Jordan: I thought he was there to help me!

Chapter 639 The Alliance's Tremendous Changes: More Than Just Trades! The Greatest Manager

Still in the East, after the Pistons broke up, the original three-way battle for supremacy in the East has been completely broken. In the new season, the East will most likely become a battle between the Knicks and the Celtics.

The first team to take action after the Pistons broke up was not the Celtics, but the Nets, who had always been chasing the championship but always failed.

The current Nets are no longer the fierce team they were at the beginning of the century. Their twin towers and two stars have not taken them much further, and after letting Gasol go in the offseason last season, the Nets' record has continued to decline.

Their problems are actually quite simple: weak role players, three superstars taking up too much salary space, Kidd starting to age, Carter consistently underperforming, and Yao Ming suffering from injuries.

In short, for various reasons, almost everyone has removed the Nets from the list of top contenders for the championship.

Under these circumstances, the Nets also opted for a rebuild!

They traded away Kidd, the team's absolute core player for the past few years!

The trade involving Kidd is massive! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's the largest trade in NBA history, involving the highest-profile players.

This massive trade involves five teams and four former or current MVP-caliber players! The five teams will play at drastically different levels and in completely different ways next season because of this trade, and their fate and performance next season will undoubtedly be the focus of everyone's attention!

This deal was so huge it was unbelievable; it had been discussed since the draft and continued until training camp was about to begin before it was finally agreed upon and officially announced!

It took about three months, during which all the people involved and the general manager worked extremely hard to finally resolve all the details and barely satisfy most people.

Yes, most people can win multiple times in a single transaction, but winning all of them is quite difficult.

Some people are destined to be sent to places they don't like, and that's when the shameless ones say: business is business.

But whether everyone is satisfied or not, whether everyone has gone to their desired team, and whether they can continue to show their strength in their new place, we'll only know after the game!

The specific process for this transaction is as follows:

The Nets traded Jason Kidd to Tayshaun Prince, Mike Bibby, and a 2011 draft pick from the Spurs.

The Spurs traded Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby, and a 2011 first-round draft pick to acquire Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Francis.

The Magic traded their unprotected 2004 draft pick from the Trail Blazers, along with Andrew Bynum, the 10th overall pick in the 2005 draft, and Steve Francis, who had just been traded for less than half a season, to acquire Allen Iverson!

The Timberwolves traded Allen Iverson in exchange for Jason Kidd.

The Lakers finally traded O'Neal, along with their starting small forward Prince. In return, the Lakers received Andrew Bynum, Tracy McGrady, and the Trail Blazers' unprotected first-round draft pick for next year!

Of course, besides these major trades involving players and draft picks, this massive deal, which involves five teams and a total annual salary of over $1 million, also includes many details and sideline players.

If you include all the players who were added to the deal, this is a mega-deal involving 5 teams and 17 players!

Considering that the trade included top or first-class players in the league such as O'Neal, Iverson, Kidd, McGrady, Francis, and Bibby, it is no exaggeration to call this the biggest, most shocking, and most insane trade in history!

The formation of this deal was due to a confluence of favorable circumstances. If there hadn't been so many coincidences, so many problems among the teams, and so much dissatisfaction with their performance, ticket sales, market conditions, and other related issues, this deal would not have happened!

For example, the Nets chose to replace Kidd with a more offensively aggressive Bibby and the valuable addition Prince to increase the depth of their roster because they hadn't improved for many years.

The Timberwolves have failed to win the championship for three consecutive years. Especially after being eliminated in the first round last year, they lost confidence in the combination of Iverson and Garnett. In addition, Saunders, who spearheaded the trade to bring in Iverson, has been fired and left.

So the team chose to start from scratch and brought in the more traditional point guard Kidd. Of course, after bringing in Kidd, they also saved about $300 million in salary expenses, since Iverson's salary was so high.

As for the Magic, ever since their super team disbanded, they have been eager to bring in a top-tier star with both skill and popularity to improve the team's stagnant market and ticket sales.

They acquired Francis before the season deadline last year for this reason.

Unfortunately, they overestimated Francis's box office appeal, so during this offseason, they did not hesitate to trade Francis, Bynum (who had been nurtured for a year but was still incredibly bad and showed no signs of improvement), and the Trail Blazers' first-round draft pick in exchange for Iverson.

A true top-tier star, a guy whose skill and popularity are among the best in the league!

And Iverson became the biggest victim and the most heartbroken person in this trade.

A star player of his age is clearly more eager for championships and winning games than to go to a weak team to pad his stats or mentor new players.

But the Timberwolves just didn't play fair. They simply traded away this small star player who gave his all in last season's playoffs but couldn't carry the team alone, as if the Timberwolves' first-round sweep last season was all Iverson's fault!

