Chapter 498: Each is beautiful in their own way, each blossoms in their own way

Fan Xi went to New York on the fifth day after his surgery; although the doctor had reminded him not to take a long long-distance flight, he chose not to listen.

Before going to New York, Fan Xi signed two top endorsements with his right hand, and he also obtained a custom-made Lamborghini luxury car… When an athlete enters the realm of the gods, those top luxury goods unattainable to ordinary people will actively approach, hoping they will use their products.

This is a rationalized behavior they use to maintain their luxurious attributes.

Actually, many hyped-up astronomically priced watches also hope to provide Fan Xi with some products, but Fan Xi is not very interested in these things.

He only wants to go to New York to see Troy.

That guy named Troy needs to complete one or two city slaughters in his heart every day, leaving him feeling empty at every midnight reincarnation.

Fan Xi boarded the plane carrying a father's responsibility and honor.

This time, the main mission: retrieve the son!

…

After Fan Xi's flight was announced, many New York media outlets erupted. As everyone knows, Fan Xi will join the Eastern conference this season; each team has a different probability of getting him, based on regular-season standings.

The New York Knicks are the Eastern team with the most media resources; in many past moments, the Knicks have had close rumors with Fan Xi, and they hope that one day Fan Xi will join the Knicks, the team with the highest commercial value in the league, helping the team reach the pinnacle.

So, Fan Xi seeing "Thus we include: English inspects his new territory" in the media becomes reasonable.

Some New York media even yy, they said that with Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, and Amar'e Stoudemire, plus Fan Xi, New York would immediately become the league's top championship contender. Moreover, Fan Xi's close comrade Steve Nash is also here.

However, there is a disheartening fact: this team has never proven itself in the past.

Even if they pay high luxury taxes.

Worth mentioning is that James Duolan earlier, before the finals ended, he said in an interview: "We will definitely draw the Jie Ke sign; if we don't get it, we will spare no cost to obtain this signing slot. Luxury tax? We never care about that."

James Duolan also once talked about his friendship with Fan Xi, saying that if Fan Xi joins New York, he can do anything he wants; I will not treat myself as his employer, we are friends, we are equal, we will build the team together, and on many basketball issues I will respect his opinions as well.

"He has never been just a simple superstar."

James Duolan gave Fan Xi an unprecedented evaluation: "He is already a symbol of the new era of basketball, and I think he is better than Jordan. Jordan is nothing special."

James Duolan is considered the strongest force pursuing Fan Xi, because although other Eastern teams are also wildly courting Fan Xi, James Duolan is the strongest and most sincere.

Under these circumstances, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets, also a New York team, appears disinterested; this Russian oligarch shows coldness toward Fan Xi.

Reports indicate that his relationship with Fan Xi is not harmonious, and there have even been some unpleasant incidents. Therefore, many people think that even if the Nets obtain Fan Xi's signing slot, they would choose to trade it away.

"The Nets have their own team-building strategy, and it is long-term. We will not cause an uproar over a player's one-year usage right. Our goal is to build a dynasty team, and I do not think Jieke Fan joining the team could achieve that; indeed, he might not even bring a championship."

This is the private talk of the Russian oligarch exposed by the media; he shows indifference toward Fan Xi.

The free market is about to open; the Nets are indeed taking very proactive action. They previously secured Joe Johnson, and now they are reaching out to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce with an olive branch, and they hope to also recruit a super heavyweight to dominate everything.

This roster is indeed luxurious in the East.

Moreover, for a long time in the past, Joe Johnson, Pierce, and Garnett have been among the few who could threaten James.

The Nets' team-building strategy is so clear.

Therefore, the possibility of Fan Xi joining the Nets is rapidly declining.

Interestingly, when Fan Xi was surrounded by reporters at Kennedy Airport, he was asked whether this trip to New York was to scout two teams.

Fan Xi shook his head, saying this is a private journey.

Afterwards, the media asked him: Are you ready to play in the Big Apple City next season?

Fan Xi said: "If I must work in the East, New York is naturally the best choice. Being able to play in two super-metropolises, East and West, would give me a completely different fresh experience."

Fan Xi's words were seen as throwing out an olive branch.

After this remark was reported, Knicks fans went crazy, quickly demanding the team take action; they hoped the team would not miss Fan Xi this time: if in Jieke Fan's rookie season the Knicks had been more proactive and made a constructive offer, Los Angeles would basically have no follow‑up story, and perhaps the team that now holds the three‑peat championship would already be the New York Knicks.

Even a rumor suggests that if the Knicks ultimately fail to obtain the signing slot, they will spare no cost to get Fan Xi's one-year usage right, meaning they could clear the shelf of all stars, including Carmelo Anthony.

Even a rumor has it that if the Knicks ultimately fail to secure the signing slot, they would spare no expense to obtain Fan Xi's one‑year usage rights, and this sparing no expense means they could clear the shelf of all superstars, including Carmelo Anthony.

……

Fan Xi is so popular.

But this does not include Jennifer's side.

Jennifer shows a sense of detachment; although she answered Fan Xi's call and also admitted that the child is indeed Fan Xi's, she says she currently does not want Fan Xi to visit, demonstrating a 'new woman' independence. She says: Troy is indeed your child, I will let him call you father. But that does not mean I will let you participate in his upbringing. Jie Ke, you are a very busy person, your career is as high as noon, you still have so many girlfriends, you will have many children in the future, I do not want Troy to be in a complicated big family. He should receive unique love.

Fan Xi was rejected.

Fan Xi stayed in New York for five days, and he did not see Troy.

This made him feel terrible.

Fortunately, during these five days he respectively met Taylor Swift, Anne Hathaway, and Jenna.

This alleviated some of his longing.

