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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go š
***
On Monday, July 5, 2004, ESPN broke the news that the Lakers intended to trade Shaquille O'Neal.
The league's top center being traded instantly enlivened the frozen free agency market.
Shaquille O'Neal's salary for the next season was $27.7 million, and most teams would be severely impacted financially if they took on this contract.
Risk and opportunity coexisted; although Shaquille O'Neal's performance in the Finals was mediocre, everyone could see that as long as the ball was delivered to the low post, the slightly heavier Shaquille O'Neal could still finish efficiently.
Rebuilding teams would most likely not consider him, as after his rookie contract ended, an aging Shaquille O'Neal's performance might decline significantly.
Considering the Knicks' age structure, a young team mortgaging its future means betting on winning a championship in the next three years.
Teams naturally knew the Knicks wouldn't keep winning indefinitely.
The next few years were indeed an opportunity, but trading for Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't be easy, as the Lakers were currently biding their time.
From an efficiency standpoint, during the regular season, Shaquille O'Neal's PER was 24.4, dropping to Kobe's level, and still some distance from MVP Kevin Garnett.
However, in the playoffs, Shaquille O'Neal's statistics began to rise, and his efficiency rating even improved, reaching 24.8.
Although there was still a gap compared to his previous peak form, the data proved that Shaquille O'Neal still had considerable dominance in the playoffs.
The exposure of this news was a slap in the face to the previous Lakers management.
Jerry Buss's last interview was indeed just hot air!
Although he was prepared to be traded, Shaquille O'Neal felt somewhat embarrassed after the news broke.
Not many teams inquired about him.
He wasn't as popular as he imagined, and fewer teams than expected were willing to go all out to trade for a veteran.
The Lakers hoped to acquire an All-Star through Shaquille O'Neal's trade, but things didn't go as planned.
Trading Shaquille O'Neal for Duncan could only happen in a dream.
After a day of excitement among basketball commentators, the market reaction was lukewarm, unlike the discussions on ESPN shows before.
The appeal of the league's top center seemed not very high.
On tuesday, the 6th, TNT's program also began to follow suit, discussing the impact Shaquille O'Neal would have on the league.
Unlike ESPN, the trio focused more on whether Kobe could carry the Lakers after Shaquille O'Neal's departure.
Due to Kobe's extremely poor performance in the Finals, Charles Barkley had already equated Kobe with Allen Iverson:
"If the Lakers don't have Shaquille O'Neal and only get ordinary players in return, then Kobe's team record should be close to the 76ers' record."
"Kobe Bryant is not an MVP-level player. Although he tries hard to prove himself, his strength is still far off."
"Under Kobe's leadership, perhaps the Lakers can still make the playoffs, but it will be very difficult for him to lead the team to the Finals again."
"That's my opinion: Kobe Bryant is just an ordinary All-Star who is good at showcasing himself; he cannot lead a team to contend for a championship."
Charles Barkley confidently began to predict the future, practically saying, "Kobe is just an inefficient stat-padder."
Allen Iverson had been plagued by injuries for the past two years, which indeed affected his performance.
Considering Kobe's Finals statistics this year were very similar to Allen Iverson's, Kenny Smith rarely disagreed:
"Chuck makes a good point, but I believe the Lakers will make it to the Finals again!"
"Los Angeles has a good appeal for free agents. Stephen Marbury is available in the free agency market this year, and with proper management, the Lakers can still remain competitive."
Salary cap was an issue.
Stephen Marbury was still demanding a max contract, and few teams could afford him within the salary cap.
During his time with the Phoenix Suns, Stephen Marbury's team performance was truly subpar, and it was the same when he was with the Nets.
In contrast, Jason Kidd's arrival at the Nets had an immediate effect, leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Although they were swept by the Knicks, such a performance was far superior to Stephen Marbury's.
Ernie Johnson also felt that the Lakers would struggle to make a significant impact given the free agency situation this year.
Most teams in the Western Conference hoped for the Lakers to disband, while the Eastern Conference had already lost too much.
