Chapter Forty-Seven: Transaction

  Recently, I personally feel that the last few chapters are not quite satisfactory and have not written out the kind of feeling I want. I wanted to write about the NBA draft and the conspiracy behind each team's preparation period, but I always felt that I had a willing heart but was powerless, after all, my ability is limited, please forgive me, book friends. The transaction and draft chapters are over, and the new season will start soon. Also, a book friend provided a QQ group number: 176068767, I won't mention the precautions, if you're interested, you can join, of course, I'll also participate.

  "This is too much, really too much, what this Chinese person has done is just too much." John, as usual, took out the newspaper that had just been delivered today early in the morning. Yesterday he was too tired from work and didn't get to watch the NBA draft live, but as a local Minnesota fan, when he heard that the NCAA champion coach was willing to come to Minnesota to coach the Timberwolves, he was very welcoming, and also full of expectations for the new season's Timberwolves. However, when he saw this New York Times today early in the morning, his expectant mood instantly filled with disappointment and confusion.

  "Be careful with your milk, dear," Lisa said resentfully, looking at her husband's infatuated expression. It was either the forest wolf or basketball. For the past half month, the name her husband mentioned most often was not hers, but a Chinese man surnamed Zhuang, which made her extremely angry.

  But Lisa's reminder came too late, and John still spilled his milk.

  This morning, possibly countless Timberwolves fans spilled their milk.

  Minnesota, New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee complete three-team trade, Stephon Marbury joins the Nets.

  That's the headline of the newspaper John read.

  The Minnesota Timberwolves traded away Marbury and this year's 46th draft pick Andre Patterson, the New Jersey Nets traded away Cassell, the Milwaukee Bucks traded away this year's seventh draft pick Paul Pierce and 39th draft pick Kittles Mobley.

  The Bucks also received Paul Pierce and Miroslav Raduljica from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets received MarShon Brooks from the Timberwolves, and the Bucks acquired Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour from the Nets.

  This deal is today's headline in all major media outlets. NCAA champion coach Zhuang Fei Liang has made his first move to the NBA.

  "Who is this Pierce? And who is Mobry? What makes them think they can swap for Mabry?" John said, still fuming, without noticing that his wife had already brought him another glass of milk.

  Now his heart has completely lost that faith in Zhuang Fei, this deal is the most disadvantageous for the Timberwolves in his opinion. The Nets got superstar Marbury, and the Bucks got a straight-up star player in his prime, but what did the Timberwolves get? A 7th overall rookie and a second-round nobody. To think that two years ago Marbury was still the 4th overall pick, and the 4th pick of the golden generation, is at least one level higher than this year's 7th pick. Not to mention whether Pierce can grow up or not, even if he can, can he compare to Marbury? Marbury is now a team's second-in-command, an almost All-Star caliber player.

  This deal is a loss for John no matter how you look at it, this Chinese man has no business sense, he's not suitable for the NBA which is a commercial league. This is John's definition of Zhu Fangyu.

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  ......

  "Haha, I heard about this trade, it's the stupidest one I've ever seen. If Marbury was really that cheap, I'd regret not making a move and letting the Nets get him."

  "Does Mr. Dao Lan really think Coach Z's deal is a bad one?"

  "What do you think?" Doral asked back in a bad tone, then continued: "Do you think Novitsky can replace Patrick Ewing?"

  The TV in Zhuang Fei's home was playing a sports news program while he and his two assistant coaches were having breakfast together beside him.

  The two assistants saw Zhuang Fei's carefree and self-satisfied appearance, and couldn't see any sign of anger.

  "Zhuang, actually I still agree with this little Dao Lan on this point. I think your decision is too arbitrary, the value of Ma Bu Li is definitely not just this one point." De Antoni said with a hint of disappointment, he also only found out about Zhuang Fei's trading decision from reading the newspaper this morning, and like everyone else in the world, he was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhuang Fei's cheap sale of Ma Bu Li.

