Lin Tian sighed, wondering if the Grizzlies owner would regret not playing well after this season?

He feels that the Lakers still need to fight for Tony Allen! Regardless of whether there is a chance or not.

After the players returned to the locker room, they all chatted about off-court matters. After all, we can't just talk about basketball when we are together every day.

Their record is now 20 wins and 29 losses! Although they are still a bit far away from the playoff threshold.

But if we can continue to maintain this state, it will not be difficult to enter the playoffs!

Howard, who was traded to the Lakers not long ago, is now full of confidence in the playoffs.

He came to Lin Tian and scratched his head in embarrassment: "Lin! I was impulsive tonight! We could have won the game more easily."

In the third quarter, he took up a lot of the ball, but did not produce very good results. Howard himself acknowledged this.

Although Howard sometimes has a bad temper, he is also a smart man.

Now he is considered a problem player by many teams.

If he still can't get along harmoniously with his teammates after returning to the Lakers, I'm afraid not many teams will be willing to sign a big contract with him next season.

Lin Tian hugged Howard without hesitation: "No, Dwight, you played great today!"

Based on his qualifications, to put it harshly, he is not qualified to criticize Howard, and Howard is obviously a soft-spoken person.

A small hidden conflict in a team was resolved in this way.

After Lin Tian took a shower and dressed up, he took out the remaining shredded beef from the closet: "Guys! Does anyone want to eat these shredded beef?"

Next to him, Howard hurriedly shook his head: "Don't give it to me! This thing is too spicy!"

Nick Young said: "Lin! Compared with this shredded beef, I still hope you can treat us to a steak!"

Lin Tian didn't refuse: "This is a good suggestion. I'll treat everyone to steak next time!"

"Oh! It's another time! You guys have fooled me several times! This is not okay!"

"We agreed that next time will be next time. We have to play an away game tomorrow. How can we have time to eat steak?"

…

After accepting the interview with the media, it was already getting late, and Lin Tian hurried back to the apartment.

At this time, the team's general manager Kupchak called: "Lin! I have to tell you something big!"

On the phone, Kupchak's slightly older voice came out.

Lin Tiandao: "If I didn't guess, there was a transaction?"

The phone calls came and went in the middle of the night. Apart from the transaction, there seemed to be nothing else going on.

"Yes! We just finalized a deal with the Suns. PJ Tucker will join us and Russell will go to the Suns."

Lin Tian has always wanted the team to trade PJ Tucker. There has been no progress some time ago, and he thought it was over.

Now Kupchak's words made Lin Tian cheer up instantly!

Tucker's iron-blooded defense and tough attitude on the court are what they need!

Trading No. 2 pick Russell for P.J. Tucker! It's definitely not a loss! Even if Russell becomes an All-Star point guard in the future, Lin Tian doesn't care.

He did not travel here to study with the prince!

"Hey! Lin! Are you listening to me?" Kupchak's voice came again.

Lin Tian said: "I know."

"Lin! Now you are the unique core of the team! The team has bet everything on your future! No matter whether we can make it to the playoffs this season! I only hope you see the team's determination

manner."

"I understand, thank you for your hard work, Manager Kupchak, I promise you, we will definitely reach the playoffs this season!"

"No, no, no! It's not important! The most important thing is that you are healthy."

Next, Kupchak discussed the details of the transaction with Lin Tian.

The Lakers originally wanted to trade Nance Jr. and a second-round pick for Tucker, but were ruthlessly rejected by the Suns.

In desperation, they had no choice but to send Russell away.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Tian drank some water and forced himself to calm down.

He knew very well that Kupchak's operation required great courage!

No matter how bad Russell is, he was still last year's No. 2 pick after all!

A team's second overall pick was traded before the team even finished a season. This kind of thing has never happened before!

Lin Tian opened Twitter to check the news, but found no news about the trade between the Suns and Lakers.

Presumably it's because the two sides haven't let the word out yet.

He called Kobe again immediately, and Kobe said he also received a call from Kupchak.

Kobe Bryant didn't express any opinion on the matter of Russell being traded away.

Lin Tiandao: "Kobe! Aren't you surprised? Kupchak worked hard!"

"It's not surprising. Even if they send me away, I won't be surprised." Kobe's answer surprised Lin Tian, ​​"The NBA is a business."

After finishing the call with Kobe, Howard also called...

When Lin Tian was about to go to bed, even Nick Young called: "Lin! D'Angelo has been traded away!"

Nick Young's voice was slightly excited. Russell and he were the closest to the entire Lakers team.

Every time the two play at home, they usually leave together. They often appear together in team training. It can be said that they are inseparable.

Lin Tian said calmly: "Did Mickey also tell you the news?"

"No! That old guy didn't call me, it was D'Angelo who told me! Damn it! They even dared to trade the No. 2 pick!"

Lin Tian scoffed at what Nick Young said. What does the second pick mean? The "Wiggins" who was called the next James by countless fans was traded away without playing a game after being drafted by the Cavaliers.

Who can I talk to to reason with you?

He simply borrowed what Kobe said just now: "Nick, calm down! NBA is a business place, let alone the second pick. If necessary, I think they would even dare to send Kobe away! Do you believe it?"

Nick Young was speechless.

He is barely considered a veteran now and has been traded before. After he figured it out, he didn't say anything anymore.

…

Early the next morning, the news that Russell and P.J. Tucker exchanged clubs was exposed by Wo Shen on Twitter.

The exposure of this news glasses caused thousands of waves! It aroused heated discussions among countless fans.

When Lin Tian opened the sports news, various headlines occupied the news page:

[Blockbuster deal! The Lakers and the Suns reached a deal! Russell and PJ Tucker exchanged clubs! 】

[Russell’s average data per game this season: 13 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals.]

[D’Angelo Russell: The first No. 2 pick in NBA history to be traded before finishing his rookie season!]

[Potential rookies are ready to fight! The Lakers are going all out this season!]

[Big move again! The Lakers have reached three blockbuster transactions this season! 】

…

When Lin Tian came to the arena, other players today also came extra early, except Russell.

Except for Howard Frye, the other players seemed a little frustrated.

When Russell was traded, they felt like a rabbit was dead and a fox was dead. After all, no one wanted to be traded away.

When Nick Young saw Lin Tian, ​​he couldn't help but complain: "They don't even give the second pick a chance to grow!"

Lin Tian curled his lips and said nothing, disagreeing with Nick Young's point of view.

Other players on the team were not as reluctant to part with Russell as Nick Young was.

Lin Tian actually wanted to say to Nick Young, you should thank the management.

Because according to time estimates, the infamous "Recording Gate" incident will break out soon.

Now that Russell has been sent away, even if he still has some recordings of Nick Young's cheating on his phone, it will be difficult to affect the Lakers.

Of course, it would be great if there was no more "recording scandal" incident in this life.

In order to stabilize military morale, Kupchak showed up at the training hall not long after the players gathered and arranged a team meeting.

At the team meeting, Kupchak reassured the Lakers players, telling them that Russell had no problem with the trade and even approved of it.

Although everyone had some doubts, they did not directly refute Kupchak.

Lin Tian didn't know whether what Kupchak said was true or false.

But he knows very well that Russell leaving the Lakers is definitely not a bad thing for him.

As a point guard, he was barely able to control the ball at the beginning of the season.
To be continued...