Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 968 968 570 Player Godfather_3

?Chapter 968: Chapter 570 Player Godfather_3 Chapter 968: Chapter 570 Player Godfather_3 If Yu Fei wanted to leave, he had to first initiate a series of promotions, just as a movie requires various promotional activities before its release to shape the public’s expectations, whether reasonable or not.

The breakup procedures in the sports industry are similar.

Yu Fei would have to publicly disclose the things Bennett had done, which would severely damage Bennett’s reputation.

Bennett would resent him deeply because of this.

Even if Yu Fei chose to stay, their relationship would only appear harmonious on the surface and could never return to what it had been.

Thus, from the moment Yu Fei’s camp began the groundwork, the outcome was already sealed.

Fans spontaneously expressed their gratitude to Yu Fei in various ways.

His former teammates also sent their blessings on social media.

Among them, Brandon Roy’s message on Twitter was particularly touching, “Six years ago, I didn’t think you would come back; six years later, I didn’t think you would leave. But you once said, ‘This is life, no one accompanies someone forever,’ but I’m sure, our past six years, were golden times. Brother, I wish you all the best in the future!”

The one with the most mixed feelings was probably Irving.

In his rookie season, Yu Fei had given him a lot of help and was a very good leader.

But Irving also knew that as long as Yu Fei was there, he could never become the number one player for the Supersonics.

Now that Yu Fei had left, and with Roy being injury-prone, Irving saw a gleam of opportunity to rise.

This is certainly the ideal scenario for every ambitious youngster.

Irving was getting more and more excited, and this emotion gradually overwhelmed the negative feelings brought by Yu Fei leaving the team; he felt a promising future beckoning him.

After signing Yu Fei, the Clippers still had some salary cap space, but their future space was becoming saturated, as they had two large contracts on the team.

Besides Yu Fei’s contract, the Clippers were also burdened with two other large contracts. One was Blake Griffin’s massive contract that would come into effect the next season, and the other was a renewal contract just signed last season with Larry Sanders.

The name Sanders was somewhat unfamiliar to Fei. What puzzled him more was why he felt this unfamiliarity.

In this era of declining centers, Sanders had no shooting ability and average finishing skills, but his athletic ability was excellent and he had an extraordinary wingspan. Relying on defense and rebounding, he could play in the NBA until at least the age of 30. However, Yu Fei knew nothing about this man, yet the Clippers had signed him to a 4-year, 44 million US Dollar contract the previous season.

Although the contract wasn’t a max deal, it reflected the coaching staff’s expectations for his future development.

However, Yu Fei felt very uneasy about this contract.

Therefore, right after signing with the Clippers, he immediately contacted Arne Trem to find out more about Sanders’s situation.

Trem spoke highly of Sanders’s talent but also expressed regret that he was not focused on basketball.

“Larry has too many hobbies,” Trem said, “Music, poetry, painting… to be honest, I’m not sure basketball even makes his top five interests.”

An idea suddenly struck Yu Fei, and he blurted out, “Then why did you give him such a big contract?”

Trem explained, “His talent is even higher than DeAndre Jordan’s.”

After Trem’s introduction, Yu Fei remembered. In his previous life, he had read a post titled “The NBA’s Most Eccentric Players,” which mentioned Larry Sanders. This player, despite his exceptional talent and promising future, had lost interest in basketball during the prime of his career and ultimately chose to retire.

Such a person was now on his team, holding a 4-year, 44 million US Dollar contract.

“Then trade him,” Yu Fei said decisively, “Trade him now!”

Trem was taken aback, “Why?”

“I hate big men who can’t shoot!”

At that moment, Kwame Brown was at Yu Fei’s house playing with Little Uncommon. When Yu Fei shouted out those words, Brown was startled, “Big Fei, I’ll definitely develop a shot next year!”

Over the phone, Trem still didn’t understand why Yu Fei suddenly made this request, “Larry certainly can’t shoot now, but he could learn through training, Frye, can we…”

“You just said basketball doesn’t make his top five personal interests, I don’t think such a person can develop a shot,” Yu Fei stated firmly, “And I don’t want the team to waste cap space on him. Summer is almost over, but the next one will come. I don’t want to hear then that we don’t have money to sign people who can actually help us because we’re paying Larry Sanders 44 million US Dollars for four years.”

Trem thought for a moment, “Next summer… who’s coming?”

“I don’t know,” Yu Fei answered, “But we need to plan ahead.”

“Any other issues?”

Trem understood that Yu Fei had already made his decision. The full authority Ballmer gave to Yu Fei was not merely symbolic but real power; Yu Fei could decide the fate of every individual in the Clippers.

Now, exercising this power for the first time, whoever he wanted to send away, Trem could only advise a few words like he just did.

This was the kind of power once held by legendary figures in professional basketball history, and now, it was in the hands of a 30-year-old active player.

Professional basketball could never revert to its past.

“No problem,” Trem said resignedly, “You won’t see him at training camp.”

“Good.”