Chapter 225: Championship Lineup, or Old, Weak, Sick, and Disabled

Jean Bas walked into the conference room, and she immediately walked toward Vince Carter with a face full of spring breeze and great enthusiasm: "Long time no see, Vince, you look stronger than before. How is it? Did you have a thrilling offseason? You must have also thought that the league would be locked out for a long time."

Jean Bas greeted enthusiastically as soon as she came in. She had the ability to make the awkward atmosphere disappear into nothingness.

It felt like she was very familiar with everyone.

Vince Carter shook hands with her politely, and then hugged Magic Johnson; they had a friendship in the past. And the two assistants of the Lakers.

Obviously, the Lakers' sincerity was full; their president and general manager both came here to invite Vince Carter to join. For the current Vince Carter, this was super-standard treatment.

When they sat down, Vince Carter introduced his situation, saying he hoped to complete his career in a big city; although he didn't know how long he could play, he felt there was still a lot of gas in his tank.

Jean Bas and Magic Johnson both praised Vince Carter's ability, saying Vince Carter was the aviation hero in their impression, a visitor from outside the sky.

Then, Jean Bas introduced the Lakers' current situation: "As you know, our team now has the strongest starting lineup in the league, and it is also the strongest lineup in the league; the Lakers are unprecedentedly strong in history. We have the league's number one point guard, the league's number one shooting guard, the league's top five power forward, and the league's top five center. We are about to become the first team in the new century to win four consecutive championships; we are all fighting for this feat."

"Vince Carter, someone as excellent as you should join us. We can provide you with a three-year small mid-level contract; I know the championship is full of attraction to you, come to us, the Purple and Gold Legion is proud to have you."

Jean Bas gave an excited speech.

At the end, she even opened her arms in a hugging gesture.

Vince Carter raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "What role do you think I will play in this Lakers team?"

"An important rotation role. As you know, Kobe is not young anymore; he can't play the whole game like before, we need a star who can maintain efficient output during the rotation time. This person is you, Vince; there is no one in the world more suitable for this role than you," Jean Bas said excitedly.

Vince Carter frowned slightly when he heard Jean Bas's words.

At this time, Magic Johnson continued: "You can become the team's sixth man; you will be our important leader in the second and third quarters. And, in the fourth quarter, you will still have a key role. Everyone in the world knows that the triangle offense needs two ball-handling wings."

Huh?

Magic himself felt strange when he said this, because the Lakers already had two ball-handling wings.

Vince Carter remained calm.

Jean Bas said: "We are willing to provide you with a 3-year, $11.6 million contract. Although this contract will make us pay more in luxury tax, we are willing to do this for you."

Vince Carter thanked Jean Bas for her trust in him.

Then, he talked to Jean Bas and Magic Johnson about many other contents, including the Lakers' tactical direction for next season, and the balance of ball rights between Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant.

Vince Carter cared very much about the Lakers.

Jean and Magic both thought they had the victory in hand.

The two sides talked happily, but they didn't complete the formal signing that day; Vince Carter just said he needed to consider it comprehensively, including contacting the Clippers.

Magic Johnson said this was as it should be.

He was relatively graceful.

Jean Bas said: "Vince, if I were you, I wouldn't contact the Clippers at all; they are just hyping a concept, hyping a false concept of revenge against the Lakers. Jack Fan is not a person with real talent, otherwise, I wouldn't have traded him."

She said it bluntly, stating her hatred for Fan Xi so nakedly.

Vince Carter was caught off guard; normally, these big figures, no matter how much they hate someone, would cover it up; Jean Bas's kind is extremely rare.

He didn't respond to this matter, Magic Johnson smoothed things over, not letting the atmosphere fall into embarrassment, and then the two sides said goodbye politely.

…

"How many chances do you think we have to take down Vince Carter?" Jean Bas asked Magic Johnson when they walked out of the elevator on the 1st floor.

Magic Johnson said: "About 70%. It can be seen that Vince is very interested in the Lakers. And, staying with the Lakers, he can enjoy higher exposure, and fans are also happy to see him partner with Kobe Bryant. Most importantly, this is indeed the place closest to the championship in theory."

