One Year Left to Play-Chapter 298 - 101: Return to Los Angeles
On the night of November 30, 1995, at 8:58 PM, right after the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Bulls, the NBA officially updated a trade.
This trade pertains to the players of this game. According to the rules, if the traded players have not yet participated in the game, once the trade application is approved, they will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming game before the trade is officially completed. If the traded players are already participating in the game, the NBA and the teams can only announce the trade after the application is approved. The teams cannot disclose the trade to prevent affecting the players' emotions and the game's spectacle.
During the free agency period, various media outlets continuously monitor changes in the NBA trade window. In this internet era, it has become easier. Trades are something fans pay great attention to, and on the NBA's rudimentary official website, there is a window updating trade information in real time.
Right around 6:43 PM, during the first quarter of the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers sent Eddie Jones and Vlade Divac in a trade to obtain Zhang Hao and Jason Williams from the Brooklyn Nets.
Immediately, the Brooklyn Nets reached a three-way trade with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Hornets by trading Kenny Anderson to acquire Shawn Bradley, Kendall Gill, and Scott Burrell.
So far this season, the Brooklyn Nets traded away three key players: Jason Williams, who has the best rebounding performance with an average of 10.5 rebounds in 27 minutes per game; Zhang Hao, the top scorer with an average of 21.2 points, and Kenny Anderson, who has the most assists with an average of 15.3 points and 7.6 assists per game.
If you don't consider Zhang Hao's buzzer-beating performance against the Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets currently don't seem like a team capable of achieving a 50% win rate, even when you factor in Zhang Hao, the rookie who exceeded expectations.
But the Brooklyn Nets have been fighting very hard, winning games that seemed impossible to win. However, even with that, no one believes they can make it to the playoffs.
Not making it to the playoffs means being a lottery team, and all lottery teams want a high draft pick. Everyone can see that the Brooklyn Nets management wants to get Duncan, and winning games is the biggest obstacle to getting Duncan.
But the Brooklyn Nets owner has always given the impression of not being someone who would intentionally make the team lose. He cannot intentionally lose games when there's a chance to win, so he chose a scouting director as the head coach and decided to trade Coleman...
Now, in order to continue losing, he has traded away the three most important players who could help the team win, and has accumulated three starting or even All-Star level centers in PJ Brown, Shawn Bradley, and Divac.
If Zhang Hao hadn't performed so well in the game against the Bulls, or if he had only scored in garbage time like in the preseason, the focus of the media and fans would be on the fact that the Lakers paid a heavy price, thinking it wasn't worth it.
However, Zhang Hao shot 15 of 28 from the field, including 2 out of 2 from three-point range, and made 10 of 12 free throws, scoring 42 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks, and completing a buzzer-beater over Jordan to help the Brooklyn Nets upset the Bulls!
In such a game, Zhang Hao was actually traded!
Although the package of Eddie Jones and Divac, from the trade aspect, even if the Brooklyn Nets also send away Jason Williams, it doesn't seem like a loss. In fact, in terms of current trade value, the Brooklyn Nets made a huge gain. Last season, Divac averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, at an All-Star level.
But with Zhang Hao's performance against the Bulls, the public opinion isn't unanimously saying that the Lakers lost!
...
That night, in the luxury suite of the Jersey City Hilton Hotel.
"Cheers..."
The Logo Man, Kupchek, and Jim Buss raised their glasses in celebration.
On the 28th, they intensified their praise for Duncan, thinking that the timing was right.
However, during the negotiations with the Brooklyn Nets, the reaction from Brooklyn Nets head coach Butch Baird was very intense, and the trade was once stalled.
Indeed, Sibaros wasn't enough to convince the Brooklyn Nets, and adding Eddie Jones didn't work either.
But in the end, when they replaced Sibaros with Divac, everything went smoothly.
Kupchek sighed and said, "Jerry, I originally thought we would be criticized badly by the fans after completing this trade, but now it might not be as bad."
The Logo Man laughed and said, "Still, be prepared to be criticized. Without Eddie and Vlade, our record will definitely decline."
Jim Buss promptly said, "Just say it was my idea. Point the fans' anger at me."
The Logo Man and Kupchek exchanged a glance — could they not see the boss's foolish son's intentions?
But it doesn't matter; they're just employees, and supporting a boss who supports them is more important. The three of them together have the ability to compete with that woman.
The Logo Man nodded at Jim Buss, agreeing, and then asked, "Jim, did you manage to get that bottle of red wine?"
"Of course."
"OK, when we return to Los Angeles, let's head to the Wilt family first. We promised to give him that bottle, or else he'll challenge me to a duel..."
...
...
"Specially Signed Player: Zhang Hao.
Age/Date of Birth: 18 years old/January 7, 1977.
Height: 207 cm, Wingspan: 218 cm
Weight: 96.5 kg.
Position: Forward
Team: Los Angeles Lakers.
Ability Rating: 73
