When pride still matters

Chapter 126 Your talent, his curse

Chapter 125 Your talent, his curse
The news that the Wizards decided to trade Yu Fei was first passed to agent Arn Traim, who then relayed the news to Yu Fei.

At that time, Yu Fei was training shooting in a closed environment.

Although it is still early for the new season - not even the current season is over - at this time, most NBA players who end the season choose to stay away from basketball.

But Yu Fei is destined not to have an easy time this summer.

In July, Reebok has arranged a trip to Asia. Yu Fei will go to China, Japan and South Korea for promotion, because he is very popular in East Asia.

Therefore, before the start of the Asia trip, Yu Fei must make full use of this window period to practice hard.

When the Asian tour is over, he may have less than two months left to prepare for the new season.

By then it will be too late to conduct special training.

So, how did Yu Fei, who started special training as soon as the season ended, feel when he received the news that he would be traded?

He wasn't sad at all.

Although his mother was living a good life in Washington and her restaurant was flourishing, he did not find the joy of playing basketball here because there was always the shadow of Jordan around him.

Now, the team has made a decision.

They want to keep the 39-year-old Jordan and give up the 19-year-old.

Shouldn't he be happy?

No matter how you look at it, it is a waste of time to play for this kind of management with brain problems. Being traded now is an early stop loss for Fei.

When Yu Fei expressed his feelings, Traim said: "The Wizards did not make this deal because of basketball factors."

Yu Fei guessed the answer: "Is that a business factor?"

"Yes, if your popularity in DC is 1/3 of your sneaker sales in the national market, maybe they will seriously consider it." Traim said helplessly, "This is DC after all, and they like MJ. A person who is successful and famous, a rookie like you who is full of blood and gets into trouble several times during the season does not suit the taste of the middle class."

If he said that, Yu Fei would not accept it.

"I brought the Wizards into the playoffs."

"But in terms of public opinion, the focus is on the first 3/4 of the season that MJ played for the Wizards, not your performance in the last 1/4 of the season."

"We dropped to ninth in the Eastern Conference before that old man retired from injury!"

“If the media doesn’t tell, who knows?”

"What about our media?" Yu Fei asked, "Do only old people have media?"

Traim said ashamedly: "I tried, but I could only use the power of a few media outlets, but Michael could use the entire sports media industry to conclude the whole thing."

"What about Reebok? Those bastards just watched my performance being ignored by the public opinion community?"

"For Reebok, public opinion in the District of Columbia doesn't matter." Tellem said meaningfully. "It's like a political vote. They will increase their promotion of you in your 'vote box,' but not in your base." DC and the entire District of Columbia do this.”

Yu Fei was confused by what he heard, but the matter was already at this point, and there was no point in pursuing it further.

If Jordan was in the Wizards, he didn't want to be in the Wizards, and now the team wants to trade him, which is the best of both worlds.

"What's my next home?"

"It's still early, at least we won't know the result until this year's lottery draws are over."

"So can I really stop thinking of myself as a Wizards player now?"

"Yes, you and Michael can only keep one, and they chose Michael, so you will definitely be traded."

"This is really spicy Thai pants!"

It would be a lie to say that Yu Fei was not at all unwilling and dissatisfied at being squeezed out by a 39-year-old man.

But even if Jordan is to be liquidated, he has to wait until the start of the new season. Now, he cannot lose his temper.

If it is destined to happen that you are traded, then don't think about it and concentrate on special training.

On the eve of the conference finals, the NBA completed the 2002 lottery draw.

Because in the original timeline, the Wizards, who were supposed to fall into the lottery, advanced to the playoffs this season, this led to some minor changes in the ranking of picks 10-13.

The Bucks, who originally drew the No. 13 pick, drew the No. 11 pick, and the Miami Heat, who originally drew the No. 11 pick, drew the No. 13 pick. The No. [-] pick that originally belonged to the Wizards is now taken by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Indiana Pacers, who did not enter the lottery, would like to select the No. [-] pick.

