Chapter 223: Captain Jack in Action

The Clippers paid two unprotected first-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013, a 2014 second-round draft pick, plus Brian Cook, Ryan Gomes, and a $5 million trade exception to exchange for the priority signing rights of Stephen Nash and Grant Hill.

Once this trade came out, the whole league was shocked.

Because before this, no one thought Nash would join the Clippers.

After all, Nash was making his final stand in his career, and he was aiming for the championship.

But now he chose the Clippers, a team that didn't even make the playoffs last season.

This is too incredible; does Nash firmly believe that Jack Fan can lead the Clippers to the Finals and win the championship?

Many people held their heads with both hands and couldn't believe it when this trade happened.

Among them were Jean Bas, Pat Riley, and Thibodeau.

They were the teams that wanted to get Nash the most, but Nash gave them an unexpected blitz, not choosing these three teams that looked closest to the championship at all.

"It's incomprehensible that Stephen Nash chose to join forces with Jack Fan in his final career stand, and even brought along his old partner Grant Hill. They clearly had better choices; even in Los Angeles, there was a greater team than the Clippers."

ESPN used "inexplicable" as an adjective when evaluating this trade.

After getting Cook and Gomes from the Clippers, Phoenix quickly waived them. They only kept the three draft picks and the trade exception money. It can be said that they did their best in this matter, completely respecting Stephen Nash's decision.

It can be said that they parted ways happily.

Nash and Grant Hill arrived in Los Angeles, making Clippers fans completely and utterly excited. This was an unexpected surprise, a shock that came uninvited.

Before this, the most talked-about thing in the City of Angels was another team claiming they were about to get a former regular season MVP, so much so that everyone felt it was a consensus that Nash and Paul would join forces.

Now, Nash joined the Clippers and joined forces with Fan Xi.

Lakers fans were wailing, while the Clippers side was excited.

No matter how Jean Bas and the others ignored Jack, these superstars who had played in the league for half their lives were clear-headed.

Fan Xi met Nash and Grant Hill backstage at the press conference.

"You really are a person who keeps his promises. These days, I watched TV, and I really thought you wouldn't come to the Clippers."

Fan Xi said to Nash with a smile.

These days, the Los Angeles media was bombarding, crazily promoting the combination of Chris Paul and Stephen Nash, forming a super five-star alliance with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum.

It really sounded very attractive.

And, no matter what, the three-time champion Lakers had a better chance of touching the trophy than the unknown Clippers.

For Nash, this was really a bold decision that challenged the limits.

His agent team had always opposed it, but he not only convinced the agent team, but also convinced Grant Hill.

Grant Hill was the first-generation successor to Jordan; he was a league superstar as soon as he debuted, and he surpassed Jordan to become the All-Star voting leader in his second season.

At that time, everyone thought that he, with his powerful explosive power, amazing strength, and sharp breakthroughs, would become the next ruler of the league.

The time, place, and people were all there.

Unfortunately, he fell in front of injuries.

And just when everyone thought this superstar would be depressed because of injuries, Grant Hill washed away his lead, joined the Suns, and rejuvenated his second spring beside Nash. He had transformed into an excellent wing player; his defense, his off-ball movement, and his three-pointers made the Suns full of combat power on the wings.

Now, he continued to follow Nash's footsteps to the Clippers.

He would greatly enrich the Clippers' small forward position and bring rich experience to Leonard and Butler. After all, in terms of league resume, ups and downs, and knowledge and cultivation, there would never be another small forward in the league who could surpass him.

It is worth mentioning that when James first entered the league, many people thought his template should be Grant Hill.

Nash hugged Fan Xi with a smile and said: "You promised me that you would win the championship in three years. I don't have many three years left, and this one, he even only has two years left; he told me he wants to retire from the court before he is 41."

Fan Xi followed Nash's guidance and hugged Grant Hill.

Hill was born in '72 and was the third overall pick who entered the league in '94; he was even older than Kidd. In fact, he was only 4 years younger than Fan Xi's father.

Fan Xi had of course heard of Hill's legendary story, and he was full of curiosity about this violent gentleman who played the piano. He, like many fans, had the same association: if Grant Hill hadn't been injured, what height could he have reached? Would he have suppressed the emergence of the Four Great Shooting Guards later?

But this kind of assumption would never get the correct answer.

"Hey, Jack. I've watched your games; your breakthroughs are beautiful, and your first step is very much like mine when I was young, but I think there are some details that can be corrected. If you need my help."

Grant Hill said gently.

He was just as the rumors said; he was an elegant gentleman. Coming from a wealthy family, he had very good cultivation, and when NBA players were still wearing baggy jeans, he was already dressed in a suit.

