Chapter 1 An Inevitable Transaction

Without a doubt, this trade involving Su Feng that occurred during the 1998 draft would be recorded in history.

For those Philadelphia fans who loved Su Feng, feelings of sadness, grief, depression, and melancholy surged to their hearts.

They couldn't forget that night in early summer last year when he transformed into a battle wind in desperate circumstances, like a shooting star piercing the sky, cutting through the Chicagoans' defense. How could they accept the fact that Su Feng was traded?

Just as when Real Madrid sent Prince Redondo to Milan in the future, some "radical" Philadelphia fans wanted to rush into the 76ers' front office and ask them face to face:

Why?

Why trade our "Philadelphia Hero"?

However, what's done is done.

No matter how annoyed these Philadelphia fans who loved Su Feng were with the team's terrible decision, they couldn't change what happened on June 23, 1998.

...

After the trade with the Raptors was officially completed, Philadelphia 76ers' decision-maker Pat Krause held a press conference immediately.

At the press conference, after answering various questions from reporters, Krause, suddenly remembering something, patted Berlinberg's shoulder and said with a wry smile:

"Buddy, I think we better start praying now."

A puzzled Berlinberg looked at Krause curiously and asked:

"Pat, what do we need to pray for?"

Hearing this, Krause didn't continue talking to Berlinberg.

Because even if you don't look at it from a time-traveling perspective, this trade, as most American experts said, was indeed a win for the 76ers.

But...

Unlike the "knowledgeable" Berlinberg, in Krause's view, someone with Su Feng's personality would never be depressed in Toronto.

And vaguely, he didn't know why, Krause always felt like he heard a dragon's roar from the north.

"Pat, I know you like Su very much.

But after this trade, believe me, we will only be stronger next season."

Berlinberg smiled, looking at Krause, who seemed a bit apprehensive.

"Okay, Pat, have you forgotten? This trade was your own decision.

Marcus (Camby) can run and jump, and was the second pick in '96. Even if Larry's tactics don't need him, we can use him to trade for the players we need.

And the offensive and defensive-minded Doug (Christie) is the best supplement to this 76ers team after Su's departure.

As for John (Wallace), I've watched his game tapes.

He's physically explosive, and as long as he's willing to obey Larry's instructions, I think he will become a good player."

Perhaps feeling that Krause hadn't recovered from the trade yet, Berlinberg continued to comfort him.

"You don't have to worry about the fans, Pat, because next, they will have enough time to digest all of this.

Believe me, as long as we can win the championship under Larry's leadership, then these fans who can't bear to part with Su will understand our good intentions at that time."

Berlinberg, who knew that fans were a bunch of "true fragrance" (zhen xiang guai) monsters, felt that Krause was just too sentimental sometimes.

Only...

What Berlinberg didn't know was that Krause's sentimentality on this day wasn't really because of those radical Su Feng fans.

At this moment, what Krause was worried about was that he wasn't decisive enough, and what he felt was...

Ever since Larry Brown came to Philadelphia, Krause always felt that the 76ers' taste had become a bit strange.

But if you asked him where it was strange, Krause couldn't quite say.

Admittedly, the 76ers would be stronger in the future, and Krause also admired Larry Brown's coaching ability...

But, in Krause's view, if he had to choose, he still preferred the 76ers who had blacked-eighted the Bulls.

"Looks like I really don't understand basketball..."

Krause laughed self-deprecatingly that day.

...

After the 76ers' press conference ended, although many fans couldn't understand the 76ers' decision to trade Su Feng...

However, in the eyes of some "rational" Philadelphia fans, they believed that the team's wave of trades was not a loss.

Although it was a pity to lose Su Feng, as Berlinberg said, if the 76ers could become stronger, then what couldn't be accepted?

Philadelphia.

Larry Brown, feeling that he had "won" in this war without gunpowder smoke, wanted to give himself a cigar after watching the news.

In Larry Brown's view, Su Feng, that unlucky kid, was simply asking for it this time.

He had given him all the love and privileges that he should have, but why was he so stubborn?

And this guy even dared to tear him apart?

God knows how much Larry Brown's heart ached when Su Feng tore him apart?

Larry Brown was convinced that time would definitely make Su Feng understand:

That he was so "young and frivolous" and "did not know the immensity of heaven and earth" back then.

...

It must be said that Su Feng was unrivaled in stealing traffic from the big news of labor-management negotiations and the imminent NBA lockout.

And while the people were arguing about it, Su Feng, in Brown's eyes, "young and frivolous" and "did not know the immensity of heaven and earth", was preparing to go to Toronto as planned.

You must know that the reason why Krause gave Su Feng a spoiler about this trade in advance was to hope that Su Feng could prepare in advance.

Therefore, Bill Duffy had already taken care of everything for Su Feng in Toronto.

As the saying goes, an army's provisions must come before troops move.

Manciaz, Su Feng's right-hand man, had arrived in Toronto a week ago with Su Feng's training team.