Charles Barkley didn't want to discuss this topic further and seriously said to the camera:
"Neither Shaquille O'Neal nor Kobe Bryant is likely to appear in the Finals again in the future."
"What we should be discussing is which team in the Western Conference will challenge the Knicks. Perhaps Tim Duncan will make it to the Finals again, you never know."
"..."
On July 7th, after arriving in BJ, Lee only rested for one day before attending Cadillac's press conference held at the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the Forbidden City that evening.
General Motors adopted a Hollywood-style press conference to launch the new car, and media outlets like the Associated Press naturally followed suit with effusive praise.
The press conference was like a song and dance performance.
Regardless of the content, the prestige was incredibly high.
When Lee and Rick Wagoner, the current CEO of General Motors, took the stage together, some chinese sports media realized that the theme of this Asian trip was primarily about business, with basketball only accounting for a small portion.
As a brand ambassador, Lee, dressed in a black suit, naturally wouldn't say that this car wasn't suitable for the Chinese market after taking the stage.
He completely avoided mentioning the small space and high fuel consumption, only introducing the driving experience and praising the handling and power.
After all, he would get the money either way.
As dusk fell, most of the invited media reporters gathered around the CTS car, illuminated by lights.
Clay Lee, after a series of enthusiastic praises during interviews, found his cheeks aching from smiling.
His somewhat awkward Mandarin allowed Lee to seamlessly blend into the scene.
After completing his task of praising the car, he went backstage, where Mark Reuss, General Motors' brand general manager, hugged Lee and exclaimed loudly:
"You did great, Lee! I knew postponing the press conference by a month was the right decision!"
Reuss, with a brown hair and a side part, was a typical American white elite, over 40 but still in good shape.
Since Lee became the endorser, this cheerful brand general manager had maintained a good relationship with him.
However, the content of the press conference was actually planned by General Motors China, and Reuss and Wagoner were only responsible for nodding.
"Large displacement cars with small space and high fuel consumption might not be suitable here. This is my honest advice as a friend."
Lee put his arm around the other man and gave a simple reminder.
He had said this purely out of past identity, but Wagoner, who had just become CEO, wouldn't listen to his advice.
Reuss was unconcerned.
In his opinion, Lee was also visiting China for the first time, and the branch office's research was more reliable.
This wouldn't affect their friendship.
He was just a senior employee, and even CEO Wagoner was the same.
If the stock price dropped and they couldn't hold on, they could always seek help from Washington.
Amidst a chorus of praises, the evening press conference concluded successfully.
Finally, the group headed straight to the BJ Hotel for a celebratory dinner.
The General Administration of Sport arranged for Lee and his entourage to stay at the St. Regis BJ, which was closer to Tiananmen Square, making it convenient for sightseeing.
However, brand activities occupied most of their time, so Lee could only let Melinda and Old Mike go about freely.
It was almost 11 PM when they returned to the hotel suite.
Melinda was wearing pajamas and still surfing the internet on her laptop.
The rudimentary webpages held no interest for Lee.
Melinda seemed to have seen something interesting and giggled, then playfully complained after Lee kissed her:
"Aren't athletes not supposed to drink? I just realized you don't seem to strictly control your diet either!"
Lee picked up the curvy woman who was deliberately teasing him, causing her to giggle charmingly.
As he walked towards the bathroom, he proudly said:
"I can't be too strict with myself anymore. I have to give others a chance. Hmm, this year I've decided to really enjoy life."
"When I get back to Greenwich, I'm going to sunbathe and fish!"
Looking at the somewhat tipsy Lee, Melinda in his arms snorted, not believing his drunken words.
The two of them carried on until past midnight. After 1 AM, the energetic Lee still wasn't very sleepy.
Unlike the young women in their twenties at home, Lee still preferred to have heart-to-heart talks with mature women.
The soft, fair skin he held continued to change shape in his hand.
Melinda hummed twice and snuggled into his embrace, whispering:
"I've been thinking for a few days, maybe we should accept Roger Stone's help. If there's a large income next year, he should be able to help."
