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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

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***

On August 18, 2003, the New York Knicks quietly waived Randy Holcomb, a member of the atmosphere squad.

The power forward rarely got playing time, and despite his efforts to find another contract, he was likely to fade out of the NBA.

As it was Monday, a New York Times reporter interviewed Grunfeld, the General Manager.

The Lakers signed Karl Malone using their biennial exception, with the veteran earning $1.5 million.

They signed Gary Payton using their mid-level exception, with the All-Star guard earning $4.92 million, exactly the full mid-level.

The New York Knicks could have completed both of these signings.

The team’s current salary situation is surprisingly good.

Thanks to the New York Knicks’ healthy payroll for two consecutive seasons, plus most Eastern Conference teams tanking, player income in the NBA did not exceed 61% of BRI, thus avoiding the luxury tax.

However, this situation couldn’t be sustained into the third season of luxury tax enforcement.

With several Western Conference teams’ salaries inflating and player income rising, the New York Knicks would also have to pay taxes.

At the end of the July settlement period, owners of several NBA teams expressed that salaries were unreasonable.

Coupled with Gilbert Arenas being poached by the Washington Wizards in early August, more owners clamored for additional clauses.

For small-market owners, not paying the luxury tax meant no dividends.

They couldn’t win championships anyway, and now they weren’t even getting money, which made them uncomfortable.

The additional clauses being clamored for were the common desire of all owners.

After all, if one Gilbert Arenas could appear, a second one might too.

Losing core players for free must be prohibited!

Teams would begin training in mid-September, and the NBA would respond and resolve these issues by the media day in early October.

The New York Knicks updated a batch of training facilities and invited some New York Media for coverage some time ago.

Onlookers were eager, but the team’s training center remained closed to the public.

After all, there’s also an NHL hockey team here, so if it were opened to fans, both sides would have to discuss it.

The New York Times reporter’s questions mainly focused on the team’s plans for the new season.

Everyone first took photos in the training gym, then asked their questions:

“Ernie, we want to know why the New York Knicks would give up on Karl Malone, given that he significantly lowered his salary.”

Grunfeld, whose neck was almost gone from being so fat, smiled confidently upon hearing this question:

“For the New York Knicks, salary isn’t the most important thing. Winning a championship isn’t about stacking up stars. The team needs good chemistry.”

“Karl Malone is an All-Star player, and he wouldn’t accept a bench role.”

“Amar’e Stoudemire needs more playing time, and our big men, Wright and Gadzuric, also need playing time.”

“Don’t forget, Pau Gasol is very young, and next season is his contract year, so he also needs playing time.”

“Our young players are full of competition within the team. We welcome experienced veterans, but only if they can accept the coaching staff’s arrangements.”

Seemingly thinking of Robert Horry leaving the Lakers, several people naturally nodded in agreement with this reason, then asked a question that fans cared about:

“Will the New York Knicks continue to strengthen the team? Our salary situation is very healthy, and we are fully capable of further strengthening the roster with another mid-level contract.”

Regarding this year’s mid-level contract, Grunfeld did not rule anything out, but frankly stated:

“The team does have this intention. The ideal reinforcement would be to add a point guard. Knight is excellent, but he also suffered injuries last season.”

“The coaching staff doesn’t want Lee to play too many minutes. In recent years, he has played more games than other players, and everyone hopes he can lighten his load during the regular season.”

“Unfortunately, we currently don’t have a suitable candidate. The team’s 14-man roster is already set, and the New York Knicks welcome players aspiring for a championship to join!”

In the free market, Andre Miller was a player the New York Knicks actively pursued, but he was not interested in being a backup.

Last season, Knight’s attendance rate was the worst on the team.

In such a situation, the New York Knicks’ point guard position was indeed understocked.

The New York Times also knew that Andre Miller had rejected the team, which made everyone quite unhappy.

How could the Denver Nuggets compare to the New York Knicks!

After the interview, Grunfeld returned to his office and leisurely ground coffee.

