Chapter 151: Everyone Needs to Prove Themselves

Outsiders could not understand it because the shadow of Star Herson loomed large over this transaction.

They did not possess the eye of God and thus had no way of knowing that Brand's performance would soon experience a sharp decline, but Star Herson was well aware of it.

There were many reasons that prompted Star Herson to consent to this deal, though the so-called aiding the enemy was certainly not among them.

Star Herson did not believe that Brand and Kobe could achieve good chemistry.

Both of them required low-post plays. With yet another center standing in the paint, coupled with two or three opposing defensive players, where on earth would there be any space left for Kobe to drive?

Comparatively speaking, Gasol was a much more suitable fit for Kobe.

Although Gasol also featured heavily in low-post offense, his movement speed surpassed Brand's, and he possessed a certain degree of three-point shooting capability. He could help Kobe pull the opposing interior defender away while Kobe operated in the post.

Therefore, Star Herson would rather see the Lakers acquire Brand than have them obtain Gasol.

This was not a matter of aiding the enemy at all, but rather the optimal choice.

Another significant reason was that Brand had taken the initiative to request a departure, whereas Gasol had actively desired to come over.

Playing alongside Gasol would undoubtedly ensure a more harmonious team atmosphere.

Simultaneously, Star Herson was quite eager to witness Brand's regret a year or two down the line.

To have such a golden-thighed superstar like himself and yet fail to hold onto him tightly—how endearingly foolish.

An additional reason was that a fraction of analysts believed the Clippers' current stellar record was primarily due to Brand, while Star Herson's role was secondary.

Now, in the wake of this trade, Star Herson finally had the opportunity to shut those critics up.

As long as the Clippers' record maintained its trajectory moving forward, it would prove that Brand was actually inconsequential.

If the Lakers' record failed to improve afterward, it would demonstrate that Brand was not all that desirable either.

In short, all of these circumstances worked to Star Herson's advantage, provided that he performed well in the upcoming matches.

On this point, Star Herson expressed absolute confidence.

Once the trade was finalized, fans, commentators, players, and coaches successively voiced their opinions.

Among them, Popovich's reaction was the most intense; he even directly insinuated that there were shady dealings behind the trade.

Popovich stated, "This is not a fair trade, and I believe the league should investigate. The Grizzlies were robbed, and the Lakers got away with a bargain."

Having previously served as a general manager, Popovich possessed a profound understanding of the inner workings of such matters.

Moreover, since Jerry West happened to be at the helm of the Grizzlies, it was practically impossible for people not to be suspicious.

Popovich was not alone in expressing dissatisfaction; the general managers of the Mavericks and Suns also laced their commentary with a sour tone.

The reason for their discontent was actually quite simple: previously, the Grizzlies and the Lakers were both rated around sixty in terms of strength, posing no threat to the Spurs or the Mavericks.

Now, post-trade, the Grizzlies dropped to a forty, while the Lakers surged to an eighty. This panicked the championship contenders who were rated in the nineties, as a formidable new competitor had materialized out of thin air.

Small-market teams were equally disgruntled. If trade robberies of this magnitude became trendy, it would become even harder for small-market franchises to survive.

If major-city teams could simply entice players away at will, how could small markets ever hope to retain their homegrown stars?

Certain players were also queried regarding their perspectives on the trade.

Facing reporters' inquiries, James remarked, "This is a really cool trade, and the combination of Kobe and Brand is bound to be spectacular. What I mean is, superstars joining forces with other superstars in pursuit of a championship is a perfectly normal occurrence."

"What about you? Do you also want to go to a major market and team up with other superstars?"

A reporter asked.

"No, I hope to bring a championship to Cleveland, but I also enjoy teaming up with other superstars. That sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?"

James's response simultaneously pledged loyalty to Cleveland fans and underscored his desire to play alongside fellow stars.

As for whether any superstars would actually be willing to travel to Cleveland to team up with him, James's devout followers naturally chose not to delve into such details.

The Wolf King Garnett was likewise posed this question. Garnett was refreshingly direct, declaring, "I will not leave the Timberwolves. This place is just like my home, and I am going to defend the honor of my hometown. I am going to bring a championship to Minnesota."

Garnett's fans were utterly moved upon hearing this, conveniently ignoring the fact that winning a championship with the roster currently in Minnesota was an absolute impossibility.

Given Minnesota's salary cap situation, upgrading the roster was simply not feasible.

In the eyes of the wolf cubs, whether Garnett's words could be translated into reality was irrelevant; what mattered was this indomitable spirit of ironclad loyalty.

Of course, this perspective was not entirely incorrect.

Individuals capable of achieving ultimate success in this world remained a distinct minority. If one concluded that happiness could solely be derived from success, then a life of misery was guaranteed.

If one adopted the rationale that "the result is unimportant, the process is what matters" to console oneself, then even failure could be embraced joyfully.

The responses from Duncan, Nowitzki, Nash, and Billups were steadfastly resolute: they were currently content with their situations and had never entertained the thought of leaving their teams.

Conversely, Iverson and Ray Allen conveyed veiled expressions of disillusionment regarding their respective franchises.

While they refrained from explicitly stating a desire to depart, the sentiment was virtually identical.

As the principal figures involved, Kobe, Star Herson, and Brand could not escape this line of questioning following their games.