On the sixth morning, Fan Xi received a video sent by Jennifer, which was of Troy. Fan Xi tried to discern his own imprint on Troy's chubby face.

Although a newborn's appearance is not yet fixed, there is one thing Fan Xi can confirm: his lips, eyes, and black hair are extremely similar to his own.

This deepened Fan Xi's idea of staying in New York; he desperately wanted to rush into the video to hug the cute little guy, pat his back, and say: Call dad!

This is truly calling dad.

So, Fan Xi went to see James Duolan at noon on the sixth day.

The signing slot James Duolan obtained is not high; their regular-season record last season was top three in the East. This means that their chance of getting Fan Xi is essentially no different from that of the Miami Heat.

Frankly, Miami is also circulating a possibility: if the Heat luckily obtain Fan Xi, should they still curse him now?

Moreover, after Fan Xi joins, should he be the leader, or should James continue as leader?

Of course, these are sweet troubles, perhaps a small flaw in a beautiful dream.

Anyone can solve them.

And with James Duolan, even this sweet trouble does not exist.

When Fan Xi appeared before James Duolan, the usually unkempt James Duolan actually shaved off his messy beard, combed his hair meticulously, and put on a custom Armani suit… He was confident that he had never been this formal when dating any female star.

Fan Xi walked into the room; he proactively stood up to shake hands and hug Fan Xi.

"Jie Ke, long time no see. I heard that after you went to New York, you have wanted to contact me, but you were worried you had important work." James Duolan sincerely explained to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi smiled, and got straight to the point: "James, I want to play in New York. I hope you will make an effort in this regard. And what I can promise you is that, no matter which team gets a Signing Slot for me, I will show my refusal."

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan heard Fan Xi say that, his face was as if coated with honey, and he was thrilled beyond measure. He quickly rubbed his hands and said: "Jie Ke, as long as you are willing to come, I can spare no expense. Building a good partnership with you is the greatest dream of my basketball career."

Fan Xi no longer spoke vaguely. He said: "James, I have a matter that needs your help. You are the representative of the wealthy in New York City, you must know where Jennifer lives now, I need you to arrange a residence next to her house; I want to live near her."

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan was first stunned, then excited. He blinked, with a look every man understands, and said: "Leave it to me, I will definitely get Jennifer's address and arrange a place near her for you. Trust me, I am professional, and I will never let anyone know you are involved."

"When I was young I often did this, any woman I set my eyes on I would use this method. I recall a Chinese person once told me something like… the closer a house is to water, the easier to get a beauty. A beauty is where there is much water."

Fan Xi thought for a while; with his limited Chinese knowledge, he guessed Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan meant… "the pavilion nearest the water gets the moon first."

Fan Xi and Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan had an efficient meeting.

After the meeting ended, Fan Xi returned to Los Angeles.

He still has a lot of work to attend to.

When he arrived in Los Angeles, Ku Pu Qie Ke had already finalized the trade details with Mountain Cat. Kuaisuan will send Butler in exchange for Mountain Cat's fourth overall pick this year, the 2014 first‑round rookie plus Jian Nai Luo Pa Ge, and 1 million cash.

This trade is almost pure profit for Mountain Cat.

Although they balanced the salaries and also gave up a high draft pick, everyone knows 2013 is a weak draft year. Jimmy Butler, however, has already proven himself as a super rookie in the Finals; he is already at elite player level, and given time the chance he becomes a super star is very high.

However, in this trade contract, Fan Xi forced Ku Pu Qie Ke to include two clauses: Mountain Cat must guarantee Jimmy Butler's status as the tactical core for the next two years, and must ensure Jimmy Butler receives a max‑salary extension.

In some sense, this contract means the Clippers sacrificed many things.

But Fan Xi did not overly calculate the team's gains and losses.

Besides deciding Jimmy Butler's future, the Clippers' other players' roster issues also became evident.

Nowitzki is set to return to Dallas, Mark Kuban has already said that as long as they have enough salary‑cap space, they will give Nowitzki a max contract. Mark Kuban is not fair to many players, but to Nowitzki he can be said to be very protective.

Besides Nowitzki, Deng Tai Qiong Si also confirmed his departure; he is a well‑known NBA journeyman, his playoff performance was commendable, and his regular‑season stats improved over last season. So by changing teams he can raise his value, and many teams see his worth.

Lashade Liu Yi Si confirmed retirement; he doesn't want to keep playing like Arenas, he has earned enough money, and he has achieved his championship dream, he decided to enjoy his retired life.

Hamilton's two‑year contract has also ended; he is now seeking a better retirement contract, and the Clippers have no plans to fulfill this. Business is business. Hamilton's two years with the Clippers have positively increased his career value; Hamilton can now ask any team for about a six‑million‑dollar annual salary.

Overall, the Clippers' players who can stay next season are only: Deandre Jordan, Huaiti Seda, Mili Xiqi, Leonard, Lu Biao, Arenas.

The Clippers must step up their activity this off‑season.

This will be a test for Ku Pu Qie Ke, because with Fan Xi's departure, this summer he will find it hard to attract former superstar players as in previous years; those old guys are all aiming for the championship.

In contrast, the Heat will attract many veteran players. People think the Heat have reached the Finals three times and are just one step away; now that Fan Xi is traveling east, their chance has arrived.

The Clippers have five draft picks this year's draft: two in the first round and three in the second round.

But this year is a weak draft year, with no standout newcomers.

Therefore, the trade value of draft picks is very low.

People don't quite understand someone like Fan Xi trading away Butler.

However, Fan Xi believes that since next season is a rebuild, it should be a thorough rebuild. Rather than having Butler and Leonard cancel each other out, it's better to let each shine on their own.

…