As for the top nine picks, there are no changes.

Once the lottery is over, it's time for workouts and then trades.

Determined to use the game to fully strengthen the team, Jordan first went to the Houston Rockets to ask for the No. [-] pick.

As a result, the Rockets rejected Goute with an attitude of "Are you okay?"

It can be said that the Rockets' mood at this time is the same as that of the Spurs who ended the lottery in 2023. They won the number one prize after 1997 - Yao Shuan.

Do you still remember that Bunyama went to the United States to play two warm-up games with the Ignite before entering the NBA draft?Before that, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The cover shows him dribbling a ball, and the caption reads:

Victor Vunbanyama is 220 cm tall and has a wingspan of 244 cm.Potential: unlimited.

As a senior in Wenban Yama, Yao Huang has received no less publicity. Since 2000, every few months before the NBA draft, draft experts, basketball writers and sports observers will mention this over and over again. name.This monster who has been anticipated for several years finally qualified to participate in the draft this year. How could the Rockets, who had won the grand prize, trade him for Yu Fei.

Although Yu Fei has already won the grand prize, there is still a gap between him and the special grand prize like Yao Huang.

Moreover, even from the perspective of developing the Chinese market, there is no comparison between Da Fei, the chosen one, and Yao Huang, a pure-blooded one with a household registration.

Jordan didn't like being rejected, so he approached the Rockets for a second offer: Yu Fei + Kwame Brown, how about it?
Rocket: Thank you, no need to talk.

However, the Chicago Bulls, who hold the second pick, really want Yu Fei, and they are willing to give away the second pick.

So it was Jordan's turn to talk.

The general manager of the Bulls is Jerry Krause.

If there's anyone in the world who can surpass Yu Fei in Jordan's "worst bastards" list, it's this guy.Not to mention that Jordan was not interested in selecting the consensus No. [-] pick Jay Williams with the second overall pick - he hated Duke players and had no patience to wait for Williams to grow - just because of his grudge with Krause, this deal Transactions are destined to have a beginning but no end.

This is the second consecutive year that Jordan has rejected Klaus's trade request⑴, which makes Dog feel refreshed.

The Rockets' attitude of never trading the No. [-] pick made Jordan give up the idea of ​​trading Yu Fei for the pick.

Now, it's the teams' turn to start bidding.

Pat Riley was still the first to contact Jordan, but his offer was still the same.

Riley took out the No. 2002 pick in 11, plus three future first-round picks, once again showing that there is nothing in the Heat that is not for sale.

However, Jordan is not interested in future draft picks.

He wants immediate strength, and he wants players who can help him next season, not a bunch of future draft picks that he has no chance of using.

This is the reason why Riley is destined not to get Yu Fei.

Next is the Seattle SuperSonics.How wonderful would it be if Yu Fei, a son of Seattle, could return to Seattle to play?To this end, the Sonics are willing to send Gary Payton and draft picks, or Rashard Lewis plus draft picks.

Payton was the tough All-Star point guard Jordan wanted, but he wasn't going to send Yu Fei to Seattle.Because he knows that Seattle is the ideal next home for Fei, and he will thrive there.

Jordan would not send him to such a suitable next home. This is a personal grudge.

Seattle was out from the start.

Then came the Nuggets, who offered Nick Van Exel and two future first-rounders.

An All-Star level point guard or small forward, this is what Jordan wants.

The Nuggets have indeed found the right direction.

But what Jordan really wanted was a veteran All-Star point guard, not a lunatic like Van Exel.

"If you are willing to add the fifth pick to this deal"

Nuggets: Goodbye, no, preferably never again.

Then came the Magic, who pretended Grant Hill was recovering well to talk to the Wizards.The Magic's goal is to swap Hill and Yu Fei for one.

Jordan: Let Grant pass the physical examination before we discuss the deal.

Magic never called again.

The Timberwolves dumped Wally Szczerbiak.