This was his most relaxed season with the team.

He only needed to keep the roster intact.

Backcourt: Clay Lee, Travis Knight.

Frontcourt: Grant Hill, Ron Artest, Kurt Thomas, Pau Gasol, Tayshaun Prince, Amar’e Stoudemire, Lorenzen Wright.

Atmosphere squad: Matt Barnes, Raja Bell, Rasual Butler, Dan Gadzuric, Maciej Lampe.

This season, Clay Lee’s salary is $13.5 million, the highest on the team, and Grant Hill has $13.28 million.

At this time, the New York Knicks’ total salary came to $59.24 million, not exceeding the luxury tax line by much.

Compared to Shaquille O’Neal’s $20 million salary, Clay Lee’s max contract is incredibly cost-effective!

After brewing coffee, Grunfeld looked at the roster and felt that the calls from various team owners for Lee to earn more money indeed made sense.

However, the 1999 collective bargaining agreement was jointly drafted by the owners, and no one expected to shoot themselves in the foot in the end.

The New York Knicks had already made a killing and were completely unconcerned about any new clauses that might be introduced later.

However, seeing the message mentioned by assistant coach Mike Malone, Grunfeld frowned.

If conditions allowed, he really should trade Wright:

“This isn’t a retirement home. If you don’t play hard, we’ll send you away!”

The news that the New York Knicks hoped to sign a qualified backup point guard with a mid-level contract was leaked by the New York Times the next day.

Rafer Alston, the Streetball King, once again offered his services, only to be rejected.

This year’s full mid-level exception is $4.92 million.

Instead of splitting it, it’s better to use the full mid-level to find a strong player.

On August 19, the Nets announced they had re-signed their core player, Jason Kidd.

New Jersey sports media leaked some interesting news, claiming that Kidd felt humiliated in San Antonio.

New York fans were overjoyed after reading the newspaper.

Kidd briefly revealed his experience in San Antonio:

“This was the most absurd recruitment I’ve ever seen. I sincerely accepted the invitation, but they told me the team couldn’t offer me a max contract!”

“They even compared me to that French Rookie.”

“I will never play for San Antonio. Who do they think they are? Do they think they’re a championship team?”

Quoting a passage from Kidd, several mainstream media columnists gleefully ridiculed the San Antonio Spurs for being stingy.

Kidd’s contract with the Nets was also revealed: a starting salary of $13.15 million, 6 years for $104 million, a contract full of sincerity!

Although the San Antonio Spurs’ roster had not yet been finalized, sports media unanimously believed that the San Antonio Spurs would not pay the luxury tax.

As a veteran who had played 9 seasons in the NBA, Kidd was eligible to receive a salary up to 30% of the max salary cap.

The San Antonio Spurs clearly had no intention of implementing this standard, and Kidd ultimately made a fruitless trip.

Their promises were not as real as cold hard cash.

The new season is also Lee’s contract year. Interestingly, President David Stern recently took the initiative to state in an interview:

“For excellent players, the NBA will naturally provide corresponding clauses. This ensures the players’ interests, and it is also the result the board of directors hopes to see.”

Recalling previous complaints from various team owners that Clay Lee earned too little, the NBA will certainly take action in the offseason next season!

James Dolan’s request for more freedom for perimeter players and the abolition of the handcheck rule was not approved.

Before the start of the new season, the curly-haired owner received news that everyone wanted to create a separate incentive clause for Lee.

In an interview, James Dolan, as always, was outspoken:

“Even if we have to pay a $50 million luxury tax, the New York Knicks can afford it. The team doesn’t care about these salaries at all!”

“I hope the NBA can take my opinion seriously and give perimeter players more freedom. Fans love to watch spectacular performances from perimeter stars.”

James Dolan had clearly read the recent New York Times article ridiculing the San Antonio Spurs.

With a superstar like Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs’ salary this season would most likely not exceed $45 million.

The curly-haired owner’s loud declaration of paying a $50 million luxury tax was clearly mocking Holt, the San Antonio Spurs’ stingy owner.

