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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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On sunday, July 2, 2006, less than 24 hours after the free agency opened, the Dallas Mavericks officially announced that they had successfully re-signed Jason Terry.
It was a 6-year long-term contract, the specific amount of which was not disclosed.
His agent, Dan Fegan, only revealed to an ESPN reporter:
"There was a hometown discount."
Jason Terry, who had returned to Seattle to live with his mother, also did not deny that his contract was slightly smaller than expected.
After re-signing, Terry apologized to the fans again:
"I never thought about leaving Dallas. The Mavericks have always been my first choice!"
"I still haven't gotten over the loss in the Finals. I want to apologize to the Dallas fans, but I swear, we will win it back!"
"..."
His poor performance in the Finals would indeed affect the contract amount, but if the Mavericks wanted to continue contending for the championship, they had to maintain their current chemistry.
Currently, these are all verbal agreements.
To complete the signings, they have to wait until the 12th, the day the league's moratorium period ends.
The 2003 Rookies were due for contract extensions, and many media outlets were following the re-signing movements of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and others.
Their original teams had team options, and as long as they offered a max contract, most core players could be retained.
What critics were concerned about was whether these Rookies would sign a long-term contract.
If they were looking to the future, the next contract was what other teams would compete for, and by then, the league might undergo a generational change.
Five years later, the Knicks would become an old team, and many local sports media outlets were already imagining future championship wins.
Among them, Philadelphia, which shouted "Trust the Process," once again painted a colorful picture for fans, while Boston, which was actively pursuing Allen Iverson, also seemed to calm down.
Working on the weekend, Danny Ainge of the Celtics was very active.
When he decided to reject Allen Iverson, he took the initiative to explain the team's choice to the fans through the Boston Globe:
"Our goal is not just the playoffs. We hope everyone can understand the team's choice. The Celtics' only goal is a championship!"
Allen Iverson, who was exposed for partying all night at nightclubs, was recently depressed again.
While Philadelphia fans were protesting, he flew to San Francisco yesterday to attend an event and wore a Warriors retro jersey.
On the first day of free agency, Allen Iverson, whose departure was confirmed, let loose and didn't forget to express his grievances when attending events:
"I gave everything to Philadelphia, and now they want to trade me. I can't understand this!"
"I won a scoring title here, fans love to watch me play, we just lacked some luck."
"If a trade happens, I won't say much. I'm a veteran, and now I just want to pursue pure basketball. I'm ready."
Surrounded by reporters, Allen Iverson always felt that the media interviewing him were making fun of him, which made him still wear a long face when attending events.
Allen Iverson, who has lost too much, has now become a symbol of pure basketball, but he is not popular in San Francisco, where there are too few members of the "Anti-Lee Alliance."
Baron Davis of the Warriors is a staunch "Lee fan," and since the two teams have no grudges, bandwagon fans are the mainstream here.
On sunday morning, Yahoo Sports reported Allen Iverson's remarks and, incidentally, found him a new home, promising fans with conviction:
"The Warriors will welcome a scoring champion. Allen Iverson is ready to wear a Warriors jersey."
Most of those who follow "stats-padder" Allen Iverson are individual fans.
The vast majority of fans know that if they want their team to contend for a championship, a regular season player like Allen Iverson must first be excluded.
Champion center Ben Wallace also entered free agency.
Ben Wallace is about to receive the biggest contract of his career!
Aside from his poor offense, four-time DPOY winner Ben Wallace is undoubtedly the best championship puzzle piece for a team.
In this regard, his new agent, Arn Tellem, has been repeatedly promoting him recently.
As a well-known figure in the industry, Arn Tellem has previously worked with All-Stars such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Jermaine ONeal.
This time, as the lead negotiator, he and Ben Wallace sent out a clear signal:
"We need more money and a higher team status!"
Although Ben Wallace verbally said he wanted to stay in Detroit, he and his agent met with the Chicago Bulls immediately on Saturday when free agency opened.
Ben Wallace was photographed at a restaurant in Detroit warmly conversing with Chicago Bulls Head Coach Bill skiles and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson, a behavior that angered fans.
