He had wanted Richie Paul to negotiate with the Cavaliers managent to trade him to the Heat Team. However, Richie Paul had already discussed a renewal with Danny Ferri.
"From Danny’s attitude, we only have one option," which is to renew with them, and they have the right of first refusal. If we forcefully request a trade, we will end up in an even less favorable situation. No matter how we look at it, at least until the end of the next contract, we have no way to leave the Cavaliers..."
There was no choice, LeBron could only consider his exit strategy four years later:
Teaming up with Wade!
That was also the reason he specifically flew to Miami to find Wade.
Wade’s mind was simple: easy to influence. As soon as LeBron finished speaking, Wade nodded slightly, with a sparkle in his eye; it was clear, he was persuaded.
"Okay!"
He nodded in agreent.
LeBron probably didn’t expect to persuade Wade so easily. He picked up a juice from the short table next to him wanting to clink glasses with Wade in the air.
This ti, Wade glanced at his phone again and let out a strange exclamation, then looked up at LeBron:
"My God, Pat wants to trade Shaquille!"
"What?"
Just after persuading Wade, LeBron, who hadn’t even gotten up, imdiately sprang up in surprise, repeating Wade’s words, "Pat wants to trade Shaquille, when did this happen?"
He was eager to know more.
Wade handed him his phone, it was a ssage from his agent:
Pat Riley had already put Shaquille on the trading block, many general managers from other teams had called to inquire, and the trade was now moving into a substantive phase.
Seeing this ssage, joy uncontrollably welled up in LeBron’s eyes.
"Could it be that Shaquille called just now to tell this?" Wade also realized it now, prepared to take back his phone to return Shaquille’s call, but at this mont he suddenly discovered sothing strange, "LeBron, why is your hand shaking?"
LeBron quickly handed the phone back to Wade, casually making an excuse: "Oh, my wrist hasn’t completely healed, sotis it shakes uncontrollably like this."
Wade didn’t think too much of it, took the phone, found Shaquille’s number, and called back, but by this ti, being already seen by Shaquille as one of Pat’s people, he couldn’t get through to Shaquille’s phone.
What Wade didn’t see was, LeBron quietly picked up his own phone and sent a ssage to Danny Ferri:
—Whatever it takes, I want to see Shaquille in the Cavaliers’ lineup for the new season. If you make it happen, I will sign my na on the renewal contract.
After sending the ssage, LeBron’s expression was unchanged; he clinked glasses with Wade: "Buddy, I hope we can succeed sooner in the next four years, otherwise we’ll have to consider the worst-case scenario."
Wade pursed his lips.
He was aware of the controversy their union would stir.
But for the championship...
That statent alone was reason enough for them to team up.
If they still couldn’t succeed in four years, he didn’t mind taking the hardest path.
anwhile, Danny Ferri had received LeBron’s text, and a contemplative look passed over his face. He picked up the phone from the corner of the desk and dialed soone, the call connected quickly:
"BOSS..."
From his address, it was clear he was calling the owner of the Cavaliers.
Ten minutes earlier, they had communicated through a call.
Gilbert had given him a video to persuade LeBron to obediently sign the renewal contract.
"LeBron just suddenly sent a ssage, saying if we sign Shaquille O’Neal, he will renew the contract with us early!"
Gilbert’s voice ca over the phone: "Let’s try it then, see if we can bring Shaquille to Cleveland."
"And the video you gave ..."
"Keep it for now; if he doesn’t burn bridges with us, we won’t need to burn bridges with him."
"Okay!"
Danny Ferri breathed a sigh of relief.
This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
He then prepared a trade offer and imdiately called Pat Riley.
At that mont, ESPN’s damned WOJ suddenly broke the news:
The Lakers were very close to acquiring Yao Ming!
This revelation first panicked the dia in Houston.
Although so in the dia there wanted to see Yao Ming leave, most Houston dia only wanted to see Yao Ming sign a reduced contract, not actually drive him away.
They were also aware that currently in the League, Shaquille O’Neal was on the decline, Yao Ming was the League’s top center.
If the Rockets really lost a player of this caliber at position five, it would be a trendous loss.
Not to ntion the increase in business value Yao Ming brought to the Rockets.
That was...
Imasurable!
Fortunately for the Houston dia, they had never heard of the na WOJ who broke the news.
Thus, most of the Houston dia thought it was just a small journalist spouting nonsense to attract eyeballs; Yao Ming couldn’t possibly leave Houston;
Here, was his ho!
Hmm...
Still, they were frightened, softening their stance considerably.
But what the Houston dia didn’t know was that their softening stance at this ti beca the last straw that broke the cal’s back.
Now do you know my value?
Too late!
Yao Ming had never been as determined as he was now.
Oh, no, right now he was as determined as when he once turned down Nike’s renewed offer of $100 million, determined to leave Houston.
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