Chapter 210

On June 24th, the annual NBA Draft was held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and broadcast nationwide by ESPN. NBA teams took turns selecting rookies from American college basketball players and other players eligible for the draft (including international players).

All the rookies who signed up to participate were filled with the longing to enter the highest temple of basketball, realize their life value, and complete a leap in their social status.

And all the teams in the league also hoped to select role players suitable for the team's system, elite players who could help the team go further, and core players who could lead the team to a rebirth from among these talented players.

The NBA is the dream of every basketball player. Not only is there the highest level of competition here, but also the highest salaries and the highest exposure in the basketball world. Once you become an NBA player, even if you are a water-boy player, you are already one of the best four hundred players in the world.

However, these four hundred-plus players circulate rapidly. Most players just make an appearance in the NBA, and the update speed is very fast. Those who can stay in the league for more than five years are in the minority.

Fan Xi sat in front of the TV, watching the camera slide across the faces of this year's popular rookies one by one, muttering in his heart: I wonder how many will be happy and how many will be sad.

The draft is a place with extreme drama. Every year, there are dark-horse rookies who make a comeback, and popular rookies who fail. Many complex emotions have nowhere to hide under the surveillance of the cameras.

"This feels like being in Dongguan."

Chen Ye sat behind Fan Xi, not missing the opportunity to show his unique insights.

Fan Xi had not been baptized by Dongguan-style culture, and Lu Yuan was also strange. He asked Chen Ye: "Does Dongguan have an NBA draft too?"

"There is another kind of draft. If you return to the country, I can take you to experience it; that place is a true paradise," Chen Ye said with an aftertaste.

This aroused Lu Yuan's yearning, and then Lu Yuan asked him: "Where did you and Dr. Laisi go last night? Why did you only come back this morning?"

"It was just... just conducting some academic discussions, sharing our clinical experiences as doctors," Chen Ye said, looking slightly embarrassed but with a straight face.

Hmm?

Fan Xi felt something seemed a bit off.

At this time, Chen Ye quickly changed the subject: "Boss, when were you selected in the draft back then?"

When Chen Ye asked this, Fan Xi was instantly embarrassed.

Lu Yuan, sitting next to him, held back his laughter and said: "Last year's draft, the 60th pick was Dwayne Collins, and the boss's name was after Collins."

Oh!

"So that's how it is, I understand now."

Chen Ye nodded, finally being "cultured" for once: "It means you failed the imperial examination."

*Cough cough. *

Fan Xi began to cough, while Lu Yuan, sitting next to him, couldn't hold back the smile at the corner of his mouth and burst out laughing.

After a long and complicated introduction, the draft finally began. David Stern walked onto the stage with enthusiastic steps and announced the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-overall pick with his signature voice.

From Duke University, the 1.88-meter-tall point guard, Kyrie Irving.

This name did not exceed everyone's expectations. It seemed that Irving was indeed the only one whose seat was the most stable in this class, and some cheers erupted at the scene.

Kyrie Irving walked onto the stage excitedly, wearing a Cavaliers hat.

This was Cleveland's first number-one pick since LeBron James, and many expectant gazes were pinned on this young guard.

"I know everyone is looking forward to what I will do in Cleveland next. Yes, I will do it. Just like the last second of the fifth game of the Finals last season, that man's shake, spin, step-back, and the three-point shot he launched from where he stood."

When Kyrie Irving was interviewed by ESPN media off the stage, he expressed his attitude very strongly.

This was clearly paying tribute to Fan Xi, and of course, it was also a provocation to James.

His answer made the TV host scream repeatedly.

Fan Xi raised his eyebrows.

Lu Yuan, sitting next to him, muttered: "This little guy is indeed someone good at creating topics. With this one sentence, he has tied you, James, and himself together. I think you should be prepared; there will be more such remarks in the future. He will keep trying to 'touch porcelain' with you and James."

Fan Xi spread his palms and smiled: "I don't care; the one who will be sad is Mr. James."

Hahaha!

Lu Yuan laughed heartily.

At this time, NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver walked onto the stage quickly. His expression was not as relaxed as David Stern's, and the smile on his face was stiff.

He said: "Announcing the content of a three-way trade. The Lakers send Fan Xi, Mike Dunleavy (sign-and-trade, 3 years for 25 million USD), and an unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick to get Chris Paul and a 2012 second-round draft pick from the Hornets. The Los Angeles Clippers send Eric Gordon, Ka Man, A Mi Nu, and an unprotected 2012 first-round draft pick (acquired from the Timberwolves) to get Jack Fan, Mike Dunleavy, and the Hornets' 2013 second-round draft pick. The Hornets send Chris Paul, a 2012 second-round draft pick, and a 2013 second-round draft pick to get Gordon, Ka Man, A Mi Nu, the 2012 Lakers unprotected first-round draft pick, and the 2013 Timberwolves unprotected first-round draft pick."

Boom!!!

As soon as this sentence was finished, the entire draft venue was in an uproar. The front-office staff in suits and the rookies whispered to each other, and the audience in the back were all in disbelief. As the camera swept across, many people were even holding their heads.

