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Chapter 557 - 240. Boss, can you not go to the negotiations next time?_4

Chapter 557: 240. Boss, can you not go to the negotiations next time?_4

But Garnett never even considered their Bobcats team, and Gerald Wallace, after being the heir apparent for three years, also failed to become the "King of Cats" and went to the Grizzlies to compete for the title of "King of Bears."

After sighing, "The stars of today just care too much about their image," Zhang Yang opened the "Gate of Trials."

Looking at the 108,322 Shooting Value, and the number "One" on the gate, Zhang Yang silently thought, "Activate the trial." The Shooting Value rapidly decreased, finally stopping at 8,322 points; the "Gate" slowly opened, and he felt overcome by sleepiness, drifting off to deep sleep...

Upon waking up, Zhang Yang was greeted by a pristine white ceiling, he sat up and looked around... a large room! That meant it wasn’t the 80s timeline anymore.

If it was the 10s timeline, had he bought a large house? No longer staying at hotels or apartments? But what was the meaning of the photo on the nightstand? A group photo of him with Nash and Kobe?

He could understand having a photo with Nash, as Nash had taught him much during his first trial, being both mentor and friend, but Kobe...

The "Gate of Trials" popped up at that time, and he read carefully.

"In the 2011-2012 season, you averaged 25 points in the Finals, helping the Spurs to win the championship and earning the Finals MVP title.

In the summer of 2012, as the Spurs couldn’t free up enough space, you signed a one-year contract worth $10 million with them, in order to qualify for Bird rights for a continuation contract.

During the off-season, you experienced a secondary physical development, with significant improvements in speed, strength, and jumping ability, and even greater leaps forward in your technical skills.

In the 12-13 season, you averaged 39 minutes in the first week’s four games, scoring 25.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 48%, earning the Western Conference Player of the Week award.

However, starting from the second week, your playing time was strictly controlled to about 32 minutes, and by the end of the first month, your average score had dropped to 22 points, and after Christmas, it stabilized at around an average of 21 points.

You expressed your dissatisfaction to head coach Popovich several times, but Popovich said this was to play better as a team.

Based on the premise of defending the title, you temporarily accepted his reasoning, but by January, the Spurs offered you a five-year contract extension worth $73 million, which was $12 million less than the maximum contract total you desired.

You finally understood that Popovich was limiting your playing time to suppress your personal performance and renegotiate a lower-priced contract, as the collective salary cuts from the ’Big Three’ had saved the Spurs money that Popovich had no intention of spending on you.

You immediately and publicly stated your refusal to extend your contract with the Spurs, saying you would leave after the season’s end.

Popovich tried to pressure you into renewing your contract through public opinion, but you were unaffected. Eventually, Popovich offered you a max contract, but you still chose to refuse to renew.

On February 17, 2013, after the All-Star weekend, the Spurs and the Lakers completed a trade. The Spurs traded you and Stephen Jackson, who was earning a $10.06 million salary but only averaging 6 points per game, for Dwight Howard from the Lakers.

You were unwilling to renew with the Spurs, and Howard was unwilling to renew with the Lakers. These two teams, which had dominated the first decade of the 21st century, became uncomfortable allies at that moment, forced to exchange what each considered the future of their franchises.

When you arrived at the Lakers, you found it in ruins.

Steve Nash was plagued by injuries, averaging only 12 points and 6 assists;

Pau Gasol was forced to leave his familiar low post, averaging just 13 points and 8 rebounds;

Kobe Bryant achieved the highest offensive efficiency of his career while partnering with Nash, but when Nash was injured, he had to resort to inefficient isolation plays, constantly switching styles, and was exhausted both physically and mentally;

The mid-season record was a dismal 24 wins and 28 losses.

After joining the Lakers, when you went for a medical exam at the hospital, you also took Kobe along. There were no issues with your examination, but a host of problems were found with Kobe.

Ankle muscle fatigue, signs of long-term overstretching in the Achilles tendon, knee muscle tension, indications of overstretched cruciate ligaments, abnormal rotator cuff muscles... except for his back, there weren’t many parts of Kobe that were still in good condition.

Upon questioning by doctors, Kobe revealed that he hadn’t been able to fully participate in team training for a month and needed extensive rest after each game. Before he could fully recover, the next game would arrive, forcing him to play right after warming up. This vicious cycle went on and on.

The doctors recommended that the Lakers should end Kobe’s season to avoid the risk of stress fractures in his Achilles tendon, cruciate ligaments, and rotator cuff. Without rest and conservative treatment, it was only a matter of time before one would break, which would then force the others to rest.

The new Lakers owner, Jim Buss, accepted the doctors’ advice and forced Kobe to miss all of the remaining 30 regular season games.

When you were traded to the Lakers, you thought you were going to help save the team with Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol, but you ended up directly replacing Kobe, carrying the team’s progress on your shoulders.

Inside, you felt exhilarated, your goal—to be the number two when Kobe came back.

Howard’s departure and Kobe’s injury were devastating news for the Lakers fans, but for the Lakers players, it was a new dawn.

With Howard gone, no one incessantly complained about being unhappy anymore; Kobe’s injury was a huge loss in terms of team strength, yet with his being out, the Lakers management and coaching staff dropped their season goals, letting the players play freely. With two of the ’Four Giants’ gone, the media and fans no longer expected the Lakers to win the championship, or even make the playoffs...

Early in the second half of the season, you encountered some difficulties integrating with your new team, winning only 1 out of 6 games and falling to a record of 25 wins and 33 losses.

At this point, you faced tremendous media pressure, being labeled a ’system player’ who was nothing without the Spurs.

But after the period of adjustment, you burst forth with tremendous fighting strength.

Gasol returned to the center position and, after finding his rhythm, put up an average of 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in the remaining 24 games.

Steve Blake’s playing time increased, which also benefited Steve Nash whose health gradually improved toward the end of the season.

With all three performing better, the Lakers’ team offense began to function normally.

Metta World Peace, Antawn Jamison, and Jodie Meeks, the three shooters, along with the athletic forwards Earl Clark and Jordan Hill, all performed more impressively once the team offense got going.

And you were the key to all these changes, possessing an elite personal offensive ability with an average of 25 points per game. Although not quite up to Bryant’s scoring ability, you also held a best defensive lineup-level individual defense.

Under your leadership, the Lakers went on an 8-game winning streak following a 1-5 start, lifting the win rate to 50% and getting back into the playoff race. They finished the last 16 games with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses, surpassing the Jazz, who had 43 wins and 39 losses, with a 44-win, 38-loss record, clinching the 8th seed in the Western Conference to enter the playoffs.

You won your first Player of the Month award in March.

In the 30 games since joining the Lakers, you played an average of 37 minutes per game, scoring 25.8 points, grabbing 6.8 rebounds, dishing 3 assists, along with 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks, shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.6% from three-point range, leading the team to a 20-10 record. You and your new teammates firmly silenced those who had underestimated you.

Today is April 18, 2013, the day after the regular season ended. On April 21st, you will face off against the Thunder Team led by James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka in the first round.

Optional mission 1: Seek a single victory...

Optional mission 2: We can win even more...

Optional mission 3: The miracle of the eighth seed...

After reading, Zhang Yang’s attention focused solely on the last part: What the heck? The Thunder Team led by the ’Energetic Idiot’? Isn’t it Turtle-Turtle?