"Not theory, but reality. We are already the defending champions. The probability of Vince Carter joining the Lakers is not 70%, but 100%; as long as he has a brain that can think, he will choose the Lakers..."

Jean Bas said firmly.

Before she finished speaking, Fan Xi and Carter's agent came from the other side.

Carter's agent greeted Jean Bas and Magic Johnson enthusiastically when he saw them.

Fan Xi walked into the elevator silently; he had a cold sense of alienation, not taking Jean Bas seriously.

This was their first head-on confrontation since the trade. Their victory or defeat was tied to Vince Carter.

"You will definitely not get your wish."

Jean Bas said a cold trash-talk sentence to Fan Xi before the elevator door closed.

Bang!

The elevator door closed gently, isolating her stinky face.

…

Fan Xi met Vince Carter; Carter lit a cigar, and he stood in front of the window of the conference room looking at the scenery of Los Angeles.

Fan Xi walked over and said: "When I first came to Los Angeles, I also liked to stand by the window and look at the street view of Los Angeles. Because I liked playing Grand Theft Auto when I was young, I could always find traces of Los Santos in Los Angeles."

Carter chuckled when he heard this and said: "Then you should go to Miami."

"Miami doesn't like me; I am the most unwelcome person in all of Miami," Fan Xi said with a smile.

"That's not necessarily true; if you go to Miami and become a Heat player, I can guarantee that no matter how much they hate you now, they will love you just as much then," Vince Carter sighed: "The love and hate in professional sports will actually change with the flow of time and space."

"How is it, how is your injury recovery?" Vince Carter asked Fan Xi.

Fan Xi said: "My injury wasn't serious; maybe it was exaggerated at the time."

"How is it? Are you ready to reject the Los Angeles Lakers? They are full of sincerity," Fan Xi asked Vince Carter.

Vince Carter chuckled and asked Fan Xi back: "Why are you so sure that I will reject the Lakers? The Lakers are the place closest to the championship."

"Based on my understanding of you, Vince. You don't have any obsession with the championship. Therefore, the championship shouldn't be the first influencing factor for you to choose a team."

"What's more, why wouldn't joining the Clippers win the championship faster than joining the Lakers? Stephen and Grant have both made the right choice; others have already done detailed thinking for you, you just need to follow the smart people forward."

Fan Xi said eloquently, his tone full of confidence: "Go to the Lakers, you can only become Kobe's shadow. And come to the Clippers, you are still Vince Carter; the degree of freedom you get is not something you can experience at the Lakers."

"I think you don't just want to be a screw in a strong team."

"Am I right? Vince."

Fan Xi asked Carter.

Carter smiled, noncommittal, and said: "You are a good lobbyist. But the Clippers don't even have a tactical system now..."

Fan Xi took out his paper and pen, and he drew, saying: "At least while Leonard is growing up, you are our starting player; you will get your opportunities here in your most proficient left-side waist area. I know your ability is no longer top-tier, you can't break the real double-team, but I will attract defense here for you, and you can release your 'pass-cut-shoot' three abilities that are not outstanding to the extreme. Behind you is the three-point shooter Dunleavy, on your wing is me, and in your paint are two super-talented men. Even in the substitute time, you will be surrounded by Nash, or Hamilton..."

Fan Xi described it to Carter.

Fan Xi said it very directly; he pointed out without concealment that Carter's "pass-cut-shoot" three-star standard is not the top level.

Carter himself knew this, so he had to transform.

But now, Fan Xi told him that his above-average energy could still be released, and he could still have some star-like achievements.

It was hard for him not to be moved.

People who have held power, who doesn't want to experience privilege again?

How can there be a willing incarnation of a supporting role; it's just wanting to play a little longer in the league.

"The Lakers offered me a 3-year, $11.6 million contract, what about you?" Carter asked Fan Xi.

Fan Xi said: "I don't know, this needs to be asked to Dunleavy."

Then, Fan Xi dialed Dunleavy's phone.

