Chapter 178 What is Wrong?

At the end of July, by shifting the fans' attention to the topic of "If the Heat achieve a three-peat next season, will Su Feng be able to secure his position as the greatest of all time?"

Stern quietly defused the impending war between the players and the owners.

As the person in charge of the NBA for over two decades, Stern knew very well that as long as you gave these fans, who always loved to watch games and eat melons (Chinese slang for gossip), enough melons to eat, they would consciously start eating the next melon after they got tired of one.

See?

These past two days, online, fans have not only had in-depth discussions about whether Su Feng could completely secure his position as the greatest of all time if he led the Heat to a three-peat next season, but also, after the Heat successfully defended their title this year, the long-unseen "Feng haters" have begun to show off their intelligence on various forums.

"What do you mean if I played a few more years, then the NBA's all-time leading iron-misser list would definitely be mine?

Damn, do these people even understand basketball?

Isn't the reason I miss so many shots on the court because I'm accurate enough to make more shots?"

"And this idiot who says I 'never shoot without a fadeaway' in games just to show off...

If I had the same open shot opportunities as Kobe and James, would I need to torture myself like this?"

That day, before preparing to lead the national team to conquer Japan, looking at these Feng haters' comments...

For a moment, even Su Feng, who was usually "broad-minded," couldn't help but curse out loud.

Meanwhile, in Miami, not long after Su Feng spoke out in support of O'Neal, Riley and O'Neal's agent restarted contract negotiations for the big fella.

"20 million a year.

That's my final bottom line.

I can't budge on Shaq's contract length.

If Shaq wants a long-term contract, he needs to prove he can perform like Michael Jordan at 34, at the very least, next year."

At the negotiating table, looking at O'Neal's agent, Riley clearly showed more sincerity in wanting to renew O'Neal's contract this time, both in his tone and attitude, compared to before.

"One year?

One year it is then!

Anyway, the Heat's offer this time is already higher than I expected.

And right now, achieving a three-peat with Su is the thing I want to do most before I retire."

In Miami, after listening to the good news his agent brought back, O'Neal said this after pondering for two seconds.

And so, just like that.

On August 1st, the Heat officially signed a one-year, $20 million contract with O'Neal.

Online, those Heat fans who had been worried about O'Neal breaking up with Riley could finally come down from the trees (meaning they could finally relax).

In fact, for the Heat's true fans, O'Neal and Riley splitting up this summer was the last thing they wanted to see.

After all, as various media outlets summarized when guiding the discussion on whether Su Feng could secure his position as the greatest of all time...

The 06/07 season, which would start in a little over two months, could be described as the most critical season since Su Feng entered the league.

Because this three-peat not only concerned whether Su Feng could become a god, but also, for veterans like Mourning and Payton, who were willing to take minimum salaries to create an era with Su Feng, the 06/07 season...

Was a season that the Heat couldn't afford to lose, no matter what.

However, after successfully re-signing O'Neal...

Contrary to what these Heat's true fans thought...

The dark cloud that had been looming over Miami's dome since the free agency market opened in July not only did not dissipate...

But instead, between Riley and the players...

A rift had formed that could not be reconciled.

In August, in an interview with reporters, both Mourning and Payton stated that they would announce their retirement after next season.

For Payton, who would be turning 39 next year...

Fans didn't think much of him announcing his retirement after next season.

However, based on Mourning's performance last season...

People thought that Mourning was far from the point of announcing his retirement.

In Su Feng's previous life, after being sidelined for nearly two years due to kidney disease, many people believed that it was the Heat's offer that gave Mourning the opportunity to prove himself again before retiring.

But putting everything else aside...

Just based on Mourning's hardworking attitude after returning to Miami, and the great contributions Mourning had made to Miami in the past...

In Su Feng's opinion, Riley was just taking advantage of Mourning being an honest person.

Because just based on Mourning's performance on the court after fixing his kidney...

Dare you say he doesn't deserve a more decent retirement contract?

In addition, as one of the few players in Su Feng's memory who could retire in Miami...

Do you know why Haslem was able to stay with the Heat until before Su Feng transmigrated?