"That 'Wall Street Sheriff' won't believe our market behavior. He only needs to be suspicious, and the political landscape of New York might change in the future."
"I got a lot of news from Skadden. Everyone thinks Spitzer will be elected governor."
Under the dim light, Lee couldn't take his hands off Melinda's fair and smooth skin.
Kissed, Melinda quickly let out a low groan, then, breathing heavily, she hit Lee twice:
"When we return to Greenwich at the end of the month, we can discuss it with Bobby. Right now, I don't want to waste time."
Noticing the large hand on her waist, Melinda smirked and quickly sat up, twisting her body.
This was her favorite position:
"Ha! Don't blame me if your legs are sore from tomorrow's event!"
On July 8th, at the Capital Gymnasium, Nike's brand event was scheduled for 7 PM.
Due to the excessive enthusiasm of fans during Michael Jordan's China tour, some events were canceled for safety reasons.
After Clay Lee arrived in Beijing, learning from previous lessons, the event was directly scheduled at the city's basketball arena.
The announcement was made early, and tickets sold out.
Although temporary seats were added, there were no significant safety concerns.
As a businessman, Lee hoped that the ticket prices would be costlier, so his expressed his idea to his team and news leaked that the national team would participate and the event included an open training session, ticket prices soared, even scalpers were dumbfounded.
As long people have motivation to watch the game, any price would become affordable.
Such things are hard to stop.
Lee still underestimated the fervent idol worship of young people.
The atmosphere on-site was even more explosive than at Madison Square Garden.
Nike is also a sponsor of the Chinese men's basketball team.
Originally, this event was only for fans, but after Harris led the team back from their training in the US, he actively responded.
Regarding the expectations of the Chinese media, Harris couldn't state it clearly.
Hiring him as Head Coach, the domestic idea was to let Yao Ming play to his full potential.
After all, Harris has a rich resume and is more suitable to coach a high-level player like Yao Ming than domestic coaches.
However, since the Silver Fox took over the team, he has always been questioned by the Chinese media, with the roster selection alone causing repeated disputes.
Coupled with the anticipation for the 2008 Olympics, Harris spoke a lot, but he couldn't diminish everyone's desire for a medal.
Tomorrow is the first game of the Beijing Four Nations Invitational Tournament.
Taking this opportunity, Harris plans to let these delusional chinese reporters understand the gap between the men's basketball guards and world-class guards.
The event was still half an hour away, and Yao Ming was signing autographs for enthusiastic fans.
The entire men's basketball team also enjoyed superstar treatment.
Currently, the director of the Sports Bureau is Yuan Weimin, who created the glorious era of the Chinese women's volleyball team and contributed greatly to the Olympic bid.
Although his reputation in the industry is average and he is about to step down, he hosted Lee very well upon his arrival.
Matt Parker was also with Lee.
He and Nike staff were currently compiling fan demographics to broadly assess influence.
This was related to the amount of Lee's lifetime contract.
Business is business.
No matter how good the personal relationship, everything must be done according to the contract.
Yuan Weimin, who was present, showed a clear smile, making one wonder if he had received a kickback.
"Do you feel the enthusiasm of chinese fans? Fortunately, we learned from our lessons this time and organized the event in advance. You are more popular than Michael Jordan!"
"Clay, what do you think of this Chinese men's basketball team?"
Yuan Weimin, smiling, praised him for a while, then suddenly asked about the men's basketball team.
Lee, wearing a white training uniform, naturally boasted:
"They are very strong! If they work harder, getting a medal won't be a problem!"
Upon hearing this, the staff of the General Administration of Sport all laughed along.
Everyone likes to be praised, and everyone loves to hear good words.
Before the event started, nearly 20,000 people had squeezed into the Capital Gymnasium, which had temporary seating added.
Many teenagers were wearing New York Knicks jerseys.
Authentic jerseys are not cheap, but fans who could afford tickets to the event had bulging wallets.
Before the event began, Lee came to the center of the court, took the microphone, and loudly expressed his gratitude:
"Thank you for your attention over the years, and thank you to the China men's basketball team for supporting this event!"
