Chapter 528: The Trade Happens, the Nets Win Twice

Fan Xi said: I'm not the Knicks' boss, this has nothing to do with me. As a player, I just work hard on the court. Who I team up with, what tactics we run, won't affect my giving my all in the game.

Fan Xi made a throwaway remark.

Even though the whole world knows he is the most decisive person, if he decides to keep Larry Brown, then Lopez will definitely be screwed. If he decides to favor Lopez, Larry Brown's departure will also be justified.

But indeed, Fan Xi helps neither side.

This makes the messy situation even murkier.

When Fan Xi was traveling with the team to Texas, he received a courteous phone call from Lopez's agent. The agent expressed respect for Fan Xi and emphasized how much Lopez wants to play with Fan Xi.

Fan Xi was enthusiastic and polite, but on the key question he was clueless.

He slipped like an eel.

Lopez's agent got nothing out of it.

When the plane landed in San Antonio, Fan Xi received an email from Phil Jackson. The email contained the Nets' general manager's trade proposal.

The Nets put Tyson Chandler as the main piece, plus two unknown role‑players, to get the Knicks' Brook Lopez, Raymond Felton, and also Richard Hamilton.

Phil Jackson then called Fan Xi, saying the Nets were acting a bit "arrogant", they said they came to solve the Knicks' problem.

Fan Xi smiled.

Then said: "You can proudly refuse him. If he calls you again, tell him you want Tyson Chandler + JR Smith + a draft pick or something. We can send Brook Lopez, and if they want Raymond Felton we can give them, but not Hamilton."

Phil Jackson fully carried out Fan Xi's suggestion.

When he first entered the league, Fan Xi was Phil Jackson's most favored rookie; now the two treat each other as equals, Fan Xi's growth is astonishing, his influence on and off the court is the league's top.

The Knicks unsurprisingly lost to the Spurs in San Antonio.

The Spurs have been playing very well this season; they have used the "GDP three‑horse carriage" as core for many years, this combo still can unleash strong momentum. That's why Tim Duncan is called a historic cornerstone, and the all‑time greatest power forward has never been questioned.

Duncan's long‑lasting durability made Kevin Garnett very envious; Duncan entered the league three years later than Garnett, but actually he is 24 days older because he finished college, while Garnett never even got into college.

At Garnett's peak, his personal ability may have briefly surpassed Duncan's, but in terms of peak length, sustained impact on games, and playoff energy, Garnett falls a level short.

For Garnett, this seems like a nostalgic journey.

He saw Kobe in Los Angeles, then faced his old rival Duncan in San Antonio, and then went to Dallas.

Dallas has a new look; after Nowitzki returned, the team has two All‑Star power forwards.

Blake Griffin and Nowitzki's offense needs no words, and their chemistry is excellent. It's just that they lack defense.

Mark Cuban didn't shake hands with Fan Xi before the game; he was a bit down.

In his plan, Fan Xi should have joined the Mavericks this season. But Fan Xi won the championship last season, and according to the rules he can only go to the Eastern Conference, giving the Knicks a big advantage.

Yet he still sat with Fan Xi, hoping for the 2016‑2017 season, when Fan Xi would leave Kuaisuan again.

Mark Cuban is a long‑term operator; he has held Nowitzki for many years.

Nowitzki in Dallas is like a basketball totem, and he's also especially generous, letting Nowitzki go to Kuaisuan and win two straight titles. Nowitzki's contribution to Kuaisuan's back‑to‑back championships was huge. Although he was injured in both Finals, before the injuries his performance was phenomenal.

Without him, Kuaisuan couldn't have gotten the two titles.

That's for sure.

So, before the game Fan Xi gave Nowitzki a long, strong hug.

"You didn't lose anything, Mark. Everyone is singing your loyalty to Nowitzki; you're the owner every NBA superstar most wants to work for."

After the game started, Fan Xi chatted with Mark Cuban: "But your decision to trade Nowitzki was truly great."

