Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 690 - 238: When the King is crowned again, when the MVP’s fate is unknown (2 consecutive updates included!)

When everyone was getting frantic about Howard...

Durant and Harden couldn't believe that this guy still had the mood to go shopping.

"Let him go," Durant said decisively, "No matter what he can bring us, I don't want to play with such an irresponsible teammate."

Although, at heart, Durant does have a cowardly side that likes to escape from problems.

But we must clarify for Durant.

Durant is undoubtedly a very competitive player.

After all, if he wasn't aiming to be a winner, why would Durant choose "if you can't beat them, join them", "if you can't win, dismantle the team"?

Therefore, when Durant learned Howard still had the leisure to go shopping, Durant's dislike and resentment for Howard instantly peaked.

And as for Harden?

Unlike Durant, Harden typically doesn't like to express his views within the team.

But as a player equally competitive, at this moment, Harden's feelings were probably similar to Durant's.

"We're worried about his staying or leaving, yet he can justifiably go shopping," Harden said, "Are you sure such a teammate can help us fight against the Messiah?"

Originally intending to apologize to Howard and persuade him to stay, Iguodala also changed his mind after seeing Howard's shopping photos in the media.

Only James remained.

As a usually shrewd player, James almost immediately sensed from Howard's interview tone that Howard wanted to leave, but it wasn't as decisive as imagined.

James understood that interpreting Howard's comments inversely meant, as long as the Knicks showed him proper respect, he wasn't unwilling to stay.

So here's the question.

Should the Knicks bother trying to retain Howard?

At this moment, rationality told James:

It's quite necessary.

Why is it necessary?

Because despite the negativity Howard brings, he is one of the few mobile and physically matched interior players with Qin Yue of this era.

Moreover, the issue remains.

If Howard actively chooses a trade, could he really fetch the Knicks a similarly qualified interior player? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

If not, then the Knicks must consider whether the price they pay to keep Howard is worth it.

James knew clearly that the respect Howard wanted was simply designing more low-post plays for him and sparing him from doing the dirty and exhausting work on the court.

In James' view, as long as Howard was willing to defend seriously, the Knicks could indeed satisfy these requests from this giant baby.

And since the landscape opened up after last year's finals, James believed he was quite experienced in "baby nurturing."

Although even in this Knicks team where James had to play the role of a workhorse, James disliked Howard's babyish behavior more than anyone else.

But at this moment, strategy and emotional intelligence told James, if he could find a way to keep Howard and woo him over through sweet words...

Then from another perspective...

Due to his personality, Howard would naturally stand against Durant and Harden, inevitably becoming a valuable ally for James in the future.

In James' eyes, a player like Howard, who just needed a bit more sugar to be coaxed, was far easier to win over compared to the loyal followers of Durant, Harden, and Iguodala.

Thus, at the Knicks committee's next internal meeting, James started twisting the ropes.

In the meeting room, after explaining the pros and cons of Howard's staying or leaving to Durant, Harden, and Iguodala, James said, "The decision now lies in your hands. If you agree to let Dwight stay, I'm willing to act as a mediator."

Upon hearing this, Iguodala hesitated, saying, "If 'KD' agrees for Dwight to stay, I will apologize to him in person."

And what about Durant?

Given that the always loyal James believed Howard should stay, even though Durant's resentment for Howard had reached its peak, Durant decided to give James some respect.

Don't ask...

Ask and it would be, how can one not love such a serious James twisting the ropes?

"But Brown, you must tell Dwight that from now on he must seriously play and not throw tantrums with teammates," Durant told James.

James nodded with a smile, "Don't worry, 'KD', I'll certainly pass on your instructions."

...

Just as James anticipated.

After having a falling out with Iguodala and immediately submitting a trade request, Howard was clearly just throwing a tantrum.

Especially when he apologized to Howard himself, admitting that he shouldn't have exerted too much pressure on him earlier, James noticed Howard's tone softened immediately.

Then, James shifted the conversation, "Dwight, I'm not here to persuade you to stay, but if I may, let me analyze your current situation."

Objectively speaking, the analysis James provided for Howard next was rational and accurate.

In James' view, indeed Howard was one of the best defense centers over the past two or three seasons.

But after being kicked out by Magic...

If Howard was labeled as uncooperative at the Knicks shortly after, could Howard be certain he could maintain his current reputation?