After Old Dunleavy became General Manager, his work became exceptionally easy; he seemed to only need to open contracts.

Old Dunleavy offered Vince Carter a 3-year, $11 million contract, fully guaranteed.

Vince Carter accepted happily.

Although it was $600,000 less, for Vince Carter, this $600,000 was not a particularly big loss; after all, taxes would take away almost half, and he had to pay a part to the league as a guarantee, and the agent would take some.

The difference was not as big as imagined.

Most importantly, Vince Carter could cooperate deeply with Zhongguo brands.

In fact, even if Fan Xi didn't say these things to Vince Carter, Vince Carter would still tend to the Clippers. Going to the Lakers, he couldn't feel freedom, while at the Clippers, he could get more.

…

Vince Carter's signing ceremony with the Clippers was held at noon the next day.

That night, the Clippers released this news to the outside world.

At that time, Jean Bas was simply crazy; she never dreamed that Vince Carter would betray her and choose that damn rookie: "Why? By what?"

Nash, Carter, successive betrayals made her sit uneasy.

Could it really be like what Jim Bas said to her: "You will eventually be ruined because of trading Jack, and completely leave the basketball business."

No!

Impossible!

Even if the Clippers get two veterans, Nash and Carter, it won't help; they are still a bottom-feeding team, and they haven't solved any real problems.

Jean comforted herself. The Lakers are still the Lakers, the Lakers are still so strong; how could the defending champions be scared by these old guys.

…

The day after the Clippers signed Vince Carter, the New York Knicks waived Billups, and the Los Angeles Clippers claimed this former Finals MVP that same day.

Now, three of the Detroit Five Tigers who defeated the Lakers' super F4 in '04 have come to the Clippers.

The media discussed it: the Clippers aimed their guns directly at the Lakers; the regular season hasn't arrived yet, but the gunpowder smell is already so strong that this year's Los Angeles Derby has become a reserved repertoire that people look forward to.

The basketball world of the City of Angels has never been so enthusiastic.

Even those talk shows have started to discuss the Clippers-Lakers rivalry.

When Kwame Brown joined the Los Angeles Clippers for 1 year and $6 million, it immediately set off a new climax for the derby rivalry, because Kwame Brown was a former Lakers player.

This belongs to the camp of old grudges.

Four hours after getting Kwame Brown, the Clippers matched the contract the Warriors offered DeAndre Jordan, 4 years for $43 million.

At this time, Kenny Smith released sensational remarks: "Don't keep your eyes fixed on the Bulls, Lakers, and Heat; look at the Los Angeles Clippers, their current lineup also has the possibility of impacting the championship."

The Clippers' lineup is basically finalized at this moment.

Center: DeAndre Jordan, Kwame Brown.

Power Forward: Blake Griffin, Rasheed Wallace.

Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard, Mike Dunleavy, Grant Hill.

Shooting Guard: Jimmy Butler, Vince Carter, Richard Hamilton.

Point Guard: Fan Xi, Stephen Nash, Chauncey Billups.

The Clippers' lineup can be said to be a combination of meat and vegetables, nutritious and reasonable.

It's just that, from the perspective of supporters, this lineup is simply invincible, much more reasonable than those teams that blindly pile up superstars; it has everything it needs.

However, Kenny Smith's words were soon refuted by Bill Simmons.

He pointedly pointed out: "If the Clippers had such a lineup five years ago, they would indeed be worthy of being a championship foundation. But now it is 2011, and it will soon be 2012. The players on the Clippers' list are not veterans who are about to retire, some have even retired once, and the others are just rookie newcomers who have just entered the league."

"I think, before the Mayan apocalypse arrives, we will see the Clippers' apocalypse."

"Rather than saying they are a championship foundation, it's better to say it's a combination of the old, weak, sick, and disabled."

Bill Simmons is known for his poisonous tongue.

This time, he fired fiercely, directly mocking the Clippers.

His words spread quickly, and many media outlets quoted his words, calling the Clippers the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

… ===== CHAPTER 226 =====