Because once the NBA was suspended, players would not be able to use the team's training gym and training facilities, so Manciaz decisively rented an ice hockey rink in Toronto for a long period of time, and after paying the arena owner a fee he couldn't refuse, he temporarily converted it into a basketball gym.

And the advantage that Su Feng had never bought a house in Philadelphia before was also highlighted. On the morning of the 24th, after simply packing his luggage, Su Feng was preparing to go to the airport with Da Ben and Kobe.

There was no way...

Da Ben had been sleeping with Su Feng recently, and Kobe, as a noble Western All-Star starter...

How could he, the dignified "Little Flying Man," decide to go to Toronto with Su Feng just because he coveted Su Feng's cooking skills and trainer?

He, Kobe, was purely because he hadn't seen McGrady for a long time and wanted to go to Toronto with Su Feng to see McGrady.

Just as the three were about to go out, accompanied by a sudden drizzle, Da Ben and Kobe's stomachs...

Suddenly started to hurt.

At this moment, Su Feng didn't expose Da Ben and Kobe's clumsy acting skills.

After letting the two figure out how to get to the airport themselves, Su Feng, taking a deep breath, looked at Iverson, who was wearing a hip-hop jacket, standing next to a sports car, with empty eyes, and said:

"Long time no see, Allen."

After looking at Su Feng in the rain for a few seconds, Iverson silently opened the passenger door and said to Su Feng:

"I'll take you."

"Okay."

It took 30 minutes to get to the airport from Su Feng's residence, but Iverson took a full hour and a half this time.

The unruly Iverson knew that even if Su Feng missed this flight, he would take the next one, the one after that...

But he just hoped to drive slower this time.

"It's raining, I'm driving slower, do you mind?"

Iverson, who was controlling the speed of the car very slowly, looked at Su Feng and said.

Su Feng shook his head, "Then drive slower."

For Iverson, who likes to pursue speed and passion, the weather has never been a reason for him to slow down.

A week ago, when he learned that Su Feng would be traded by the team, Iverson had expressed his strong dissatisfaction to the 76ers' management, regardless of his agent uncle's opposition.

However, in this era of tense relations between labor and management, even Iverson's opposition could not make Pat Krause muster the courage to pay the price required to keep Su Feng.

"It must be very cold in Toronto in the winter, right?"

After taking Su Feng to the airport, Iverson looked up at Su Feng and said.

"It seems to be quite cold." Su Feng replied melancholically.

"If it's cold in the winter, then wear this."

Iverson handed a woolen hat to Su Feng.

"Thank you."

Su Feng said, accepting Iverson's farewell gift.

"Su..."

And he didn't know why, even though Iverson had a lot of questions he wanted to ask Su Feng and a lot of things he wanted to say to Su Feng before he came, from the moment he saw Su Feng today, Iverson found that he couldn't even say a word.

So, looking up at the gradually clearing sky, after a long time, Iverson looked at Su Feng seriously and said, "Good luck, my brother."

Su Feng nodded and smiled, "You too, Allen."

While watching Su Feng's gradually receding back, Iverson, feeling that his emotions were a little out of control, suddenly said, "I don't know how people will evaluate you in the future.

But I know that in 1997, without Su... Feng, we couldn't have defeated the Chicago Bulls."

While looking at Su Feng, Iverson, showing off the biceps of his left arm, shed "sweat" because his eyes were too "tired" at this moment.

And after turning his head back and seeing the new tattoo on Iverson's biceps, Su Feng...

Choked with sobs.

All that could be seen were the scores of four games.

Those were all the scores of the four games that the 76ers fought against the Bulls last year.

Perhaps, in Su Feng's previous life, Iverson had many, many shortcomings.

But, this "Answer" also had his advantages.

In this way, Su Feng, who had great chemistry with Iverson, waved to Iverson and continued walking forward.

Su Feng knew very well that this "Answer" didn't like people seeing his sad side.

And Iverson, who also had great chemistry with Su Feng, wiped the "sweat" from his face and slowly sighed.

How could Iverson recover from the sadness of Su Feng's departure in a short time?

After all, when he learned that Su Feng was about to be traded, all that appeared in Iverson's mind were the scenes of fighting side by side with Su Feng in the past and teaching him how to dribble.

No matter how strong a person is, it is impossible to alleviate such "pain" through self-regulation.

Because only time is the best medicine to heal this kind of "pain".

...

"Su, if you want to cry, I won't laugh at you."

On the plane to Toronto, Kobe looked at Su Feng seriously and said.

And Da Ben, who was pretending to read a magazine on the side, also secretly glanced at Su Feng.

However, Su Feng, who had developed the bad habit of having a poker face whenever his emotions got out of control, had no emotional fluctuations on his face at this moment.

"I won, Kobe, I said it, Su isn't the kind of sissy who would cry at this time."

Da Ben, throwing away the magazine in his hand, gestured to Kobe to pay up.

"Strange... I'm clearly the one who understands Su the most."

Feeling that he shouldn't have lost, Kobe sized up Su Feng a few times while taking out the money, muttering to himself.

