With the game's end, this year's All-Star Weekend officially came to a close.
Today, Kevin Durant was fully unleashed, raining in absurd three-pointers like a downpour.
In the end, he snatched the All-Star MVP trophy right out of The Brow, Anthony Davis's hands.
During the photo session, after taking a quick solo shot with the trophy, Durant went straight over to take a picture with Jimmy Butler.
Watching the two joke around on the court, Stephen Curry stood at a distance, deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
Klay Thompson asked quietly beside him.
"Those two." Curry nodded toward them. "If Kevin and Jimmy had stayed together, I honestly think they could've become the greatest wing duo in history."
"Isn't that a bit much? They're just..."
Thompson's voice trailed off. He, too, realized how frightening that pairing truly was.
Durant and Butler—one inside, one outside; one calm, one fiery; one offensive, one defensive. They complemented each other perfectly, almost like they were built to play side by side.
"And I don't think either of them has even reached their true peak yet."
Curry's sharp gaze stayed fixed on the two. "If they're allowed to grow unchecked, a few years from now, there might not be any room left for us in the West."
"Don't stress too much," Thompson said, trying to comfort him. "They're strong, sure, but we're not weak either. We beat them last season, and we can do it again this year!"
But his words did little to ease Curry's mind.
Everyone knew that last year's Finals loss had branded their names onto the wall of shame.
The pressure on the Warriors was immense—everyone was determined to reclaim the championship.
Yet, with the Kings rising ahead and the Cavaliers looming behind, things didn't look promising.
"All we can do now is hope Myers can pull something off," Curry muttered.
He couldn't help but miss the old man, West. If he were still around, maybe he could've waved that magic wand of his one more time to strengthen the roster.
As for Myers... all Curry could do was wish him luck.
...
And just as Curry feared, things weren't going well for Myers.
Negotiations had completely stalled.
Sweat was pouring down Myers's forehead as he sat at the table, staring across at the NBA legend from the '80s—Larry Bird.
Now serving as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, Bird wore his trademark smirk as he glared coldly at Myers.
"Bird, I'm really being sincere here," Myers said through gritted teeth after a moment's hesitation.
"Everyone knows Paul George is heading to Los Angeles once this contract's up. Even if we trade for him now, we'd only have a season and a half of him. Your asking price is just too steep."
Bird let out a cold laugh.
"Too steep? Then don't take it!
You're trying to get my Paul George for Barnes and a late first-rounder? What are you smoking?"
Truth be told, Bird hadn't planned on making any trades before the deadline.
But since Myers had come knocking, Bird figured he might as well hear him out.
Ever since Bird traded away Danny Granger—the veteran leader in the locker room and Paul George's mentor—the Pacers' "Five Tigers" core he'd built had fallen apart.
Still, since George was a player he had personally developed, Bird found it hard to pull the trigger himself.
At the very least, the trade wouldn't happen under his watch.
If nothing unexpected happened, Bird would resign as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations that summer, handing the role to Kevin Pritchard.
Letting Pritchard—who had no personal bond with George—handle the trade would eliminate any emotional appeals George might try. That was the only way to maximize the team's return.
"If you really want him," Bird said slowly, seeing Myers drenched in sweat, "come back in the summer. Talking now won't get you a good deal anyway."
Bird had come in eager to hear what the Warriors had to offer, only to nearly choke on the insultingly low proposal.
They actually called Larry Bird over for that pathetic offer?
Myers was at his wits' end.
Steve Kerr and the front office were pressuring him not to touch the Warriors' core trio, while ownership demanded roster upgrades.
It was only now that Myers realized just how tough this job really was.
As Bird walked away, Myers felt a wave of helpless frustration wash over him.
Making money's tough—but eating crap's even tougher.
...
Meanwhile, in another conference room, Denver Nuggets GM Tim Connelly was scratching his head, running the numbers.
Across from him sat Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey.
The two were practically brothers in misfortune.
The Nuggets had lost Jokić, and the Blazers had CJ stolen away.
Both teams, once on the rise, had been knocked back into the mud by Chen Yilun's maneuvers.
To make matters worse, in the 2014 draft, the Nuggets were supposed to come away with both Nikola Jokić and Jusuf Nurkić—two promising big men.
But due to a shift in draft order, Denver ended up selecting Noah Vonleh instead.
After just two rookie seasons, he was let go—and now he was basically serving as the team's water boy.
Meanwhile, Nurkić was over in Charlotte, happily running a two-man show with Kemba Walker.
Now, the Nuggets were desperate to find a backup center for "The Manimal" Faried.
"My offer's already dirt cheap," Neil Olshey said patiently.
"Plumlee, man—he's perfect. A smart center who can pass a little too. You can't go wrong with him."
"That sounds... weird to me," Connelly said, shivering inexplicably.
"Yeah, I thought so too," Olshey muttered, touching his face. "It's like someone else said those exact words before, and they just slipped out of my mouth."
"That's not important."
Connelly shook his head, forcing himself back on track.
"No first-rounders. Two second-round picks—take it or leave it."
Seeing Connelly's firm stance, Olshey had no choice but to seriously consider it.
"Two distant second-rounders and a throw-in. Deal?"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser