Chapter 402: Transfer Market, Concert Guest
On September 1, Chen Yan flew back to Phoenix.
The moment he returned to the United States, his calendar turned into a full court press. He still had 4 endorsement contracts to sign, 3 commercials to shoot, and one more personal commitment he refused to miss, appearing as a guest at Taylor's concert. With the Suns' preseason training camp set for late September, every day felt like it needed 30 hours.
…
While Chen Yan was overseas for the Olympics, Phoenix did not sit still.
They added rookie Jordan in the draft, then used the offseason to bring in 2 more pieces, sharpshooter Novak and the veteran playmaker nicknamed White Chocolate, Williams.
Novak was a specialist with a very specific job description.
He stood 208 cm, and for a big man, his touch from deep was borderline ridiculous. Give him a completely clean look and an open 3 was basically a layup. There was even a story from an open run where he shot 3s for an hour straight. Near the end, a reporter asked how many he made. Novak shrugged and said he did not know, he only remembered missing 3.
That kind of shooting was exactly why Phoenix believed he could thrive next to Nash and Chen Yan.
The reason Novak never became a "hot" name on the market was just as obvious. His defense was a disaster.
Some guys struggle on defense because of technique. Some because they lack athleticism. Novak managed to have both problems at once. Calling him a defensive black hole was not exaggeration.
Still, on a title level roster like the Suns, a role player like that did not need to do everything. He just needed to hit open 3s in the minutes he got.
After winning the championship last season, Phoenix started getting calls from veterans looking for a last chance ring. But the Suns were not a retirement home. Their run and gun system demanded stamina and mobility, and after scouting, they chose a 32 year old White Chocolate Williams.
His arrival strengthened Phoenix's weakest spot from last season, backup point guard. With Williams, Nash, and Barea, the Suns suddenly had a clean rotation of old, middle, and young at the 1.
Phoenix signed him to a 1 year, $3.5 million deal. Considering he averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 assists last season, it was a bargain.
…
Across the league, the offseason carousel spun just as hard.
The biggest name on the move was Iverson. After plenty of twists, he ended up in Detroit. The Pistons sent out Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheick Samb, exactly as it happened in the previous timeline.
Then Denver made another move a few days later, shipping Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Lakers for a $10 million trade exception and a 2009 2nd round pick.
It was a clear salary move. Denver saved money, but the cost on the court would be real. Last season, the Nuggets were one of the worst defensive teams in the league, and Camby was the only guy who could truly hang his hat on defense.
For the Lakers, it was the opposite. Their interior got even nastier. A frontcourt built around Camby and Garnett would suffocate teams defensively. After the trade, ESPN's power rankings pushed the Lakers back to No. 1.
It was not disrespect to the defending champion Suns. It was just the reality of how terrifying the Lakers looked on paper.
Philadelphia also went big, handing Brand a 5 year, $82 million max contract. He would wear a 76ers jersey in the new season.
That decision lit a firestorm in Los Angeles.
A week before signing with Philly, Brand opted out and publicly framed it as taking less so the Clippers could improve the roster. The Clippers celebrated, then immediately signed Baron Davis, who had also opted out. A week later, Brand turned around and joined the 76ers anyway.
To many Clippers fans, it felt like betrayal.
Indiana and Toronto also completed a major deal.
The Pacers sent Jermaine O'Neal and 2008 No. 41 rookie Nathan Jawai to the Raptors. In return, Indiana got TJ Ford, Nesterović, Maceo Baston, and the No. 17 rookie Roy Hibbert.
Indiana added depth and potential. Toronto improved their immediate firepower. Their roster suddenly looked strong, with Pierce, O'Neal, and a wave of international talent, but whether it all blended was another story.
Cleveland moved too, pushed hard by James. The Cavaliers, SuperSonics, and Bucks completed a 6 player trade.
Cleveland sent Damon Jones and Joe Smith, and received Bucks guard Mo Williams.
Milwaukee sent Mo Williams and Mason, and got SuperSonics guard Ridnour, Cavaliers guard Damon Jones, and SuperSonics forward Griffin.
Seattle sent Ridnour and Griffin, and received Bucks forward Mason and Cavaliers big Joe Smith.
It was the rare trade where everyone could argue they got what they needed, especially Cleveland, who finally upgraded at point guard.
Mo Williams was not even Cleveland's first choice.
They had looked at Iverson and Billups, both bigger names and both targets in their teams' summer reshuffles. But Detroit refused to hand Billups to an Eastern rival, and Cleveland had nothing attractive enough to pry him loose.
As for Iverson, James shut that idea down.
Iverson's decline was too obvious, and small scoring guards already lived on a thin margin in the NBA. Once the athletic edge faded, his scoring leaned heavily on midrange pull ups. Pairing that with James would have meant more ball dominance without opening the floor.
James could already picture how that partnership would end, probably not much better than the so called golden duo.
Portland kept leaning into youth, trading for Bayless from Indiana in a 3 for 2 deal.
