The Best Point Guard

Portland actually believed it. They quickly made a call, asking what assets the Rockets could offer. They were even willing to take someone as dim-witted as Swift.

However, the Rockets rejected them on the spot. They vehemently denied it to the media, even saying that Yao Ming had no interest in classical Chinese music and didn’t like foreign girls who wear cheongsams.

Su Xi found it hilarious when he saw the news.

How could Jeff Van Gundy possibly take on Randolph? It was just too unrealistic. Besides, neither Yao Ming nor Tracy McGrady were forceful leaders; they would never be able to keep Randolph in line.

Though, Randolph would have been a great fit for the Rockets.

If they added Randolph to play alongside Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, they would definitely become a true championship-contending team.

But the Rockets’ owner, Alexander, was the stingiest man in the entire league. How could he possibly be willing to part with tens of millions of USD to gamble on a problem player?

Su Xi actually thought the Cavaliers would also be a good fit for Randolph. If Randolph went there and formed an inside-outside duo with James, they could absolutely become a championship-caliber team... Of course, that was on the condition that Randolph was fully committed and played earnestly.

With Randolph’s current reputation and his history of beating up his head coach on two separate occasions, who would dare take that gamble?

Ultimately, only two teams made an offer. One was the Magic Team, who were willing to trade Francis.

Francis was pretty much washed up by now. With injuries, alcoholism, and his involvement with certain unspeakable substances, his athletic condition made it impossible for him to survive in the NBA.

The Portland Trail Blazers almost pulled the trigger on the trade. Figuring it was better to rip the band-aid off, they would just cleanly trade for Francis and then buy out his contract.

After all, the Trail Blazers’ owner was rich; he was Microsoft’s second-largest shareholder.

However, once the Knicks extended an olive branch, all suspense was lost.

Because the Knicks were offering Antonio Davis in the trade.

Compared to Francis, Antonio Davis was a much, much more appealing asset.

Davis could still play. Although he was being ostracized within the Knicks, his skills and physical condition were still decent. Plus, he was on an expiring contract.

The Trail Blazers readily agreed.

To match salaries for the Trail Blazers, the Knicks held a drawing within the team, ultimately choosing Nate Robinson to balance the money in the trade.

However, it was also agreed that once the Trail Blazers received Nate Robinson, they would have to buy out his contract.

The Knicks would then re-sign him for a minimum salary.

The Trail Blazers agreed without hesitation.

Then, Isaiah Thomas applied even more pressure: "Pritchard, my friend, I’m making this deal under immense pressure myself. I didn’t even let my owner know. I’m just a big gambler by nature. But I have a bad feeling I’m going to get burned by Randolph, so you have to give me a little sweetener. Give me a draft pick. That way, even if Randolph is a total bust here, I’ll at least have something to show my owner. You know, a bit of hope for the future."

Pritchard thought it over. He was worried Thomas might back out of the deal.

Isaiah Thomas had a reputation for being a spendthrift GM, and New York was known for having more money than sense. The Knicks had just had a few good days and were getting a little full of themselves.

If they could really unload Randolph on them, every other team in the league would probably applaud.

The entire league had been sick of the Knicks for a while. Why should a team like that be on such a long winning streak?

After mulling it over, and just to be safe, Pritchard agreed to Thomas’s request. He threw in a draft pick: an unprotected 2007 lottery pick.

This made Thomas ecstatic.

They quickly reached an agreement, both sides afraid the other would change their mind.

On the day the trade was finalized, the Knicks finally lost a game. Their winning streak came to an end at 26 games, as they lost their 27th match to the Los Angeles Lakers.

It couldn’t be helped. Kobe was simply unstoppable.

Kobe dropped 71 points in the Staples Center; not even a god descending to Earth could have guarded him.

He went on an absolute rampage.

This allowed Su Xi to witness the pinnacle of Kobe’s offensive game. It gave him even more confidence in himself. He thought, ’If a guy with Kobe’s physical stats can score 71, then once I’m fused to 99, on a day when I’m really feeling it, scoring 80 shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?’

