Champion Creed-Chapter 964 - 315: Keep working hard but stay patient (Request for monthly tickets!) _2

Chapter 964: 315: Keep working hard but stay patient (Request for monthly tickets!) _2

After the team traded away Arenas, next was Jamison.

Antawn Jamison’s personality meant he wouldn’t jump out to complain like Arenas; he remained very quiet the whole summer, waiting to accept his fate.

In Jamison’s view, trades are part of professional basketball, very normal. A professional player should look at all this calmly.

Moreover, the Warriors had just given him a big contract, so he didn’t feel he was losing out.

Finally, Antawn Jamison’s trade was finally settled, with the New York Knicks sending Marcus Camby and Charlie Ward to Oakland in exchange for Antawn Jamison.

With the presence of Yao Ming, Marcus Camby seems very redundant in New York. Moreover, there is conflict between Marcus Camby and the Knicks.

Camby arrived at the Knicks in 1998, dedicated himself to the team, and fully gave himself on the defensive end.

The result? This summer, the contract the Knicks offered him was pitifully small, because he only played 29 games last season.

But Marcus Camby only played 29 games because the Knicks misdiagnosed his injury, and still let him play when he needed rest, ultimately worsening his injury.

Even so, Marcus Camby endured it.

Yet this year, the Knicks ignored the misdiagnosis, and instead used the injury as a reason to offer him a low contract, while focusing all their attention on the prodigy Yao Ming.

Marcus Camby felt disheartened, having given everything, including his health, to the Knicks, but what did he get?

He might as well not fight so hard, perhaps as a stat-padder he could sign a big contract instead!

Marcus Camby couldn’t hold back anymore and confronted the Knicks in front of the media, making the misdiagnosis issue boil over.

The Knicks couldn’t stand it anymore and eventually put Marcus Camby on the trading block.

And so, the trade happened.

Roger’s team didn’t need Erik Dampier, but in the era of defense, a big inside player who can move and help is a resource that must be grasped.

In case Stoudemire couldn’t develop defensively, Roger needed at least a fallback option.

Some people cannot change, but some may be able to.

In the original timeline, Marcus Camby later became a notable stat-padder, largely because he was heartbroken by the Knicks.

Ironically, when he became a stat-padder, he instead became honored and got a big contract from the Denver Nuggets.

But Roger believes Marcus Camby will regain a sense of honor with himself and the Golden State Warriors.

Roger will let him gain a sense of honor.

At this point, the Warriors’ lineup for next season is basically set.

Roger, Allan Houston, Tayshaun Prince, Stephen Jackson, Amar’e Stoudemire, Cattino Mobley, Charlie Ward, Jason Richardson, Marcus Camby, and Troy Murphy will be the main rotation.

There are still some players remaining, such as Jason Collier acquired from the Rockets, and Bob Sura who entered the league in ’95, as well as Earl Boykins who is less than 170 cm tall, who will hover outside the rotation, occasionally playing games throughout the season.

However, their ultimate fate is likely to quietly leave when their contracts expire or be traded away.

The main rotation looks good from Roger’s perspective, but don’t overlook that most of them are actually newcomers.

Tayshaun Prince and Amar’e Stoudemire are both in their first year, and Jason Richardson in his second.

Marcus Camby’s injury will still need some time to heal.

So, Roger needs to have patience.

Compared to the main competitors, the current Golden State Warriors are not particularly competitive.

Over at the Detroit Pistons, they have signed Chauncey Billups in a sign-and-trade for Chaki Atkins and Jon Barry, completing the Pistons Five Tigers. And it’s a Pistons Five Tigers with Ron Artest.

The Pacers have greatly increased their strength with Paul Pierce.

The Dallas Mavericks have the black and white twin towers eyeing the trophy.

Over with the Lakers, the 96 duo are raring to go.

And don’t forget Tim Duncan, the only player during Roger’s era to have won a champion in 1999, is watching the changes coldly in the league, eying the vacant throne.

It is foreseeable that the Golden State Warriors are not the biggest favorites to win the championship next season, marking the first time since Roger’s rookie season that he was not the biggest favorite to win.

Roger is indeed a superstar, but with two rookies and a sophomore in the main rotation, it really is hard to expect this team to achieve much.

You can’t say the Warriors have no chance at all, but the likelihood is indeed slim.

So, who will be next season’s champion? That’s full of suspense.

However, for Roger, next season he can’t just tank.

You know, as a superstar at his peak, if he fails to lead the team into the playoffs, or makes the playoffs but exits in the first round, or gets swept, it will be a stain on Roger’s career that he can’t wash off.

Michael Jordan got swept, even in the first round, but Nike had an excuse: Oh, that was only young Jordan.

If there’s no excuse, the standards can be flexible.