basketball player

259 Chapter 257: Alternative Reinforcement

August is usually a boring month for basketball fans.There are no games to watch this month, and the time for the most exciting "dog blood transfer series" in the NBA has passed.

But this summer, things were different.Because the most important transaction in the league happened in August.

On August 8, the NBA officially announced that Dwight Howard, the center forward of the Magic, who had been blocked in the first round of the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, became a Lakers as he wished through a four-team trade.

Counting Nash, who was just traded to Los Angeles last month, the Lakers also formed their own F4 combination after continuing the Miami Big Three!

This transaction caused an uproar in the whole world. The Lakers are a very competitive team. With Kobe and Gasol, plus the ball master Nash and the super center Howard, the media have ridiculed that if the Lakers are healthy, they may be able to win 82 consecutive victories next season!

Of course, this transaction undoubtedly conveyed a message to the fans-the era of superstar grouping has officially arrived!
This Lakers F2012 in 4 is not the same as the previous disappointing F4. Malone and Payton both went to Los Angeles to mix rings at the end of their careers.But Howard, he is in his prime!Kobe and Gasol are not as conflicted as the "Flying Man" and "Sharks" back then. The only player on the entire Lakers team who can be called at the end of his career is Nash alone.

Therefore, people are very optimistic about the composition of F4 for the Lakers this time.Howard's joining the Lakers also heralds that this summer's NBA personnel surge has basically come to an end.And before that, there have been some interesting transfers.

The Nets traded to get Joe Johnson and Deron to form a double gun in the backcourt, the Rockets sent the teenager Lowry to Toronto, Brandon Roy was reborn to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Chinese point guard Jeremy Lin transferred to the Houston Rockets.
As in the past few years, the changes in team personnel in the summer have made fans look forward to the new season.But among them, there is only one piece of transfer information related to the Pacers fans-Ray Allen signed with the Indiana Pacers for 2 million in 700 years!
This signing undoubtedly caused a great sensation at the time. After all, Ray Allen rejected the Celtics' 1200 million and accepted the Pacers' 700 million instead. This in itself is very incredible.

Furthermore, the Celtics had just been eliminated by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and the generals in the formation immediately "surrendered to the enemy", which naturally aroused heated discussions.

Garnett even claimed: "I have deleted Ray Allen's phone number", indicating that the relationship between the two was completely broken.

There was a lot of scolding from the outside world, but most of them were aimed at Ray Allen.There was only one person scolding Henson, and that was Pat Riley.

Originally, Ray Allen was regarded by Riley as the most important signing this summer, but in the end he was pushed ahead by his biggest opponent in the Eastern Conference. Can Riley not scold him?

The Heat are willing to offer Ray Allen a contract of 3 million in 900 years, which is actually not much different from the Pacers' 2 million in 700 years.But in the end, Ray Allen chose the Pacers.The reason is simple, Ray Allen is more optimistic about the Pacers being able to defend their title!
Retiring with another championship ring is Ray Allen's greatest wish now.Money or not, of course it is still important to Ray Allen, but it is no longer the most important factor.Ray Allen wanted to win, and he wanted to win in a less hopeless group.Most importantly, want to win in front of the Celtics!
In this regard, the Pacers will undoubtedly be able to satisfy Ray Allen.Therefore, even if he only got a 2-year contract of 700 million US dollars, Ray Allen resolutely chose to wear a corn yellow jersey.

So the two sides hit it off, Ray Allen returned to the championship team, and Henson also found a replacement for Matthews.

So far, the Pacers' summer reinforcement plan has basically been completed.At most, that's signing an occasional point guard to fill out the roster.Therefore, since the signing of Ray Allen, no matter how lively and explosive the league's trade rumors are, it has nothing to do with the Pacers.

Henson has been tracking Antetokounmpo in Greece for a week while the teams are still racking their brains to find good players.After that, Henson and An Jiali continued their interrupted travel plan and took a round of European tour.

During this period, An Jiali formally proposed to Henson that she wanted to become a model.Henson expressed his support, and at the same time, the two met on a slightly boozy Parisian night.

"One more championship and we'll get married."

Henson admitted that there was a bit of a drunken element to the engagement.But on second thought, Henson will soon be 33, and An Jiali will be graduating soon.Get another championship and get married, the time may be just right.

Of course, Henson doesn't want the Pacers to miss out on a championship for years to come.In that case, I guess I will be a bachelor for the rest of my life.

Therefore, although the team's player lineup is almost complete, after winning the championship to unlock the achievement, Henson still kept a very perverted "secret badge" and did not use it.But in order to be able to successfully defend the title and for his own lifelong happiness, Henson is still trying to find ways to strengthen the team non-stop.

Only this time, Henson is not reinforcing the players, but the coaching staff!
Frank Vogel, Stephen Silas, Bruce Frazier and Henson himself are the backbone of the current Pacers coaching staff.While this group proved capable last season, Henson felt he lacked someone who could help him on offense.

Vogel is naturally a good helper, but it can be said that he can almost only defend.Silas and Frazier each have their own strengths, but neither of their strengths lies in tactical planning.Sometimes when the team's offense is deadlocked and Henson has nothing to do, it is really a headache.

So today, the Butler Bulldogs coach wasn't surprised when Henson called his former teacher Brad Stevens to ask him out for a drink.After all, when the two talked on the phone before, Henson expressed his wish for Stevens to come to the NBA to assist him more than once.

"Come and help me, Brad. When I was in trouble, I always called you for advice. So I was thinking, just let you come to work with me. But at that time, you and your team were still working hard for the NCAA championship, so I told myself not to distract you. Now is the time, Brad. I know you really want to come to the NBA. You can start with me. I believe that within three years, you will be able to find a job as a head coach in the NBA."

After three rounds of wine, both Henson and Stevens were slightly tipsy.It's just that this time, Henson didn't say "We'll get married if we win another championship" like he did in Paris.

"Of course I am willing to help you, Henson. No one can refuse the call of the NBA. But as far as I know, your coaching staff is relatively saturated. I don't want to be just a person in charge of recording data. I need a certain right to speak tactically. Of course, you must be the boss. I mean, I hope what I have learned can be applied in the NBA." Stevens hiccupped and his cheeks were slightly red.

"That's exactly why I need you, Brad. You and Frank, one is my spear and the other is my shield. With the support of you two, I believe that the Pacers' work in the new season will start very smoothly. Hey, don't forget, I learned how to plan summer training camp from you. Maybe this year's Pacers' preseason training plan can be assigned to you."

Stevens hit the NCAA championship for two consecutive years, and fell in the final step of the finals for two consecutive years.Although he failed to win a championship for Butler University, he was able to lead the little-known Butler University to the finals for two consecutive years. Stevens has undoubtedly proved himself.

In the NCAA, he has nothing left to chase.Maybe changing the goal from the NCAA championship to the NBA championship will make things interesting.
Stevens ordered two more beers. Has his dream of entering the NBA finally come true?

"Then wish us a happy cooperation in advance, Henson."

"Happy cooperation, Brad." Henson smiled happily. After getting Stevens, a young coach who is almost as young as himself, this year's summer reinforcement is almost coming to an end.

(End of this chapter)