Of course, the fundamental reason for the Brooklyn Nets’ trade was to clear salary space. Yi Jianlian’s salary was over four million dollars, while Ross’s was just barely over one million.
In May of this year, the Russsian, Prokhorov, purchased the Brooklyn Nets and initiated the team relocation plan. The Brooklyn Nets would soon move to New York Brooklyn.
That was the confidence behind their pursuit of big-name players this year.
It was at this time that Thomas arrived at Hansen’s house.
These past few days, he had been in Memphis helping Hansen negotiate endorsement deals.
Hansen thought that, as with the previous few days, Thomas was there to talk about endorsements, but unexpectedly, his visit this time was related to the East University national team.
"Are you planning to participate in this year’s World Championship?"
"Did you receive their invitation?" Because of the unpleasant experience last year, Hansen hadn’t been following the East University Men’s Basketball Team’s activities.
"That I haven’t, but if you want to go, I can get in touch with them."
The reason Thomas came was that he saw East University Men’s Basketball Team had updated its training camp roster, weeding out some players.
Moreover, the World Championship was a stage for players, especially international players, to showcase their abilities.
Hansen was now facing overwhelming skepticism from the outside world. If he could perform well at the World Championship, it would dispel many doubts.
Hansen was somewhat surprised; after all, he didn’t have a summer league to play in this time. If the basketball association really invited him, he would still go.
But on second thought, it made sense. Those folks at the basketball association, having felt snubbed by his refusal last time, decided not to include him in the fun this time around.
"Why bother? I have my own training plans for this summer."
Hansen indeed had plans because even if he could exchange for "Steel Bones," he would need, as with previous skills, to train to the point of reaching a bottleneck.
However, the news Thomas brought gave him a new idea to increase his negative popularity.
After Thomas left, Hansen took out his cellphone, opened his Facebook, and then posted a status.
"I will not represent the East University Men’s Basketball Team at the 2010 Men’s Basketball World Championship."
Previously, he hadn’t announced a year in advance out of self-respect, but now, since the East University Men’s Basketball Team hadn’t included him, he could naturally capitalize on this matter.
It’s important to note that, although now he wasn’t on the training camp roster, the basketball association hadn’t announced news of his non-participation.
That was understandable since he was playing in the NBA and had shone brightly in the last season’s playoffs; without Yao Ming, he was the East University Men’s Basketball Team’s strongest force.
Even if the basketball association didn’t want to include him, they would likely only announce it at the last moment.
They might even pull a move like with James, pinning a big blame on him.
So, with his preemptive announcement, he was seizing the initiative and precluding any such possibility.
Additionally, he could foresee that this move would bring him a substantial increase in negative popularity.
After posting the status, Hansen didn’t bother with social media for the time being because, despite the positives of negative popularity, no one enjoys watching themselves get bashed.
And after all the commotion of the day, he was tired.
However, just as he put down his phone and was about to take a shower and rest, O’Neal gave him a call.
"Han, I’m planning to go to Dallas."
"Really?" Hansen perked up upon hearing this.
"Yes, we’ve talked a lot, and they’ve promised me a starting position."
Hansen wasn’t just alert at this point; he was surprised.
He wasn’t about to topple another domino, was he?
Because at this moment, Tyson Chandler was still with the Bobcats!
If the Mavericks chose O’Neal as their starter, didn’t that mean Chandler would be out?
If that were so, the Grizzlies might be without one of their strongest competitors next season.
As a transmigrator, he was the only one among the hundred who knew that the Mavericks would be next season’s champions.
But after careful thought, he dismissed the idea.
In the history he knew, O’Neal had gone to the Celtics that year.
However, when O’Neal joined, Perkins was still with the Celtics.
Back then, Perkins couldn’t play at the start of the season due to injury, so the Celtics made a dual insurance plan.
So it was safe to say that considering O’Neal’s injuries and physical condition last season, no team would dare use him as their only plan.
In other words, the Mavericks would probably still trade for Chandler.
And since Chandler had also suffered injuries last season with the Bobcats, playing only 51 games and starting in just 27, it was the time when his trade value was at its lowest.
Bringing him over to back up O’Neal and serve as dual insurance was the most prudent plan.
If that were the case, the Mavericks might even be stronger than he remembered.
Because even if O’Neal suffered injuries again, coming back to play as a backup would be far better than having someone like Brandon Haywood.
"Shaq, this might be one of the greatest decisions of your career," Hansen said with a laugh, considering his gesture of goodwill delivered. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
And although he had just announced in a press conference his intention to bring a championship to the Grizzlies, he didn’t specify next season.
The team would need time to gel in the new season, and it was an unknown how well that would go.
Of course, if the integration went well, that wouldn’t prevent him from congratulating O’Neal now.
If the Grizzlies really did burst through The West, then all he could do was apologize to O’Neal; the present sent by express delivery couldn’t be delivered due to unforeseen circumstances.
The next day, after getting up, Hansen glanced at his negative popularity value and a question mark slowly formed above his head.
There was indeed an increase in negative popularity, but it was far less than expected.