New York fans loved this, and some were even discussing the possibility of Tim Duncan coming to the New York Knicks on forums:

“Tim Duncan can come to the New York Knicks to protect the rim!”

At the end of August, the sports media did not manage to interview Lee, as he had already flown to Manchester by then.

The Premier League season starts in mid-August every year, and Lee came to England to watch matches and, incidentally, to gauge the sentiment of Manchester United.

On the evening of the 29th, at a large nightclub in Manchester city center, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, along with a group of their associates, hosted Clay Lee.

With multiple themed bars and two extra-large dance floors, the massive nightclub, capable of accommodating 2,000 people, descended into a state of frenzied dancing at night.

In February of this year, during an FA Cup match, Ferguson and David Beckham had a heated argument, and the latter’s questioning and talking back enraged the old man.

Ultimately, Ferguson knocked down David Beckham with a “flying boot.”

This incident was exposed by Victoria the very next day, drawing in even those in America who don’t watch soccer.

Last season’s Premier League was far more exciting than the NBA.

Manchester United once trailed Arsenal by as many as 8 points but ultimately staged a comeback to win the league title.

Thierry Henry, the King of Highbury, even delivered the best individual performance in Premier League history with a 24+20 double-double, a feat that will likely never be surpassed!

American onlookers naturally didn’t care about these details, but Lee still checked the news when he had time, noting that Arsenal’s unbeaten run across seasons had extended to 30 matches.

Upon seeing this news, Lee knew that Arsenal’s unbeaten record was about to come to an end.

Everton’s 16-year-old prodigy, Rooney, scored in the last minute of the 10th round of the Premier League, securing a dramatic win against Arsenal, and this youngest goal-scorer in the Premier League also began to capture the attention of fans.

For Manchester United fans, Leeds United’s away win against Arsenal was equally unforgettable.

Without the opponent’s assistance, there would have been no comeback league title.

With 25 goals, Ruud van Nistelrooy won the Premier League Golden Boot, which left Thierry Henry’s fans lamenting, as his performance of 24 goals and 20 assists somehow didn’t earn him many accolades.

In the Champions League quarter-finals, Ferguson showed a disdainful expression after David Beckham missed a free-kick.

Fans had already guessed in April that David Beckham might leave the team.

When the news of David Beckham’s transfer to Real Madrid, the “Galacticos,” broke at the end of June, it still sparked considerable discussion.

Lee’s presence in Manchester was relatively low-key, accompanied by Old Mike and two security personnel.

The main reason for such caution was that the British sports media had revealed that Red Football Capital’s plan to acquire Manchester United was met with strong resistance from fans.

Athletes are usually full of energy, and everyone rushed to the dance floor to find targets.

Only Ryan Giggs and Lee remained at the booth, drinking.

They had just been discussing Abramovich’s takeover of Chelsea and the poaching of Manchester United’s CEO.

Ryan Giggs, slightly tipsy, was about to continue complaining when a tall, dark-haired girl squeezed between them.

Noticing it was Natasha, Ryan Giggs showed no hesitation, immediately patting her upturned buttocks twice.

Wearing a glittering, tight-fitting dress, 21-year-old Natasha didn’t mind being taken advantage of, instead winking at the two men.

This moderately famous British model was unexpectedly uninhibited in certain ways.

“Always talking about football, why don’t you come dance for a bit, Clay? Come experience Manchester’s nightlife!”

The music in the venue was very loud, and in such a noisy environment, Natasha deliberately leaned close to Lee’s ear, and as she spoke, she didn’t forget to lightly blow a breath.

Although Ryan Giggs was already married and his wife had recently given birth to their daughter, at this moment, he revealed his true colors as a lecher:

“Natasha, is this an invitation?”

As he spoke, he gripped her hand.

After playing with it for a bit, Ryan Giggs seemed unsatisfied and pressed Natasha down onto the booth seat.

