NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 120: The new season starts early, the trade of bread crumbs

After crying bitterly, Jordan flew to Las Vegas overnight. Tears alone could not release his emotions, he needed to take a big gamble.

Meng Jin also flew to Procida Island in Italy without stopping. After a busy season, he needed to find a deserted place to relax.

Meng Jin deliberately did not bring his mobile phone, wanting to enjoy some quiet time without being disturbed by anyone.

Procida Island is a small island in Naples and the filming location of the movie "The Postman". Just like the movie, it has pastel-colored houses, street-side cafes and narrow streets, everything is full of historical flavor, but Meng Jin likes the wild nature and almost deserted beaches here the most.

Meng Jin specially rented a small sailboat. Every day when he had nothing to do, he would lie on it, basking in the warm sun and letting the boat drift with the waves. It was very comfortable.

Meng Jin would occasionally bring a book with him, but most of the time he would just lie on a lounge chair on the deck with his eyes closed, relaxing himself.

Just as Meng Jin was enjoying all this, a person suddenly emerged from the water with a "plop".

"Meng! I've come up with a new training method! Do your stride training in the water, and your strides will be more lethal in the new season!"

Looking at the serious Tim Grove, Meng Jin half-closed his eyes and drank a sip of juice beside him: "Tim, you said you would give me half a month to relax, but only three days have passed!"

Another trainer, Sam, walked from the cabin to the deck: "There should be a basketball hoop here. If we do shooting training on the boat, it will help the stability of our shooting."

Meng Jin patted his head, he regretted bringing the training team on vacation.

On the third night, Meng Jin met a charming proprietress. The proprietress had a plump figure and outstanding temperament. Meng Jin was attracted to her at the first sight.

"You should be a movie star. You'll drive Italian men crazy."

This was the first sentence Meng Jin said to the proprietress.

Meng Jin thought he had good pick-up skills, but the proprietress just smiled and didn't say anything.

It was two days later that Meng Jin saw the proprietress again. Meng Jin was preparing to go out to sea on a sailboat. The proprietress was wearing a Bohemian long dress and enjoying the sea breeze on the beach.

The picture was so beautiful that Meng Jin couldn't help but take a picture of her with the camera around his neck.

The lady boss turned around after hearing the sound and asked: "Are you taking pictures of me?"

Meng Jin nodded generously: "I'll give them to you after the photos are developed."

The proprietress smiled and shook her head: "No need."

Meng Jin: "You don't like taking pictures?"

The proprietress grabbed a handful of sand and let it flow slowly through her hands: "I used to like it, I really liked it, but now I'm not interested anymore."

"Would you like to go sailing with me?"

Meng Jin was just asking without holding out any hope, and the proprietress unexpectedly agreed.

Meng Jin felt that he couldn't figure out this proprietress, but the more he thought about it, the more interested he became.

For three days in a row, they went out to sea together at the same time.

Meng Jin was interested in the proprietress, and she also thought Meng Jin was very mysterious. A big oriental guy would actually come to this little-known island for vacation. Moreover, while others brought women with them on vacation, he brought three men.

Tim Grove, Greg Sam and Lao Zhang.

Originally, he wanted to call David Falk to join him, but he was too busy. He had to deal with many contract matters and he also had to scout for potential new stars on the eve of the draft.

The proprietress can speak English, but her vocabulary is not large and her expression is not very fluent. Meng Jin does not understand a word of Italian. However, it is precisely because of this that their communication becomes more joyful. They often dance and express something or an emotion.

Their feelings quickly heated up, and on the afternoon of the fourth day after they met, they started playing and frolicking on the deck, and soon the entire ship began to shake violently.

……

……

"Damn, are you done yet?"

At this time, Tim Grove was soaking in the water, with Lao Zhang and Sam beside him.

There’s no other way. The sailboat is so small, we have to make room for Meng Jin.

"It doesn't look like it." Sam looked back at the still shaking hull: "It just stopped for a while, and now it started again."

"This is definitely the most damage the ship has ever suffered." Tim Grove shook his head.

After hearing this, Lao Zhang chuckled and said, "This is the romantic young man. Ouch, my legs are cramping a little bit, a little cramping."

"Hold on to the lifebuoy!"

