NBA: Starting with Jokic template

Chapter 77: Still being traded, a history that cannot be changed (25)

Time passed as usual, and Lin Chuan no longer cared about the contract issue, and focused on practicing basketball and lifting weights.

Lin Chuan also grew more muscles through the hard work of lifting weights day after day. The fat he once had gradually disappeared, and Lin Chuan's muscle lines became more and more obvious.

Touching his unclear abdominal muscles, pectoral muscles and triceps, Lin Chuan smiled and thought of the past two days. Durant couldn't help but exclaimed when he saw the great changes in Lin Chuan, saying that his muscles were more obvious than his own.

All I can say is that they are willing to work hard during the offseason and be as fierce as a tiger when the season starts.

Lin Chuan hopes that his muscles will explode like Westbrook's in the next offseason.

Before the new season, when the team had training, Lin Chuan was officially moved to the starting position, replacing Perkins' role.

He didn't have any objections. After signing the big contract in advance, he could rest for a while. Besides, there would always be teams that wanted black, thick and tough players, so he didn't worry about losing his job.

As for Aldridge, he was still sitting on the bench, watching the starting and substitute teams train fiercely. He was not even qualified to participate in the training game.

It has become a complete water dispenser.

He also knew that his days in the team were numbered, so he stopped complaining and practiced alone, hoping that if the team could trade him, he would get a chance to play in a new place.

The sudden change in mentality was also because Lin Chuan found him before and told him that his time had not come yet, but it was not too far away. As long as he trained hard, he would be able to survive stably in the NBA like him in the near future.

Bai Ade still believed the words of this man who suddenly rose to become the core of the team, and practiced hard every day waiting for that opportunity.

During the team training, Lin Chuan often saw Harden disappear, and then come back with a bad expression to continue training.

Because of the contract issue, Harden has not been performing well in recent training, and even made mistakes from time to time, such as passing the ball to the bench or dribbling the ball to his feet.

Brooks was also aware of the situation. Whenever he saw this situation, he could only sigh and ask Harden to rest for a while on the bench.

Time quickly came to October, and the new season was getting closer and closer.

The team's running-in is also becoming more and more established.

Everyone feels that this is a season in which we are aiming to win consecutive championships.

Until October 10th.

Since waking up in the morning, Lin Chuan had a bad feeling.

Over the years, Harden has complained to him from time to time.

Judging from what Harden said, he is unwilling to give in.

Now that the new season is almost here, the Thunder has not officially announced Harden's situation, whether he will stay or leave.

But he remembered that in his previous life, Harden was about to be traded before the start of the game. Could it be the same in this life?

"Ding dong!"

The phone screen lights up and a push notification pops up.

Lin Chuan unlocked the phone and saw the news he least wanted to see.

Twitter Trend No. 1: Harden traded to Rockets

Lin Chuan clicked on it and the first tweet was from Adrian Wojnarowski (commonly known as Woj) of Yahoo.

"At 7:40 this morning, the Houston Rockets sent Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick to the Thunder for James Harden, Cole Aldridge, DeQuan Cook and Lazar Hayward."

"Fuck, isn't this exactly the same as in the previous life?"

Lin Chuan rubbed his hair irritably, crumpling it into a ball.

He really didn't understand how stingy the Thunder were. Harden didn't ask for much money. Even if it was to maintain the championship lineup, they should have kept him, but they traded him for such a small luxury tax.

Does the Thunder think that as long as there is one championship, it will be enough, and any more will be overflow?

Lin Chuan commented on Woj's tweet with a regretful emoji expression, and then quit Twitter. Only then did he realize that he actually had a missed call.

Lin Chuan clicked on it and found that it was Harden who called early this morning.

Lin Chuan didn't answer, so Harden sent a recording.

"Lin, I got a call from management this morning before I even woke up. They told me to make a decision within an hour. Either accept their contract or be traded. What do you think I should do?"

After hearing this voice message, Lin Chuan became even angrier and also felt a little guilty.

Just like in the previous life, the Thunder didn’t want to keep Harden and sign him back to the team at all, and they didn’t even have the most basic respect!

How can you ask someone to make such an important life decision within an hour!
I did the same. I turned on the mute mode to make it easier for me to sleep, and I was not able to answer the call when Harden needed help, so he had to make a hasty decision in just an hour.

He immediately felt disappointed with the Thunder. If they treated Harden like this this offseason, then next offseason, the team would not have much salary space and would not be able to offer him a contract. Would they also brainwash themselves into signing a contract that did not meet their requirements?
Back at the training hall, Lin Chuan discovered that Young Master Dewey was also there.

The faces of both of them were not very good.

The brothers had just experienced a wonderful summer, but suddenly it fell apart.

Previously, Lin Chuan and Durant had discussed the future in London.

I hope they can keep playing together with the Thunder and make the entire NBA tremble in fear.

As a result, he was traded during the offseason.

Stupid management!

"Harden had already taken his stuff away early in the morning. He's already on a plane to Houston."

"Really? I wanted to tell him that my goal for the new season is to be the MVP..."

Durant whispered.

"Shit, it's so soon, you don't even say goodbye to us."

"Maybe I don't want to face it again. We will be rivals in the future."

Westbrook replied.

After a brief silence, he picked up the ball and slammed it into the basket with an explosive posture.

After landing, Westbrook rarely roared, but grabbed the basketball and slammed it down with both hands.

Durant also suddenly made several changes of direction in front of his body, and then took a jump shot.

Several people trained silently, hoping to use basketball to dilute their inner depression.

Brooks also entered the court, his face livid.

Harden has been training with the team for an offseason, all the preseason games have been played, and they have won all the games. The first game of the new season will start in four days, but the management suddenly made this decision.

Doesn't that mean the team has to regroup?

Kevin Martin was not familiar with the Thunder's tactics at all, and it was impossible for him to understand them quickly in a few days.

At that time, there may be a sudden power outage in the substitute connection section.

But Brooks is only the head coach after all and does not have that much say. Presti is responsible for the team's personnel.

As for Brooks, the team can only use whoever they trade for.

He can only hope that Kevin Martin, who was traded in, can fill the bench gap after Harden leaves.

As for Jeremy Lamb, who was selected by the Rockets this year, Brooks, a rookie, has little hope.

(End of this chapter)