Many Detroit Pistons fans expressed their dissatisfaction with this, some even blaming Ben Wallace for their consecutive losses to the Heat for two years:
"It was Wallace's poor offense that dragged down the Pistons' performance in the playoffs!"
"We should have won the championship, not stopped at the semifinals for two consecutive years."
Michigan Live's report sounded convincing, claiming that unnamed members of the Pistons coaching staff also agreed with this view.
It only took a little over a day for the media to unearth the news that Ben Wallace and Flip Saunders had already fallen out.
During the playoffs, the champion center even yelled at the Head Coach in the locker room:
"This is how I play in New York, and I helped the team win a championship!"
This farce reached its climax on sunday.
As the Detroit Pistons offered Ben Wallace a 4-year, $48 million contract, Ben Wallace directly refused in a subsequent interview:
"They think a contract starting at $12 million is taking care of me, but I feel insulted!"
"I'm still unsure about my future. Maybe I'll bring my championship experience to another team."
Interestingly, while Ben Wallace was being interviewed, Jerry Krause, who had already left his position as Chicago Bulls General Manager, did not approve of this trade.
When interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, Krause did not hide the conflict within the team's management, but when discussing the trade, the dynasty builder finally issued a warning:
"I don't like players who come from the Knicks!"
"I respect champion members, but many times they are overrated. Clay Lee and Michael Jordan are similar. They make the game of basketball simple, which elevates the abilities of their teammates."
"Tyson is a great kid. He didn't get a chance to prove himself in the playoffs this year."
John Paxson was cleaning out players drafted during Krause's tenure.
The new Chicago Bulls were slowly shedding the shadows of the past.
Young Chicago Bulls fans lacked respect for Krause.
Therefore, after the relevant news was exposed, everyone actually agreed with the team's choice.
Who would refuse a DPOY?
On July 3rd, the Detroit Free Press confirmed the relevant news: the Chicago Bulls offered Ben Wallace a 4-year, $60 million contract, and the two sides had basically reached an agreement.
After finalizing this trade, the Chicago Bulls would likely send away Tyson Chandler, and the New York Media also confirmed this news.
As Tyson Chandler's agent, Schwartz made no secret of his intentions.
Although Tyson Chandler was under contract, when interviewed by a New York reporter, he confidently promised:
"Tyson can help the defending champions. He will become a solid barrier for the Knicks, and Lee will unleash his potential!"
This trade had been rumored for a long time, but its actual occurrence still surprised many critics because the trade completely bypassed the new General Manager, Donnie Walsh.
PJ Brown was a player signed by Mark Bartelstein, and his large contract had only one year left.
Besides making room for Ben Wallace, the Chicago Bulls were also clearing salary cap space.
Two agents led this trade, and different people naturally had different opinions.
Tyson Chandler, when interviewed by ESPN, showed no signs of frustration.
In the phone call, the 2001 first-round second overall pick seemed very happy:
"For me, I knew this trade was only a matter of time."
"Initially, I was indeed shocked. After a few nights of thinking, I realized that in terms of basketball, this is a good thing for me."
"This is a great opportunity to play for a championship team and work with the greatest player in history. I believe no one in the league would refuse such an opportunity."
"Of course, I'm sad to leave a great organization. Jerry Krause drafted me, and I'll never forget that."
On the Pardon the Interrupt show that evening, Michael Wilbon and Anthony Kornheiser also discussed the morning's news, but their debate was about whether the "General Manager was being sidelined."
Due to Dave O'Brien's particularly poor performance while commentating on the World Cup matches, after complaints, the semifinals and finals would be co-hosted by Clay Lee and former Team USA captain Marcelo Balboa.
They had been seeing each other frequently lately, so Michael Wilbon found it awkward to criticize Lee for controlling the team.
In the show, he could only tactfully say:
"This should be a three-team trade. The Hornets haven't responded yet, but I think the Knicks will send away Kurt Thomas."
"This year they drafted a new big man, Hilton Armstrong. Bringing in a veteran can help Chris Paul grow."
"The Knicks will miss Kurt Thomas. He performed very well on Defense when facing Tim Duncan."
It was rare to see his partner hold back, but Anthony Kornheiser didn't care about Lee's thoughts.