"Sports are a bridge for communication, and basketball connects us closely."
Hearing the cheers from the fans, Lee waved his hand, paused, and then said with a smile:
"Tonight, I am just an ordinary basketball player. I hope everyone can have fun and enjoy this moment!"
On the Chinese men's basketball team side, Yao Ming followed suit.
Clay Lee should be the most approachable superstar on a China tour.
Unlike future men's basketball teams, the 2004 team had many tall and strong frontcourt players.
The backcourt consisted of Liu Wei, Guo Shiqiang, Zhang Jinsong, and Zhang Yunsong.
The frontcourt included Lee Nan, Du Feng, Chen Ke, Zhu Fangyu, Mo Ke, Yi Jianlian, Bateer, and Yao Ming.
Also participating in the practice were Tang Zhengdong and others.
This was a young team.
Four years later, they would be entering their prime.
Perhaps before the event began, some of these players still held a glimmer of hope, but as Clay Lee took off his jacket and warmed up, Guo Shiqiang, who was two years older than Clay Lee, widened his eyes.
Zhang Yunsong, who was the same age, looked at his own arms and shoulders, then at Lee warming up, and was speechless.
"Tall and strong guard."
Lee might have been a bit lacking in height, but his strength was fully displayed.
Zhang Yunsong, who was just over 1.8 meters tall, could almost be completely covered by Lee.
He somewhat understood why Lee could succeed in the NBA:
"He's as strong as an ox."
The open training session was naturally a casual game, mainly for show.
After the event began, fans in the front row constantly gasped in amazement.
The visual impact of watching a game live is completely different from watching it on TV.
Lee, who was playing with the white team first, was incredibly fast.
When changing direction with a crossover, his movements were wide, giving the illusion that the basketball disappeared.
Many delusional chinese sports media finally understood what Harris meant by shooting on the move.
Bateer only needed to stand still, a simple hand-off at the top of the arc, and Lee could catch the ball, stop abruptly with his right hand, drift to the right, and throw the ball into the hoop.
The pick-and-roll didn't even need to be fully set.
Lee could drive straight to the basket from the middle, then finish with a fancy mid-air lay-up, evading Yao Ming's block, and putting the ball into the hoop.
In transition offense, Lee crossed half-court, pulled up and shot from more than a meter beyond the three-point line, making the fans in attendance shout repeatedly.
In May, the Chinese team also had some warm-up games.
The two completely different viewing experiences made fans suspect they were watching fake games.
Especially when they saw the exceptionally raw Yi Jianlian complete two consecutive alley-oop dunks in a half-court offense, some sports reporters also secretly exclaimed how unbelievable it was.
An excellent guard can naturally control the pace of the game, and after running for a while, Yao Ming couldn't hold on anymore.
Fortunately, Lee noticed the opponent's predicament and proactively slowed down the pace, after all, he's here for business and money.
In a way, china might become one of his cash cow.
Each quarter was 10 minutes, and the substitutes easily scored 50 points in a half.
During halftime, there was also a charity shooting event.
For every shot a participating fan made, Lee would donate $10,000 as a gesture of goodwill and to boost image & popularity.
The open game naturally wouldn't have double-teams.
Most were one-on-one, and Guo Shiqiang bore the biggest impact.
During the Asian Championships, facing South Korea's full-court press, the Chinese team's backcourt played disastrously, suffering continuous steals and allowing points.
Clay Lee, facing individual tight defense, could even show off some fancy moves.
The fans present were unaware that many members of the Chinese men's basketball team were silent during halftime.
The young people participating in the event had fun, and with every successful shot, everyone cheered.
The event was lively, and Lee actively interacted with the fans.
During the halftime event, Nike suggested a one-on-one, but none of the national team players responded.
Therefore, after the shooting event, only amateur fans could take the court.
Seeing Lee laughing and joking with the young people, some chinese sports reporters couldn't help but look at each other:
"Is this what a big star is like?!"
On July 9th, with the Chinese media's reports, Nike also began to place advertisements, and Lee's name began to sweep across the land.
