LeBron James running away? He's going all in on Curry.

Just two days after the American Airlines Center incident, the Cleveland Cavaliers released a medical statement that plunged the entire city into an abyss:

"Out of absolute protection for the player's long-term health and career, after consultation with the team's medical team and multiple experts, it has been decided that Stephen Curry will undergo minimally invasive repair surgery on his left ankle to completely eliminate any potential ankle problems. Therefore, Curry will miss the remainder of the season and will be out for the rest of the season."

The news caused an uproar across the United States.

Just as all the media and onlookers were getting ready to sit back and watch how Su Yang, this outspoken and troublesome boss, would once again launch a tirade against LeBron James on Twitter and in the media, igniting another round of public opinion battles…

To everyone's surprise, Su Yang fell silent.

There were no public accusations, and no sarcastic mockery.

Neither the Cavaliers' official account nor Su Yang's personal social media posts mentioned James's foot-planting action, except for sending well wishes to Curry.

Just as the outside world was surprised by Su Yang's "unusual silence", the Alliance Office suddenly dropped a bombshell that shocked the trading market!

After months of back-and-forth negotiations, and with the personal approval of league commissioner David Stern, a three-way trade involving the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers has been officially finalized!

In this trade, the Clippers got the league's best point guard Chris Paul, while the Hornets received Eric Gordon, Kaman, and other players who can contribute immediately, plus the Cavaliers' 2012 Pacers first-round pick, the Heat's 2013 first-round pick, and veteran defender Shane Battier.

As a third party, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave up two first-round picks and a veteran player in exchange for the New Orleans Hornets' own unprotected 2012 first-round pick!

Once this trade was announced, the entire American basketball community instantly reached a consensus—the Cleveland Cavaliers had officially given up on this season!

"This was a wise, but also somewhat ruthless, business decision."

An ESPN basketball commentator confidently analyzed on the show, "With Stephen Curry out for the season, the Cavaliers have lost their only offensive weapon capable of tearing apart defenses, and their previously amazing three-point system will be completely paralyzed. Trading away defensive anchor Battier for the Hornets' likely high lottery first-round pick this year means that Su Yang has recognized reality and is preparing to return to tanking to chase this year's high draft picks."

Everyone thought that the Cavaliers, having lost Curry, would inevitably embark on a massive fire sale, trading away valuable assets like Marc Gasol and Millsap for draft picks.

However, something strange happened.

Apart from the trade involving Battier, the Cavaliers have not made any other player sales in the supermarket!

Gasol, Millsap, Klay, Leonard – none of them were touched!

Before the trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers made only a minor, uneventful trade—using the Miami Heat's 2013 second-round draft pick, acquired in a LeBron James trade, plus some cash, to acquire the rights to a small, Chinese-American point guard from the New York Knicks who hadn't even made the rotation this season.

That short-haired, unremarkable-looking Chinese-American guard is named Jeremy Lin.

The outside world simply viewed Su Yang, the Chinese-American boss, as a "social nicety" to gain some sympathy and attention in the domestic market by exchanging a second-round draft pick for a water dispenser manager position.

……

Inside a VIP ward at one of the top private orthopedic hospitals in Cleveland.

Stephen Curry, who just underwent minimally invasive ankle surgery, is lying on his hospital bed.

His left foot was in a thick cast, propped up high on a pillow.

The baby face that used to always have a bright smile is now filled with gloom and frustration.

In the brutal arena of fame and fortune in the NBA, what does it mean for a guard with the "glass man" label to suffer a season-ending injury in the year of his contract? Curry knows better than anyone.

"Maybe my career is going to end like this, in a mediocre way... The team will definitely trade me away." Curry stared at the ceiling, his eyes dim, and muttered to himself.

"Squeak."

The door to the ward was pushed open, and Su Yang walked in alone, carrying a fruit basket.

"Boss..." Curry struggled to sit up when he saw Su Yang.

"Lie still and don't move."

Su Yang placed the fruit basket on the bedside table, pulled up a chair and sat down on the edge of the bed. Looking at Curry's dejected appearance, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What? Think you're useless and afraid I'll treat you like a worthless contract?"

Curry gave a wry smile, his eyes revealing undisguised inferiority: "Boss, I know the NBA is a business. My ankle is in this state, and the roster you spent a lot of money to build for me is ruined because of me... If the team chooses to give up on me at this time, I completely understand."

Looking at this young man who would one day ignite a frenzy in the small-ball era, yet was currently extremely insecure, Su Yang's smile vanished, and his eyes became incredibly serious.

"Stephen, I've come today to tell you two things."

