Basketball injuries only make me stronger

Chapter 288 Son of Congo
James has frequently interacted with Paul on his personal media, and it is obvious that he has already begun to prepare for this giant teammate.

The young James is about to usher in his first real "helper".

In order to get Paul, the Cavaliers also started crazy operations, putting all the chips that can be exchanged for Paul on the shelves, and even released a bold statement: "Except James, you can choose anyone else."

The management teams of the Cavaliers and Hornets also had several contacts.

Everything is moving in the direction Paul and James hoped.

However, the final result surprised everyone.

Paul ultimately failed to go to the Cavaliers.The Hornets traded Tyson and Paul from the Thunder for Ibaka, Jeff Green, two future first-round picks and some cash.

Lian Feng knew that the team and Paul had completely turned against each other.Of course, this hatred is not aimed at himself.

Paul, as the hero who won the championship, failed to get a maximum salary renewal, and just after deciding to leave, the team hadn't sent him to his favorite team, and still regarded him as a cold bargaining chip and sold him, which was hard for anyone to accept.

Although his destination is not bad in Lian Feng's view, even better than the Cavaliers, but the Hornets' operations undoubtedly hurt Paul's self-esteem.

In fact, compared with Jeff Green, Tyson and Ibaka at this time, the prices are not equal.

The two players of the Hornets have been tested in actual combat, while the two players of the Thunder team seem to have good potential, but the ghost knows the blind box of future achievements.

So, the Thunder added two future draft picks and cash.

But overall, both parties are happy with the deal.

What the Thunder need is immediate combat power. Paul and Durant are a good match, and Chandler is the best defensive center in the league.Chandler is poor offensively, but the Thunder don't need him offensively.

After such a transaction, the Thunder will become a strong team in the Western Conference.

For the Hornets, it seems to be a loss, but this deal is also profitable.

Both Tyson and Paul are people who must be sent away, and Jeff Green and Ibaka are both future stars who have the potential to grow into the league's top stars.As long as one of them hits out, the deal will be worthwhile.

The point is that these two young players are on rookie contracts...very cheap.

Another important significance of this deal for the Hornets is the release of salary space.The sudden surge in Lian Feng's salary will not affect the normal operation of the team.

Not only that, because Lian Feng's contract will not take effect until the 09-10 season, so there is still enough salary space to sign one or two one-year short contracts this year, and continue to maintain the championship this season.

Switching to other bargaining chips, the current salary space of the Hornets may not be able to take it.

After all, Lian Feng also knows that George Sheehan doesn't have that much money to pay the luxury tax.It's not a matter of being stingy or not, it's that the small ball market is...poor.

The Thunder are also set on this point.

This is the case with transactions. The thing to consider is not equal value. Whether the team can take it is also a key factor.

This is why the infighting between the managers of the league is so exciting.A good team manager is all about taking advantage of everything in exchange for something better.Otherwise, only equivalent exchange is considered, and the team manager is still operating.

For Lian Feng, the most valuable is not Westbrook and Ibaka, but the next two first-round picks!
Among the rookies next year, there are guys who can change the league pattern!
……

On the plane, George Sheehan cut a piece of steak, put it in his mouth, and then gently wiped the oil stains on the corners of his mouth with a napkin.

"I hope it's worth the effort. I've never seen that kid play," George Sheehan told Lian Feng.

In fact, Lian Feng has never seen Ibaka play in this time and space.When he first got to know Ibaka, that guy was already an amazing shot blocker.

"In fact, we paid far more than we imagined in this transaction." George Sheehan tried to let Lian Feng know how much the team paid to make him happy.

Lian Feng followed George Shinn's words: "Believe me, my vision has never missed it."

Of course, George Sheehan also knows that Lian Feng has an amazing sense of smell, which can be seen from the cultivation of Gasol Jr. against all opinions.

They have seen Ibaka's highlights, and it has to be said that the team's coaching staff and management are surprised by Ibaka's outstanding physical talent.

Had it not been for his contract in Spain, the draft would have been higher.In order to successfully trade Paul and Chandler, the Thunder had to buy out Ibaka's contract in advance, and paid a lot of money for this.

But fortunately, everything went well, and the most difficult thing has been taken care of by Thunder.

At this time, they are going to Spain to have a look at the "son of the Congo".

George Sheehan shrugged and said, "I hope so."

……

Lian Feng met Ibaka in a restaurant.And George Sheehan and Ibaka's agent went to other places to negotiate.

Ibaka is particularly famous for two things, one is 28 stems, and the other is his cooking skills.

And a person with superb cooking skills is first and foremost a foodie.

Lian Feng silently watched as Ibaka finished the food in front of him.Afterwards, he looked around nervously, with an expression of fear and excitement.

Lian Feng said: "You know me right? Do you need me to introduce myself?"

Ibaka shook his head: "No. Of course I know you."

"Are you full?"

"good."

"Tell me honestly, what do you think about us being teammates?"

Ibaka was stunned for a moment. He tried to imagine many scenes of meeting Lian Feng, but they were all different from the scene at this time.

He has only a vague idea of ​​the NBA at this point.

He grew up in the war in Congo and experienced countless hardships.Fortunately, fate allowed him to represent the Congolese youth team to play in the championship, and then was selected by Spanish scouts, and began to play in the Spanish league until he was selected by the Sonics.

He had seen all kinds of violence, sordid murders, and death.From the age of 12, his life force was only basketball.

He didn't really start watching the NBA until he arrived in Spain, and it wasn't long ago that he learned to use video sites to search for highlights of stars, to search for Mutombo's blocks, Nowitzki's jump shots, and Sharks' bottom moves.

Last year, Lianfeng's games and highlights were broadcast almost every week on TV.

When Lian Feng led the Hornets to the finals, Ibaka was also excited.

He felt that fate was really incredible.It seemed that all the suffering had come to an abrupt end at some point before.Now the great creator has sent another turning point: to go to the other side of the ocean and play with the best group of people in the world.

And his teammate turned out to be the child of the miracle who threw one lore after another.

At this moment, he was sitting in front of him.

Ibaka smiled and said in poor English: "When I was eight years old, my only wish was to see the normal morning sun every day. Now, I am dining at the same table as one of the greatest players in the world. What can I say, long live fate."

(End of this chapter)