Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 423 - 140: The Draft Conference, The New Big Three! (11,000 words updated in a single day, begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets)_3
Angie and Pierce both promised him that Tim Duncan had agreed to join the Celtics.
Right now, it’s no longer a secret that Duncan wants to leave San Antonio.
Although the Spurs coaching staff, led by Popovich, frequently stated publicly that they are confident in keeping Duncan.
But for Duncan, who has been unable to move past last season’s Western Conference Semifinals, he is no longer resistant to changing to a new environment to continue his career.
However, Angie hadn’t officially contacted Duncan before planning Carter’s future.
Because only by securing Carter first...
Angie could then take Carter’s contract to San Antonio to persuade that fundamental player.
"Tim, now we have superstars like Vince and Paul, and young players with infinite potential like Al Horford. If you are willing to join us, we will surely be able to achieve great things together!"
"Hmm..."
"Tim, don’t believe the sweet talk of the San Antonio people anymore. Given the current situation in the West, the Spurs’ lineup cannot meet your ambitious goals!"
"Hmm?"
"Tim, if the Spurs could really strengthen their existing lineup, why haven’t they done so? Think about it, in the past few years, haven’t the Spurs always thought of winning the championship with the least cost?"
"Hmm."
"Tim, do you really want to sink with the Spurs? You only have three championship rings so far, and one of them was even called an ’asterisk ring’ by Shaquille O’Neal.
You must know, your junior has already proven himself with consecutive championships and two well-deserved Finals MVPs, showing that he is the only candidate for the greatest power forward in NBA history.
Tim, don’t you want to lead the mighty Celtics to honorably defeat your now triumphant junior while you’re still at your peak?"
"Hmm!"
With Carter joining, the Celtics had the championship lineup that Duncan wanted.
The beautiful plan laid out by Angie also greatly tempted Duncan.
Of course, the most important thing is...
Duncan, unsure of how to face Qin Yue for the rest of his life, did want to continue that classic vs. modern frontline battle with Qin Yue in a clean match.
However, to acquire Duncan, the Celtics could only complete it through a sign-and-trade.
This means Duncan must first choose to execute the player option in his original contract, and the Celtics would then trade him into their lineup by matching salaries.
The reason the Celtics could only operate this way, had nothing to do with giving Duncan a favor to leave a spark for the Spurs.
It was just that they had to operate this way to take on Duncan’s contract.
July 10th.
Knowing the Spurs were destined to lose Duncan, Gregg Popovich broke down immediately.
"We raised a wolf cub who won’t accept training."
The thoroughly disheartened Popovich did not participate in the subsequent trade between the Spurs and the Celtics. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Duncan’s impending departure felt like a heavy punch hitting Popovich’s chest.
Although Popovich wanted to question Duncan face to face why he had to leave the city he had served for ten long years.
But Duncan refused any requests to meet with members of the Spurs’ coaching staff.
"I have given my best and most beautiful years to San Antonio. Now, I just want to change environments to continue my career."
Duncan didn’t want to live the rest of his life in guilt and avoidance.
Facing the cold reality, wanting to continue competing with that junior, who already had a halo of GOAT over him...
The Spurs’ lineup not only failed to meet Duncan’s ambitions, but also...
Duncan wanted to answer the soul-searching Qin Yue had subjected him to last season on his own terms.
So...
After the Celtics agreed to send Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and "White Mamba" Scalabrine to match Duncan’s salary, this trade that shocked the entire Eastern Conference was completed.
This was definitely a day worth celebrating in the wild West.
Duncan’s departure would inevitably take the Spurs out of contention for the championship.
Qin Yue was equally shocked when he learned Duncan left the Spurs through a trade.
But immediately, he opened a bottle of champagne for himself and his senior.
The reason Qin Yue popped champagne for himself was that without Duncan, he could now completely shed the mental burden of seeking revenge against the Spurs.
The reason for popping champagne for Duncan was that Duncan, who didn’t want to be constrained by the Spurs anymore, proved with his actions that he was still the same Duncan from three years ago.
Qin Yue was very much looking forward to the Celtics led by Duncan, Carter, and Pierce stirring up the Eastern Conference and matching up against them on the court.
However...
For James, who just got his idol Iverson to assist him, the "Stone Buddha heading east" was by no means good news.
In James’ view, the new season’s Celtics with their Big Three were already far more powerful than the Cavaliers.
Moreover, just as James was feeling anxious about the team’s lineup, ESPN suddenly broke the news: "After a difficult choice between Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao, due to salary structure considerations, the Cleveland Cavaliers will not match the 5-year, $38 million offer made by the Chicago Bulls for Anderson Varejao."
James fell silent after learning the Cavaliers gave up re-signing Varejao.
Even though the whole team’s payroll would still be as high as $81 million next season, far surpassing the Lakers, Warriors, and Supersonic, and second only to the Knicks, even without Varejao.
But James, never satisfied with the team’s lineup and the number of helpers, still couldn’t understand why the Cavaliers didn’t want to pay more luxury tax for him.
In James’ view, the Cavaliers’ management’s previous promises to him about strengthening the team were completely deceiving and tricking him, a young king inexperienced with the world.
It’s all business.
James realized that in this league, except for himself... there was no one he could trust.
And before the annual off-season training began...
On this day, Qin Yue also got both good and bad news from Artest’s agent...
...
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