Lee’s mouth twitched as he watched.

If he remembered correctly, The Sun had reported that this girl was apparently dating Ryan Giggs’s brother, and the two seemed overly intimate.

Natasha intentionally scratched Lee’s palm, as if inviting him and Ryan Giggs to complete a simple one-two drill together.

“I prefer to have a few drinks in this kind of atmosphere. Manchester is indeed a charming city!”

Staring into her eyes, Lee praised her twice, which made Natasha giggle continuously, almost falling into his arms.

No longer discussing football gossip, Lee inwardly sighed with regret.

Many Manchester United players also disliked the club being acquired, and it was rare to encounter a two-faced person like Ryan Giggs.

He had hoped to hear more news.

At this moment, the Premier League’s top left-winger was already lost in female charms.

Seeing the two exchanging glances, Lee was utterly speechless:

“Their daily training must be very frequent!”

On August 30th, Manchester United hosted Southampton, and Lee and Old Mike chose to watch the match from a private box.

Old Mike, dressed casually in a black shirt, noticed many fans holding up banners:

“We don’t want to be acquired!”

Seeing this, Old Mike didn’t focus on the game.

Sitting in the front row, he turned his head and said in a low voice:

“It seems you’re not welcome here. I can feel it. These fans are particularly passionate. They started gathering three hours before the game, and the popularity is comparable to the NFL.”

The box had multiple seats, offering a panoramic view of the stadium while also allowing them to hear the fans’ cheers.

“I’m not a pound sterling, so there’s no reason for British fans to like me. The sports media here reported correctly. The acquisition will burden the club with some debt.”

“This situation should be unacceptable to loyal fans, but they can’t change the facts. Time is definitely on my side.”

Dressed in a dark blue suit, Lee leaned back in his seat after speaking, waiting for the arrival of David Gill, Manchester United’s newly appointed CEO.

The former CEO was poached by Chelsea.

So-called loyalty appears very fragile in the face of financial offensives, and as for whether money-driven football can succeed, the answer is naturally yes.

David Gill had previously served as Finance Director and Vice Chairman.

His promotion to CEO this time was also thanks to his opponent.

David Gill, dressed in a black suit, was tall with short gray hair and bright eyes.

After his promotion and raise, he looked invigorated.

Upon entering the box, he showed no hostility.

Instead, David Gill joked:

“Clay, if you continue to acquire shares, we should be able to meet at Manchester United board meetings. Although not everyone welcomes you, I can understand your business actions.”

Lee stood up and embraced him in greeting, then, upon hearing these words, stated frankly:

“Of course, I will continue to acquire shares. I truly have high hopes for Manchester United and the Premier League.”

“Last season’s league was truly spectacular, which showed me the cohesion of this team. Arsenal is definitely a strong opponent!”

Hearing the praise, David Gill also showed a hint of a proud smile.

He hadn’t expected Lee to genuinely care about football, so he simply followed the topic, chuckling:

“It seems you really love football, which reminds me of the Glazer Family I recently met. Those guys don’t even seem to understand the basic rules of football!”

Unable to compete with Lee in the secondary market, Old Glazer was clearly planning to strike directly, acquiring individual shares to instantly surpass the equity held by Red Football Capital.

“The fact is, I am a die-hard fan. No kidding, I even have the ability to play as a center forward for a mid-to-lower-table Premier League team.”

“David can prove this. When he was on vacation in the United States, we also exchanged skills!”

Hearing Lee’s bragging, David Gill let out an exaggerated gasp, then praised him again:

“Later, when the club organizes charity matches, we will definitely invite you!”

“Clay, I welcome you as an individual shareholder of the team, but unfortunately, our major shareholders will not sell their shares, and the fans do not welcome an acquisition.”

Upon arriving in Manchester, Lee naturally felt the animosity from the fans here towards him.

However, to make money and expand his influence, Lee would not give up on the acquisition.

Black-red is still red, and at least British fans now know his name.

