career, it's clear that he is indeed a rather vengeful person.

Lynch liked the post and commented:

"I can get you anywhere, my favorite point guard Chris Rondo."
-
The next day, as dawn broke, Lin Qi was already fully prepared to set off.

He's going on a long flight to Japan today.

As in previous years, Milos Teodosic drove Lynch to the airport.

They usually chat a lot on the way to the airport, but today, the old friend seemed unusually silent.

The usual lively conversation was gone, and only a suppressed silence filled the carriage.

Milos Teodosic gripped the steering wheel, his fingers tapping unconsciously, a deep gloom hanging over his brow.

Lynch knew what was troubling him.

"Have you thought this through? Do you really want to stay in this place for the rest of your life, even if you win the MVP award in all of Europe, you still won't be respected?"
You have the ability to play in the NBA, I know that. The challenge you need to overcome isn't those monsters, but yourself.

As Lin Qi spoke, he pointed to his chest.

Milos Teodosic subconsciously looked up, the morning light from outside the windshield brushing past his slightly squinted eyes, as if a sliver of light had been parted from the cloudiness.

"What's the point of saying all this? Which team would want me? I haven't received any offers from any NBA teams."

"That's because you've rejected too many times before, and now, the New York Knicks want you!"

Theo glanced at Lynch and smiled: "I know your influence in New York, but if you're using your personal connections to sign me just to help me realize my dream, then forget it. Thank you for your kindness, but it feels like charity."

"You think I'm pitying you? No, another European point guard is leaving, and my team is currently short of point guards."

Kyrie Irving is, after all, just a newcomer. He needs guidance, and he needs someone to steer the ship when he loses control.

I'm not telling you to just coast along; this isn't out of pity or charity! I want you to fight, to win! I know your skill level!
Haven't you realized it yet? All these years, you've been making the wrong choices!
You didn't participate in the draft with me, and as a result, you were eliminated the following year due to injury.

You didn't accept the offers from NBA teams, and now you're unwanted in North America.

Now, the third chance is right in your throat. Do you want to sever it with your own hands again?!

Stop pretending, you care about the NBA, you're just scared!
But are you really content without taking this step?

For a fleeting moment, Milos Teodosic stared at Lynch, seemingly persuaded.

However, this slight loosening was fleeting.

Soon, he leaned heavily back in his chair, turned his head to look at the street rushing past outside the window, leaving Lin Qi with only a tense profile and tightly pursed lips.

For the rest of the time, the highway leading to the airport was deserted, save for the monotonous whirring of engines.

Upon arriving at the airport, Lin Qi prepared to get out of the car, where a sea of ​​reporters awaited him.

“That’s enough for now,” Teodosic said, his voice hoarse as he tried to remain calm. “See you next year.”

The King of New York placed his hand on the doorknob and waved: "See you next year, buddy."

Lynch's hand landed on the car door handle, but just as the metal latch was about to pop open, his movement suddenly froze.

He turned abruptly, his burning gaze once again locking onto Teodosic's averted eyes.

“I don’t know if you remember Bosko Jorkić often telling us that when the road is full of thorns, hone your courage; when your heart is fearless, conquer the world; and when you have a firm footing, pursue your dreams.”

Milos Teodosic gave a faint, bitter smile, as if touching upon a distant and burning youth: "Yes, this works well on silly boys."

Lynch leaned forward, firmly placing one hand on his old friend's shoulder:

"Be brave and help me win the championship, just like back then!"

When we arrived in Madrid back then, did anyone believe we could rule Europe?!
Yes, we were just boys back then.

But we were boys among a group of men.

We are boys who have succeeded among a group of men!
"Now that we're men, are we going to be any more cowardly than we were back then?!"

After Lin Qi finished speaking, he paused, composed himself, and then said:
"If you choose to refuse this time, I will never bring up this topic again."

If you agree, please contact me anytime.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qi decisively pushed open the car door.

In an instant, Lin Qi's figure was completely swallowed up by the surging tide of media flashes and noise.

The car doors shut out the outside noise, and the interior instantly returned to silence, with only the heavy breathing of the newly crowned European MVP Milos Teodosic clearly audible.

He sat stiffly in the driver's seat, not starting the car or leaving immediately. His gaze, through the fingerprint-stained car window, followed blankly as that figure, still standing tall in the crowd, was swept away into the distance.

He slammed his fist on the steering wheel, letting out a low growl as he released the surging emotions within him.

That dreamland, which had been depicted countless times in the dead of night and shattered by the cowardice in the morning light, now seemed so real, yet so incredibly heavy.

He didn't know what choice to make.

A dozen seconds later, the engine roared to life and the car slowly drove away from the bustling airport.

In the rearview mirror, the frenzied sea of ​​lights gradually blurred and shrank until it finally disappeared.

Milos Teodosic's face was expressionless; his mind was completely occupied by a single sentence.

"We are boys who succeeded among a group of men."

(End of this chapter)