He gleefully seized the opportunity to retort, "Why did I hear that the Hornets wanted Tyson Chandler, but were ultimately prevented by two agents?"
"I think this is Clay's intention. You know, this isn't the first time this has happened. I haven't forgotten Allan Houston. He was Lee's first partner."
"Undoubtedly, Clay Lee is successful, but he has also set a bad example for subsequent players. Superstars should not nterfere too much with team operations."
Michael Wilbon began to frown, and a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on his round face.
He feigned a rebuttal, "Even if it was Clay Lee's permission, this was a win-win move for the team. We've all seen the Knicks' performance over the years."
With 8 championships, Anthony Kornheiser naturally wouldn't refute past achievements.
Instead, he smiled and gave an example:
"The reason the General Manager position was created is because they are more professional than players."
"If Michael Jordan hadn't interfered with Krause back then, maybe they wouldn't have lost the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals."
"If Clay Lee wants to surpass Bill Russell and achieve greater success, then he must let go."
Time was limited during the show, and the two held opposing views: one believed players should be deeply involved in team building, while the other believed the General Manager could better build the team.
As for whether Tyson Chandler joining the Knicks would lead to a better performance, neither of them disagreed.
Instead, they shared the same view:
"Next season, the Knicks' paint will become a no-fly zone. The only team that can compete with them inside is the Cavaliers!"
In the subsequent Sports Center program, the "Question of the Night" segment also stirred things up by launching a fan poll:
"Should superstars participate in team building?"
On tuesday morning, July 4th, Lee had to get up early because he was scheduled to host the semi-final match between Italy and Germany at the ABC Times Square studio in the afternoon.
On weekdays, the girls all stayed in the big house on 82nd Street.
Lee hadn't been able to return to Peninsula Manor to sunbathe recently due to his packed work schedule.
Ever since Donald's youngest son was born two months ago, Ivanka had been staying home more often, as a family should always be together.
In two months, Scarlett would also need to go to the Rome Film Festival to promote her movie with the crew, but the young girl didn't take it to heart.
Instead, her weight had recently started to increase again.
Waking up in the master bedroom on the third floor, she pulled the already dressed Krysten Ritter and teased:
"You're such an energetic good girl. Let Clay sleep with me a little longer."
Krysten Ritter rolled her eyes helplessly, looking at Scarlett, who was babbling nonsense while hugging the blanket.
The little follower couldn't help but rub her, feeling the smooth and soft touch on her hand, and loudly complained, "Clay is already up. I really suspect you're broken!"
Unlike the slender Krysten Ritter, the relatively petite Scarlett's breasts were visibly two sizes larger, which was a huge burden for an actress.
Sitting up with her bare upper body, a more awake Scarlett didn't care.
She noisily put on her clothes, and Krysten Ritter was already speechless when she saw her just put on a white nightgown.
Currently, the dining table on the second floor can accommodate 8 people.
The fireplace has become a decoration in the summer.
Miranda, wearing loose clothes, was eating her nutritious meal and talking about future plans:
"We should re-plan the room layout, otherwise it might not fit everyone later. It's still more comfortable to live in Greenwich, but unfortunately, the commute is too troublesome."
Kim, with her hair in a bun, was already dressed in a business suit, drinking milk, and reading the news in the newspaper.
Upon hearing this, she gave Lee a side glance.
Ivanka also seemed to be expecting recently.
The family population began to increase at a visible rate.
In a few years, this house might even be full.
When Scarlett appeared at the dining table, soaking wet, Lee had almost finished eating.
He watched this milky succubus give kisses one by one, sighed, and helplessly said:
"Don't make it difficult for Hunter. He still has to accompany his girlfriend during the summer."
"I'm going to New York University for an event, and the brand can take care of everything for me."
After the ESPY Awards on the 16th, Lee still had to follow Nike to start a training camp at New York University, followed by several brand events.
Scarlett, now a mother, didn't restrict Lee, but she was particularly strict with her brother.
Hunter had a new girlfriend but didn't introduce her to Scarlett, causing some small conflicts between them again.
Lee felt a bit sympathetic towards his brother-in-law, whose path as a playboy was cut short by his sister.