Jordan: I want another Richard Hamilton to fuck?

Teams that were originally eyeing the Flying Tigers gradually discovered that the players who could really make Jordan agree to the deal without hesitation were those players who would never be put on the shelf.

Such as Duncan, such as Garnett, such as Nowitzki, such as O'Neal, such as Kobe
Even though Yu Fei looks promising in his rookie season, it is impossible for a team with the above-mentioned characters to exchange a player of this level for a rookie who just had a good rookie season.

When the calls dwindled and the transactions came to a standstill, Jordan finally knew that this matter could no longer be delayed and that the mess must be cut quickly.

After rejecting Nick Van Exel, Grant Hill, Wally Szczerbiak, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley (Nash and Finley were offered separately, the Mavericks really wanted Yu Fei), Sharif Abdul-Rahim, Baron Davis, and Shane Battier. The Wizards are finally close to completing the transaction.

The Wizards are negotiating with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The person in charge of negotiations with the Wizards on the Bucks side is not general manager Larry Harris, who has a bad relationship with the head coach, but head coach George Karl.

As both North Carolina alumni, Karl and Jordan are both rivals and close friends.

The Bucks, who were predicted to reach the playoffs with 50 wins before the start of this season, eventually fell into the lottery. The sweet 2000-01 season seemed like a dream that never happened to the Milwaukeeans. The boss demanded that Carr restructured this team.

Karl was deeply impressed by Fei during the regular season. When the Wizards publicly traded Yu Fei, he did not participate in the offer immediately. He knew that the Wizards must have a huge appetite in the early stages of the transaction.

At that time, the Bucks' offer was not enough to satisfy the Wizards.

Now, Jordan, who didn't want to lose Yu Fei in his hands, was eager to trade, and George Karl's Bucks brought an offer that satisfied him.

"Sam Cassel, Tim Thomas and the 2002th overall pick in [-]."

There is a solid All-Star point guard that Jordan wanted, a tough power forward, and this year's lottery pick.

On top of that, the Bucks are almost the antithesis of Sonics.If the Sonics are the best place for Yu Fei, then the Bucks are one of the worst places.

George Karl is a controlling coach, far tougher than Doug Collins. There are still many internal problems. The cancer of Anthony Mason is still there. The feud between Ray Allen, Cassell and Big Dog Robinson is also public. At the same time, the Bucks also have other problems of a declining competitive team - aging personnel, large contracts that fill the salary cap (difficult to reinforce), coaches with too strong personal styles, and disharmony between the management and coaching staff.
For Jordan, this is the "best" place for "Yu Fei".

Although Jordan doesn't know if he has rejected a better offer before, but now, the Bucks' offer is the best.

He had no reason to refuse.

Before the two parties settled, Jordan asked Karl: "George, why do you want Frye? You should know that he is a problem person, right?"

Karl's answer sounded familiar to Jordan: "I think Frye is a good player. He can fill both offense and defense, but he is not suitable for DC. Sam cannot do what he has done."

"Then we're done?"

"Of course, it's decided."

Until the end, Jordan never remembered where he had heard this sentence.

But George Carl remembers where the quote came from.

In the summer of 1994, the Seattle SuperSonics and Chicago Bulls negotiated a deal to swap Shawn Kemp for Scottie Pippen.At that time, Pippen led the team to the semifinals after Jordan retired for the first time. In the end, they lost to the Knicks in the tiebreaker due to a fatal controversial penalty and stopped in the semifinals. Pippen made a fuss during the semifinals. In the famous 1.8 seconds incident⑵, his reputation fell to a low point, and Klaus was determined to trade him.

If it weren't for the Sonics' ownership liking Kemp, this trade was bound to happen.Once it happens, the last five years of the 90s will never be what we see now.

At that time, Karl also had no confidence in Kemp's replacement of Pippen, so he called Jordan, a retired North Carolina alumnus, to find out.

What Jordan said to him was exactly the same as what Karl said to Jordan today.