In the evening, the setting sun dyed the Tyrrhenian Sea red, and the skin of Grove, Sam and Lao Zhang were wrinkled by the sea water.

"Oh my god, guys, your skin is like an 80-year-old man!"

After getting ashore, facing Meng Jin's teasing, the three of them didn't want to pay attention to him. You are playing in the water up there, and we brothers are soaking in the water down there. Can you please have a little conscience?

Meng Jin said there was nothing he could do, they were all emergencies, he just wanted to have a chat with the boss lady, who knew it would turn out like this.

In the next three days, Meng Jin and the proprietress tried every corner of the island. Playing poker with Meng Jin was addictive. He was like a skilled pile driver.

One morning, Meng Jin got up and prepared for a morning run. Although Meng Jin did not play basketball during the vacation, he never neglected his physical training.

Meng Jin had just run a few steps along the coastline when he was stopped by an Italian guy with black curly hair.

"Are you Donatella Damiani's new boyfriend?"

Donatella Damiani is the proprietress. Meng Jin looked him up and down. The young man was probably 17 or 18 years old.

Meng Jin said, "Are you her son?"

The young man laughed out loud: "Hahaha, what are you talking about? I'm her fan, can you help me get her autograph? I'm a little embarrassed."

"fan?"

Before, Meng Jin only talked about happy things with the boss's wife and never asked about her past.

Meng Jin pulled the young man to sit on the beach, and then the two started chatting.

During the conversation, Meng Jin learned that Donatella Damiani is an Italian actress who became famous in the 70s and reached her peak in the 80s, but suddenly announced her retirement a few years ago and has disappeared from the film industry since then.

Meng Jin suddenly understood what she meant when she said on the beach, "I used to like taking pictures, but now I don't."

Meng Jin had always thought that the proprietress was very idle. She didn't seem to care about her hotel business and just wandered around like a tourist.

Now I know why. She opened the shop not to make money, but just to experience another life.

After returning, Meng Jin did not break the window paper. He enjoyed being with Donatella Damiani. It was none of his business whether she was a star or not.

Two days passed like this. One morning, when Meng Jin woke up, a strong desire flashed through his mind. He wanted to play basketball. All he thought about was shooting, breaking through, dunking and how to get revenge next season.

So before the vacation lasted 15 days, Meng Jin and his team set off to return to the United States.

Before leaving, Meng Jin met with Donatella Damiani alone.

Donatella Damiani did not try to persuade her to stay. She was a mature woman and knew that this would happen sooner or later.

"I will remember you, forever."

Donatella Damiani smiled and said: "This is the most common lie told by men."

“This is my address in the United States.”

Meng Jin was completely fascinated by Donatella Damiani, and he rarely gave women his address on his own initiative.

Donatella Damiani took the note and smiled charmingly: "Maybe I will come to find you, maybe not, but I will never forget this time."

"Are you talking about the time we spent on the boat?" Meng Jin said with a wicked smile.

Donatella Damiani: “Yes, and not entirely. It was a great and novel experience.”

"I have to catch a plane, I wish you all the best."

"the same as you."

After bidding farewell to this pleasant time, Meng Jin boarded a flight back to the United States.

Meng Jin did not fly to Chicago, he went directly to New York. He will train at Syracuse University during the offseason.

Jordan also ended his vacation on this day and returned to his alma mater, North Carolina. The two basketball kings coincidentally started the new season on the same day.

"Wow! Our star player is here!"

After landing, Meng Jin did not rest, but went straight to the Syracuse University training hall, where his mentor Boeheim was already waiting for him. "Coach Jim, long time no see."

Meng Jin gave Boeheim a hug. The two hadn't seen each other since Meng Jin entered the NBA, but they would occasionally call each other. Meng Jin was very concerned about Syracuse University's performance, and Boeheim was also always paying attention to Meng Jin's development in the NBA.

Boeheim: "You played well this season. You know, I had high expectations for you, but your performance in your first year exceeded my expectations and everyone's expectations."

Meng Jin: "I just had a failed season and was eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals."

Boeheim grabbed Meng Jin's hands and said, "No, no, no, don't think like that, kid. You played perfectly. I'm proud of you, you know that? Every time I go to the bar to watch the Bulls game, I will tell everyone loudly that this is my student, this guy is from Syracuse University! You are still young, you have more opportunities, don't regard this as a failure, turn it into motivation to move forward."

