The Way of the Center

"You know Ann... Many people in this league may not win three championship trophies in their lifetime. Look at Cameron, Carter, McGrady, Karl Malone... ..These bright names can't even touch the edge of the O'Brien Cup. I don't know what I am capable of wearing three shiny championship rings. To me, It's enough." The voice on the other end of the phone paused, An Jie was about to speak, but the person on the phone spoke again.

"I was an undrafted pick, Ann. I even took a part-time job as a waiter at my uncle's coffee shop to make ends meet when I didn't have the ball to play. I never thought about a championship trophy. My only dream was to be able to enter Even if it was just a small backup, it was enough for me to support myself and my family. But now, lo and behold, I am a member of the Dynasty team, and I hold three A total of three championship rings! I feel that my career has no regrets."

"so......"

"So, now the championship is no longer my goal. It is beyond my imagination to get 3 rings in my career. The Trail Blazers did not give me a reasonable price for everyone's contract extension. But the Mavericks... Ann, I really need that money. Functional players like us may lose their jobs someday. The Mavericks may not make me win, but they will I’m saving up for my future.”

The person on the phone with An Jie is Wesley Matthews. This guy just turned down Neil Orsey's four-year, $55 million contract and hooked up with the Mavericks, who were willing to offer four years and $70 million.

An Jie sighed, this was the fourth time he had received such a call this month. Not everyone can have the desire for a championship at any time. When a guy like Matthews has won three championship rings, money is the first thing they need to consider.

55 million and 70 million, these two numbers, I am afraid that even elementary school students know how to choose.

"I see, Wesley." An Jie answered weakly while holding the newspaper. He thought that as long as a team has a good atmosphere in the locker room, it will never disband. However, it turns out that the nba is far from that simple. Even the San Antonio Spurs have people coming and going every year.

"Hey, Ann... don't blame me, okay? I really want to play with you, and I really want to continue playing for the Blazers. But I'm not like you, you just wave your hand and you There are a lot of money sent to the door. What about me? I don’t want to be the next Anthony Walker.” Anthony Walker, the most notorious NBA star after retirement. After squandering 100 million US dollars in two years and declaring bankruptcy, he has become a negative lesson for countless nba players. Now Matthews is just thinking about his own practical problems.

"Blame you? You have the right to choose your own life,

Matthews. In any case, I don't blame you. It's just...it's a pity..."

After hanging up the phone, An Jie once again set his sights on the newspaper.

"The trade between the Trail Blazers and the Hornets is completed, Batum: Thanks for the past few years in the Trail Blazers!"

"LaMarcus Aldridge officially signed with the Spurs, LaMarcus: This will be a new beginning."

"Robin Lopez joined New York for 54 million in 4 years, and the Trail Blazers are facing disintegration!?"

"Wesley Matthews is suspected to be in contact with the Mavericks, and the Blazers may become the biggest loser this summer?"

Each of these headlines has become the hottest news of this offseason. A team that had just established a dynasty was completely dismembered this summer.

In fact, this is also normal. After defeating the Heat to win the championship, the Mavericks were completely overthrown in that offseason? After the second three consecutive championships, didn't the Bulls also become torn apart in one summer? In this business alliance, there are many transactions and signings every year, which is very common.

An Jie had already been mentally prepared for this, but he never expected that everything would happen so quickly.

At the beginning, Nell Orsi chose to trade Batum, just to free up salary space as much as possible to facilitate the next contract extension.

Who knows, the Trail Blazers have lost again and again on the issue of contract extension. Aldridge, Robin Lopez, and Matthews, who just called, were all signed by other teams at intimidatingly high prices.

In the eyes of other teams, the important rotation players in the Dynasty team are of course very valuable. Therefore, the prices they offered greatly exceeded Nell Orsey's expectations. The Trail Blazers can be said to have lost Batum and failed to retain anyone.

It just so happened that the guys who were signed away were all guys who had already won the championship. For them, the championship is enough. Now, being able to make a lot of money is the first priority.

Just when the whole league was eyeing the Trail Blazers cake, Lillard's official statement gave him a reassurance.

Lillard said that if possible, he is willing to play with Anjie all the time. He's not going anywhere, and he'll always belong to the City of Torn.

However, even if Lillard stays, the Trail Blazers will still be seriously injured. An Jie couldn't help feeling a little sad. His dream of winning the championship for the fourth consecutive year might be hard to come true.

An Jie looked at the teammates who had been signed by other teams in the newspaper, and he sincerely wished these guys could get what they wanted. But what An Jie wants is farther and farther away from him...

※※※

Throughout August, the rumors of the nba trade were more exciting than the hundreds of episodes of Korean dramas.

In this era when the contract price is getting higher and higher, players are getting more and more difficult to sign, and teams have higher and higher requirements for players. A rich man like the Los Angeles Lakers, even if they spend a lot of money, can only sign "half-baked" guys such as Hibbert, Bass and Louis Williams.

And Nell Orsey, who doesn't have such a big budget to squander, will not be able to catch any big fish this year.

Signed strong big man Ed Davis to fill Lopez's vacancy, signed a quasi-3 and D player Al-Farouq Aminu, and traded Batum for point guard Noah Vonleh And the all-around small forward Gerald Henderson, who performed well, traded Dorell White for the tepid rookie guard C.J. McCollum. These are what Neil Orsi did his best to supplement the team in the offseason.

Although these signings are not bad, it is still very difficult to say that it is still very difficult for the Trail Blazers to reach the height of 74 wins last season.

Anjie didn't recruit anyone this year, but the Trail Blazers had one of the busiest summers.

An Jie's training is still serious, and the start of the new season is getting closer.

On September 15, An Jie ended his training in the United States and flew to Changsha.

This year, the Men's Basketball Asian Championships will be held in Changsha. At that time, Anjie will definitely become the ticket guarantee for this Asian Championship.

The Asian Championships officially started on September 23 and ended on October 3. In other words, when An Jie came back from Changsha, the preparations for the new nba season had officially begun.

In the blink of an eye, the holiday is almost over. Even three months ago, An Jie had just created a dynasty. Even a month ago, An Jie was still living leisurely with his family.

But professional athletes are like this, you can never stop, even if you have established a dynasty, you still can only go one stop at a time.

On the plane to Changsha, An Jie looked out the window, full of thoughts.

Starting today, a brand new basketball journey may begin.

As the plane took off, fans all over China were looking forward to Anjie's early arrival.

The 26-year-old An Jie embarked on a journey again, basketball never stops!