"No, he's still studying, so he has to help out. And while you're at it, keep an eye on that girl for me, don't let him get tricked!"
Biting into a jam-covered bread, Scarlett kissed Lee again, then smiled after rebutting.
Ever since her brother was tricked in Los Angeles years ago, she no longer trusted his judgment of people.
Although Kim always felt that Scarlett, who liked to make adult films, wasn't very good to her family, she also helped by saying,
"Take Hunter to Peninsula Manor for a few days. That way, there won't be any problems, darling. Don't forget the invitation from Thompson Company!"
Kim, getting up to go to work, also leaned down and kissed Lee.
Every morning, he would remind her of the schedule.
At night, with all the chaos, sometimes he would forget about work himself.
After breakfast, Krysten Ritter pulled Lee aside to whisper, sharing the recent income of Happy Cafe, while Melinda prepared to go to Peninsula Manor to rest during her pregnancy and also manage the house.
After the girls left in the morning, Scarlett clung to Lee again in the study, snuggling into his embrace and whispering, "These media are too boring, darling. Come with me to Italy in a few months."
While browsing World Cup news on the computer, Lee noticed ESPN's online survey and was almost amused by their attempt to capitalize on the hot topic:
"Who would you like to be teammates with?"
The names of Clay Lee, Kobe, O'Neal, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki were all listed.
The discussion sparked by the trade seemed to be ongoing.
Playing with the fullness in his arms, Lee smiled and agreed.
The succubus, in high spirits, pulled off her shoulder strap.
This was a belated morning workout.
"Baby, first pull up the—"
The reminder was quickly drowned out by giggles.
Holding the undulating young girl, Lee's monotonous offseason day was about to begin with ball-handling training.
On the morning of the 5th, ESPN was the first to announce the highly anticipated trade that involved the Knicks, Hornets, and Chicago Bulls, which was officially finalized.
The Hornets sent PJ Brown and JR Smith, and received Kurt Thomas, Anderson Anderson Varejão, and the Chicago Bulls' 2007 first-round draft pick from the Knicks.
The Chicago Bulls received PJ Brown from the Hornets and a 2007 first-round draft pick from the Knicks.
The Knicks acquired Tyson Chandler from the Chicago Bulls and JR Smith from the Hornets.
Although the official signing would only take place after the 12th, JR's father, Earl Smith, immediately reversed his attitude after the trade, excitedly stating in an interview with the Times:
"My son is going to play in New York. He will be partnering with the greatest player in history in the backcourt!"
"Now all we have to do is fly to Dallas to represent the Knicks in the Summer League. My son can't wait to show his talent to the New York fans!"
These words truly infuriated Hornets fans.
Two days prior, the team asked JR Smith to participate in the Summer League, but before the son could even speak, the father interjected:
"My son is being traded, and while we don't care about these things, why should he play during his rest time?"
"..."
JR Smith couldn't represent the Knicks yet as his jersey hadn't been changed, but his father's "sycophant mode" left many stunned.
The Hornets had recently acquired Peja from the Sacramento Kings, and JR Smith was considered a balancing piece in that trade.
Last season, due to injuries and off-court issues, JR Smith's playing time was less than 20 minutes, and his field goal percentage was below 40%.
As a second-year Rookie, his only highlight was a significant improvement in three-point shooting percentage compared to his first season, reaching 37.1%, which is excellent data for a shooter.
The New York Media focused most of their attention on Tyson Chandler.
After the trade, sports programs that day also expressed gratitude for the contributions of Kurt Thomas and Anderson Varejão.
Kurt was already in France watching a tennis match, while Anderson Varejão was with his national team preparing for the upcoming World Championship.
There was a lot of other news that day.
The Los Angeles Times also announced the Lakers' first offseason acquisition, signing Radmanovic from the Clippers using the full mid-level exception.
Upon seeing the news, Lakers fans fell silent.
The anticipated Kevin Garnett still hadn't arrived.
Kobe Bryant had recruited Sam Cassell, but unfortunately, the Lakers did not show interest, while the Clippers, seemingly angered after being poached, were preparing to offer Cassell a contract.
