Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA

Chapter 840 840: Epilogue · Seven Years · II

"The era that belonged to me has ended.""Speak properly."

"What I mean is, I've been considering retirement lately and taking my talents to TNT TV station."

During the playoffs of the 13/14 season...

As one of the five Warriors legends with personal exhibits in the Great Qin Center, Kwame Brown had a heartfelt conversation privately with Qin Yue.

Though from the age perspective, Brown, whose current contract is about to expire, is only 32.

But after some deep thinking, Brown believes he has at least three reasons to retire.

"Boss, over the years, you've always taught me that integrity is paramount." Brown said, "So, if I can't renew my contract with the Warriors, I will definitely not play for another team."

"Speak honestly."

"Boss, you know, the team just built an exhibit for me, so whether from personal feelings or future reputation, I cannot choose to play for another team."

"And then?"

Then...

Of course, it's the awkward situation Brown faces regarding contract renewal with the Warriors.

Back in the summer of 2012, the Warriors completed an early renewal with Stephen Curry.

And in the summer of 2013, the Warriors renewed with Danny Green.

As for this summer...

The Warriors' top priority is of course to find a way to reach an early renewal agreement with Jimmy Butler.

Adding to next summer, the Warriors also need to discuss an early renewal with Draymond Green.

Therefore, Brown is clearer than anyone...

With the number of quality rookie contracts within the Warriors diminishing year by year, even if he could demand a retirement contract from the team due to his age, he is very likely to be shown the door due to a decline in his own status.

"I am already a legend of the Warriors." Brown said, "I don't want this to happen to me, nor do I want the team to have a hard time because of me in the future."

It has to be said, Brown's self-awareness has surpassed the majority of people.

Unlike other NBA players.

Due to the honors and legendary status Brown currently enjoys being closely related to the Warriors and Qin Yue, Brown naturally tries with all his might to maintain the image of Qin Yue and everything about the Warriors.

Moreover, with the growth of Draymond Green, Brown's playtime this season has already been further reduced inevitably.

So in Brown's view, instead of applying to stay with the team as a veteran hero, it is better to take this opportunity to bring his talents to the TNT TV station where he can better leverage his strengths.

"Boss, I've fought alongside you in the Bay Area for nine seasons; you more than anyone else knows what I want the most." Brown said, "And now, since I've already gotten what I want, my priority is naturally to keep this honor belonging to me."

Friends come and go, but the flag of the championship flutters in the wind.

Despite feeling torn about Brown, on that sunny afternoon, Qin Yue eventually agreed with Brown's notion.

And during that summer, aside from the resolute retreat of Brown, Gerald Wallace, who had served the Warriors for many years, also believed it was time to part ways with the team.

"I need to go earn my last big contract."

During the Warriors' championship parade, Wallace said to Qin Yue.

In the NBA, when young players rise, veteran players must inevitably fall.

In the 13/14 season, the strong emergence of Butler had already brought unprecedented pressure to Wallace, who was about to turn 32.

Secretly, Wallace had thought about accepting the retirement contract offered by the Warriors.

But similar to Brown.

For Wallace, a Warriors legend, he also does not want to see the team having a hard time in the future because of a retirement contract that would inevitably become a garbage contract.

"My ambition no longer matches this team."

As he bid farewell to Qin Yue, Wallace said.

And many years later...

While reviewing why the Warriors could achieve success far beyond other teams of the same era, The San Francisco Chronicle reporter Anthony Lester remarked: "From Baron Davis to Troy Murphy, to Mike Dunleavy, Steve Nash, Kwame Brown, Gerald Wallace... we could see that the voluntary departure of these veterans not only allowed the Warriors to always complete the blood exchange at the right time but also ensured the Warriors would not fall into the trap of hero basketball."

In competitive sports, any dynasty looking to maintain long-term dominance must continuously have a blood exchange.

Yet, blood exchange is precisely the eternal hard issue for all dynasty teams.

After all...

People are not plants; how could they be emotionless?

Moreover, even if the management of a team can hard-heartedly purge veteran players, they can hardly garner a good reputation at the current time like the Warriors.

In this regard, Lester depicted in his personal feature "No Sacrifice, No Victory": "The Warriors are by no means the most humane team in the league today, but fortunately, they have a group of the most humane players."

For the Warriors, who have just claimed five consecutive championships, the upcoming summer is destined to be a busy one.

Because apart from Brown retiring, Wallace leaving as a free agent...

Veterans Jamison and Ray Allen also believe their careers have reached an end.

This means the Warriors need fresh blood and quality rookie contracts more than ever to fill their current roster vacancies.

Thus, during the draft at the end of June, Qin Yue "nominated" a helmsman for the Warriors about to enter stage "4.0".