"This is really great, Grant." Fan Xi held Hill's hand tightly, his joy coming from the heart; Grant Hill's breakthroughs were very fierce, with the courage of ten thousand men.

Under the steel jungle-like defense of that time, his main scoring method was breakthroughs, which shows how fierce and peerless his breakthroughs were.

Although Fan Xi's current breakthroughs were already sharp, if he could add some fierce factors, it would go to the next level.

For a man, there is nothing more romantic than "continuously becoming stronger."

Nash and Hill appeared at the press conference, holding up the Clippers' No. 13 jersey and No. 33 jersey respectively, announcing that they had officially become members of Los Angeles.

There were too many questions from the reporters under the stage that they wanted to ask Stephen Nash and Grant Hill, asking them why they chose the Clippers.

Facing this question, Stephen Nash's answer was very direct: "The only reason I am here is Jack Fan. Grant and I watched his performance in the Finals last season, and we felt we should be here; we can help him, and he will be the captain who carries us to the other shore of success."

Nash did not shy away from speaking.

This made the reporters very strange. An ESPN reporter stood up and asked loudly: "Stephen, isn't your current career ideal the championship? You don't have time to accompany a young captain to grow up. Maybe I'm being offensive, but you should have chosen the Lakers, or even the Miami Heat. I have always been your fan, and I hope you win the championship; you are only one ring away from the Hall of Fame."

Although this reporter claimed to be Nash's fan, in fact, his words were very impolite, and even somewhat arrogant.

Nash was a bit stunned; with his kind personality, he was not good at this kind of verbal confrontation.

Grant Hill, who was sitting next to him, was also a gentleman.

At this time, Fan Xi, who was standing backstage, walked up.

His appearance made the reporters at the scene cheer.

After shaking hands with Nash and Hill, Fan Xi sat down, took the microphone, and said: "This question should be answered by me. Because that's what I told Stephen on the phone; I told him we would win the championship within three years."

As soon as Fan Xi said this, the scene was in an uproar.

Win the championship within three years?

Jack actually made such an arrogant and no-retreat promise.

Looking at the current league, it seems that only LeBron James said last year that what he wanted to win was not four championships, not five championships, not six championships...

"Do you think the Clippers can win the championship?" This ESPN reporter asked, eagerly hoping that Fan Xi would say something even more shocking, and then slap him hard in the face.

Fan Xi stared at him: "Yes. Don't you believe it?"

This reporter shrugged his shoulders, raised his eyebrows, and said dismissively: "I don't believe it."

"What's your name?" Fan Xi asked him.

"Greg Howard."

"Okay, Greg, I've remembered your name. On the day I win the championship, I will thank you for your questioning to the whole world," Fan Xi said lightly.

"That day will never come," Greg Howard said very firmly.

Fan Xi didn't discuss it with him anymore, just said: "Next."

Fan Xi completely mastered the initiative of the press conference.

He was like a strong leader; on Stephen Nash's first day at the Clippers, he felt the courage of Captain Jack.

He was indeed not a person who was submissive; he had his own style. No wonder he could beat the Big Three with his bare hands.

Most of the reporters then asked Stephen Nash and Grant Hill about their feelings about joining the Clippers, and whether they could integrate into Fan Xi's playing rhythm...

Finally, a reporter asked Fan Xi a question: "Captain Jack, we see that the team's current lineup is mainly experienced veterans and young newcomers. Will we add some middle-generation combat power next? Also, will we have new reinforcements next?"

Fan Xi smiled and said: "This needs to be asked to General Manager Dunleavy; this is his business scope. Boss Sterling didn't pay me for this part."

The press conference ended with such a joke.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

For the reporters present, today's press conference was enough for them to create news that would grab eyeballs.

Nash and Hill joining the Clippers was an unexpected thing, and Fan Xi publicly announcing the championship timetable at the press conference ignited public opinion.

"Jack, some things shouldn't actually be said." Nash returned backstage and carefully reminded Fan Xi: "If you don't win the championship in three years, they will mock you with extreme sarcasm."

"I have confidence in us, Stephen."

Fan Xi looked directly into Nash's eyes again very firmly, and he said in an incomparably certain and fiery tone.

Nash felt Fan Xi's determination.

He decided to work hard with Fan Xi.

…

Although Fan Xi claimed that he was not the General Manager and did not participate in the construction of the lineup.

However, after Nash's press conference, he appeared at the Hilton Hotel. Kwame Brown was waiting for him there.

Kwame Brown is a famous "bust" number one pick; he has been living in Los Angeles this offseason, and he has tried to find connections several times, wanting to meet with Fan Xi.