"First, you just focus on recovering. Even if the sky falls, you're still the core of this team, and we absolutely won't trade you because of a mere injury. I'm waiting for you to make a full recovery and lead us to the championship."

Upon hearing this, Curry's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"The second thing."

Su Yang paused, then dropped a bombshell that Curry thought he was hallucinating: "Get some rest. This summer, I'll personally present you with a five-year, maximum-salary contract extension worth $83 million!"

"What?!"

Curry's eyes widened in shock, and he even aggravated his ankle injury with excitement, gasping in pain. "Boss... are you kidding me? A five-year max contract?!"

According to the league's latest collective bargaining agreement, each team can only have one "designated player" signed to a five-year maximum contract.

In everyone's mind, this kind of contract is only given to physical monsters like Derrick Rose and LeBron James!

And him, a third-year student who just had ankle surgery and is out for the season?

"I never joke, Stephen."

Su Yang patted Curry on the shoulder, his tone firm, "I don't look at the past, I only look at the future. In my eyes, you absolutely deserve this 'designated player' contract, which represents the team's absolute icon!"

Curry stared blankly at Su Yang, tears welling up in his eyes.

In this business alliance where it's easy to add flowers to brocade but difficult to provide charcoal in snowy weather, this unreserved trust and exorbitant promise completely shattered the young man's psychological defenses.

"Boss... thank you! I swear, I will repay your trust today with more than one, two, or even more championships!" Curry choked up, his voice trembling slightly.

"I've got it. Take good care of yourself, my superstar."

……

That afternoon, at the Cavaliers' headquarters press conference room.

Su Yang, dressed in a formal suit, personally attended the media conference regarding the team's future plans.

He was surrounded by guns and cannons.

"Mr. Su! Does trading away Battier, their only defensive stalwart, mean the Cavaliers are ready to tank?"

"Mr. Su! There are rumors that the Cavaliers are preparing to trade Curry for draft picks this summer. Is this true? After all, his ankle is a ticking time bomb!"

Faced with a barrage of questions from reporters, Su Yang straightened the microphone, his gaze calm.

"First of all, the Cavaliers will not tank. We will still fight for the playoffs."

This routine act of stubbornness drew a few good-natured chuckles from the audience.

Do they think they can make the playoffs without Curry?

"Secondly, regarding the rumors about Stephen Curry, I'm here today to give my only and final response."

Su Yang's voice, transmitted clearly through the speakers, resonated throughout the United States: "Stephen Curry will not only not be traded, but he is also the only spiritual icon of this Cleveland Cavaliers for the future! We will never question his greatness because of a temporary injury, nor will we take advantage of his injury slump to deliberately lower his price using any injury concerns!"

"I hereby publicly commit that this summer, the Cavaliers will offer Stephen Curry a maximum five-year 'Designated Player' contract extension!"

boom!

All the reporters present gasped.

Offering a five-year maximum contract to a guard who just had ankle surgery and is out for the season?! That's insane! This rich kid with money to burn is absolutely insane!

"Mr. Su!" A reporter from the Miami Sun Sentinel stood up, trying to dig up even more juicy gossip. "Stephen suffered such a serious injury. What do you have to say about LeBron James, who caused his injury? Do you think James ruined your season?"

All the reporters pricked up their ears excitedly, eagerly anticipating Su Yang's furious outburst as he had last time, calling James a "filthy butcher"—that would definitely be a headline-grabbing story.

However, this time, they miscalculated.

Su Yang merely glanced at the reporter, his eyes showing no anger, only an unfathomable depth.

"I'm sitting here today only to talk about my players, only to talk about the future of Cleveland."

"As for certain actions of a certain person..."

"I don't want to waste any more breath, and I won't talk about this anymore."

"What happens on the basketball court will ultimately be resolved on the basketball court."

After speaking, Su Yang walked out of the press conference hall escorted by a group of security guards.

Once the video of this press conference was broadcast, the direction of public opinion across the United States instantly changed 180 degrees!

The Chinese-American rich kid who was once labeled as "outspoken," "lacking manners," and "arrogant" has shown remarkable forbearance and a broad perspective in the face of this crisis. In particular, his absolute trust in Curry and his generous promise of money, which transcends the cold-bloodedness of capital, has won him a lot of goodwill.

"In this cold-blooded business alliance, meeting a boss like Su Yang is the greatest luck Curry has ever had."

"Instead of taking advantage of the situation to drive down prices, he offered five years' worth of top salary! Just for that human touch, Su Yang deserves to be called a great boss!"

"Instead of impotent rage, he silently licks his wounds and awaits revenge. Boss Su has grown up!"

In no time, Su Yang's reputation soared on social media both at home and abroad, and the title of "NBA's most humane owner" was firmly placed on his head.