At this time, Su Feng realized that these two were betting on his "sadness"?

But you have to say, after Da Ben and Kobe made such a fuss, Su Feng's mood improved a lot.

In the afternoon of the 24th, Su Feng and his group of three arrived in Toronto.

Toronto, with its good air quality, is located on the northwest coast of Lake Ontario and is the largest city in Canada.

Before understanding this city, on the evening of the 24th, Su Feng first had a meal with John Davis and Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald at a local Chinese restaurant in Toronto.

Although, from the current external comments, the Raptors paid a bit too much in this trade for Su Feng, Glen Grunwald was very happy after really getting Su Feng.

To put it bluntly, the Raptors' needs were different from the 76ers'.

No matter how strong Camby, Christie, and Wallace were, their box office appeal, in Glen Grunwald's view, was definitely not as good as Su Feng alone.

In addition, in an interview with Toronto TV yesterday, Glen Grunwald also got a very good inspiration from local Chinese fans in Toronto...

That is, Glen Grunwald was surprised to find that the Feng character in Su Feng's Chinese name perfectly matched Canada, the maple leaf kingdom!

Glen Grunwald planned to make a big deal out of Su Feng's Chinese name after the labor-management negotiations, in order to attract Canadian fans' attention to the Raptors.

In Glen Grunwald's view, for Toronto, where the ticket market was like a cold winter at this time, Su Feng was simply the light of hope before dawn.

However, at this welcome banquet, just as Glen Grunwald was preparing to paint a pie for Su Feng, in order to persuade Su Feng to renew his contract with the Raptors after his rookie contract expired, what Glen Grunwald never expected was that he was given a huge pie by Su Feng and Davis, the master and apprentice...

Because if Glen Grunwald hadn't heard it wrong, then what Su Feng and Davis had been talking about from the beginning...

Was the playoffs next year!?

"Gentlemen, I don't mean to offend you.

But I think, for us, who are still at the bottom this season, is the goal of making the playoffs next season a bit too..." Glen Grunwald looked at Su Feng and Davis with a worried expression.

After shrugging his shoulders, Su Feng asked back with a puzzled expression: "Is there a problem with the team aiming for the playoffs next season? Mr. General Manager?"

Glen Grunwald: "..."

Isn't there a problem?

Glen Grunwald was shocked.

Just as he looked at Davis for help, Glen Grunwald didn't get Davis' rescue, but was instead rebuffed by Davis:

"Glen, you guys all underestimate Su too much, don't forget, he defeated Michael Jordan in 1997."

Glen Grunwald: "..."

Alright...

Glen Grunwald felt that he was completely speechless.

Looking at Su Feng and Davis' serious expressions, if it weren't for Su Feng's illustrious past achievements, then he would definitely think that this pair of master and apprentice were crazy.

After the welcome banquet, Glen Grunwald immediately reported what he had seen and heard at the welcome banquet to Raptors owner Chad.

Then...

Raptors owner Chad, who was playing golf at the time, almost didn't sprain his back.

Making the playoffs next season!?

Am I Chad too rational, or is reality too distorted?

Originally, before the trade with the 76ers, in Chad's view, the core task of the Raptors next season was to make Su Feng happy and happy...

After all, Chad knew very well that it would be impossible for the Raptors to gain a foothold in the NBA without five or ten years.

Therefore, finding a way to renew his contract with Su Feng after next season, in Chad's view, was the top priority for the Raptors in the future.

But...

Playoffs?

Just with this group of kids on the Raptors now?

Hiss————!

You have to say, after taking a deep breath, if someone else said this, Chad might think he was young and frivolous.

But for Su Feng, who had led the 76ers to perform a black eight in his rookie season, Chad had the same reaction as Glen Grunwald at the welcome banquet, feeling that this matter seemed to be a bit promising...

"If you want to make the playoffs, with our current lineup, do you think there's a chance?" After thinking calmly, Chad asked on the phone.

"There's definitely no chance, boss, Su's strength and popularity are beyond doubt, but basketball is a five-person sport." Glen Grunwald said with a wry smile.

"Then did John mention anything about reinforcements?" Chad continued to ask.

Glen Grunwald, who knew Chad's temper very well, replied: "John did give me the names of a few players, but the prices are all within our acceptable range."

"In that case, then agree to all of them.

If the Raptors can make the playoffs next season, I mean if... then it's okay to spend a little money." Chad said, feeling a little pain in his wallet.

Glen Grunwald nodded, he knew where Chad's tolerance was, so, after communicating with the boss, Glen Grunwald looked at the list of reinforcements provided by Davis and prepared to call them one by one to inquire.

Although the current prospects for labor-management negotiations were not optimistic, for the thrifty Glen Grunwald, he knew very well the importance of leaving a good impression on others first.

Thus, Glen Grunwald first dialed the number of Dale Curry, the Charlotte Hornets' super sixth man who would become a free agent next season...

...

ps: There will be another chapter at midnight.