He was once a member of the Lakers, and was later sent away as a trade chip, which led to the Lakers welcoming Pau Gasol and achieving a three-peat dynasty.

He, on the other hand, is still that "bust" number one pick that the media repeatedly drags out to whip.

Is Kwame Brown a bust?

Undoubtedly, he is a bust.

However, can he play in the NBA?

Definitely can play.

His physical quality is very good, solid, can carry and block; many Zhongguo fans vividly describe him as: "a top-tier center from the shoulders down."

The biggest impression ordinary fans have of him is: bust, butterfingers, timid, afraid of catching the ball.

But in fact, in the later stages of his time with the Lakers, he had already become a decent low-post defender.

He was elected as the number one pick because his physical quality was indeed good enough; at 210cm tall, he possessed the movement speed of a forward, and his strength and explosive power were also very good, and his current build is at the top-tier blue-collar level.

However, because his shortcomings are very obvious. Because he played for a short time, only starting to play in middle school, his basic skills are particularly, particularly poor, and coupled with his very small palms, his ability to combine man and ball is at the high school level; let alone the butterfingers when catching the ball, even attacking with the ball himself is easy to drop.

With his kind of technique, how could he play in the NBA's super-high-speed, super-rhythm situation? Not to mention that he encountered a paranoid like Jordan early in his career, and then accepted Kobe's military training... his self-confidence was long gone.

The reason he found Fan Xi now is that he doesn't want to leave Los Angeles again, although the Golden State Warriors offered him a 1-year, $7 million contract.

But he wanted to talk to Fan Xi; his agent team told him that Old Dunleavy had no interest in him, and Jean Bas was even more disgusted with him. If he wanted to stay in Los Angeles, he should find Fan Xi.

But Kwame Brown had watched Fan Xi's games, and he thought Fan Xi was the same type of player as Jordan and Kobe; he was afraid that Fan Xi would also spray him.

However, when Fan Xi met him, he brought a thick stack of videotapes, which exceeded Kwame Brown's expectations.

He just came to go through the back door, hoping to stay in Los Angeles to work.

Didn't expect... Fan Xi actually walked into the room and turned on the long-outdated videotapes; these were even footage from his high school days.

Kwame Brown was stunned: "Does he want to teach me how to play basketball?"

"Does he really think I still have talent that hasn't been released?"

Fan Xi didn't discuss the contract with him, but talked to him about Kwame Brown's technical problems. "Actually, from the beginning, you being selected by Washington was a mistake; they didn't have enough patience to wait for you to grow, and they couldn't give you the time to polish your skills to adapt to the NBA."

"Your problem lies in the fact that your brain is indeed not good; you can't handle complicated things. Your technique, your playing style, all need to be strictly required to be simple."

"Do you know? The most powerful swordsman is not the one who has the most complicated moves, but the one who is best at drawing the sword; practice the sword-drawing technique ten thousand times every day, repeat it for ten thousand days, and you can become the number one swordsman."

"With your talent, you should practice the simplest moves, practice them until they are pure, and then you will become a top-tier center in the league!"

"……"

Fan Xi pointed to these videotapes of Kwame Brown's growth record and said to Kwame Brown.

Kwame Brown was really stunned.

He felt as if he had been brainwashed.

Fan Xi talked to him for about an hour and a half.

He actually didn't remember anything; he just remembered one sentence: "Your brain is not good, you need to practice the simplest moves, draw the sword ten thousand times!"

Fan Xi's analysis of his technique, he didn't listen to a single word; he had a bit of a hearing impairment.

"I have decided to join the Clippers, can you give me a contract?"

Kwame Brown asked Fan Xi at the end of the conversation.

Fan Xi's goal was also achieved.

"I will go and discuss it with Dunleavy, but whether you will get a contract in the end, and how much price you can get, I have no idea," Fan Xi said in a business-like manner.

But Kwame Brown was already completely convinced by Fan Xi; a person with a simple brain like him just wants to follow a boss with strong personal charm and leadership ability, and who doesn't scold him.

Fan Xi was the boss he had been searching for for so many years.

He felt that he might find a little bit of love for basketball in Fan Xi.

Instead of suffering humiliation every game night for a few million dollars in annual salary, and shouting "fuck the basketball dream" in nightmares.

…

After meeting with Kwame Brown, Fan Xi went to another hotel; he was also negotiating with another important figure.

In fact, Jean Bas was also rushing to that hotel with people at this time.

This former member of the Four Great Shooting Guards was very popular.

After all, he had washed away his lead and become a very good wing supplement.

The Lakers needed such an experienced veteran.

The Clippers also needed one.

… ===== CHAPTER 224 =====