Meng Jin nodded: "Coach, this is why I am here at this training ground now."

"Ronnie is participating in the NBA draft this year. Maybe you can give him some advice."

After Boeheim finished speaking, he shouted to the court: "Hey! Ronnie, look who's here!"

Ronnie Seikaly came over with a smile: "God! Should I ask you for an autograph now?"

Meng Jin hugged Seikali and said, "If you do this, I will definitely sign your forehead."

After the two laughed, Seikaly said, "Meng, come train with us during the offseason."

Meng Jin: “I couldn’t ask for more.”

Seikaly: "I have a lot of questions for you."

Meng Jin waved his hand: "Don't be so polite, you are my senior."

Seikaly said with a serious face: "No, no, no, that's the past. You were my predecessor in the NBA. You achieved success in the NBA. You were an All-Star player. You made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. You made Michael Jordan, a super scorer, pass the ball to you willingly. MAN! It's hard to imagine that we were still playing on the same team a year ago!"

"Which team do you think I should go to now?"

Meng Jin thought for a moment and said, "NBA is not as difficult as you might think. With your current level, you can start directly in many teams. If you ask me where is the most suitable place to go, I think the Bulls."

After Meng Jin finished speaking, both of them laughed. They thought it was a joke, but Meng Jin was telling the truth.

Meng Jin added: "The Bulls are the most suitable team for you. You can play low-post, make fast breaks, and grab rebounds. The Bulls are most lacking in the No. 5 position. You are the best choice for the starting center."

Hearing Meng Jin say this, Seikaly was a little moved: "What number will the Bulls pick this year?"

"There was a first-round pick, number 11 or 12, I can't remember exactly."

Meng Jin only talked about the first-round pick, and with Seikaly’s level, there’s no way he’ll fall out of the lottery.

"Too far behind." Seikaly shook his head: "I've tried out for the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and New Jersey Nets before, and their draft picks were all ahead of the Bulls."

"I can give Jerry Krause some advice, but he may not listen to me. You know, he doesn't even sell Michael's account."

The two chatted for a while, and then Meng Jin's two training players, Sam and Grove, came in carrying two large bags. Meng Jin applauded and asked all the Syracuse University players who were training on the field to come over.

The players gathered around, including old teammates like Derrick Coleman and Sherman Douglas, as well as some new faces.

Meng Jin opened the bag, and inside was everything from the MJ Generation. This was a gift from Meng Jin to his alumni, and he had asked Coach Boeheim for the size beforehand.

"Meng, why are you giving out Christmas presents when it's not even Christmas yet?"

"GOD! You are such a good person!"

"Mine is actually pink. I went to the store three times and couldn't find this color!"

"Thanks, bro, your sneakers are the best, everyone around me loves them."

There is basically no basketball player who doesn't like sneakers. Although the sales of the MJ generation are not as good as the AJ generation, it is also very popular and is one of the most popular basketball shoes in North America.

After putting on new sneakers, the Syracuse players returned to the court to play a scrimmage game. Meng Jin did not join. The trainer did not allow him to do so, saying that he had not played for more than ten days and had to start with his physical recovery first.

Meng Jin felt that there was no problem, as he hadn't touched a ball for just over ten days, not two months. However, at the insistence of his two trainers, he still did not join the game. Meng Jin spent the day doing some stretching and strength training.

The next day, after hearing the news that Meng Jin had returned to China, Klaus flew to New York.

Krause's first words were explosive: "Meng, I was planning to rebuild the team around you this offseason, trade Michael, and then equip you with a good point guard and big man, but the boss wouldn't let me."

After the Bulls lost to the Pistons, Clippers owner Sterling saw hope of getting Jordan again. This time, he did not test the waters too much and directly offered the freshly-made No. 5 pick. He also directly offered a 1-for- trade, allowing the Clippers to pick any lineup. For Jordan, Sterling said he would accept it even if the Bulls robbed him. The Clippers' crazy offer finally impressed the Bulls management, or to be more precise, impressed Krause.

Krause has already figured out how to spend this huge sum of money. He will use the No. 224 pick to get Danny Manning or Rick Smits to supplement the inside strength. He personally prefers Rick Smits. This guy is a cm big guy and he will be a natural barrier wherever he stands.