Because Haslem not only didn't ask for much, but like Mourning in his later years, he was also a hardworking guy.

To put it bluntly...

If Su Feng had previously fantasized that Riley would change because he loved him...

Then at this moment, Su Feng had already lost all illusions about Riley.

In Su Feng's eyes, it was okay to start a business with Riley...

But as for maintaining it...

It was better to find a big city and continue to party!

Meanwhile, in Miami, after vaguely seeing the players collectively choosing to stand behind O'Neal through the fact that Mourning and Payton would retire next season...

On August 1st, Su Feng also received a call from Riley.

However, in the call, in addition to discussing with Riley how to update the Heat's playing style next season, Su Feng did not answer the questions that Riley was most concerned about at the moment.

On the one hand, in Su Feng's opinion, some things are better said in person than over the phone.

And this was also why Su Feng told O'Neal that he would give O'Neal an answer after marrying Britney.

In addition, even if he decided to leave, Su Feng didn't plan to completely fall out with Riley.

After all, even the Bulls, who had serious internal conflicts back then, knew that winning the championship was the most important thing in the NBA.

Therefore, as a transmigrator who had read "Emotional Intelligence" and "Pattern", how could Su Feng be so silly as to have an irreconcilable conflict with Riley at this time?

Moreover, no matter how dissatisfied Su Feng was with Riley's cold-blooded and ruthless handling of O'Neal's contract renewal...

There was no conflict between him and Riley like the one he had with Larry Brown back then.

Therefore, at the end of the call, after pausing for two seconds, Su Feng also said to Riley: "Pat, let's talk when I get back!

Speaking of which, I'm planning to ask you to give a speech at my wedding."

Hearing this, Riley, who had already heard Su Feng's intention to leave from his words, also made his last attempt.

"Su, tell me, next season, won't it be our...

Last dance?"

"Who knows what will happen in the future, Pat?" Only on the phone, after pondering for two seconds, Su Feng said this to Riley.

And now...

Riley, who had a tacit understanding with Su Feng that was no less than that between Davis and Su Feng, already knew the answer in Su Feng's heart.

"It seems we have to be prepared to completely rebuild after next season." Hanging up the phone, Riley turned around and patted Spoelstra's shoulder, instantly looking twenty years older.

"Coach... I don't understand.

Before today, we were still discussing how to continue building the team around Su after achieving a three-peat next season.

But after you just finished talking to Su on the phone, we now have to be prepared to completely rebuild after next season...

Why is that?"

Looking at Riley's haggard face, Spoelstra asked with a puzzled expression.

"As a player, just like Su said, Shaq is indeed right.

He has given a lot to this team, and he deserves a better contract.

But as the general manager of this team, I can't give him that kind of contract.

So...

I'm not wrong, Shaq is not wrong, and Su is not wrong either."

Looking at the pile of documents on his desk, Riley muttered to himself while flipping through them randomly.

"Then coach... what exactly is wrong?" Spoelstra asked.

"Don't you understand, Erik?

The gifts that fate gives you have already been priced in secret.

You and I were so focused on moving forward that we were destined to lose Su forever." After sighing, Riley said to Spoelstra.

And after noticing that the young coach was still confused, Riley immediately added: "Su...

Is not Michael Jordan.

Nor is he Larry Bird.

Nor is he Ervin Johnson.

Or rather, he is different from most of the players in this league.

And we...

The bet we placed on him is far less than what he has given to this team...

It's too little."

"Then coach... do we still have a chance to keep him?" Spoelstra asked.

"When I was negotiating with Shaq's agent earlier, I also thought there might be such a possibility.

But just now on the phone, I knew that Su had already made his decision.

And based on my understanding of him...

Once he makes a decision, he can't turn back." Riley said with a bitter smile.

"I still don't understand, and I can't understand either, coach..." Looking at Riley, Spoelstra shook his head.

"It's right that you can't understand, Erik.

Because that's also why I favored you back then.

Work hard!

Before Su leaves Miami, write down your legendary story in the NBA with him.

I believe that it will definitely be an epic!"

