Shortly after the Kings completed their trade, Chen Yilun's staff began receiving phone calls.
It was the same old truth—
There are no secrets in the league!
Informants and intel sources started reporting trade news from around the league.
"Just give me the important stuff! Prioritize the West!"
Seeing his staff all clamoring to report at once, Chen Yilun felt a headache coming on and quickly stepped in to stop the chaos.
"The Nets and Timberwolves made a deal—KG's back in Minnesota!"
An assistant GM was the first to speak up.
"That doesn't matter. KG at the end of his career isn't a threat. What's next?"
Chen Yilun motioned for someone else to continue.
"The Thunder traded Reggie Jackson and Kendrick Perkins. In return, they got Kyle Singler, DJ Augustin, Enes Kanter, and Steve Novak!"
"That's quite a haul! They brought in that many players?"
Reggie Jackson was another outstanding graduate of the Thunder's "Oklahoma Academy."
This season, he took advantage of Westbrook's injury, stepping seamlessly into the starting point guard role and performing brilliantly.
But since Reggie refused to accept being Westbrook's backup, the Thunder had no choice but to remove him from their long-term plans.
"The Suns weren't done with us. They also made a move with the Heat—sending Goran Dragic to Miami!"
"The Suns are completely tearing it down."
Malone's face brightened.
This was all good news for him.
The Thunder's trade clearly weakened them in the short term to build for the future.
And with the Suns, a playoff team last season, blowing up their roster, there was now one less competitor for a postseason spot.
As for the Timberwolves? Malone dismissed them outright.
What could KG do with a bunch of raw rookies?
What Malone didn't realize, though, was that the Garnett trade marked the beginning of the collapse of the Nets' so-called superteam.
Brooklyn's reputation as the league's biggest sucker was about to hit Barclays Center.
And their GM would forever be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Meanwhile, players like Reggie, Isaiah Thomas, and Dragic—all quality pieces—had gone East. Each of them could cause some trouble for the Cavaliers.
"Everyone, you've all worked hard lately!"
Chen Yilun clapped his hands, signaling for quiet. "That's it for tonight. Go home, rest up. We've done everything we could. Now the only mission left is making the playoffs. Work hard, and Mike and I won't let you down this summer!"
...
February 20.
The Kings hosted the Celtics at home. Before the game, Chen Yilun and Mike Malone welcomed Jae Crowder, who had traveled with the team to Sacramento, into their office.
Crowder still felt a little dizzy. This was the second time he'd been traded this season.
At the end of last year, he was dealt from the Mavericks to the Celtics, who had high hopes of developing him. He'd even been ready to buy a house in Boston.
But who would've thought he'd be shipped off again so soon?
Good thing I hesitated and didn't buy that house.
That was all Crowder could think about now.
"Crowder, you just got here today. Don't play in tonight's game. Spend the next couple of days getting used to the team."
Malone handed him a set of practice gear. "Your jersey isn't ready yet. Just wear this for now."
"Got it! Thanks, coach!"
Crowder took the gear and was about to head out when he noticed a big man waiting at the office door.
He looked familiar…
"Crowder, right?" The man spoke first as Crowder stepped out. "I'm Peja Stojakovic. From today on, I'll be your shooting coach."
Peja!
Crowder instantly recognized him—once the deadliest three-point shooter on those Kings teams!
Wait, did he just say… my shooting coach?
"Don't get too excited." Peja pulled Crowder along as they headed downstairs. "I'll be strict. That old man Divac hasn't stopped bragging since he got himself a good apprentice. You'd better not embarrass me!"
...
Because the trade had only gone through hours earlier, the Celtics came with a shorthanded roster.
Isaiah Thomas was still on a plane to Boston!
So tonight's game wasn't much of a contest.
CJ used a Casspi screen, turned into the paint, and, seeing Zeller rotating over, lobbed the ball high into the air.
Cousins, who had been waiting inside, leapt up and threw it down with authority!
"Let's go!"
Cousins celebrated with a chest bump that sent CJ stumbling back several steps.
"The Kings have been a real treat to watch this season."
In the studio, Charles Barkley marveled at the Kings' free-flowing offense.
"I just wonder who it was that kept trashing them at the start of the season."
Kenny, sitting opposite, jumped on the chance to jab Barkley.
"That's different!" Barkley shot back immediately.
"Did you like the Kings at the start of the season? They were a patchwork roster, led by a guy who had just gotten healthy and was still a huge question mark!"
"But credit where it's due—Coach Malone and Chen have worked wonders. The Kings' chemistry is fantastic now."
By the end of the third quarter, young coach Stevens had already pulled his starters and waved the white flag.
But before leaving, he cast a meaningful glance at the Kings' bench.
As one of the league's rare all-around talents, Chen Yilun had already caught his attention.
And for a franchise as storied as the Celtics, the goal was always the championship!
If Chen Yilun and Malone stayed together long-term, the Kings were bound to be part of that title race.
"Stop staring."
Peja suddenly appeared behind Crowder.
"Grab your things and come with me to the gym."
LaVine, Ben, Boyang, and even Ray looked on with tears in their eyes as Crowder followed Peja out.
Hang in there, brother! We've finally passed the torch!
Divac and Peja, once teammates on the Kings' peak squads, had always been close. But this season, their bond had started to fray.
The spark? Jokić.
After a summer training with Divac, Jokić had grown rapidly and become a key hub in the Kings' system.
That success made the old man Divac a bit cocky.
Look! Look at him!
My apprentice!
My apprentice is the best in the world!
And once he started bragging, who better to rub it in than his old buddy Peja?
So a bizarre dynamic developed within the Kings.
Peja and Divac would finish their work—
"What's for dinner tonight?"
"Huh? How'd you know my apprentice got another double-double?"
Back and forth, until Peja finally snapped.
So you're the only one who can train apprentices, huh? Think I can't do it too?
That's when LaVine and the other perimeter guys started suffering. Any chance Peja got, he dragged them in for extra shooting sessions.
With the NBA's already packed schedule, they'd be exhausted after a game, only to find Peja waiting like a hawk to pull them back into the gym.
More than once, LaVine and the others were pushed to the brink of exhaustion.
It took Malone stepping in before Peja finally eased up.
But this time, with Crowder's playing style so similar to Peja's, Malone personally assigned Peja to mentor him.
Good brother… we'll remember your sacrifice.
As they watched Crowder's unsuspecting back, LaVine and the others spoke silently in their hearts.
...
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