However, when it comes to the specifics of operation, there’s the issue of trade assets.
For example, the Rockets, even if Hansen wanted to go, the Rockets couldn’t give the Cavaliers a satisfactory offer.
So he had to find a team that was a possible trade partner and suited for his development.
Hansen didn’t use a process of elimination, as that would be a waste of time.
In truth, his choices boiled down to two: one was to join a weaker team to level up, but he’d forget teams like the Timberwolves or Kings; leveling up required a big city with growth potential, such as the Clippers, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets.
The second option was to find a competitive team, because of his grudge with James.
If James went to the Heat and formed The Big Three and he couldn’t stop them from winning the championship, then his current grudges with James would turn into a joke.
After all, based on the history he knew, the Heat might not have won seven championships, but they did achieve back-to-back titles.
After some thought, Hansen discarded the first option.
Because that would be like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
And if he really chose that path, he might as well use the agreement to threaten to stay with the Cavaliers, knowing that James would likely leave and he wouldn’t have to start over with a new team.
So, which teams could he choose for the second option?
Hansen jotted down several team names: Heat, Bulls, Pacers, New York Knicks, Thunders, Grizzlies.
These teams had one thing in common: they weren’t championship favorites now, but it wouldn’t be long before they were full of competitive potential.
If he joined one of these teams, the Cavaliers could send him there, and he’d have the opportunity to block the Heat.
Why was the Heat listed? Isn’t stopping the rise of Heat’s Three Giants also a way to stop the Heat?
Next, Hansen crossed out the Bulls, Thunders, and Heat.
If there’s anything he learned from his year with the Cavaliers, it was the phrase, "Your position on the team decides everything."
The Bulls’ Ross, Thunders’ Durant, and Heat’s Wade all held positions he couldn’t easily shake.
But the other three teams didn’t yet have that "future decade’s core player."
In the end, he passed the notebook to Ferry.
Looking at the three team names written on it, Ferry also made his promise, "I will do everything within my power to get you to one of these places."
"Not try your best, but must." Hansen picked up the agreement on the table.
Ferry hesitated for a moment, then nodded and corrected himself, "We will get you to one of these places."
After saying that, he took the notebook and left.
"This is a good thing." After Ferry was gone, Thomas reassured Hansen at his side,
"This isn’t the place you wanted to come to, and you’ve wanted to leave for a long time."
Hansen smiled but didn’t nod.
In fact, until today, he had indeed thought about staying.
Not for the team, but for teammates like Jamison and Conningham, and more for the fans in Cleveland.
He would always remember the scene when those lovely people chanted "MVP" for him at home court during G5.
After parting with Hansen, Thomas went to Baltimore.
Hansen’s signature shoe design was nearing its end, but he needed to take this news with him; it might help the designers.
Hansen returned to his residence, just about to rest for a while, when O’Neal called to say he was coming over soon.
Of course, O’Neal couldn’t know about Hansen’s trade matter; he was here to tell Hansen something: he was preparing to leave.
Now, there were two visible outcomes for the Cavaliers: James stays, or James leaves.
If James stays, the internal strife of the Cavaliers would continue, and he knew too well what the outcome of internal strife was.
Plus, after this year, he also knew how obsessed James was with his stats, this Cavaliers team had no chance for a championship.
If James left, neither did the Cavaliers have a chance to win the championship next season.
At this stage of his career, he was bound to pursue his fifth championship ring, especially now that Kobe had just won his fifth.
"Where do you plan to go?" Hansen asked with a smile.
Although O’Neal didn’t constantly talk about his unwillingness to play as a substitute like Iverson did, what superstar would really want to come off the bench?
So, it was highly likely O’Neal would choose a team that could offer him a starting position.
To have championship contention and a starting spot, the choices available to him were truly narrow.
"I haven’t finalized it yet, but I might go to Boston," O’Neal said with a complex expression.
Hansen knew O’Neal hated that city, not to mention the grudges from this season.
But his options were indeed limited.
"Actually, I have a better suggestion." Hansen suddenly spoke up.
"Let’s hear it." O’Neal now considered Hansen a friend and trusted him completely.
Hansen never had a chance to return O’Neal’s Rolls-Royce gift, and from his last visit to see O’Neal, he knew O’Neal didn’t need any return gifts.
But this one, it might be the only "gift" O’Neal would want. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Dallas?" O’Neal shook his head, "They’ve already missed their best window for contention."
"Shaq, let me tell you a story," Hansen said at an unhurried pace.
He told O’Neal the story about how he had bet on the Cavaliers and Magic