Kobe, who was engrossed in the stadium, was still drenched in sweat from his workout when ESPN reporters caught up with him at noon.
Typically, NBA players who train for 4 hours a day are considered diligent.
Lee, who prefers to train at night, is the norm.
Kobe, on the other hand, was different.
Even facing surgery, he didn't forget to practice shooting. Even ESPN reporters had to admire his dedication to training:
"Kobe, are you satisfied with the team's first trade?"
The number of interviewers wasn't large, which allowed Kobe's brow to relax.
After hearing the question, he put his hands on his hips and answered seriously:
"I only participate in recruitment, but I won't comment too much on specific signings because that's Kupchak's job, and I've always trusted him."
"If we want to win a championship, the team roster must be upgraded."
The Fox Sports reporter was clearly following the recent free agency market.
The Celtics had confirmed they were giving up on Allen Iverson, and the Lakers seemed interested in acquiring the scoring champion:
"How about playing with Allen? Will the Lakers trade for him?"
Upon hearing this question, Kobe was somewhat silent.
Although he got along with Allen Iverson, he knew Allen Iverson wasn't a championship puzzle piece.
Fortunately, after years of training, Kobe, who had become the team leader, didn't blurt out the truth but instead spoke formally:
"He is a scoring champion. With two scoring champions together, the Lakers' opponents will face a nightmare!"
"As a championship contender, no one would refuse Allen Iverson."
"…"
The Lakers, making minor adjustments, didn't seem to plan on spending much, and the San Antonio Spurs had the same idea.
Although they were a championship contender, the San Antonio Spurs had only filled their salary cap over the years.
Nazr Mohammed had confirmed he would join the Detroit Pistons, which led the San Antonio Spurs to start looking for a big man to play alongside Tim Duncan again.
Recent trade rumors had somewhat disheartened San Antonio fans.
The team management searched around and finally set their sights on the former champion center, Glen Rice, who had become a free agent!
Since the trade rumors spread, San Antonio Spurs fans actively responded, unanimously opposing General Manager R.C. Buford's questionable moves.
Parker and Manu Ginobili both went to participate in the World Championship.
As the Summer League was about to begin, Duncan also appeared at the San Antonio Spurs' SBC Center.
Regarding the trade rumors, the new MVP uncharacteristically spoke out:
"Although we signed 6-foot-10 Lithuanian Robertas Javtokas, we still need to add more big men if we want to pursue a championship."
The San Antonio Express-News reporter felt a pang of sadness hearing Duncan's words.
This year, the Knicks' luxury tax was almost catching up to the San Antonio Spurs' payroll.
Wanting to win a championship without spending money was simply dreaming!
Gregg Popovich was not present in the SBC Center.
Since being eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks, calls for his dismissal had grown louder, and Gregg Popovich had become even more low-key, giving no opportunity for sports reporters to trouble him.
Duncan, still chatting with reporters, showed no emotion on his face, but he was very displeased in his heart.
Just filling the salary cap wouldn't be enough to defeat opponents.
He didn't want to be at the mercy of the league.
Ppportunities should be in his own hands.
On thursday, the 6th, TNT's program also discussed recent trades.
Ben Wallace refused the Detroit Pistons' sign-and-trade offer and stated that he didn't want to play for the 76ers:
"Philadelphia used to be very successful, but now they don't have a winning culture!"
Ben Wallace gave a reason and reconfirmed that he would join the Chicago Bulls.
This trade also meant the Detroit Pistons had disbanded, and the Eastern Conference's competitiveness decreased again.
The Houston Rockets confirmed they would trade Rudy Gay.
The team management declared that Tracy McGrady was untouchable!
His back injury was recovering well, and Tracy McGrady had been very active recently.
In an interview with TNT, he confirmed that he no longer felt pain and also didn't forget to "if" a bit:
"Look at the competitive environment in the Eastern Conference these past few years. If the Houston Rockets were there, we could easily reach the Conference Finals."
"If I can stay healthy, we can beat the Dallas Mavericks this year. The Finals is a stage for stars, and I am absolutely certain I belong there!"
The bleary-eyed Tracy McGrady's bragging ability was getting stronger and stronger.
Although he had always been eliminated in the first round, he spoke eloquently about championships.