Although it hasn’t fast-forwarded to the point where Manchester United fans feel “full of reverence” when Red Football Capital is mentioned, the goal is not far off.

“We have just bought the shares of Manchester United’s former secretary, Maurice Watkins. It won’t be long before we should launch a second acquisition proposal.”

“Don’t be so quick to refuse me. You know, the Glazer Family also wants to take over Manchester United. At that time, listen to our terms, compare them, and then decide.”

Lee showed a confident expression, and David Gill was somewhat helpless.

He knew that Red Football Capital’s controlling stake had already reached 28.11%.

However, as long as the team’s individual shareholders, Manier and McManus, didn’t let go, Manchester United could rest easy.

Thinking of this, David Gill also smiled and said, “Manchester United will consider your proposal, Clay. There’s no need to pursue absolute control. We can achieve a win-win situation!”

Lee didn’t speak, only made a ‘please’ gesture.

The two walked together to the private box, sat down, and no longer discussed work matters, instead chatting about Premier League gossip while watching Manchester United’s match.

Old Mike noticed that the tense atmosphere between the two had dissipated, and he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon arriving in England and checking into the hotel, the vehicle they were using was splashed with red paint by fans.

Thinking of the experiences of the past few days, Old Mike could only sigh inwardly:

“Chasing a ball around, it actually has such great charm. It’s truly a crazy sport.”

On September 2nd, Lee, back in the United States, continued his routine of attending law school classes, getting acquainted with several professors.

This had become a regular ritual since his admission to law school.

On the first weekend of September, the rebuilt Peninsula Manor was finally ready.

The renovated kitchen and study were more suitable for multiple people living together.

Fifty acres not only included a main house, but also an adjusted caretaker’s house.

Only two small private islands remained untouched.

These would be slowly built later.

The yacht dock was functional for now.

At this time, Greenwich was no longer as hot.

Compared to Palm Beach in Florida, the weather here was relatively colder.

Ivanka didn’t go to school to register.

As soon as Peninsula Manor was ready for occupancy, she immediately moved in excitedly.

However, the large area and numerous trees also had disadvantages: high house insurance premiums and a substantial fee for the butler team.

On the afternoon of the 6th, at the Peninsula Manor grass tennis court, Lee leaned back in the spectator seats by the court, sipping juice and listening to the girls’ random shouts as they swung their rackets.

Although Ivanka was tall, Melinda preferred sports, and her two ‘big white rabbits’ also hindered her.

She had already lost three sets in a row.

“Ah!”

Her serve didn’t go over the net, and Ivanka simply sat on the grass, panting.

Seeing Lee lying lazily, she directly threw the tennis ball from her pocket at him.

“It’s okay, just like I’m not good at golf, not having tennis talent isn’t a big deal!”

Lee, catching the tennis ball, remained lying still.

Melinda threw off her hat, came to the sidelines, picked up a juice, and drank it with him:

“Too much space isn’t always good. It reminds me of some scenes from The Shining. We can’t even fill those master bedrooms.”

Kim, wearing a blue dress, brought some snacks to the group, then gazed at the sea, and looked at the towering trees around them, couldn’t help but echo:

“It’s really too big. It takes a considerable distance to drive from the main gate to the main house. That apple orchard also needs to be re-managed.”

Wearing a white short-skirted tennis outfit, Ivanka, panting, came to the sidelines and also lay down on a chair, looking at the neatly trimmed giant trees, she couldn’t help but say with longing:

“Children would definitely love living in a place like this. When I was little, I used to fantasize about having a treehouse in the forest.”

“I don’t want to hold banquets here. This place should be a private space for family.”

The lawn, garden, and woods were all maintained by Ivanka, and she also put a lot of thought into the plants in the greenhouse.

Melinda, seeing Ivanka’s longing expression, couldn’t help but tease with a smile: “Perhaps in less than two years, we’ll see children playing here!”

She was only 22 in another month, and Ivanka, remembering some newly acquired knowledge from the past few days, couldn’t help but blush slightly.