  "Yes, I also think that Xiaodao Lan's views are correct in some ways," Zhuang Fei said with a smile, wiping his mouth with the napkin in front of him. How could Patrick Yuvain possibly swap for Novitsky? Old Nielson isn't stupid.

  That's the difference between Zhuang Fei and his assistant in terms of understanding. Zhuang Fei didn't want to explain further because there was no way to explain.

  Pierce was indeed the one that Zhu Fangyi intended to let Milwaukee choose, and Mobley was the same. Milwaukee wanted to get Cassell, Nets wanted to get Marbury, so the three parties reached a consensus. Although Zhu Fangyi couldn't get the top three picks, couldn't get Carter, but getting Pierce was still not bad.

  "Boss, what are we going to do next season? Four of our starting lineup from last season are already confirmed to leave, and with the current situation, it's likely that the league will be suspended. There's even a possibility that the NBA might cancel this year's season. What are we going to do?" DeAntoni asked worriedly. The Timberwolves were almost completely rebuilding, and after July 1st, the lockout would prohibit any basketball-related activities, meaning no trades, no signing of free agents, and most importantly, players wouldn't be able to train together as a team. If the lockout eventually ends, it's almost impossible for this uncoordinated Timberwolves team to achieve good results.

  "Everything goes on as usual, in accordance with the league's regulations, but you instruct them that all players are not allowed to have too many ideas during the suspension period and do not forget to train, let them maintain a good state, although the league values the team and player contact, but it does not prohibit players from organizing their own training camps, right?"

  "Are you so sure the league won't cancel all games this year?" DeAntoni asked curiously, given the various situations and the disagreement between stars like Jordan and the bosses is quite large. There have been many calls for the NBA to cancel this season. Now many role players are eager to go abroad to find a way out, they don't have much money and can't afford to consume it. Stars like Jordan may not care, but what about those who left the NBA? If the league really resumes play, what will happen to those players who left? So now many people think that the league will ultimately cancel this season. DeAntoni thinks so too.

  "The league will not cancel this year's game, because neither the boss nor the players are willing to let it happen. At that time, the reputation accumulated by the NBA over the past decade will be ruined in an instant. Stern can't bear this responsibility either, so do as I say and we'll have more preparation than other teams, only then can we achieve something big."

  Seeing Zhuang Fei's confident appearance, De An Dongni hesitated for a moment before nodding.

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  "Zhuang, look at this, it's so interesting. The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks actually fought over a German guy." McHale said with a smile, placing a newspaper on Zhuang Fei's office desk.

  "Haha, let me see" Zhuang Fei flipped open the newspaper, roughly saying that Pitino wanted to trade Jason Williams for Novitsky but was rejected by Nelson, then Pitino and Novitsky said that Novitsky only wants to go to Boston, if not Boston he won't enter the NBA. Now is the NBA's lockout period, Novitsky also has this confidence, anyway this year's NBA probably can't be held.

  This reminds Zhuang Fei of a certain Chinese player later on. The waters of the NBA are indeed deep.

  "It's still best to take the initiative, or else you'll get beaten" Zhuang Fei put down the newspaper with a smile. If he had been a bit slower this season, perhaps he would have also been searching everywhere for a good playmaking defender in vain. Fortunately, most of his goals for the season have already been achieved.

  "Boss, do you have any plans for the future? The club is probably going to disband soon." After laughing, McHale said with concern. He didn't care, he was just the general manager, but Zhuang Fei was the head coach. If they couldn't contact the players, how could they train? How could they practice tactics? Next season, the Forest Wolves would be all new players, how could they cooperate? How could they play? It can be said that the team most affected by the suspension is a big turnover team like the Forest Wolves.

  "I really hope the league cancels next season." McHale sighed again.

  Zhuang Fei shook his head and didn't speak. Cancel a season? That's impossible, but McHale's concern was indeed a problem. He didn't expect that his first season would be a suspended season, what a huge challenge!