Legendary star

Chapter 343 The First Deal After All-Star

"Meng, I was traded." On February 2002, 2, the day after the All-Star Weekend, Meng Xu, who was still sleeping in the hotel, received a call from Al Harrington. After hearing Al Harrington's first words, Meng Xu immediately lost the slightest drowsiness.

Before the All-Star Game, Larry Bird told Meng Xu that after the All-Star Weekend, he would seek a deal to strengthen the team's inside line and prepare for the upcoming playoffs, but Meng Xu didn't expect Larry Bird is going to be that fast.

"When did this happen?" Although Larry Bird had already told Meng Xu that apart from the main lineup not moving, the rest of the substitute players could become bargaining chips to strengthen the inside line, but Meng Xu really didn't expect that , Larry Bird will send Al Harrington. Al Harrington is a high school student that Larry Bird values ​​very much, and he is also a young player that the Pacers have been training. In the 50 games before the All-Star break, Al Harrington played in less than 30 minutes. During the time, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, which can be said to be very eye-catching. There are even bricks who say that if Al Harrington can get more opportunities, the bottom line will be guaranteed. Can become a 20+5+5 All-Star perimeter.

"Larry called me this morning and told me that I was traded to the Grizzlies." Although across the phone, Meng Xu could hear the reluctance in Al Harrington's tone. It is the fourth year of Indiana's life. It would be a lie to say that there is no emotion, but emotion is not very useful in the commercial league of the NBA.Meng Xu and Al Harrington are the same age, so the two usually get along very well. Although the relationship with Al Harrington is not as strong as that of James Posey, but hearing El Harrington Meng Xu's dejected tone was somewhat sad.

"Al, this is the NBA. We all have to learn to adapt." Meng Xu put down the sadness in his heart and wanted to persuade him. In fact, for Al Harrington, leaving the Pacers is also a good choice. With himself, Al Harrington, who has overlapping positions, can only play as a substitute all the time. For any player with potential and ambition, this is very unfortunate. Therefore, Meng Xu also changed the subject and continued to play. Said: "Al, the Grizzlies are actually a good choice. Except for the rookie Gasol, there are no other outstanding players, so when you get there, you can directly be the boss."

"That's right, even if I stay in the Pacers, I will be your substitute for the rest of my life." Al Harrington comforted himself with a smile, but Meng Xu could still hear the helplessness hidden behind his laughter. Even the NBA, not to mention a role player, is a superstar. It is normal for a team to be traded when it doesn’t fit with the team’s thinking. In the end, Al Harrington also said to Meng Xu with pride He said, "See you in the finals."

. . . . . .

At noon on the day of the trade between the Pacers and the Grizzlies, the trade was disclosed by the media. The Pacers sent out the team’s sixth man, Al Harrington, and got the Grizzlies’ main center, Lorenzen White. And this season's first-round pick.The Grizzlies management used an almost gambling method this season to send out the star All-Star power forward Abdullah Rahim, and exchanged this year's No. 18 pick Paul Gasol from the Eagles, and Gasol did not To the disappointment of the Grizzlies' management, Gasol averaged 9 points and [-] rebounds per game in his rookie season. As a result, the Grizzlies have also strengthened their determination to build a team around Gasol.

In the current NBA, it has always been standard for a team to have two star players, one inside and one outside. It's an important task to come down, but Memphis is a small city, as long as there are slightly famous players, they will not go there, so the Grizzlies' many transactions have ended in failure.And after getting Al Harrington, the Grizzlies can finally shout that we have completed the reconstruction, and now the Grizzlies are left to wait, waiting for Paul Gasol and Al Harrington to grow rapidly, and then the Grizzlies You can return to the playoffs.

Lorenzen White is an addition to the Grizzlies' sending of star Raheem. Mutombo's former substitute, in the average 28 minutes of playing time last season, can get 12 points, 7 Rebound data, after coming to the Grizzlies, Lorenzen White, who won the main position, has also increased a lot. In the game before the All-Star Game, Lorenzen White averaged 13 points per game, 9.2 Although in this era of super insiders crawling all over the floor, Lorenzen White is at best a second-rate insider, but the arrival of Lorenzen White has also greatly enhanced the Pacers' inside strength.

After the Pacers completed the deal, the stubborn disease that had plagued the Pacers for more than half a season was finally lifted. After getting Lorenzen White, the inside combination of Jermaine O'Neal and Lorenzen White, At least in the East has not lost to any team.In this transaction, the only victim is James Posey. After Lorenzen White joined, Jermaine O'Neal also returned to the power forward position, and James Posey, who played as a power forward for half a season , Now I can only take over the gap left by Al Harrington and play the sixth man.

Although in this transaction, the Pacers only added a new face, but due to the arrival of Lorenzen White, the Pacers' starting lineup has undergone a lot of changes, so from now on, the Pacers will start again. The lineup has been adjusted, but these things are not what Meng Xu needs to care about. Larry Bird will naturally arrange everything.

"James, are you okay?" On February 2th, the Pacers ended their All-Star break. On the first day of resuming training, Meng Xu kept paying attention to James Posey, for fear that Posey would lose his main position. Feeling unhappy, even thinking about leaving the Pacers.This year is James Posey's contract year, so for Posey, whether he can get a big contract after the end of the season is a crucial year. Losing the main position means that Posey has lost more opportunity for performance.

"I'm fine, what's the matter? Meng, I think there's something wrong with you. You see, you've been chattering all day. Do you have something to say to me?" James Posey threw away the Towel, he picked up two bottles of drinks from the ice bucket beside him, and handed Meng Xu a bottle.It seems that James Posey doesn't care at all about the loss of his main position due to the arrival of Lorenzen White.

"James, I'm really sorry. I applied for a trade to come to the Pacers. This year is your contract year, and now you have to sit on the bench because of the arrival of Lorenzen White." Meng Xu unscrewed Lid, take a sip expected.Whether on or off the court, James Posey is a very trustworthy person, and the relationship between the two is very strong, but the more this is the case, the more Meng Xu feels sorry for James Posey and Elha Linton, because Meng Xu has the right to veto and suggest transactions in the Pacers, but in order to strengthen the team's internal strength, Meng Xu had to agree with Larry Bird's deal.

"Haha, so that's what happened." James Posey laughed, raised his head and took a sip of his drink: "I thought it was something, Meng, you are my brother, so I trust you, and the two of us Playing together, what is the difference between a starter and a substitute? And the head coach also said that my playing time will not be reduced, so you don’t have to worry about me. And don’t forget what our dreams are!. "

"Well, here's to my dream." Seeing James Posey, who was more relieved than he imagined, the haze covering Meng Xu's heart was also swept away at this moment. Meng Xu raised the drink in his hand and bumped into James Posey.

Thank you for the two monthly tickets with a half-bend smile, thank you.

Thank you BABY Xiao Xiaoxi for the monthly pass, thank you.

Thank you for the monthly ticket of Tianguomei, thank you.

(End of this chapter)