In the studio, the director reviewed yesterday's interview.
Tracy McGrady's remarks made Charles Barkley burst into laughter.
Although he had also played for the Houston Rockets, his criticism was merciless:
"The Houston Rockets have been putting on a show these past few years. I admit, trading for Tracy McGrady from the Orlando Magic back then was a good choice, but they lack quality role players."
"They are very popular with those Chinese advertisers, but their investment in basketball is too little."
"Tracy McGrady seems to be stuck in his 'second man' status from back then, but he needs to wake up. He has never been close to Clay Lee. The two are not on the same level as basketball players."
Kenny Smith didn't want to speak ill of his former team, but thinking about the trade of Rudy Gay for Shane Battier this time, he had some doubts:
"Rudy Gay performed very well at the University of Connecticut. Considering his contract, I still think the Houston Rockets should have kept him."
Charles Barkley didn't directly discuss this issue but smiled and rephrased it, hinting:
"Not every team management is like the Knicks. Mark Bartelstein is not popular in Houston. Houston Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson doesn't like dealing with him."
"Maybe they are worried Rudy Gay will become the next Clay Lee. I'm not saying how successful he is, but rather a player interfering with team operations."
"I really admire Tim Duncan for this. The San Antonio Spurs don't pay high luxury taxes like the Knicks, but they always make it to the playoffs."
Ernie Johnson watched his partner babbling nonsense with a wide grin and couldn't help but interrupt, asking a topic that fans had been discussing recently:
"Alright, Chuck, you were just saying Tim Duncan was the worst MVP winner. We haven't forgotten that."
"If you admire Tim Duncan, would you choose to play with him?"
"No, I wouldn't play there. The women in San Antonio are fat and ugly."
After saying this, Charles Barkley even gestured with his hand to show a body shape, which made his two partners laugh:
"If I were just a role player, then I would also choose to join New York. I would just need to wave a towel and cheer, and Clay Lee could lead me to a championship."
"Clay Lee has proven his strength with 8 championships. Although I don't like some of his methods, he is indeed a true winner."
"Maybe luxury tax doesn't guarantee a championship, but not paying luxury tax makes the probability of winning even smaller."
The trio agreed on this point: the stingy San Antonio Spurs might achieve good regular season results, but the championship was still far from them.
On friday, the 7th, players participating in the Summer League had already begun battling in Dallas, but JR Smith, who flew to New York, appeared on the New York Daily News that morning.
Last night, outside a nightclub in downtown, JR Smith was photographed "urinating in the street."
This news instantly made onlookers burst into laughter.
The new player went to a nightclub in Manhattan upon arrival.
It looked unreliable no matter how you saw it.
When JR Smith arrived at the Tarrytown Training Center to report, he was still in a daze.
He was photographed in the dark, and it was even reported.
This was too outrageous.
In the afternoon, Lee, participating in the ABC Sports program, was warming up for tomorrow's game with Marcelo Balboa when they suddenly talked about the morning's news.
Balboa was of Argentinian descent and had long hair after retirement.
The two had just gossiped on the show about Italian football star Inzaghi's 14 girlfriends, and then the topic suddenly shifted:
"When leading a team, you always encounter Personality Player (Personality Player, individualistic players). Clay, what good methods do you have for this?"
Lee, serving as the temporary host, wore a dark blue suit.
Noticing the smile on Balboa's face, he shrugged and casually said:
"In competitive sports, fans care about championships. As for personal life, everyone has the right to choose freely."
"I never interfere with my teammates' private lives. In fact, my demands on the team have always been low: train on time, don't be late, and don't leave early."
"Basketball doesn't lie. If you're not in good form, you won't get playing time."
"Everyone yearns to play in New York. We have established an excellent winning culture. Individualistic players need to adapt to the team, not us adapting to individualistic players."
Hearing this, Balboa couldn't help but grin.
When he was a captain, he wasn't this tough.
Moving past this topic, the two continued to discuss tomorrow's 3rd and 4th place match between Germany and Portugal.
Lee's previous words weren't him showing off, because the reality was like this:
"If you don't do it, there are plenty of players who will. The Knicks certainly aren't short on people."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)