But whether Iverson was satisfied or not, whether he wanted to play for the Magic, that lousy team or not, everything was already decided, and he became the sacrifice.

As for the Spurs, they were almost completely defeated by their opponents in the conference semifinals last season, and failed to put up any decent performance or put up any resistance.

Bibby's aging and poor performance due to his inability to adapt to the new environment were also considered to be one of the important reasons why the Spurs lost so decisively in the playoffs.

The second important reason is the conflict between McGrady and James!

These two guys clash in both position and playing style! Or rather, their clashes are quite serious!

In his first season with the team, McGrady was willing to sacrifice himself and reduce his shot attempts. He even lost his scoring title for it. However, his sacrifice and concessions did not make the team better. Instead, McGrady's sensitive nature came back to haunt him. He always felt that he did not receive enough respect in the Spurs.

He always felt that he was no worse than James and was unwilling to just be the team's second-in-command.

Then, his contract renewal negotiations with the team completely broke down, and they were unable to reach an agreement. Popovich and Buford saw that McGrady's relationship with the management and James was not good and was on the verge of collapse, so they simply carried out a major rebuild and traded McGrady away.

Naturally, Bibby, who hadn't been behaving well, was walking with him.

The players the team recruited were the kind of helpers James longed for.

A purer backcourt finisher; James doesn't want any more teammates who like to hold the ball for long periods and orchestrate the offense.

Ideally, a team should only have one playmaker, so the team brought in Francis, who is better suited to finishing plays and prefers individual offense but has average playmaking ability.

But in this trade, regardless of how many All-Star appearances he's had or what stats he's put up, Francis is clearly just a byproduct.

The Spurs' real target is Shaquille O'Neal!

After all, considering that Bosh's playing style is more perimeter-oriented and he is not a traditional center, and Nesterovic is not up to the task, the Spurs' two previous playoff losses were due to their interior defense being overwhelmed.

So this time, Popovich and Buford went all out and finally found a true top-class center for the team!

Shaquille O'Neal!

Even though O'Neal will be 36 years old next season, and even though O'Neal's peak years are visibly coming to an end.

But this is Shaquille O'Neal!

Last season's Finals saw Shaquille O'Neal dominate, even recording 40+20 and 50+20 games! If he hadn't constantly faced off against Lin Tian, ​​the Lakers would have won the championship long ago, perhaps even establishing a dynasty!

A Shaquille O'Neal in this form could be acquired for just one draft pick and Tracy McGrady – it would be an absolute bargain!

After all, although O'Neal's peak period was only 1-2 years, Francis's peak period was only 3-4 years at most due to injuries and playing style.

But James and Bosh were in their prime, and 2011 was their peak year, which is why the Spurs so easily threw out their first-round pick.

With James and Bosh on the team, the Spurs' 2011 draft pick would inevitably be a pick below 25.

It's worthless!

Especially since he got Shaquille O'Neal in return! Popovich has always dreamed of coaching a superstar center. From David Robinson to Tim Duncan, Popovich has always had a dream of coaching a superstar center!

Now, this dream has finally come true!

Even if it was just O'Neal at the tail end of his prime, he was still the undisputed best center in the league!

The more important reason is that O'Neal was acquired from the Lakers!

This means that the Spurs got a Shaq, and the Lakers lost a Shaq. That's two Shaqs!

Now, the Spurs don't have the final say in the West anymore.

Regarding the Lakers' acquisition of McGrady, Popovich said: "You McGrady and James are not compatible, so how can you and Kobe be compatible?"

Absolutely impossible!

In particular, Popovich is holding a secret!

McGrady's medical report!

Although this guy has had a pretty good attendance record in recent seasons, his health risks are not small!

This guy has significant potential injuries and irreversible severe wear and tear on his spine and lower back!

In layman's terms: one wrong move and this guy could be out for the season! How many games he can play depends entirely on luck!

Popovich estimates that the Lakers are just a borderline playoff team, at best a 5th or 6th place team.

Not worth mentioning!

If we don't run into you, fine, but if we do, I'll beat you to death.

And of course, there's the Lakers at the very end!

The Lakers' trade for Shaquille O'Neal was practically decided after the season ended. The only questions were where O'Neal would go and who else would join the Lakers.

Originally, according to the new general manager Kupchak's idea, O'Neal should definitely be sent to the East, in order to prevent him from meeting the Lakers four times a year, and possibly meeting them early in the playoffs. In that case, it would not look good for anyone.

Firstly, O'Neal himself wasn't keen on going to the teams in the East that wanted him, because those teams weren't very competitive. Secondly, at the beginning of the offseason, Buss gave the order: this trade wasn't about making a killing, but about parting amicably.

