Chapter 1029 Yao Ming Was Traded

On the 23rd, the NBA announced the end of the investigation into the Lakers-Suns game on the 10th. Referee Lofos made multiple wrong calls. The league suspended the referee's qualification to referee and fined him $30,000.

On December 25, the Suns faced the Cavaliers at home.

A total of five Christmas games were scheduled, including the Suns and Cavaliers, Lakers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Heat.

On the morning of the 24th, before Christmas, at the Lakers headquarters, Kupchak and Phil Jackson were sitting with the owner, Old Buss, to discuss a deal.

At the same time, Old Buss's children were also on the side. They were Jeanie Buss and Jim Buss, the two children that Old Buss focused on training.

The topic this time was that they wanted to trade Garnett with Duncan.

Garnett and Duncan are both almost 33 years old, but judging from the data, Garnett's state has begun to decline. This season, he played 18.8+8.5, while Duncan was better and still a member of the 20+10 club.

But Duncan is not as good as Garnett. His playing style is not good and he is not popular in the United States. The sales of sneakers are proof of this. Garnett was once the All-Star vote winner, and his sneakers sell well, so his market is better.

But the Lakers are considering that the Lakers must face the Suns in the West, so the inside line must speed up, and Duncan does not have outside shooting, but Garnett does, and he runs faster and adapts to the faster rhythm of offense and defense conversion. In addition, considering the market, this is why they want to trade Duncan for Garnett.

In fact, if Li Ba had not retired, the Lakers' lineup would have been dismantled long ago, and when Li Ba announced his comeback at the end of June, the Lakers were considering trading, but they just didn't have a target. Now the Heat collapsed, and the opportunity has come.

As for the Heat, like the Lakers, they have to consider trading Garnett and Ray Allen, and keep the new lineup highly competitive, otherwise it will damage the market, and there is no good trading plan. The Lakers have two top inside players, and they are the first trading target considered by the Heat, so it has been delayed.

But the Heat said they didn't need Duncan, because Duncan couldn't beat the Hammer, and Duncan's style of play couldn't bring the ball market, so they had to change the chips, they wanted Kobe.

This is impossible, Kobe represents the ball market, the Heat want Kobe, what they want is the ball market, not to mention Kobe's value is not comparable to the old Garnett, two Garnetts are not enough, unless the Suns make this request, otherwise the Lakers can't take Kobe for anyone.

This discussion is because the deal with the Heat has taken a turn.

"What is their latest request?" Old Buss asked Kupchak.

"The Heat gave up Kobe's request, they made an offer of Yao + Parker." Kupchak said.

Jim Buss said: "They chose Yao + Parker instead of Tim + Parker, which should be considering the interests from China."

"Mitch, if there is no Parker, what will we do at the No. 1 position?" Jeanie Buss asked.

Kupchak smiled and said, "So we are discussing it, and it has not been finalized. But we need to determine one thing now, whether we must get Garnett. If we must get him, then it is not impossible to consider adding Parker. Because Garnett has no substitute, but Parker does."

Jenny Buss stopped talking. She knew the weakness of her team very well. The inside line must be accelerated. Now the opportunity has come and must be seized.

Jim Buss said, "But even if we trade for Garnett, we still can't solve the problem when the hammer is the point guard. We still can't deal with the fast break he launched from the outside."

When this was mentioned, several people fell silent.

Thinking about the game on the 10th, when Li Ba launched a fast break from the outside, the Lakers' defense was not in name only, but it was not there at all. All the Lakers players were left behind. That feeling of powerlessness made them shudder.

Phil Jackson smiled bitterly and said, "The only player who can compete with the Hammer in terms of weight, explosiveness, height and speed is LeBron James. They have a center and a small forward, but once they play the number one position, they are the most troublesome point guards."

Kupchak nodded and said, "I noticed that in the last few games, LeBron James also played point guard. He also played the same fast break tactics as the Hammer, and the effect was not bad, but it was a big trouble for us."

Phil Jackson said at this time, "Of course, there are some ways to deal with the Hammer's fast break tactics. The reason why I didn't do it is because I have to keep it for the playoffs."

"Oh, Phil, how to deal with that kind of tactics?" Everyone was excited, and Jeanie Buss said excitedly.

"It's very simple. Artest and Parker switch positions. He goes to the top of the arc and then pays attention to returning to defense in advance. He has an advantage over Kobe in defending the Hammer." Phil Jackson laughed.

"Yes, we can indeed defend like this. Didn't we trade Artest to deal with the Hammer?" Old Buss patted his thigh and shouted happily.

Jeanie Buss said: "In that case, the league is speeding up now, and we really can't be left behind, so let's trade."

"So Mitch, our No. 1 target?" asked Old Buss.

Kupchak and Phil Jackson looked at each other, and the former said: "Let Kobe play first, and then we will look for other candidates."

"Phil, if Kobe plays No. 1, aren't you worried that the ball will be too concentrated?" Jeanie Buss asked.

Phil Jackson smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's just temporary. Our targets are Nash and Jason Terry, the latter is the most likely."

Kupchak said, "We may not get Nash, we don't have the chips to exchange. Terry has some possibilities, but it's also difficult. We are the Mavericks' competitors, and they may not trade."

"What should we do?" Jim Buss said anxiously.

Kupchak said: "Go to the Spurs, we will trade Barbosa."

Everyone was stunned, but Phil Jackson's eyes lit up and nodded: "Barbosa is not as fast as Parker, but he is also fast, and he has played in the Suns for several years, and his defense is also good. He is very familiar with the Suns' tactics. He is indeed a very suitable person for us. It's just that he is a shooting guard like Kobe, but there is no other choice."

Kupchak said: "Oden of the Spurs is injured again, and his performance is far less great than when he was in the NCAA. He is not adapted to the NBA and his performance is very ordinary. He is not another Tim Duncan. And Beasley, another hope of the Spurs, is also disappointing and has not met the expectations of the Spurs. So, the Spurs' reconstruction has encountered troubles, or even failed, and there is a great chance of trading Barbosa."

"Then do it." Old Buss made the decision.