Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 493 163: When the GOAT Falls (10,000-Word Update, Begging for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets!)_3

Kupchek immediately, after urgent communication with Jerry Buss, matched the King's offer with lightning speed.
"Mickey, don't worry about the luxury tax. As long as we can win the championship in the new season, I'll pay any luxury tax!"
By keeping Ellis, the super sixth man, the Lakers showcased their determination to compete for the championship to the world.
In Cleveland, upon learning that Qin Yue was out for the season, James, who initially thought it was a joke, immediately became excited.
Although on the surface, James expressed regret for Qin Yue in an interview: "You know, none of us want to see him get hurt. We hope he can pull through."
But privately, feeling divinely assisted, James immediately had Rich Paul, who had officially become his agent, press the Cavaliers management.
"I knew he would get injured," James said. "Who told him to play so recklessly?"
Before the regular season began, the Cavaliers made two trades.
First, they traded Pavlovic and a future draft pick to the Celtics for Delonte West.
Then, preparing to have West as Iverson's successor, they quickly traded Iverson and Gooden to Washington for Antoine Jamison and Brendan Haywood.
Arenas suffered a serious injury last season, and his return is uncertain for the new season.
Therefore, the Wizards urgently needed a star guard to lead the team.
Plus, the Wizards picked the talented McGee in the summer draft, so Haywood was no longer in the team's future plans.
This was a mutually beneficial trade for both sides.
Under the repeated pressure from James, the Cavaliers sent away Iverson, who didn't get along with James, and brought in the star power forward Jamison to improve the team's court spacing.
Additionally, Haywood was a high-quality defensive center.
But...
The most unexpected part of the trade for the Cavaliers management was that West was about to ascend to the role of Supreme Emperor.
Although on the court, West was famous during this period for his organizational skills, and his ability to entangle the opponent's ball-handling core with adhesive defense...
Off the court, Delonte West, who never let people rest easy, remained notorious even in future years mainly because during his time with the Cavaliers, he was rumored to have been involved with James's mother, Gloria James.
But...
Before West's ascension to Supreme Emperor, James was very satisfied with the Cavaliers' actions this summer.
"Brown, this will be your best chance to erase the shame of your and the Redemption Team's redemption failure in Beijing," Rich Paul said. "You need to show people that you also have the ability to be a primary ball-handler."
As early as last season, wanting to play like Qin Yue, James nodded and said, "In the new season, I will definitely show the world that I am the player second only to Messiah in today's league."
As Qin Yue's biggest sponsor, the news of Qin Yue being out for the season was nothing short of an avalanche for Nike.
Therefore, Maverick Carter, who always had a close relationship with Nike, also said, "Brown, if you can prove yourself in the new season, Nike will definitely reconsider offering you a bigger renewal contract."
Upon hearing this, James, who felt an inexhaustible motivation fill him instantly, resented that Qin Yue's injury wasn't severe enough.
Indeed, James had long harbored no sentiment for this so-called brother.
...
In October, under Grover's arrangement, Qin Yue's surgery in Chicago went very smoothly.
At the same time, Qin Yue also learned from Chris Mullin that team owner Kohan was in discussions to sell the team to a certain Joe Lacob, a former small shareholder of the Celtics.
Even though compared to many wealthy individuals, Lacob's financial capability was limited.
But Mullin told Qin Yue that Lacob was currently the highest bidder among the potential buyers for the Warriors.
In response, knowing Lacob as the future Warriors owner from his memory, Qin Yue laughed and said, "How long do you estimate it'll take for Chris Kohan to haggle with Mr. Joe Lacob?"
Mullin replied based on the current information he had: "I estimate that Chris Kohan can complete the entire sale process within six months because your injury has thrown him into unprecedented panic, and he now just wants to quickly get rid of the Warriors, this hot potato."
Qin Yue dismissively said, "If the Warriors were truly a hot potato, how could Mr. Joe Lacob be so invested in acquiring the team?"
After a pause, Qin Yue added, "Chris Kohan is simply worried that I won't be able to return to my peak, and with the season's end, my super-max contract will officially count against the team's salary cap."
"Once the Warriors are successfully sold, this is likely to be my last season serving you," said Mullin, who had deep feelings for Qin Yue and the Warriors. "Because the new owner will surely bring in his new team to take over the Warriors."
"Is that so?"
At that moment, Qin Yue suddenly smiled at Mullin and said, "Chris, do you remember what I told you?"
Qin Yue clearly understood Lacob's character, and he wasn't worried in the slightest that the latter would, like Kohan, fail to appreciate the team's star player.
Moreover, no matter who the owner of this Warriors team was, in Qin Yue's eyes, this Warriors team could only be his team.
If Lacob thought otherwise.
Then it would be time for Qin Yue to officially bid farewell to this team.
"Chris, I believe that we will be working together for a long time in the future," Qin Yue confidently told Mullin. "So now, I need to focus on recovering from my injury, and you need to help me manage this team well."
After the Beijing Olympic Games...
Mullin noticed that in both demeanor and way of speaking, Qin Yue was increasingly resembling a true GOAT.
Or rather...
He was the GOAT he envisioned himself to be.
Though this GOAT still needed time to return to the court at present.
Mullin was confident that when Qin Yue recovered, the entire basketball world would return to his dominance.
...
PS: A 10,000-word update in a day! Please subscribe and vote.