Charlotte officially announced a new deal for Paul, declaring their "Brother Cannon" the cornerstone of their championship hopes.
Veteran shooter Barry left San Antonio and joined Houston on a 2 year, $3.9 million contract.
Dallas made its own statement, sending starting small forward Josh Howard, $1 million cash, and a 2009 2nd round pick to acquire Artest, back when he was still Artest.
Houston made an offer too, but their Bobby Jackson plus Donté Greene package was clearly not as strong as Dallas's.
Howard had value to any team, scoring, rebounding, and even an All Star in 2007. But he had a reputation for fading in tough games. His playoff production last year dipped hard from his regular season level, and that played a major role in Dallas putting him on the block.
Artest also leaned toward Dallas himself. He left Sacramento chasing a ring, and in his eyes, that was not happening next to Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
No single deal broke the league in half this summer, but the message in the West was clear.
The Lakers were back. The Mavericks upgraded. The Spurs were still the Spurs.
Under the calm surface, the current was getting violent.
The Suns' path to a repeat was going to be brutal.
…
On September 10, Chen Yan appeared as a surprise guest at Taylor's concert in Los Angeles.
Midway through the show, Taylor stepped to the mic and raised her voice.
"Tonight, I invited a guest. He's tall, he's charming, and he just got back from the Olympics. He's a true basketball superstar."
The crowd exploded.
Tall. Charming. Fresh off the Olympics. In Los Angeles.
A lot of people's minds went to the same place.
Kobe.
Then Chen Yan walked out with a mischievous grin, and the entire arena realized they had guessed wrong.
The reaction flipped instantly.
"F*** Chen!" "F*** Chen!" "F*** Chen!"
It rolled through the venue like a coordinated chant, his personal theme song in enemy territory.
Only a few months had passed since the playoffs. Nobody in that building had forgotten how Chen Yan sent the Lakers home almost by himself.
Still, Chen Yan stayed relaxed and finished the duet with Taylor right through the noise.
For him, it was strange and hilarious at the same time.
He understood most of the crowd was just riding the moment. They did not necessarily hate him. They just liked chanting, and once a building catches a rhythm, everybody starts dribbling with it.
After the concert, Chen Yan told reporters, "I think I'm basically the leader of the vibe squad. If I can move the crowd's emotions at a concert, that's a win."
After that, Chen Yan and Taylor went back to her place together. They were openly dating, and neither cared about paparazzi.
They had not seen each other for 3 months.
Let's just say they made up for missed time, and then some.
…
On September 27, the Suns held Media Day.
It was the traditional season opening event, team photos, interviews, and a full day of microphones pretending they were not hungry for headlines.
Before the formal sessions started, Chen Yan greeted teammates he had not seen in a while.
"Steve, how's the back?"
"Feeling good."
"Amare, I saw your gossip again. Don't go weak in the knees this season."
Amare laughed. "Man, a few women aren't enough to make my knees go weak."
Someone else shook his head at Chen Yan. "I watched your Olympics run. That was insane."
Everyone looked in shape. Nobody showed up soft.
It was also Chen Yan's first time meeting the new guys up close.
Jordan really did resemble Liu Huangshu, and as a rookie, he looked a little stiff standing near Chen Yan.
Chen Yan patted his shoulder. "Relax, big guy. I'm not going to eat you."
Jordan smiled, still a little nervous. "Chen, when I was in the NCAA, my roommates and I used to watch your games together. You're an unbelievable player."
It was a compliment, maybe even a bit of rookie flattery, but Chen Yan took it in stride.
He was not the new kid anymore. In front of Jordan, he was the big brother now.
"I'll help you settle in," Chen Yan said. "You're talented. Work hard and you'll have a role on this team."
Jordan's smile widened. That was exactly what every rookie wanted to hear.
Chen Yan also checked in with Novak, who stood nearby looking shy enough to disappear into his own jersey.
Novak barely made eye contact at first.
Chen Yan kept it simple. Stay confident. Keep shooting. Play the same way you always have. Nash and Chen Yan would make sure the passes arrived right on time and right on target.
Of the 3 new faces, Chen Yan talked the most with White Chocolate Williams.
Chen Yan had always respected that flashy passing, the creativity, the little tricks that made defenders look foolish. If he had a chance to pick up a few moves from Williams, he was going to take it.
Media Day itself could be summarized in 2 words.
Photos and interviews.
The coach talked offseason changes and the plan for the season. Players talked summer training, current condition, and expectations. Then came official portraits and promotional video shoots for TV.
Compared to his rookie year, Chen Yan looked noticeably looser.
During the photo session, he made faces, cracked jokes, and even reenacted his signature celebration from last season's game winner.
When reporters asked for his outlook on the new season, Chen Yan answered calmly.
"I'm not going to say anything dramatic. Put it simply, we just need to do what we did last season."
The reporter blinked.
It sounded ordinary, but everybody understood what it really meant.
Do what we did last season.
Win the championship.
...
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