Su Xi was getting a little cocky now. He felt his natural physical gifts were far superior to Kobe’s.

And it was true.

However, for a shooting guard, he was still a bit on the shorter side.

Jordan had the ideal build. Even Kobe was a little bit short of that standard.

"Seventy-one points is my limit for tonight, but it’s definitely not my limit for the season."

After the game, Kobe repeated this badass line twice.

Once to Su Xi.

He must have liked the way it sounded, because he said it again at the post-game press conference.

This was the difference between Kobe and Iverson. Iverson never practiced, while Kobe loved to practice—he even rehearsed his public statements.

Su Xi was also asked for his thoughts on having their winning streak broken by Kobe.

"No thoughts. We just couldn’t fucking stop him, that’s all," Su Xi swore. "The refs were giving him whistles from the start, and that just built up his confidence. After that, he couldn’t miss. When I saw his wife and kids cheering their hearts out for him, I knew he was about to go on a rampage tonight."

"Is he the best scorer in the league today? Of course he is, isn’t that obvious?"

"He’s also definitely the most skilled scorer in NBA history. I’m talking pure technique. You all know his physical abilities are pretty average for a superstar. His Dunk King title is the least prestigious in history."

Su Xi’s words were a mix of praise and digs, the kind of thing you only say when you have a very good relationship with someone.

It was just like how Kobe talked about Su Xi’s defense: "Ever since the rule changes on defense, his defensive ability has plummeted. Plus, he can’t guard the post-up, just like how Payton couldn’t guard Jordan back in the day. And as you all know, he learned his defense from Payton."

"The Knicks are a good offensive team, but all their offense combined still doesn’t add up to me."

Kobe was as arrogant as ever.

But he had the right to be arrogant. He was the only player to have beaten the Knicks this season, and he had done it single-handedly.

He had every reason to boast.

And on this night of defeat, the Knicks and the Trail Blazers announced that the trade was official.

The Knicks sent Antonio Davis, who had been staying in Los Angeles, to Portland, packaging him with Little Potato.

In return, Portland traded Randolph and an unprotected 2007 first-round draft pick to the Knicks.

When the trade was announced, the entire sports world erupted.

The New York Media expressed total disbelief, thinking the team’s management had gone insane: The team was finally on the right track, so why trade for a ticking time bomb? Was it just for a 2007 draft pick?

Meanwhile, the rest of the media had a gloating look on their faces.

Bill Simmons reviewed the trade, giving the Trail Blazers an ’S’ grade. As for the Knicks, he commented: "This is classic Isaiah Thomas, right on par with his usual moves. He’s successfully assembled the second, third, and fourth fattest players in the NBA right in the Knicks’ paint."

This sentiment of schadenfreude spread quickly. Nobody wanted the Knicks to succeed; they all hoped that after acquiring Randolph, the team would fall into complete disarray—preferably by going on a 27-game losing streak.

The Knicks organization made no comment on the matter.

Zach Randolph also didn’t make an appearance. He remained in Miami, as the Knicks’ next opponent was the Miami Heat.

Meanwhile, in Portland, they warmly welcomed Antonio Davis, proclaiming he would be a cherished partner and giving him a grand reception.

However, this reception was more than likely a celebration of finally getting rid of Randolph.

They could finally breathe a sigh of relief; peace had been restored between the players and management.

As for Little Potato, they didn’t even have him report to the team. The moment the trade went through, they processed his buyout contract remotely.

They gave Little Potato 50,000 USD.

Little Potato was thrilled. It was basically a free bonus, because after he cleared waivers, he would just sign another minimum contract with the Knicks.

The media treated the whole thing as a joke, and no one paid any attention to the role Robinson played in the incident.

They just joked that Portland had developed a bone-deep phobia of point guards under 180cm and never wanted another "Little Flying Squirrel."

...