Chapter 1 Walker Signs with the Celtics

Walker signed with the Celtics, and another big fish disappeared from the free market, adding to the Lakers fans clamoring for nurses to reserve beds.

LeBron James, as the former number one player in the league and the current number two, gave the Lakers the best foundation for their revival when he joined, but they couldn't manage to get a second star.

What about James ranking only behind Tang Tian in the selection of best teammates?

Why, when it comes down to it, does everyone seem to be avoiding James?

This doesn't make sense!

Just as Lakers fans were racking their brains, Woj dropped another bombshell on the league.

DeMarcus Cousins will join the Warriors on a one-year, $5 million mini mid-level exception contract!

This news caused an uproar of criticism from fans and team management alike.

Cousins may have been out for the season last year, but he was once the top center!

$5 million, the Warriors are robbing people!

No, the Warriors must be using a yin-yang contract!

Amid the fans' criticisms, Cousins gradually revealed some details of the signing to the media.

The free market has been open for five days, and Cousins was hoping to sign a contract worth around $20 million a year.

But so far, not even $10 million has been offered by any team.

This made him feel severely insulted!

So, he came up with the same idea as the Pelicans' "four brothers" last season: he wanted to take revenge on society!

After the Tang Tian rule came out, teams were disbanding, including the Pelicans, who had just established a dynasty.

Of the remaining teams, the Warriors and Mavericks were among the few who could maintain a super lineup because they were benefiting from early contract signings.

But the Mavericks already have Embiid, and Jokic has also gone to Denver, so the Warriors are the only and most suitable choice.

On one side, a four-star team needs a center, and on the other, someone wants to take revenge on society, so the two sides hit it off!

As for why he signed the contract so early, it can only be said that Cousins felt the coldness of the league in those five days, and his fire of revenge is very strong!

However, what made the fans so angry was not Cousins signing with the Warriors, because Cousins' market being cold indicates that his injury recovery is not good.

An Achilles tendon rupture is indeed unrealistic for a big center to recover well from.

What angered the fans so much was that the Warriors used the mid-level exception, which doesn't count against the salary cap!

In other words, they still have a way to keep Durant!

It can even be said that signing Cousins is a bargaining chip for the Warriors to keep Durant.

We had a lot of conflicts last season, but now that we have Cousins, our five-star lineup will take revenge on society!

You want a championship, don't you? You'll have it next season!

So, Pelicans fans cursed, Lakers fans cursed, and all other fans cursed too.

Just when the NBA finals had just come to an end for a season, and they had finally waited for Adam Silver to step down and Tatum to take office and strongly oppose forming superteams.

As a result, with the Warriors doing this, next season will be another season-long NBA finals!

It's strange if they don't curse!

Many fans even transferred their anger at the Warriors to Durant.

The Warriors treat you like that, Green even pointed at your nose and said that we had already won the championship before you came.

You still want to stay with the Warriors, for money and championships, you really don't have any dignity!

You defected to the enemy, but you can't be as soft as a woman!

But this time, no matter how the outside fans cursed, Durant's camp, including Durant himself, did not respond in any way.

Fans couldn't even find Durant's burner accounts on social media.

This abnormal phenomenon is puzzling.

But some people understand that Durant is waiting for the new season to be like the Pelicans last season, dominating in every direction.

Tang Tian was watching the news at the manor.

The news of Cousins signing with the Warriors wasn't news to him.

The five-star Warriors in history also appeared this season.

The only difference is that Cousins' season-ending injury came earlier, so he should be able to catch up with the game at the beginning of the season.

The Warriors should be a little stronger than in history.

He was watching the fans' discussions on social media when the phone rang. It was Butler calling.

Although Walker hasn't officially signed with the Celtics yet, he has already gone to Boston to buy a house and prepare for things.

Butler hasn't decided on his next home and is still in New Orleans.

He answered the phone and knew that Butler was at the door.

Tang Tian went to let him in.

"Should I just stay?"

Butler didn't even take a sip of his coffee after sitting down. The first thing he said was this.

Tang Tian shook his head.

On the one hand, if Butler stayed by his side, he would always be the second or even third in charge.

On the other hand, they had agreed to leave together. Now that Walker had left and Butler stayed, wouldn't that be screwing over Walker?

"The Warriors already have a five-man superteam. If I don't stay, you'll lose next season!"

Butler is really a Tang Tian fanboy. He doesn't seem to be thinking about his own contract at all, just wanting to help Tang Tian win.

"You think me and AD can't beat the Warriors lineup?"

Tang Tian didn't put the Warriors in his eyes at all.

He also has the confidence to say that.

Even if the Warriors forced Durant to stay, the conflict between Durant and Green couldn't be resolved.

And he knows very well what Cousins' strength is after the injury. Plus, it's unknown what strength the Warriors will have after Green becomes 0-egg Green.

Of course, the most important thing is that he will max out a super long three-pointer next season, and all his skills will be perfected.

If the shoe royalties are enough, he can also redeem a golden skill, Shaq Body. Don't even mention the Warriors, he can still beat LeBron and Durant combined.

"That's not what I meant. What I mean is that it's not guaranteed. If you don't think it's appropriate for me to stay long-term, I can just sign a 1+1 with the team!"

Butler still wants to stay.

"Don't say that. We agreed before that you would go to another team to be the boss, get the most money, and play out your value.

One championship is enough. Having more or less isn't that important, and you're almost 30. You need to get the biggest contract during your prime."

Tang Tian didn't agree.

Just like he said in the second sentence, it's really not rational for a 29-year-old superstar to take a pay cut.

On the contrary, if Butler signs a four-year contract with another team, with a player option, he will still have the opportunity to get another big contract when he is 32.

One year seems short, but the potential impact is completely different.

"But..."

"Don't 'but'. Tell me how your talks with other teams are going. Don't tell me you haven't done anything these past few days."

Tang Tian interrupted Butler and brought the topic back.

Butler sighed. He really doesn't understand Tang Tian sometimes.

But since Tang Tian asked, he told the truth.

"Jerry West has communicated with me several times, and I think his side is quite suitable."

He continued.

West is now a team consultant for the Clippers. What he means is that if he doesn't stay with the Pelicans, Butler will go to the Clippers.