Chapter 212: Make a movie! Make a movie!!

The 2011 draft night ended quickly. 60 newcomers were selected by various NBA teams. Most of them would get a contract; perhaps a dozen would enter the rotation, perhaps five or six would become the backbone of the league. Perhaps some would fade into the crowd, perhaps some would make a desperate comeback. Everyone's fate slowly unfolded as the lights at the venue dimmed.

But this night did not belong to them.

The three-way trade between the Lakers, Hornets, and Clippers shocked everyone. Everyone in the basketball world was discussing the far-reaching impact of this trade; no one even cared about Kyrie Irving, the new top pick, who was like a groom left out in the cold on his wedding night.

Just as Lu Yuan had speculated, the vast majority of commentators, experts, and retired players defined the rating of this trade as: S-level, A-level, B-level.

Lakers made a killing, Hornets made a small profit, Clippers were questionable.

A massive propaganda matrix was set to implant this concept into people's hearts.

However, no matter how they promoted it, it couldn't change one clear fact.

The Finals MVP had been sold out. Jack Fan, who had helped the team complete a three-peat at the cost of a ruined leg, had been sold out by Jeanie Buss.

No matter how great a job Jeanie Buss did with this trade, how rich the returns were, or what amazing superstars were obtained, it couldn't change this fact.

And for Lakers fans, for the fans in the City of Angels who witnessed Fan Xi saving the team single-handedly in desperate situations, the emotion and shock brought by Fan Xi could not be compared to Chris Paul?

Jeanie Buss could spend money to get experts and commentators to speak for her and justify her interest-based trade. But Jeanie Buss couldn't make those fans who were deeply moved and crazy about Fan Xi shut up or turn a deaf ear.

Because the logic of both sides was never the same from the beginning.

No matter how good or strong Chris Paul was, he was ultimately a Hornets player; what did that have to do with my Purple and Gold Legion?

"We want Duke Jack! Give us back our Miracle Child!"

That night, the Lakers' social media was flooded by angry fans.

No matter how much Jeanie Buss described the benefits of her business behavior, it couldn't change the hearts of the people.

Because some things cannot be replaced by so-called interests.

"We only want Jack Fan!! Chris Paul has nothing to do with us!"

"Give Paul to the Clippers, give Jack back to us."

"There's no reason to trade a Finals MVP!"

"This is treachery. Jack gave everything for the Lakers, and in return, they traded for a so-called 'first point guard.' To hell with the first point guard."

"From now on, I am a Clippers fan. I am ashamed to have been a Lakers fan."

"The internal competition in the Lakers is disgusting. Jack became a sacrifice."

"Please tell me the Clippers' season ticket sales number."

"Jeanie Buss will pay the price. She is too arrogant, just like the arrogant Miami Big Three at the end of May. Jack is best at overturning these guys."

"..."

Lakers fans were irritable, furious, and unstoppable.

Everyone hoped the trade would be rescinded; people even hoped Fan Xi wouldn't pass the trade physical due to injury.

However, the Clippers couldn't wait to announce that they had already passed the physical examination on Jack Fan. The subtext was self-evident: if you want a refund, no way.

Sterling wasn't stupid. The fiercer those experts and commentators outside spoke, the more stable he felt in his heart. They were all thousand-year-old ghosts; who was playing tricks on whom?

In fact, the day before the trade, Fan Xi also showed Sterling and old Dunleavy the latest injury report he had received from Dr. Laisi.

This latest report made them beam with joy. It showed that Fan Xi had absolutely no risk of declining athletic ability; a ligament tear and a ligament rupture were two different things medically.

So, asking the Clippers for a refund now was simply wishful thinking.

From the moment the trade happened, the Clippers club's business department had been frantically taking orders. They, who had been deserted, finally enjoyed the feeling of a bustling crowd.

Capital doesn't speak; it doesn't boast in the media about which team made a killing and which team lost a fortune. It votes with its feet.

Now, money followed Fan Xi's footsteps to the Clippers club.

Influence followed as well.

The Clippers' originally dull fan base was flooded with a large number of active members, most of whom were former Lakers fans.

"I announce that starting next season, I will become a Clippers fan. I will wear the Clippers jersey I once disliked the most to Staples Center to watch the game. Jeanie Buss did a terrible job with this matter; I cannot approve."

A famous Lakers fan, Snoop Dogg, expressed his opinion on a social platform: "I'm angry, I'm especially angry. Jack did so much for the Lakers, leaving behind so much emotion and miracles, yet he was traded as a bargaining chip after being injured, in exchange for a so-called 'first point guard.' Human eyes cannot only see interests."

His defection meant, in a sense, a major setback for Jeanie Buss among the fan base.

The "Lakers made a killing" narrative she advocated met with negative results. In most cases, when a public issue involves a conflict between interests and emotions, emotions will definitely prevail.

"I don't care about the current rumors at all."

Jeanie Buss said calmly at the board meeting: "I know this kind of collective unconscious behavior too well. They are just venting their emotions. When the new season starts, when the real games begin, when the Lakers keep winning and the Clippers fall into the mud, they will come back. At any time, strength is the real truth."

"So, I don't care at all how many sponsors are running to the Clippers now, or how many fans have defected to support Jack."

"Strength is the hard truth!"

Jeanie Buss's powerful speech at the board meeting.

She had her father's tough and domineering genes, and she was proving her iron-fisted methods and decisive style.

She wanted the other board members to adapt to her working style in advance.

When would the new season start?

Fan Xi lay in his new villa, browsing news about the NBA lockout.

This house was a brand-new property purchased for him by his parents, costing 8 million USD, bought in the Beverly Hills mansion area.

This was a French-style manor, the decoration style was very fresh, without that feeling of embedding money into the walls. Fan Xi liked the backyard here; there was a huge swimming pool, and from the poolside, one could overlook Los Angeles. On the other side was a garden, decorated very freshly.

Of course, what satisfied Fan Xi the most was that there was a standard indoor basketball court here. Although it was a half-court, it was enough for him to move around.

Fan Xi spent his 20th birthday in this mansion; in fact, this was also his birthday gift.

Chen Ye and that nutritionist moved in, and they took care of Fan Xi's daily life here.

This was what Chen Ye was best at; after all, he was a driver, bodyguard, chef, martial artist, actor, and an orthopedic doctor personally certified by Dr. Laisi.

"I estimate it will enter a lockout; there is already a precedent for this in the NBA. But it will definitely be settled in the end. Jack, believe me, you will benefit greatly from this negotiation."

Lu Yuan sat nearby, providing Fan Xi with professional analysis.

"Although I don't know how long the lockout will last, judging from this labor dispute, it won't be resolved in three or five months. So, many players will run to other leagues to play. I heard that a certain team in China is willing to spend 100 million USD to invite Kobe to play there..."

Lu Yuan continued: "But this is mostly propaganda. Kobe isn't short of money; the ones who are short of money are those big spenders who are currently free agents. They have to work; once they are unemployed, they are very likely to declare bankruptcy."

Fan Xi muttered nearby: "This is really bad news. I really can't wait for the new season to start quickly. I have to let the whole world know that the Los Angeles Clippers have stood up."

Lu Yuan laughed nearby.

Then, he made an interesting suggestion: "Jack, since we have such a long vacation, why not do something else? You can actively expand your influence off the court and earn a considerable amount of money at the same time."

"What?" Fan Xi asked.

"Release a music album, or shoot a movie?"

Lu Yuan was like a tempting devil, pulling out two tempting apples.

"Make a movie! Make a movie!!"

Chen Ye was already shouting excitedly in the back.

... ===== CHAPTER 213 =====