So, after casually asking around in the East and finding no suitable teams, Kupchak set his sights on the West.

After several discussions and long conversations with Kobe and Shaq, Kupchak finally made a decision to make a trade that satisfied both Kobe and Shaq!

When O'Neal went to the Spurs, it was a team with the ability to compete for the championship and a relatively complete roster.

The Lakers acquired Kobe's good friend Tracy McGrady and a diamond in the rough, Andrew Bynum. In addition, the Lakers also got the Trail Blazers' unprotected draft pick next year in this trade!

Given the Trail Blazers' current form and roster, this draft pick will most likely be a top-ten pick!

In other words, the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal, who was nearing the end of his prime, and Taurean Prince for Tracy McGrady in his prime, a promising top-ten rookie, and a future draft pick that would be at least a top-ten pick!

After the deal was completed, Bass was quite satisfied!

This is the deal he wanted.

O'Neal was happy; they parted amicably and remained friends, and the team received a very good return!

Happy!

What kind of results these five teams will achieve after this mega-trade depends on their fate and the competence of their head coaches!

It's also worth mentioning that, besides this big deal, a little story also unfolded between two other strong teams in the West.

It's less of a story and more of an accident.

The Suns asked Nash: What kind of teammates do you want for the new season?

Coincidentally... the Mavericks also asked Nowitzki: How do you hope the team will strengthen itself for the new season?

What's even more ingenious is that these two guys gave remarkably consistent answers.

"I want Steve."

"I want Dirk."

Then?

When the two teams first met, things were incredibly harmonious.

"I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with you!"

"What a coincidence! I also have a deal I'd like to discuss."

……

Then the management of the two teams almost came to blows.

I sincerely wanted to make a mutually beneficial deal with you, and you just open your mouth and ask for my team's cornerstone and absolute core?

Deceiving too much!

Absolutely shameless!

They're making a fool of me!

This deal, of course, ultimately failed to materialize and was aborted before it even began.

Neither Nowitzki nor Nash ever saw the other.

That's basically the situation in the West.

Meanwhile, in the east, another significant event occurred, which could even be described as an earthquake.

Auerbach is gone.

The greatest and longest-serving player in NBA history, who created countless talking points, personally crafted numerous glorious moments, and was the architect of the Celtics, the greatest franchise in NBA history, quietly passed away one night in mid-July.

His funeral and farewell ceremony were actually quite low-key. Apart from his former disciples and some close friends, no reporters or unrelated people were invited to attend.

Everyone quietly mourned this respectable elder.

Auerbach lived his entire life in the spotlight, always surrounded by flowers, applause, lights, and teams he built with his own hands.

From initially disregarding the severe racial issues across the United States at the time and overcoming all opposition to select Bill Russell, to later assembling Bob Cousy, Havlicek, and others to create that unprecedented eight-consecutive-championship era.

Then, in the 80s, they drafted Bird and assembled players like Parish and McHale, creating another golden age for the Celtics.

Even the Celtics' decline in the late 80s and early 90s cannot be entirely blamed on Auerbach, as he left the team with assets.

But no one could have imagined that Lun Bias, the super genius who was said to be able to dominate Jordan in college, would die from drug use the day after being selected by the Celtics with the second overall pick.

No one could have imagined that Reggie Lewis, the team's absolute core player in his prime, would suddenly die of a heart attack.

The sudden passing of these two players truly cast a tragic shadow over the Celtics' entire 90s.

Fortunately, as time went on, and after Auerbach almost completely relinquished his role as team manager, holding only the title of advisor but barely getting involved, Celtic finally began to see improvement.

They drafted Howard and signed Duncan. Although the team still hasn't won a championship, everyone believes they can continue to challenge for the title in the coming years!

Then, just when everything was looking up and down, Auerbach left us forever.

At his memorial service, Bird's eyes were red, and he remained silent, staring blankly at everything before him, as if he still couldn't believe it. He always felt that the grumpy, irritable, yet incredibly charismatic old man would suddenly jump out, laugh loudly, and say to everyone, "You've got me!"

Unfortunately, he waited a long time but no one stepped forward; he only got Danny Angie.

This former teammate, this old buddy who had many arguments with Bird but made up with him, and who even worked with him for a year in Indiana, also sat down next to Bird with red eyes.

"Larry, the doctor said that the old man originally had at least 6 to 18 months left. As long as he doesn't overwork himself, doesn't use his brain too much, and doesn't strain his mind, as long as he rests well, he can enjoy a longer period of time."

"But he just couldn't let go of the team. He just couldn't calm down. He couldn't rest until he saw the team win the championship again."

"Larry, do you know what I mean?" (End of Chapter)