Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 296 I've never seen such a shameless group banding together.
In Tang Sen's office.

"Summer League?"

Tang Sen frowned and asked Leiden if he was serious.

Given the Knicks' current situation, participating in the Summer League would be a waste of time.

Wouldn't spending a week training properly on your own be more rewarding than just playing aimlessly in the Summer League?

Tang Sen added, "And Scott, don't you think it's a bit unfair to send Prince and Jones to play in the Summer League?"

Summer League games are usually played by rookies and second-year students.

Last year's Knicks rookies included Gadzuric, Prince, and Jones.

This year's rookies also include two: Wade and James Jones.

The problem is that Prince and his teammates trained with him for a full season, which is equivalent to at least three years of experience in the league. Their skills are mature enough.

Prince, for example, is someone who can defend against McGrady. His move to the Summer League is like a game-changer.

Such competitions offer no improvement or meaning for them.

As for Wade, although he was a rookie, Tang Sen felt that playing in the Summer League was a waste of time.

"Scott, I disagree."

Donsen didn't give Leiden a chance to argue and directly rejected his idea.

Somewhat embarrassed, Leiden immediately changed his tune, saying that everything would be based on Tang Sen's training plan.

"I was thinking that since we traded Alan and drafted Dwyane, I wanted to give him a chance to shine and let New York fans know that our choice was right."

Leiden offered an explanation.

Tang Sen waved his hand and said it wasn't necessary.

Did you explain to New York fans when you rebuilt like that last year?

Now I want to explain.

To truly prove that the choice was correct, we'll have to wait until the new season starts and Wade takes on the offensive burden in the backcourt.

Does scoring more points in the Summer League prove yourself?
After seeing Ryden off, Tang Sen focused on his own training.

Wade didn't go to Boston, but James did.

He represented the Cavaliers in the Boston Summer League.

In the first game against the Celtics, he put up a well-rounded stat line of 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

This performance has reignited calls for him to be the chosen one.

Many media outlets have said that he is ready to enter the NBA, and that he is as strong as a monster.

But James wasn't happy.

He felt that 26 points was far from enough.

His goal is to become a super rookie like Yao Ming, who aim for All-Star status as soon as he enters the league.

The most crucial step, namely finding Tang Sen for training, was not achieved.

Goodwin suggested that if he couldn't do it, he should go to Grover.

He is also one of the league's top trainers.

He was rejected by James.

If you're going to look for something, look for the best.

As a result, James didn't even participate in the team's practice.

He remembered all the training plans he had followed with Tang Sen last summer.

He continued to follow the training plan.

And it wasn't just the training program; everything he encountered at the Townsend training camp last summer.

For example, surfing, beach volleyball, massage therapy, watching videos, or even playing ball with elementary school students.

He wants to replicate them all.

Even with these outdated training programs, he felt they were better than the Cavaliers' current trainers.

The time has come to September 7th.

The football market has officially opened.

On this day, even Tang Sen couldn't help but wonder if there would be any big deals on the first day of the football market opening.

There are still some big-name free agents this summer.

The first trade actually came from the Nets next door.

They signed Mourning.

Tang Sen said he didn't understand the deal.

Last year they signed Mutombo, this year they signed Mourning.

One was old and injured, and then Mourning was even worse off, needing a kidney transplant.

A player like that is like a time bomb; nobody knows when he'll explode.

Tang Sen felt that if he were Kidd, he would leave the Nets as soon as possible.

The Nets' management's roster improvements are downright ridiculous.

Immediately following, a signing made Carlisle's expression turn quite unpleasant.

Despite benefiting from Brown's rookie contract, the Magic still have enough salary cap space to make moves.

This year, they kept PJ Brown but let Horace Grant go.

Then, they signed Juwan Howard to fill the vacancy at the power forward position.

A $2000 million Howard is worthless, while a $500 million Howard offers excellent value for money.

This is not over yet.

In the draft, they selected a heavy center named Kendrick Perkins late in the first round.

It's obvious they're targeting O'Neal.

But we need to strengthen our point guard position; Jacques Vaughn isn't effective.

Previously, some media outlets reported that after the NBA Finals, the Magic tried to entice Kidd to opt out of his contract.

But Kidd ultimately did not choose to opt out of his contract.

The magician then turned his attention to Payton.

He kept exchanging glances with Payton.

If they can attract Payton, the Magic will receive an epic boost.

Carlisle is worried about this now.

If it weren't for Billups on the team, Carlisle would have considered recruiting Payton.

The Knicks have salary cap space, are a big market team, and are a championship contender, making them very attractive to Payton.

Even if we sign him, we won't use him, which would save him from joining a strong team and improving the strength of our opponents.

And Carlisle's worst fears came true.

That afternoon, two trades occurred, shaking the league.

"This is cheating!"

Carlisle slammed his fist on the table in anger. The Lakers announced two signings.

First, they used the middle-class exception to sign Payton.

Then, they signed Karl Malone on a veteran's minimum contract.