The shooting event rounded up to a whole number, with Lee personally donating $250,000, and his personal foundation and Nike also donating 250,000, bringing the total donation to $500,000.
This money will be used for education in remote areas.
For Lee, this amount of money was not much, but it was a steady stream, and he did not want to be labeled as a rich fool.
After a simple open training session, the Chinese media finally fully believed what Harris had said earlier.
Having personally experienced the individual abilities of a superstar, everyone no longer looked to the future.
Before the Beijing Four Nations Invitational Tournament, Harris was free of worries; finally, no one was asking him about the men's basketball roster and performance issues anymore.
Perhaps he felt a bit stifled last night.
Although Yao Ming didn't plan to play against Canadian tonight, he still talked about last night's open practice during an interview:
"There's still a gap between our basketball and the NBA, and also a distance from other world powerhouses."
"That's a completely different game rhythm. The simplest example is that Clay Lee knows what tactics to use during a game. When the opponent makes a change, he will direct the team to make the correct adjustments."
"But we are still at the stage where the coach directs us to make changes. Perhaps we can win games, but many times we don't know why we are using certain tactics."
"This is a gap in understanding basketball. If we compare this gap to a ladder, we are on the first step, and Clay Lee and Head Coach Harris are on the fifth step."
"What we need to do now is climb up steadily."
No one mentioned medals anymore, nor did anyone discuss the possibility of MVP.
Previously, many sports journalists stationed in the United States would heavily praise Lee upon returning home.
Without witnessing it firsthand, one couldn't truly understand.
After one event, even the most unconvinced fell silent.
During the day, Lee continued to attend brand events, and afterward, he took Melinda sightseeing.
Beijing always had so many people.
This city, under construction, was exactly as Lee remembered it.
Everyone who travels to China probably climbs the Great Wall.
Melinda, who had been frequently engaging in one-on-one activities these past two days, was low on stamina and wasn't shy about being carried on Lee's back.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and laughed incessantly.
The surrounding onlookers didn't affect Lee's mood.
Reaching the familiar scenery of the North Eight Watchtower made him feel a bit nostalgic.
Matt Parker, following behind, was also dressed in sportswear.
His mood had been getting better and better these past two days, and he didn't notice that he had become a third wheel.
He stepped forward and exclaimed loudly:
"No wonder overseas market revenue will surpass North America. This is a huge market."
Old Mike, standing nearby, adjusted his sunglasses, observed the surroundings, and then glanced at Matt Parker, shaking his head slightly.
He could tell that Lee didn't like to exploit the local market here. (A/N: Didn't edit this part, as anyone in his shoes would have some attachment to his former homeland.)
At 8 PM that night, at the Capital Gymnasium, Harris made his coaching debut.
Facing the Canadian men's basketball team, Yao Ming did not play.
The strength gap between the two teams was significant, and the China men's basketball team led by a large margin at halftime, 45:24.
Ultimately, Harris lived up to the fans' expectations, defeating the Canadian team 84:70.
Yi Jianlian scored 15 points and also delivered 5 blocks.
Although he lost some rebounds, his performance was commendable.
Most of the fans present came to see Clay Lee.
After the game, the Canadian team members also rushed to the sidelines to take photos with Lee.
After leaving the Capital Gymnasium, a large crowd of fans had also gathered outside.
Although there was no video footage of the open practice, word-of-mouth only made the fans more eager.
Initially, this kind of mob scene made Old Mike a bit nervous, but now he had completely adapted.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Old Mike waited for Lee to get in the car, rubbed his bald head, and said in a deep voice while looking at the rearview mirror:
"Ramis, Lee seems very familiar with this place."
Melinda, dressed in a black business suit, nodded indifferently, turned her head to look at the scenery outside the car window, her bangs swaying, and responded softly:
"He belongs to me. Our home is in Manhattan, in Greenwich."
On sunday, July 11th, American sports media began reporting on Lee's trip to China.
Photos of Lee with over ten thousand people in the arena appeared on ESPN and several mainstream media websites:
"Clay Lee is conquering the world!"
The scene of a deserted city was incredibly shocking.