In addition, he will ask the Clippers for their top star Mike Woodson, top center Michael Cage, center Benoit Benjamin and potential new star Ken Norman.

Krause's final move was to trade two of Michael Cage, Benoit Benjamin and Ken Norman plus some draft picks for a good point guard.

Michael Cage was the rebounding champion last season, and Benoit Benjamin averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. Now is an era where the inside is king, and these two big men will be in great demand and will be good bargaining chips in the trading market.

In this way, the players' positions 1, 2, inside and even the bench are well supplemented.

The deal had reached its final stages, and Krause initially convinced Reinsdorf. However, at the critical moment, Bulls owner Reinsdorf stepped in and called off the deal.

Klaus was very angry. He came to New York without stopping not to tell Meng Jin about this, but to tell Meng Jin how important he was in his mind. This was a way to win over Meng Jin.

However, Meng Jin was not very interested. He felt that what Klaus said was all nonsense and nothing happened for the team.

At this moment, Klaus came up to Meng Jin and said, "I have a plan B."

Meng Jin took a step back in disgust. He smelled the gravy on Klaus' body.

Meng Jin: "What's the plan? Trade me for a center or a point guard?"

Krause smiled and said, "You are not for sale. You are more important to me than Michael. My plan is to continue to let Michael play point guard next season and trade Charles Oakley for a big man. In this way, we will have a point guard, an outside attacker, and a big center."

"What about the power forward position?" Meng Jin asked.

“The location is not important.”

Krause appeared calm on the surface, but he actually had a great ideological struggle in trading Oakley, because Oakley was the one he selected and trained, and he liked Oakley's hard-working, fierce and tough playing style.

Krause himself did not want to make the deal, but the Bulls coaching staff unanimously agreed that they could not win the championship without a big center, and the Bulls had no other high-quality chips except Oakley.

"Maybe you could consider using the pick on a quality big man, like Ronny Seikaly?"

"The center from Syracuse University? He's pretty good, but not what I want. I scouted him, but he's not big enough. He's only 105 or 108 kilograms?"

Meng Jin didn't say much. It was difficult for others to interfere with Klaus's selection of players as he always had his own ideas.

"The plan is great. I have to go swimming. I also have to keep training during the off-season." Meng Jin said a few perfunctory words to him and left.

Two days later, news broke that the Bulls traded Charles Oakley to the New York Knicks for center Cartwright.

Jordan was furious when he heard the news. He was playing basketball at the North Carolina training hall at the time, and Oakley was practicing next to him.

Jordan slammed the ball and left the court, then booked a flight to Chicago.

There were two reasons that made Jordan furious. The first was that Krause traded away his best brother in the team. The second was that Krause didn't even say hello to him. This made Jordan not only feel offended, but he also felt that Krause was targeting him. He didn't want to stay in the team, so he was ready to isolate himself.

Jordan rushed directly to Krause's office and kicked the door open: "Who will be my bodyguard in the future? Answer me, Breadcrumbs! Meng? If he leaves, who else can score with me?"

Jerry Krause: "Maybe Horace can."

After hearing this, Jordan's anger level directly reached 100%.

"Horace Grant? Fuck, I can handle him myself!"

"Fuck you! I mean, fuck you!"

After leaving a sincere greeting, Jordan slammed the door and left.

"Wow!"

The glass on the door was shattered all over the floor. Jordan was really angry today. He was trying his best to restrain himself by not punching Klaus twice.

Klaus immediately made the call: "Yes, the door of the general manager's office needs to be repaired. The repair fee will be deducted from Michael's salary."

There have been countless conflicts between Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause, but never one as serious as this one. It would not be a coincidence that the two sides have fallen out rather than calling it a conflict.

Grant, who was watching a movie on the sofa, picked up the basketball silently after hearing the news.

He may be the biggest beneficiary of this deal. Once Oakley leaves, his offensive time will increase greatly next season, and he may even start.

Grant made a lot of mistakes in this year's playoffs, but the coaching team led by Collins also saw the potential of the four-eyed boy. He is very mobile. If the Bulls can change the two-man fast break into a three-man fast break, the threat on the offensive end will be greatly enhanced. In addition, his long passes are good and can be accurately guided to find teammates in the frontcourt.

(End of this chapter)