Kobe replied, "This is a fantastic trade, and I am already looking forward to the championship."

"Kobe, you said the exact same thing back in 2004."

A reporter gently reminded him.

At that time, the Lakers had assembled the luxurious F4 armada, bringing together Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. Prior to the season's commencement, Kobe had excitedly proclaimed that he was already eyeing the championship.

As for the outcome, everyone had witnessed it.

The reporter clearly loved touching raw nerves, leaving Kobe feeling utterly helpless.

Such was the nature of the professional realm; one could never avoid taking hits. Once you had been slapped in the face the first time, enduring it a second time was not quite as awkward. He stubbornly insisted, "This time is different. Brand is still in his prime, and my combination with him is invincible."

His statement effectively mocked Malone and Payton, though, in fairness, there was a grain of truth to it.

When Brand was confronted with the same question, he appeared visibly stirred: "I love Los Angeles, and being able to stay in Los Angeles is the luckiest thing. Being teammates with Kobe must be amazing."

"However, the Clippers are also in Los Angeles. Moreover, you previously claimed you hadn't requested a trade from the team, yet now you've left the Clippers."

The reporter pointed out.

"That was a decision made by the management, and besides, that no longer matters."

"You actively sought to leave the Clippers—did you have a falling out with Star Herson?"

"There was no such thing."

"But you just said that being Kobe's teammate feels amazing. Does that imply that playing alongside Star felt terrible?"

.......

Ultimately, Brand was driven to his breaking point and blurted out, "Fine! I truly was a bit unhappy during my time with the Clippers. But that is all in the past now, and I don't wish to dwell on it. I am going to be very happy with the Lakers moving forward."

Only then were the reporters satisfied.

Armed with this single quote, they could fabricate an entire saga of grievances and drama between Star Herson and Brand.

Regardless of the external clamor and speculation, the trade was officially completed on the 14th, with all three players successfully passing their physical examinations without any injury concerns.

Once the dust settled, fans suddenly developed a profound interest in the upcoming games on the 16th.

The 16th marked the final day before the All-Star break, and more importantly, both the Lakers and the Clippers had games scheduled for that day.

The Lakers were set to host the Hornets, while the Clippers would travel to face the Magic.

Given the comparable strength of the Hornets and the Magic, fans could utilize the outcomes of these matches to gauge just how profitable the trade was for the Lakers and how much of a loss the Clippers had suffered.

Even though judging an entire trade based on a single game was an utterly foolish endeavor.

Yet the word "fan" has never had anything to do with rationality.

They simply could not wait. To miss this day meant waiting until the All-Star festivities concluded, which would take many long days.

In this restless society, no one could maintain interest in a piece of gossip for that extended period.

The media thoroughly capitalized on the psychology of the fans and heavily promoted both matchups.

On the 16th, only two games were broadcast nationwide across the United States: the Lakers versus the Hornets, and the Clippers versus the Magic.

Inside the Lakers' locker room, the majority of the players sat in silence, save for Odom, who was softly conversing with Parker.

Kobe listened to music, daydreaming about the impending match.

Armed with powerful reinforcements, he could scarcely wait to take the court and lay waste to the opposition.

As for the atmosphere within the locker room? Did that really matter?

He had never considered it important anyway. Regardless of the internal climate, once he stepped onto the hardwood, he would give his absolute all.

With the team leader remaining quiet, Mihm felt depressed about being forced into the starting center position. Odom remained indifferent to worldly affairs, while Bynum longed to liven things up but feared catching Kobe's stern glare.

This locker room dynamic left Brand feeling rather awkward.

He suddenly found himself longing for the Clippers' locker room, where Star Herson and Cassell would constantly swap off-color jokes and gossip about female celebrities.

Although it might have seemed somewhat unprofessional, that kind of environment was genuinely relaxed and comfortable, completely devoid of any awkward tension.

"Forget it, I'm here to chase a championship, not to enjoy myself."

Brand silently reassured himself before quietly awaiting the start of the game.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Orlando, inside the visitors' locker room, Star Herson and his teammates were engrossed in studying the finer points of flexing and boasting.

Or rather, it was serving as Star Herson's masterclass in sharing personal experience.

"Have you ever heard of the humblebrag? It's a linguistic pattern of 'flaunting through understatement,' typically manifested by starting low and rising high, disparaging on the surface while praising underneath, and utilizing complaining sentence structures to show off."

"This method of showing off can create a contrasting twist, heightening the emotional turbulence of your audience, thereby allowing them to more profoundly experience the speaker's flex."

"For instance, I'm so annoyed—Diaz, Taylor, and the rest of them hound me every single day......"

Star Herson offered.

"Hold on, we asked you for an example, not for you to torture us."

Cassell chimed in, triggering another wave of roaring laughter throughout the locker room.

"Let's talk about trash-talking techniques instead; those are far more practical."

Kaman suggested.

Watching the group of laughing teammates around him, Gasol felt remarkably at ease.

Integrating into a band of goofballs turned out to be fairly effortless—one merely needed to transform into a goofball oneself.

Simultaneously, he had zero concerns about these goofballs being unreliable.

After all, the Clippers' exceptional record had been forged precisely by this very group of clowns.

They might appear entirely unserious inside the locker room, but once they stepped onto the court, every single one of them proved utterly dependable.