Adam Silver's words were no less than dropping a bombshell at the scene.

And the explosion point of this bombshell was in the City of Angels.

It caught all Angelenos off guard; overnight, the sky had changed.

The Lakers' Miracle Child, the greatest rookie legend in history, the toughest undrafted Finals MVP in history, he was actually traded. Although he still remained in Los Angeles, he would have to wear the Clippers' jersey next season.

Fan Xi listened to the exclamations coming from the TV, slowly closed his eyes, and his body leaned back involuntarily. The events of the past resurfaced in his heart.

The time with the Lakers reappeared in his mind like a movie slide show.

Finally, it froze on the final buzzer-beater of the Finals.

He had no regrets.

The person who should have regrets shouldn't be him.

Fan Xi slowly opened his eyes. On the TV, they were still exclaiming about this shocking trade.

Fan Xi clenched his fists: Jeanie Bas, the counterattack officially begins.

At this time, the ESPN expert on TV talked eloquently: "This is an unexpected but reasonable trade. When I first heard it, like everyone else, I felt my heart being gripped. After all, no Finals MVP has ever been traded so easily. However, if you think about the fact that this Finals MVP is Jack Fan, it's very easy to explain."

"Jack Fan is not a superstar in the traditional sense; he has never proven his status. Before that series, he was at most the Lakers' third-in-command; he only rose to prominence after Kobe and Gasol were injured."

"And, combined with his many gossip news, as well as the news of him refusing science and refusing surgical treatment, we can conclude that he is not the kind of superstar worth trusting."

"The Lakers choosing to sell him at this time is understandable; it's maximizing their interests. Moreover, what they got is a true superstar, a time-tested current number one point guard, Chris Paul."

"The grudge between Chris Paul and the Hornets has a long history. He has always complained about not getting help and doesn't want to continue fighting alone like this. Moreover, New Orleans is really too remote, which is not conducive to this superstar developing his commercial value. For him, going to Los Angeles and joining the Lakers is the best choice for his career; he will get everything he dreamed of."

"The Hornets have cleared their cap space; they can rebuild while maintaining a certain level of competitiveness. The chips provided by the Los Angeles Clippers are very attractive; three players correspond to three positions, all at an elite level. And there are two unprotected first-round picks. What if New Orleans picks a number one overall pick next, just like Cleveland this year?"

"Instead of holding onto a superstar with a change of heart, it's better to rebuild completely."

"The Clippers are just too eager to get rid of the role of being ignored. They have always been like transparent in Los Angeles. Fan Xi is their best choice at the moment because Fan Xi has a staggering popularity in the NBA, which can bring a steady stream of sponsorships and topics to the Clippers. He can make many wavering Los Angeles fans walk into the Clippers' home arena."

"For Fan Xi, he needs to stay in Los Angeles. He is the Son of Media, the Wolf of Hollywood; his commercial value reflects his charming off-court relationships, so he won't go to any other city, so the Clippers are the best choice."

"However, the thing that must be noted is: The Clippers have been suppressed by the Lakers for so many years, and they themselves have a huge downward trend. They can easily swallow up the star power of any superstar. Jack Fan, it seems, has never proven himself alone. I think this is a big hidden danger. Perhaps before a season is finished, they will both disappear from the fans' vision? The Clippers are very good at this kind of role."

"So, in my opinion, the biggest winner of this three-way trade is undoubtedly the Los Angeles Lakers. Next season's Lakers have Paul, Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum. I don't think any team can compete with them, including the Miami Heat."

"The Lakers' era of four, five, or six consecutive championships has begun."

"The Hornets also got what they wanted; they are the second biggest winner."

"The Clippers? If Jack Fan can prove his superstar quality, perhaps he can achieve a win-win with the Clippers. But they are a team playing in the same city and the same arena as the super Lakers. Do you think fans are more willing to watch the super Galactic Battleship Purple and Gold Army, or the former Finals MVP who refuses surgery?"

This commentator named Chatford talked eloquently.

His remarks seemed to want to convince many people; his arguments were full of errors, but he dared to throw out an arbitrary and affirmative argument.

"He was paid."

Lu Yuan said very firmly: "Jeanie Bas must have spent a lot of public relations money. Just wait, starting from tonight, many similar commentary articles will appear. She loves doing this kind of 'public opinion can melt gold' thing too much."

Fan Xi smiled and said to Lu Yuan: "Isn't that better? The harder they struggle now, the worse they will fall later."

Lu Yuan was a bit strange and asked Fan Xi: "Why do you look like you're not worried at all? Actually, what this person said also makes some sense. Kobe, Paul, Gasol, and Bynum combined are not something the Clippers can compete with."

"Sometimes, chemistry is more important. And who said the Clippers' roster isn't good enough? Who said the Clippers can't compete with the Lakers?" Fan Xi asked Lu Yuan back.

Lu Yuan was stunned and said: "Do you have any other moves? What were you and old Dunleavy discussing last night?"

"Let the bullets fly for a while longer."

A charming smile appeared on the corner of Fan Xi's mouth.