...
"What? Han is back in Cleveland?!"
When Rich Paul told Jas about what was happening outside, Jas was utterly dumbfounded.
This sumr, he had signed a four-year extension with Nike for $80 million, similar in price to his previous contract.
But a shoe contract is like rowing against the current; if you don’t advance, you will fall behind.
Normally, his third contract should have been a lifeti deal with Nike.
Instead, Nike had just signed Durant to a ten-year, $300 million extension.
The contrast in contracts clearly showed that even though Durant hadn’t won the championship last season, Nike was shifting its focus.
This wasn’t surprising, especially since Jas hadn’t achieved any notable results in the past two years.
Moreover, Jas’s extension ca with a price—he had to comply unconditionally with Nike’s arrangents.
His team had been in talks with Adidas too, but Adidas seed more interested in another Jas—Jas Harden.
In the end, he accepted Nike’s offer, especially after the Nike executives presented him with a blueprint for hotown basketball.
All the struggles he’d been through these years stemd from "The Decision," and he could reverse it all if he could return to Cleveland and fulfill his championship promise.
"Hotown basketball" would be the warst Chapter of his story.
Besides the sentintal aspect, Nike would also build the most suitable team around him.
Irving, a Nike rising star, had a flashy playing style but had never been to the playoffs. He needed Jas, the Nike elder, to lead him.
Love, despite his impressive stats in Minnesota, had also never seen postseason play and was desperate for a bigger stage to prove himself.
Jas was even ready for "The Decision II," to once again beco the focus of the sumr.
But now, all of that had been wrecked by Hansen’s trade!
Previous rumors had only temporarily overshadowed him, and he could tolerate that, knowing that as a free agent, it would be his ho court when the market opened.
And now you’re telling him Hansen went to Cleveland?!
If Hansen went there, where would he go?
The aning of "hotown basketball" was rooted in his being a son of Akron, with both Akron and Cleveland being in Ohio.
He certainly couldn’t say he was an Arican and hence his hotown was the United States, and going to any other team would count, could he?
Jas’s expression gradually turned fierce as he ca back to his senses.
That bastard Hansen had 28 other options; why the hell did he choose Cleveland!
"Apparently, Han wanted to stay in mphis, and it was the Grizzlies’ owner who traded him over salary issues," Rich Paul said consolingly, seeing the look on Jas’s face.
"Do you believe that?" Jas retorted; that bunch in mphis might buy Han’s excuses, but no one else would.
Rich Paul shook his head: "But one thing is certain, Hansen’s first choice wasn’t to return to Cleveland; otherwise, there was no need for such a fuss."
Now that was effective persuasion; Jas’s fierce expression gradually eased after Paul finished speaking.
Even though he knew Hansen hadn’t chosen to go back to Cleveland himself, Jas still couldn’t feel any joy.
After all, this ant Hansen had blocked his path; he couldn’t return to Cleveland now!
"The people from Nike have been in contact with . They’re discussing Plan B and should have a result soon."
Jas let out a long sigh of relief when he heard this.
Nike had given him a new contract and would definitely arrange his future.
But right now, he was very annoyed and needed to find a place to vent.
"Contact Diddy and see when his next party is."
...
At this mont, Hansen stood on the balcony of the villa he rented.
Because where he lived wasn’t far from the FedEx Forum, he could see the spectacle at the stadium from here.
As expected, Heisley probably couldn’t take it anymore in mphis.
If he dares co back now, he might really be treated to so peanuts.
No one dared to ntion the prior contract stipulations anymore, including the Grizzlies players.
Of course, even if soone did ntion it, no one would believe them.
After all, his departure from mphis was a settled fact; soone had to be blad.
But this was a ss Heisley had brought upon himself; although there had been so unpleasantness, Hansen had intended to part ways amicably.
Yet so always overestimated his tolerance.
At that mont, Rondo joined him on the balcony.
Hansen had co out for so fresh air.
They had been watching the draft inside the house earlier.
The Cavaliers unsurprisingly chose Wiggins with the first overall pick in the first round, of course, for the Grizzlies.
Wiggins’ talent was undeniable, but it remained to be seen if he could ditch his thermos once he was in mphis.
Even though it was different than expected, for Randolph and Guy, this might be a good pick.
"The call went through," Rondo said, holding the phone in his hand.
On the other end was David Griffin.
Because the draft was ongoing and the Cavaliers were the first to pick, it had taken so ti to get through.
"Han, I can’t wait to see you!" Griffin’s voice ca through the phone, filled with excitent.
One thing had been left out of the many advantages of returning to the Cavaliers—David Griffin.
Hansen had a good impression of the general manager who had once provided him with a locker naplate, helped him move his stuff, and showed concern for him imdiately after an injury.
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