173. The Warden’s Blessing

February 9th, the All-Star Weekend is here!

The first half of the season is over, and the half-way rankings are out.

In terms of achievements.

Top ten in the Eastern Conference: Pacers, Nets, Pistons, Hornets, Heat, Bucks, Knicks, Celtics, 76ers, Raptors.

Top ten in the West: Kings, Trail Blazers, Spurs, Timberwolves, Lakers, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Jazz.

Data list.

Scoring list: McGrady ranks first with 29.1 points per game.

Rebounding list: Garnett ranks first with 13.7 rebounds per game.

Assist list: Kidd ranks first with 9.2 assists per game.

Steals list: Baron Davis ranks first in steals with 2.5 per game.

Block list: Ratliff ranks first in blocks averaging 3.1 per game.

Except for Marbury who is chasing closely behind Kidd, the first place on the other four lists all have huge advantages, and it will be difficult for the second place to catch up.

For example, the second place in the scoring list is Carter, who averages 24.6 points per game, which is far behind.

After fighting hard for 50 games, each team finally ushered in a 7-8 day buffer period, which was the happiest time for each team during the regular season.

But not the Trail Blazers, who are in turmoil right now.

The famous agent Bill Duffy flew from Los Angeles to Seattle before 8 o'clock in the morning, and came to Liu Xiu's house after 8 o'clock... and had breakfast at Liu Xiu's house.

First of all, he reassured: "Jess, McDyess is negotiating a buyout with the Suns. It will be settled during the All-Star Weekend and will join you."

Liu Xiu nodded and replied: "I see, I asked Nash why he didn't want Ratliff, but Harrington. We can play mahjong at the small forward position."

Last night, after the three-way trade between the Trail Blazers, Hawks, and Pacers, the Hawks completed another transaction.

The Hawks used Theo Ratliff and Jonathan Bender as bargaining chips to acquire All-Star forward Anthony Walker from the Mavericks.

Liu Xiu remembered that in the original time and space, the Trail Blazers exchanged Tianzun for Raheem and Ratliff.

This time, they didn't ask for Ratliff, but instead asked for Al Harrington and a first-round pick.

Seeing that Liu Xiu was not in a particularly bad mood, Bill Duffy asked: "Jace, aren't you angry?"

Bill Duffy remembers that during last night's post-game interview, Bill Walton asked a question, but Liu Xiu didn't say a word and almost left.

Liu Xiu responded: "It's been a whole night."

"Yeah..."

Only then did Bill Duffy remember that his talented player was a man who was extremely afraid of trouble.

Liu Xiu asked: "I'm very curious. We have locked in the top two in the Western Conference one game ahead of schedule. Why do we need to trade?"

Bill Duffy smiled bitterly: "Because your boss wants a team with a positive image."

"..."

Liu Xiu rolled her eyes almost out of her sockets.

Both of them were silent.

After a while, Liu Xiu said: "No wonder, McDyess is a philanthropist and Ratliff is a villain taught by Rick Mahon, so when there was a choice, Nash chose Harrington.

We have ourselves to blame for letting the king of technical criminals enter Big Bird's sight.

By the way, Raheem seems to be a good gentleman, the president of the foundation, and a model professional player."

"How do you know them so well Jace?"

"I guessed it might be because of this last night. After getting up today, I checked the information. I actually already had the answer before I asked you."

"Yes, I got the news from Harrington's agent that Nash informed him that he may still be traded later.

Jayce, Paul Allen is determined to clean up the team."

Liu Xiu nodded, indicating that he understood.

Bill Walton continued: "I hope you can try to start changing your image in the public mind."

Liu Xiu asked: "Why?"

With Bill Duffy’s understanding of Liu Xiu, there’s no way he wouldn’t understand!

Bill Duffy responded: "Even if you play very well in your rookie season, very well, and finally win the Rookie of the Year, if Paul Allen doesn't like you because of your image, you will still be traded. To him,

To him, NBA teams are just his 'simulated NBA boss' game."

Seeing Liu Xiu's expression becoming increasingly confused, Bill Duffy became anxious and said, "Jace, Portland has huge market potential. It is one of the cities with the highest per capita income in the United States..."

Bill Duffy didn't finish his words this time and was interrupted by Liu Xiu.

"Bill, you may have some misunderstandings."

"What?"

"Portland is a big city, there is a lot of money here, and the basketball market here has huge potential...but I don't have to be here."

"..."

“Furthermore, it’s me who makes Portland look like the basketball market has a high prospect and I have commercial value, not because this city makes me have commercial value.

Don't do this the other way around.

Even if I go to Vancouver, it will become the most promising basketball market."

At this moment, Bill Duffy felt Liu Xiu's arrogance and strong desire to control his own destiny.

It was completely different from the feeling Yao Ming gave him.

After working with Yao Ming for a long time, Bill Duffy knew that Liu Xiu was very different from Yao Ming, but he still got used to the way of thinking when working for Yao Ming...

Thinking of this, Bill Duffy remembered that after Yao Ming came into contact with Liu Xiu several times, his personality also changed to a certain extent, but it was not obvious yet.

"Jace, I think you're right, just do it the way you like." Bill Duffy stopped trying to persuade him.

Liu Xiu smiled and said, "Thank you for your support."

When Roy, save the prison team?

He doesn't!

He is the warden, and he doesn't want to rebel against himself.

As for whether the prison team would be wiped out in the end or whether they would do something like the Bad Boys and become a scene in the history of basketball... He would not think about such troublesome things.

At the beginning of the new season, he may be timid.

Now...he just wants to become bigger and stronger!

…

…

Roaring Tianzun joined the Pacers, Ratliff and Anthony Walker exchanged clubs, igniting the mid-season trade market.

Bill Duffy stayed at Liu Xiu's house for less than an hour and then left to negotiate a buyout for Antonio McDyess.

Liu Xiu went online to read the latest news.

Various trading rumors are flying, and some trading quotes with clear information have also been exposed...

Of course, the two transactions that happened first are the hottest things at the moment.

The media, fans, and experts are all discussing these two transactions.

In the three-way trade between the Hawks, Pacers, and Trail Blazers, Sports Illustrated gave the Pacers a trade rating of A.

The center position has undergone a huge upgrade, with twin All-Star towers.

But the reason why the score is only A is because the Pacers are overdrawing the future in exchange for the present.

Three future unprotected first-round picks, as late as 2008.

I think back then, the Lakers relied on a similar deal to select James Worthy.

Last summer, the Pistons relied on a similar deal to obtain the Grizzlies' second pick.

However, upgrading Al Harrington to Rasheed Wallace has made the Pacers the top favorite in the Eastern Conference, which is definitely a good deal for the Pacers.

If you don’t believe me, ask the Timberwolves if they are willing to exchange 10 first-round picks for a championship.

A championship is worth more than two Joe Smiths.

The Eagles received an F trade grade.

For the trade between the Mavericks and the Hawks, Sports Illustrated gave the Mavericks an S-level trade rating.

This deal is seen as a correction + huge reinforcement to last summer's blind signings.

As long as any one of Nowitzki, Jamison, and Anthony Walker is sent away, the Mavericks' internal crisis will be greatly alleviated.
To be continued...