"Screw you." Mark Cuban sounded upset, saying: "When I went to Miami for vacation in the summer, the yacht company blacklisted me. They think the Heat's two defeats by Kuaisuan are because I sponsored Nowitzki for you."

"They say I'm Jie Ke's son, Fan Xi's dog."

Mark Cuban was still angry about this.

Fan Xi laughed heartily, saying Miami people are quite humorous. After a while his laughter stopped abruptly; he realized: "This damn thing is insulting me, right? Jie Ke and Fan Xi are both me!"

"You're not losing either, Mark. You now have two super power forwards. Look how well Blake and Dirk cooperate," Fan Xi said.

From a trade perspective, Mark Cuban indeed didn't lose.

Blake Griffin now has superstar posture; his nightly paint‑area flights bring the Mavericks excess ticket sales. Moreover, after Nowitzki's return, the Mavericks essentially got a young star for free.

In their trade, the team that felt most ripped off was the Miami Heat, then the Los Angeles Lakers.

"How are things in New York? I heard you guys are at odds again."

Mark Cuban looked at the game, chatting intermittently with Fan Xi: "I've told you before, New York isn't a normal place, and the Knicks aren't a normal team. They have a historic tradition; any star who goes there gets drained, exhausted. Get out early, that's my advice."

Fan Xi smiled and nodded.

Then asked: "How about you trade Blake Griffin to us for Lopez?"

"Screw you." Mark Cuban flipped his face, saying: "You still want me to give you a championship?"

Fan Xi laughed hysterically.

Their close relationship is evident.

Fan Xi's remark was a joke. Why would he want Griffin? The Knicks already have enough power forwards; Griffin would have nowhere to go.

The game progressed.

Dallas also played happy basketball; they had no defense.

Coincidentally, the Knicks had none either.

So both sides' offense and defense were lively, with all kinds of threes, drives, dunks.

It was ridiculously spectacular.

The arena fans were excited; Dallas fans even said this was the wild West's proper display, even comparing today's Mavericks to the old Kings.

The answer they got was beyond expectation.

After the first quarter, the Mavericks led 37‑32, up 5 points.

After the second quarter, the Kuaisuan took a 66‑65 lead, thanks to Stoud Mayle's deep three‑pointer.

Stoud Mayle matched up with Griffin all night; the old and new generation violent power forwards each have their merits. Griffin's ball‑handling, passing, penetration, and entertainment value are better. Mayle's shooting is better, his post‑up technique is more refined.

This game might become a feast of back‑and‑forth attacks.

But five minutes before the halftime whistle, the game suddenly lost its meaning.

Ma Ke Kuban had earlier been discussing with Fan Xi the upcoming Knicks versus Rockets matchup.

He said, "The Rockets are on a fierce streak this season; although they're still gelling, they can unleash tremendous energy in games. You need to be careful. All three of them hold deep grudges against you, and they'll definitely give you a harsh welcome this time."

"My advice is that you don't return in the next game; there's no need to make your comeback debut in Houston. That place is unlucky!"

Ma Ke Kuban sincerely advised Fan Xi.

He believes that Fan Xi leading the Knicks with their current lineup against the Houston Rockets' super Three Giants is a self‑inflicted trap.

Moreover, basketball fans worldwide know the feud between Houston's Three Giants and Fan Xi.

Ma Ke Kuban also said that, according to intel, the Rockets began preparing for this game a month ago.

Fan Xi just smiled, stating that once he decides something, he won't change it. He will definitely go and take a bite at that tough nut.

Kuban urged again, "Jie Ke, you don't need to take the risk. You're already the top basketball player; you just dropped 101 points, and your fame is soaring. Even if you luckily beat the Rockets, it won't boost your reputation much. But if you lose, and lose by a large margin, they'll make a big fuss about you."

"Believe me, many media outlets are waiting for you to have bad luck now."

Ma Ke Kuban spoke earnestly.

Fan Xi still persisted.

Angry Cuban pulled out his phone to search for those basketball experts' 'malice' toward Fan Xi, but just then a message popped up on his phone, and he was shocked beyond words.