However, having just exercised, the others couldn’t tell that the blonde ‘big white rabbit’ had a strange expression.

At dinner time, there were only four people at the huge dining table, making it seem a bit empty.

Fortunately, the music in the room covered this up.

The three chattered about recent gossip, while Lee, after dinner, continued to familiarize himself with the enormous estate.

Just as Melinda said, the few of them really couldn’t fill this huge house.

These past few days, everyone had been sleeping in the big bed in the master bedroom.

A fresh environment truly brings a different feeling.

Kim, sandwiched by the three, had long forgotten the classic old movie still playing on the TV.

The understanding Melinda looked at Kim’s misty eyes, and then noticed Ivanka, with her ‘big rabbits’ pressed against Lee, kissing him non-stop.

Finally, she gave a mischievous smile, leaned into Kim’s ear, and whispered:

“Soon, this place will be filled with adorable children!”

In mid-September, many NBA teams started their training camps early.

The NBA had originally planned for several teams to go overseas for preseason games, but this schedule was unanimously opposed by many players.

The reason was simple: flying across countries to play was unsafe!

Hearing such a reason, the NBA was speechless and could only respect the players’ personal choices, suspending this year’s overseas preseason games.

According to the original plan, the Knicks and the Houston Rockets would both go to China to play.

With the plan falling through, the coaching staff simply continued to give the players time off.

Chinese fans across the ocean were also a bit disappointed, but without the preseason, they still had the Asian Championship to watch!

Yao Ming had joined the team’s joint training very early.

In the Asian Championship, facing old rivals, the Chinese team wasn’t overly confident.

In last year’s Busan Asian Games final, South Korea defeated China in overtime, which really frustrated chinese fans.

This Asian Championship was not only for revenge but also to compete for a ticket to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Currently, the china team had a self-proclaimed world-class center, but the backcourt was still at CBA level, and the national team’s backcourt still couldn’t solve the full-court press issue.

At this time, chinese sports media would always compare him to Clay Lee.

Su Qun, who was banned due to Wang Zhizhi’s issue, also mentioned this in an interview:

“Yao Ming is excellent and can guarantee our results in Asia, but to go further, to break through the quarterfinals on the world stage and win a medal, our backcourt level is far from enough.”

“Don’t be overly ambitious and compare him to Clay Lee. He is the best guard in the world!”

“If Clay Lee were on the national team, we could even win a medal. Unfortunately, we all know it won’t happen.”

“At this stage, what domestic guards need to do is not lose the ball, reduce turnovers, pass well, and facing old rivals in Asia, if we do these things well, we can win!”

Like Yao Ming, Pau Gasol also flew back to Spain early after the ESPY Awards, and Grant Hill also went on vacation.

On Monday, September 22nd, the Tarrytown Training Center also became lively.

After returning to Manhattan, Grant Hill brought back many small gifts for everyone.

For over half a month, Lee, who had been frequently intensifying his training, entered a state of ‘sage mode’ after returning to Manhattan.

Luckily, Ivanka started school, or he almost couldn’t endure it.

“No need to worry about joint training. Usually, Lee will lead the second unit. As long as you perform well in practice, you’ll get playing time.”

“Coach D’Antoni emphasizes team discipline more. Everyone just needs to follow the coaching staff’s instructions.”

Grant Hill, with a slight smile, introduced the team’s situation to the two Rookies.

Raja Bell nodded along, and Maciej Lampe seemed relieved.

Competing for playing time was a good thing for Rookie players.

Wearing a New York Knicks blue T-shirt, after warming up, Lee was pulled aside by Ewing.

After a whole offseason, the Gorilla had gotten a bit rounder again.

“Lee, the Nets might buy out Dikembe. If that really happens, he wants to join the New York Knicks, and we can still use the Mid-Level Exception to sign him.”

After receiving a call from his old friend, Ewing began to actively work on this matter.

The New York Knicks were not short on centers, and Dikembe Mutombo wanting to join the team was clearly for a championship ring.