A young center from Serbia, with an unknown weight, ready to chug down sodas if anyone dares to offer him.

About ten years from now, people in the basketball scene would often refer to this player as "Professor Jokic" and "Joker".

Yes.

This young player is none other than Nikola Jokic, whom Qin Yue doesn't want to miss out on, even if he can't immediately join the NBA.

Due to the new labor agreement, the league has reset the cap for teams to buy out European players from their current contracts with their mother teams.

Therefore, although many teams have realized that an organizing center will inevitably become a key component in the future...

Considering that Jokic's family's financial situation isn't as affluent at the moment, he doesn't possess the capability to buy out his own contract like Pau Gasol did back in the day.

By the time the 2014 draft began, Jokic, unable to promptly join the NBA, was still languishing in early second-round projections.

In Qin Yue's opinion, this undoubtedly was a superb opportunity for the Warriors to make a bargain with their already not-so-valuable first-round pick in this year's draft.

Although Warriors' President Larry Riley was quite baffled as to why the GOAT would use the Warriors' first-round pick to gamble on a European young player who might not even join the NBA.

But given that the GOAT has never gambled wrongly to date, Riley eventually agreed to this small gamble.

In late June of that year, at his home in Serbia, Jokic learned about his selection by the Golden State Warriors with the 30th pick in the first round.

"I was overjoyed back then because ever since I started playing basketball, my brothers told me 'Great Qin' is the best basketball player in the world," Jokic recalled later, "I remember celebrating being drafted by the Warriors by drinking two liters of soda."

Of course, no matter how highly Qin Yue thought of Jokic.

Since Jokic would have to wait until the next season at the earliest to join the NBA.

So, this summer, unable to rejuvenate the team through the draft, the Warriors still needed to bring in reinforcements from the free-agent market.

Upon Andre Vallejo's suggestion, the Warriors first signed Drew Gooden from the free-agent market.

As a former "CBA teammate" of Emperor Zhan...

This summer, Gooden initially had thoughts about retiring.

But after receiving a call from Vallejo, Gooden, who initially planned to retire, unhesitatingly boarded a plane to San Francisco.

"You know, my hometown is right in Oakland."

On the day of signing with the Warriors, Gooden remarked proudly, "Even though the Warriors have moved their home court to San Francisco, every Oaklander will still see the Warriors as their home team, so for me, having the opportunity to play for the hometown team is something I must seize."

Gooden joined the Warriors due to hometown basketball ties.

And a day later, under the strong recommendation from both Gooden and Vallejo, Mo Williams, nicknamed "Mo Buckets," submitted his resume to the Warriors citing "brotherly basketball" as the reason.

"You know, Ande and Drew are my brothers, I still have fuel in the tank, and I hope to work with my brothers, to be honest, I can't wait to put on the Warriors' jersey,"

Mo, an offensive-oriented guard, who was content with a veteran minimum, stated on the day of signing with the Warriors.

Moreover, to reinforce the team's interior, the Warriors also chose David Lee, who had been a half-season teammate with LeBron James during his Knicks days, from among the free agents.

This summer, Lee, who was amnestied by the 76ers, was focused on retiring with a championship ring.

Although injuries affected him greatly, diminishing his personal competitive state, the Warriors valued Lee's spacing ability and playmaking skills.

On the day of signing with Lee, the reason Lee chose to serve the Warriors somewhat left Qin Yue at a loss whether to cry or laugh.

Because the reason Lee chose to serve the Warriors was that he believed the good educational resources in the Bay Area could provide high-quality education for his children.

From Gooden's hometown basketball.

To Mo William's brotherly basketball.

And then to Lee's school district basketball.

Although the reasons for the trio of Emperor Zhan's former teammates joining the Warriors this summer, were something only Qin Yue could understand in terms of "containing Zhan."

Yet upon the reminder of Gooden and the others, in a daze, Qin Yue realized that LeBron James would also become a free agent again this summer, making him curious about the fate of his former good brother.

"You said LeBron? Haven't you been following the news? He announced earlier that he was taking his talents to Los Angeles."

"He joined the Lakers?"

"How could the Lakers want him? Besides, where does the Lakers' salary cap come from?"

"So you mean, he joined the Clippers?"

"Yes."

Actually, Qin Yue had been keeping up with the news.

It's just that the news of James deciding to take his talents to the Clippers this summer couldn't even make the headlines.

After all, having stayed in the cold land for a full two years...

Who would still remember this former Chosen One? Now forsaken by heaven?

In this life, the fairy tale named "The Emperor's New Clothes" had long ended in the enchanting New York.

In many years to come, only aging fans would remember...

The once LeBron James...

Was a player whom the media said once ran neck and neck with the GOAT in talent.

...

PS: Here comes Epilogue 2! Sincerely thank all the readers again!