Yahoo Sports believed it was a replica of a championship parade.
Lee's influence was indeed expanding.
Sky Sports in the UK, which broadcast this year's Finals, had also been gossiping about Clay Lee recently.
Perhaps to attract the attention of Manchester United fans, The Sun in the UK even popularized Lee's romantic history, only to dig up a pile of blonde women.
Many people are disgusted by playboys, and it is predictable that some Manchester United fans will increase their protests in the future.
Kobe had been in a bad mood recently.
He had no commercial activities this offseason.
Before the settlement of the sexual assault case, he still had to rush to various events.
Of course, this matter was almost over for Kobe.
After a year of dragging it out, and paying a large sum in lawyer fees, the other party would eventually compromise and choose to settle.
Although he felt bad about his money, what had been depressing Kobe recently was the Lakers' trade.
A suitable team to take on a player was hard to find.
Although Shaquille O'Neal was the league's best center, finding a destination that satisfied both parties was definitely not a simple matter.
Shaquille O'Neal spoke to the media, believing he would still win a championship.
Kobe naturally wasn't convinced.
He also wanted to prove himself.
On Monday, July 12th, Kobe threw himself into the training facility at 4 AM.
When he returned home at 7 AM, he had already completed his daily morning training.
Vanessa didn't like Kobe's recent schedule.
Training at 4 AM was simply inhumane.
"You don't have to force yourself. Didn't the team already agree to complete your contract extension?"
"You should spend more time with your daughter. Even as a basketball player, you should rest during the offseason."
"Look at Lee. He even brought his girlfriend when he attended events in China."
"Every offseason, I rarely see news about Lee training. What that book says isn't true. Tim Grover must be deceiving you!"
"He just wants you to pay those exorbitant training fees. My dear, you need to return to your family."
When Tim Grover, the famous trainer, was mentioned, Vanessa became especially angry.
She felt that he was just cheating them out of their money.
Kobe, who was eating his customized breakfast, noticed the large group photo of Clay Lee and the fans on the newspaper after hearing Vanessa's words.
Seeing Lee in a white jersey with a bright smile in the photo, Kobe felt even more uncomfortable.
He forced a smile, adjusted his emotions, and said in a low voice:
"Tim Grover is Michael Jordan's trainer. I believe him!"
"Next season, I must prove myself! Basketball doesn't lie. Effort will definitely pay off."
On July 14th, as the moratorium ended, a blockbuster trade quickly occurred in the free agency market:
The Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat.
In return, they received Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom, a 2006 first-round draft pick, and a 2007 second-round draft pick.
As soon as this trade was announced, it immediately sparked heated discussions among basketball pundits.
While many teams chose to accumulate talent and prepare to outlast the Knicks, Pat Riley made his move!
The Heat had always been Pat Riley's team.
Overdrawing the future?
This distinctive general manager didn't care at all.
Pat Riley thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention once again.
The Miami Herald, as one of the most influential newspapers in the United States, naturally received the news early.
The sports section that day had a special column praising Pat Riley:
"Within three years, the Miami Heat will win a championship!"
The Lakers were at a disadvantage in this trade.
Although Lamar Odom and others, along with Dwyane Wade, made it to the playoffs last season, their individual strength and impact on the game were far inferior to Shaquille O'Neal.
Basketball pundits began discussing whether the Heat could win a championship within three years, while the Lakers were forgotten.
No one believed that Kobe could lead this roster to a championship.
Despite some dissatisfaction with the trade, Kobe didn't say anything.
He threw himself back into the training facility.
This offseason, he was going to undergo a transformation!
Lee, who had flown to Tokyo, was not in the mood to pay attention to these gossips at this time.
Hosted by the brand, he was enjoying a hot spring bath in the evening.
Compared to China, he liked Japan more.
Holding the slippery body in his arms, although he hadn't systematically trained for almost another month, Lee felt his physical condition was excellent, and his energy was becoming more abundant.
Looking at the seemingly floating white softness, Lee immediately buried his head and said in a muffled voice:
"My dear, we need to adjust to the time difference!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)