“I remember Dikembe Mutombo’s remaining two-year contract was $30 million. Recently, Mourning’s comeback wasn’t looking optimistic. Aren’t the Nets planning ahead?”

After returning to Manhattan, Lee also read the recent news.

Mourning’s body had completely given out, and the Nets’ contract was bound to be a huge loss.

Ewing got the news from his old friend, and hearing Lee’s question, he immediately curled his lips, mocking the Nets:

“Buying out Dikembe should save the Nets over $5 million. Everyone’s going to pay the luxury tax this season.”

“The Nets’ owner, Todd, expressed his desire not long ago. They believe the team already has enough depth at the center position!”

Lee nodded.

Not every team wanted to pay the luxury tax.

A few million dollars was a significant expense.

“After joining the team, he likely won’t get much playing time, Pat, you should be aware of that.”

Lee briefly reminded him.

After all, Wright and Gadzuric were still on the bench.

Even setting aside the “atmosphere group,” just competing with those two meant Dikembe Mutombo was destined not to get much playing time.

When Ewing heard Lee didn’t object, he immediately felt the matter was halfway done.

He chuckled and said: “Dikembe is mentally prepared. After all, he’s an old guy now. At the end of his career, it’s hard to get a starting position again.”

When Coach D’Antoni and his coaching staff came before everyone, he unconsciously leaned back with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in front of the players twice before speaking:

“Don’t worry, in this team, whoever performs better will get more playing time.”

“If Ron Artest performs poorly, then Tayshaun Prince will get more opportunities. Everyone just needs to be prepared. We will face more challenges this new season.”

“There is no perfect tactic in basketball. After one season, opponents will study us, and what we need to do is improve our chemistry in practice!”

“Remember, basketball belongs to five people, but you don’t have to worry, Lee will find your shortcomings in practice, and he will help you improve yourselves.”

There were only two Rookies this year, and Raja Bell seemed to hear the Head Coach’s “afk” declaration for the first time, and his fantasy was instantly shattered:

“Is this the championship coach who won 73 games?”

The New York Knicks training camp started as scheduled, and the adjacent second team soon released news.

Nets owner Todd seriously stated in an interview:

“Dikembe Mutombo is an excellent player, and we all hope he has a good future!”

“Buying out his remaining salary is purely for salary cap considerations.”

“At the center position, we already have enough depth, so buying out the remaining contract is definitely a win-win choice!”

After two months of testing the free market, no one took over at a high price, and the Nets had no choice but to make this decision.

Dikembe Mutombo, abandoned by the team, was also somewhat hurt and quickly accepted an interview:

“This is life. No one revolves around me.”

“I’ve gained many friendships here, and I never expected to be hurt like this before.”

“I know my ankle injury made people doubt my ability, but I can still play for a few more years. Now I accept any role, and I believe I will find a new home in a few days.”

On September 29th, after the Nets bought out Dikembe Mutombo, the New York Knicks announced the signing of the faded All-Star center.

Mid-level exception, two years, $6.59 million, with $3.1 million this season.

Dikembe Mutombo came to the New York Knicks to fulfill his dream.

New York fans didn’t care much about this trade, and the New York Media didn’t report on it extensively, because it was highly likely that this veteran joining the team would just be a towel-waver.

Of course, many print media outlets, upon seeing this trade, complained about the New York Knicks’ choice.

From the perspective of many teams, this was simply being rich and willful.

On the 30th, fans also saw a trade:

The Houston Rockets sent Glen Rice and 2004, 2005, and 2006 second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for John Amaechi and a 2004 second-round pick.

This trade also brought a trade exception to the Houston Rockets.

In China, across the ocean, sports media outlets became excited after seeing this trade:

“The Houston Rockets have established Yao Ming’s core position, and a trade has brought in a strong helper for the inside. The Houston Rockets are aiming for the championship this new season!”

“…”

Although this player was just for atmosphere, it didn’t stop the Chinese sports media from placing their beautiful hopes on him.