Breaking trade!

On Cuban's phone screen were explosive red characters.

His expression froze.

He took a few seconds to recover, then he asked Fan Xi: "How did you do that? Why, after you scored 101 points against the Nets, do they still want to trade with you? And they even sent Tyson Chandler and JR Smith back to New York? Why would they fall into the same pit twice?"

Mark Cuban couldn't understand the Nets' move.

Fan Xi, however, smiled and said: "Perhaps the Nets think they've won twice. Trades are hard to say. Lopez is a center they developed; they want to buy him back, which is normal."

'But...' Mark Cuban grew more uneasy. 'Tyson Chandler is the center you need most, with superb help defense and rim protection...'

'Maybe it's because he's old.' Fan Xi shrugged: 'It's normal for an old guy to be disliked.'

Fan Xi was helping the Nets find reasons to convince Cuban.

But Cuban is a shrewd person. He believed this trade definitely had a conspiracy, and he concluded that the Nets had surely been schemed by the cunning Fan Xi.

Fan Xi pulled out his phone and looked at the trade details.

'The Nets sent out Tyson Chandler, JR Smith, and Alan Anderson, receiving from the Knicks Brook Lopez, Raymond Felton, Shannon Brown, and the 2014 first-round pick.'

On paper, it's an even trade.

Moreover, from an age perspective, the Nets clearly came out ahead.

As their owner Prokhorov said, they are long-term thinkers, and they have executed their plan.

Yet everyone still wonders why two cross-town teams would make such a trade, especially after the Nets scored 101 points in a single game.

Many basketball commentators scratched their heads, still unable to figure out why.

However, many basketball experts believe the Nets' trade is a steal; they corrected some minor mistakes from the previous trade and secured a broader future for themselves. After all, from any angle, Lopez is younger and more promising than Chandler.

Moreover, Raymond Felton's strength can perfectly continue Deron Williams' role, allowing the Nets to maintain fierce drive even when Deron rests.

By comparison, the streaky shooter JR Smith seems less important... because he plays poor defense, and the team already has plenty of scorers, so they don't need him.

The Nets' general manager evaluated the trade as: this year's biggest victory!

Prokhorov posted a photo of popping champagne on his Twitter.

The Nets' official website ran a headline and photo welcoming Lopez home.

Lopez never played a game for the Knicks, not even in the preseason, which amounts to not having been traded at all.

Compared to the Nets' high-profile approach, the Knicks kept a low profile.

They issued no comment on the trade.

In phone interviews with insiders, reporters also used 'feeling a great relief' to describe the trade. The media's perception is: 'We were forced into the trade; we had no choice; we could only do this.'

Previously, the feud between Lopez and Larry Brown was well known; now making this trade shows that the Knicks, in choosing between Lopez and Larry Brown, made the difficult decision to side with the head coach.

Coach Brown's authority was preserved.

But what will become of the Knicks going forward?

They lost an important backup point guard, gained an aging, high-salary defensive center, and acquired a streaky shooter who is hit or miss.

Will this trade accelerate the Knicks' descent into hell?

After Jieke Fan leaves, will this group of old-timers make the Knicks even worse?

The media is filled with skepticism.

Fan Xi walked into the team locker room to say goodbye to Raymond Felton and Shannon Brown.

This is the NBA: after a trade happens, they are no longer Knicks players; they must immediately take the fastest flight to meet the Nets, and when they see each other again, they will be opponents.

Raymond Felton seemed somewhat sad; he had originally come to New York with high expectations, even being called a cornerstone at the time.

But now he has simply been traded.

Moreover, no one informed him beforehand.

He was joking with Hamilton on the bench when suddenly a team official approached and told him he had been traded.

Then Hamilton embraced him, who stood there stunned.

This is the NBA; it has always been a business league.

Fan Xi wished Raymond Felton and Shannon Brown smooth sailing and a wonderful Nets career.

Their teammates also rose and applauded them.

They left the locker room carrying their bags amidst a mix of complex emotions.

…