Tang Sen also wanted to curse about these two transactions.

Last season, Malone averaged 20.6 points and 7.8 rebounds, which, based on the statistics, still makes him an All-Star caliber player.

He's getting old, but joining the Lakers on a minimum salary is practically a gift from heaven.

Payton is the same.

Last season, he played 80 games and still averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 assists.

Moreover, the Lakers acquired them without paying any price.

Their arrival further filled the Lakers' weaknesses.

Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton—four players who could average 90 points per game. How could anyone compete with such a lineup?

Let's just award the championship to them.

Tang Sen couldn't help but suspect that David Stern had secretly rewritten the script again.

Next season, the Knicks won't be on a revenge-and-reclaim-the-championship script; instead, they'll be crushed by the red-hot Lakers.

This day was definitely a dark day for all the teams in the league.

Although the Lakers are in the West, the reaction from the New York media is quite significant.

The following day, The New York Times went straight for the jugular.

I've never seen such shameless group behavior before.

It was full of scathing criticism, mocking Payton and Malone for being shameless, saying that if the Lakers won the championship this year, their championship rings would be like those of beggars on the street, obtained through begging.

Saying that such a championship is meaningless.

There are mouthpieces in the east, and there are also mouthpieces in the west.

The Los Angeles Times understands the principle of escalating conflict if you can't win an argument.

Calling a 40-year-old Malone and a 35-year-old Payton "teaming up" isn't just calling it "the last dance of their careers."

It's called "The Last Battle for the Dream".

If this counts as forming superteams, then what about Wilt Chamberlain joining the 76ers in 64, Elvin Hayes going to the Bullets in 72, and Charles Barkley going to the Rockets in 96?

Does that mean they all form cliques?

This is a normal player trade.

In the end, he even mocked New Yorkers for being sour grapes, saying they couldn't attract Payton and Malone, and should first ask themselves why.

The New York Times launched a direct attack.

To say that the Knicks couldn't attract Payton and Malone is to say that the Knicks simply didn't want them.

The two old guys are beneath the Knicks' notice.

The two largest media outlets on the East and West coasts have started a war of words.

But despite the verbal sparring, the contract was already signed.

The Lakers have suddenly become the most popular and seemingly strongest team in the league.

Whenever the media predicts the NBA champion for next season, they say it all in one sentence: "The league is over, the Lakers are going to defend their title."

With four titles in five years, they will become the greatest powerhouse team of the new century.

These two signings also affected Tang Sen's training plans.

The conference room in the training center.

Leiden and Carlisle were arguing fiercely.

Tang Sen stood by, listening to the two arguing while silently writing down the training plan by hand.

As I was writing, the sound suddenly went out.

When I looked up, I found that the two of them were staring at me.

"Tang, what do you think we should do?" Leiden asked.

Tang Sen quickly recalled the two people's viewpoints.

The three of them sat down together to discuss how to deal with the powerful Lakers.

The Knicks' goal this year is the NBA championship.

Facing a Lakers team that seems to be on fire, we must find a way to improve our strength.

Leiden's idea was to make a deal.

He no longer cares about his plans; he wants star players now.

Like the Lakers, assemble a super-luxury roster.

Anyway, we have a bunch of excellent role players on hand, so we have plenty of assets.

He wanted to trade Garnett.

I've always wanted to get a Garnett, so I might as well get the real thing.

In any case, Garnett has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Timberwolves' record more than once.

He still has one year left on his contract, which is worth a full $2800 million.

Such a large contract would be a significant burden for the Timberwolves, but the Knicks don't care.

In Layden's view, only if the Knicks actually trade for Garnett would they be qualified to challenge the Lakers.

As for Carlisle, his opinion is not to rush, but to stick to last season's strategy and continue to develop the power forward position.

For example, they could play against a twin-tower lineup featuring Yao Ming and Chandler.

Chandler has that ability.

Such a twin-tower lineup is enough to deal with O'Neal and Malone.

He believes there is no need to disband the team now.

After glancing at the two arguing heatedly, Tang Sen looked away and focused his attention back on the training plan in his hand.

"I don't have any ideas. Just tell me what you've decided."

Whether or not the team is disbanded, I'll just train the players myself.

With that, Tang Sen closed his laptop, got up, and left the conference room.

Hakeem Olajuwon is coming today, and Townsend wants to take this opportunity to learn from him.

His experience was also useful to him.

After watching Tang Sen leave, the two exchanged a glance and decided to temporarily cease their hostilities.

Carlisle rubbed his temples, not wanting to strain his relationship with Layden too much, and said, "Scott, I understand your thinking, but Kevin is the symbol of Minnesota, and the Wolves will not trade with us."

"The other players mean nothing to us."

"Believe me, the Lakers aren't that scary. Give these players time, and they can prove themselves."

Carlisle saw the hard work of all the players last season and he believed in them.

Or rather, trust in Tang Sen's abilities.

(End of this chapter)