The difference between the two things is.

This time, the deal was done.

During the fierce battle in the conference finals, the trade between the Wizards and Bucks swept the news.

"The Washington Wizards sent Frye Yu and Christian Laettner to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Sam Cassell, Tim Thomas and the 2002th pick in the [-] first round."

When the trade occurred, Yu Fei was practicing shooting at the Verizon Center.

It was the assistant who informed Yu Fei of the transaction.

At that time, Yu Fei was silent for a long time.

"You're not really sad, are you?" Lawson asked teasingly.

"No, I was thinking, what should I say to DC before leaving?" Yu Fei said, "Farewell, cage?"

"You're still going to come back here and play games," Lawson said.

"You will regret it?"

"Sounds a bit incompetent and furious."

Forget it, Yu Fei decided not to say anything.

He has no grudge against Washington, nor does he hate it here. Leaving is the team's choice.

He just needs to be ready the next time he plays the Wizards.

Yu flew back to the locker room to pack his things. Before leaving, he met Doug Collins outside the training hall.

"Fry, I heard that news," Collins said. "I'm sorry."

Why does it sound like someone in his family died?

Yu Fei smiled and said: "I'm sorry too, but I heard that you are a strong supporter of this deal, so coach, can't you be more sincere before we say goodbye?"

Collins was a little annoyed. He didn't want this to be the final impression he left on Yu Fei.

"I do support the deal, but..."

But what, you have a problem?Because Jordan wants to make this deal, you have to support it. Are you forced?
Collins said with a level of freedom and magnanimity that Yu Fei had never seen in him: "This does not mean that I support Michael."

Is this your line?Yu Fei was a little stunned.

"You've proven yourself this season, Frye, and it's not basketball that's asking you to leave. I support this deal because I want you to leave. You have a bright future, kid, and in the first few years of your career, that's the most precious thing." You shouldn’t be in a toxic environment for a few years.”

He called the Wizards environment toxic?

As the coach of the Wizards, as a servant of Jordan, he calls this place toxic?
"Leave this hellish place, go to a new city to prove yourself, and impress the whole world. This is your mission, Frye!" Collins said, "You know, it's not just me, all of us think you can do it. , the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, this is your talent, but also the curse of DC, let the person who made this decision regret it!"

Yu Fei didn't know whether this scene was a satire on himself or a curse on Jordan.

This person who would never betray Jordan in his eyes betrayed Jordan in front of him.

Yu Fei suddenly felt that he had never known the real Doug Collins.

Regardless, Collins' last words made Yu Fei feel warm.

This at least proves that his performance during the period when he led the team alone was indeed meaningful. Maybe he was not recognized by the top management, maybe he could not get the wholehearted love of the fans, but he won the respect and respect of the coach and teammates. trust.

The camaraderie they formed through shared adversity was real.

"Coach, do me a favor." Yu Fei said.

Collins said: "You say."

"Be nice to Kwame."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"I know everyone is talking about the super shady story in Game 39 of the Western Conference Finals, but I still want to say, please put your attention back to the Wizards. They traded away Wes Uncer for the [-]-year-old Michael Jordan. The best rookie since DeLard (Wizards only). It was a trade that was doomed to fail. Years later, when we look back on it, it may have been the scariest trade in Wizards history." - "Washington Times"

"What's scarier than DC trading Frye? It was the fourth quarter of Game 31 of the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers scored 27 points but had [-] free throws." - "Boston Globe"

⑴ There was an episode before the 2001 draft. Krause originally wanted to trade Elton Brand for the Wizards' No. [-] pick, but I think you already know the result.

⑵ 1.8 seconds incident: In the last 1994 seconds of Game 1.8 of the [-] Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bulls and Knicks were tied. Phil Jackson arranged for Kukoc to make a buzzer-beater. Pippen felt insulted and refused to play. Finally, Kukoc Kochi successfully hit the buzzer beater.

(End of this chapter)