After all, fans at this time hoped that the Houston Rockets would succeed.

Sports media reported what everyone wanted to see.

They couldn’t possibly say that Houston Rockets owner Alexander was a miser and didn’t want to pay the luxury tax this season.

On October 1st, 2003, in the FIBA Asia Championship, the Chinese team faced the South Korean team in the final.

This FIBA Asia Championship was held in Harbin, and playing on home soil, Yao Ming dominated South Korea’s “Little Giant” Ha Seung-Kim.

There were also differences between big men.

No matter how much the South Korean media boasted, on the Asian stage, Yao Ming was the most dominant center.

106:96, the Chinese team didn’t win easily, and the fans on site witnessed a familiar scene again.

After leading by a large margin in the second quarter, the opponent used full-court press to continuously cause turnovers for the Chinese team, and South Korea narrowed the gap with several three-pointers.

Many fans who watched the NBA were somewhat disappointed by the performance of the backcourt players. Compared to the 2000 Olympics, there seemed to be not much change.

Regardless of the process, avenging their loss and securing a ticket to the Olympics was always something to be happy about.

When interviewed after the game, regarding his expectations for the Olympics, Yao Ming was very clear-headed, humbly stating:

“Of course, I hope the china men’s basketball team can break through history, but we still have many things to learn. Basketball is not a sport that happens overnight.”

“At the Olympics, if we can advance from the group stage and reach the quarterfinals, that’s a victory!”

The 1st was also NBA Media Day, and the New York Knicks began shooting their promotional photos for the new season.

Sports media still circled around Clay Lee.

The Lakers had formed the superteam, and old rivals seemed to be back.

Everyone wanted to hear Lee’s opinion.

“I understand Derek Fisher. From a roster structure perspective, he is more suitable for the current Lakers than Gary Payton.”

“I share the same view as Ray Allen. Gary Payton will find it difficult to succeed with the Lakers. He needs to change his playing style, which won’t be easy for him.”

“As for Karl Malone, he also needs more pick-and-rolls!”

“From the players’ individual abilities, the Lakers are indeed strong, but basketball is not simply about stacking up stars. I’m not optimistic about their chemistry.”

“As I emphasized before, the locker room atmosphere is very important!”

“The New York Knicks’ locker room is very united. Our goals are consistent, and everyone plays for each other. This is also an important factor in our ability to win the championship.”

The New York sports media nodded in agreement.

A second-round pick making a name for himself on the team was enough to prove that the New York Knicks did not have a “legacy basketball” culture.

A New York Post reporter quickly asked about Jeff Van Gundy’s tanking decision:

“Lee, what do you think of the Cavaliers’ plan this season? Will they become the New York Knicks’ opponent in the future?”

Having drafted the The Chosen One and continuing to tank for talent, Lee was very much in favor of the Bald Young Coach’s choice when he saw the news:

“Coach Van Gundy’s persistence is not wrong. To complete a rebuild, one must experience growing pains.”

“As for the Cavaliers, they might be strong after rebuilding, but I still stick to my view: we have no opponents in the Eastern Conference!”

Hearing these words, the surrounding sports media felt pleased.

Everyone liked to hear Lee brag.

The atmosphere at the Lakers’ Media Day was a bit tense.

During the photoshoot, Shaq wouldn’t even look at Kobe.

To this day, he still hadn’t received a direct apology from him.

Throughout the offseason, the shark had been living in fear, dreading that some money-hungry girl might also write a tell-all to drag him down.

Fortunately, such bad luck didn’t happen.

Shaquille O’Neal breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he completely hated Kobe.

This was simply an undeserved disaster.

The OK Combo remained silent, while Karl Malone showed off his muscles to the media.

On the other side, Gary Payton was also in a good mood and began to brag during his interview:

“I don’t care what others think. I just want to tell you that the Lakers will win the championship this season. No one will be our opponent!”

“…”

…..

By the way, don’t forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me 🙂

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep