The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball
Chapter 266 - 155: The First Sword to Reach the Shore

Chapter 266: Chapter 155: The First Sword to Reach the Shore

Wade pursed his lips and said nothing, yet he had already made his point clear.

How else could he act?

"So you’re just ready to give up your team’s position?" Hansen felt frustrated on Wade’s behalf, being outplayed by an open strategy, and even having to give up his leadership position—it could stifle someone to death.

"Do I have any other choice?" Wade forced a bitter smile. If he didn’t give in, and James didn’t play well, the Heat Team wouldn’t just lose the championship race—the next season would be marred by internal strife.

"Of course, there’s a choice, why wouldn’t there be? He can score 8 points in one game, but can he really score only 8 points every game?"

Wade was stunned by Hansen’s question.

"Is LeBron definitely not tradable? He doesn’t have a no-trade clause after all."

It was only because he was talking to Wade, a person who had helped him a lot, that Hansen would make such a statement; otherwise, it might easily be misconstrued as sowing discord.

But the fact was just that—initially, Wade and Bosh were the passive ones forming The Big Three; after failures, they could indeed make changes.

Now, between Wade and James—given the choice, Riley would blindly choose Wade.

Besides, although James had led them to a Finals, his trade value was evident; Riley could really trade him across the entire league.

Even Wade could choose not to go to Riley, just by insisting on his position as the leader of the team.

In time, James’ team would actively seek a trade with the Heat.

After all, as the Chosen One, it was one thing not to win a championship, but to not even be the team leader? Nike would be the first to disagree.

"I’ve said it before, we have no way back." Wade shook his head. James had declared arrogantly that they would win not just one, but multiple championships. If they were to dismantle the team after one failed season, they’d become the biggest joke.

"Wake up! It’s not you who’s out of options, it’s him." Hansen couldn’t understand why Wade felt the need to tie all three of them together. Was it true that the one who’s involved is too close to see clearly?

"Don’t you realize that by the time your contract expires, the team might sell you off?" Hansen continued.

It wasn’t just because he knew "history"; it was that the NBA is fundamentally a business league – why would a team renew your contract for a high price if your stats are down, and you’re no longer in form?

Because of your sacrifice?

To the capitalists, what’s the value of that kind of sacrifice?

That was the real reason behind James’ obsession with stats – you see numbers; they see US dollars.

"Han, to compete for a championship, someone has to make sacrifices." Wade spoke with a profound tone; it was O’Neal’s sacrifice that had led him to his success.

"Why can’t the one who sacrifices be LeBron? Just because he’s more shameless?" Hansen frowned deeply. He was only willing to go this far in his conversation with Wade—any more would be a waste of breath.

Wade fell silent. He understood James—Nike wouldn’t allow James to make sacrifices.

Seeing this, Hansen sighed and didn’t continue to persuade.

If one didn’t want to fight for it, no amount of others’ words were of any use.

Thinking about Wade’s future misfortunes, Hansen felt there was a sense of just deserts.

Sacrifices aren’t off the table, but it depends on who you are dealing with. Sacrificing for someone who’s blatantly plotting against you is like discussing feelings with a prostitute—it’s only a matter of time before you’re sold out.

...

Wade’s addition greatly improved the quality of the games at the training camp, and the effect of Hansen’s passing training also accelerated.

It was during this time that Hansen found himself growing fonder of the kid Faried.

He was such a high jumper, which made it easy for Hansen to throw alley-oops.

As long as he saw him near the basket, he could just throw the ball towards the rim without looking.

It was then that the ongoing stoppage plunged league players into real panic.

The last lockout was in 1998, 13 years ago. Few players still active had experienced a stoppage, and most weren’t mentally prepared for it.

Moreover, with continuous bad news from the labor negotiations, players’ attitudes were turning grim.

Some had begun to seek overseas play, partly to maintain competitive condition, and partly because basketball is a youth’s meal ticket, and not earning money in one’s prime years is fatal.

Various rumors were flying at this time.

For instance, Garnett was going to play in Turkey, Kobe was heading to East University CBA, and so on.

It was at this time that Thomas approached Hansen, saying an East University CBA team had made him an offer, hoping he would come over to play.

And because Hansen was from East University, the offer included an "NBA opt-out clause," meaning that as soon as the NBA resumed, Hansen could immediately return.

Thomas thought this was an opportunity.

After the Western Conference Finals of the previous season, Hansen’s popularity in the United States had risen not insignificantly, but in East Market, it had exploded.

Striking while the iron was hot was the perfect opportunity for Hansen to expand his presence in the East Market.

Hansen declined.

The reason was simple: the quality of the competition.

The quality of the CBA games was too low for him; playing there would be worse than playing streetball, let alone that his current goal was training his passing, and there was no better place than the current training camp.

Of course, there was another hidden reason; he knew the CBA players of East University all too well.

If a foreign player performed well, they thought it was only to be expected, but as one of their own, he didn’t know how many of them would want to take him out during a game.

Not wanting fellow townsmen to suffer was one thing; being fearful of them getting rich was another.

Time continued to march on, and the first cut of the video promotion for Hansen Training Camp released by UA ignited a lively discussion among fans.

Just as Hansen had said before, during the offseason, this kind of news was exactly what fans loved to see.