Patting Spoelstra's shoulder, although the light in his eyes was dimming a lot at the moment, Riley subconsciously straightened his back when he thought of the Miami Heat ushering in a dynasty under his rule.

On the other side, in Las Vegas, on this day, when Britney specifically came to see Su Feng off, she stared blankly at the cup of coffee with sugar in Su Feng's hand.

"I remember you said you never drink coffee with sugar." Britney looked up at Su Feng and said.

"Today is different, today I need to drink something sweet to reduce the bitterness in my heart." After smiling slightly, Su Feng hugged Britney and said.

"Okay... anyway, respecting the decision of the man who is about to become my husband is what I, as your wife, should do.

But Su...

Are you sure, I mean, although I don't understand basketball, but are you sure you and Pat Riley can still work together?" After kissing Su Feng's handsome cheek, Britney asked.

"Are you worried that after I tell Pat my decision, Pat will make trouble in my last year with the Heat?" Looking at Britney in his arms, Su Feng smiled.

"I don't know, but...

I know that no capitalist will watch their cash cow leave like this." Britney said.

"So, that's why we should pay attention to whether the contract is beneficial to us when negotiating with capitalists, my dear.

Don't worry, Pat won't do that.

Because I know very well...

He is no longer the Pat Riley I remember.

Although, in the end, he didn't become the Pat Riley I wanted." Rubbing Britney's head, Su Feng said.

"The Pat Riley in your memory?" Looking at Su Feng who suddenly fell into deep thought, Britney asked with a confused expression.

"Uh...

Anyway, it's just that, with my veto power, Pat wouldn't do that, and the Heat wouldn't do that either.

As for how I will leave Miami next year...

To be honest, I can't give you an answer now." Looking at Britney, Su Feng said.

Hearing this, after obediently nodding, Britney also said to Su Feng: "Then I'll wait for you in Miami to come back with a gold medal and marry me."

On August 3rd, the Chinese men's basketball team officially set off for Japan.

After more than a month of training in Las Vegas, Zhang Bin finally made the following choices based on Su Feng's suggestions for the men's basketball team:

Center: Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Battier.

Power Forward: Yi Jianlian, Du Feng.

Small Forward: Su Feng, Zhu Fangyu.

Shooting Guard: Zhang Jinsong, Wang Shipeng.

Point Guard: Liu Wei, Sun Yue, Chen Jianghua.

As the youngest player in the Chinese men's basketball team, Chen Jianghua, who was only 17 years old according to the official age, squeezed out Li Nan at the last moment and appeared on the roster of the Chinese men's basketball team.

The reason for choosing Chen Jianghua over Li Nan was not because Su Feng had any opinions about Li Nan...

It was just because at the Beijing Olympics two years later, as long as Chen Jianghua could keep his head straight, he decided that he was more valuable to cultivate than Li Nan.

Su Feng had seen the future London Olympics, and he knew that even if Chen Jianghua wasn't as amazing as the "Chen fans" claimed, he was still a rare talent on the guard line of the Chinese men's basketball team at this time.

It is worth mentioning that, not long after the Chinese men's basketball team arrived in Hiroshima, Japan...

On this day, Su Feng also felt the chuunibyou (Japanese slang for "middle school second-year syndrome," referring to people who act childishly and fantasize about having special powers or being important) spirit inherited from his two fathers from the Japanese chicks...

"The strongest in the world, aiming for the crown!"

To be honest...

If it wasn't because Su Feng had seen the "Marineford War" in "One Piece" in advance, he would have almost thought that Oda would be plagiarizing this Chinese men's basketball team's poster painted by the famous Japanese basketball manga artist Inoue Takehiko in the future...

On the poster, Su Feng stood in the middle like Whitebeard, and beside him were one after another members of the Chinese men's basketball team with unique skills.

Moreover, below Su Feng's two-dimensional image, there was also a string of Japanese that you could understand even if you didn't understand Japanese...

"The strongest man in the world!

The empire's fierce tiger!"

……

ps: I never expected that Qiao's hometown would have a power outage in the morning and an internet outage in the afternoon today! Fortunately, although I lost my full attendance bonus again because I was late, I still wrote the update with my mobile phone and laptop! Love you all!