One Year Left to Play

Chapter 617: Chapter 190: Various Ways to Make Headlines (Part 2)

Zhang Hao, starting from May 29th, began training with Pierce on basic ball-handling and driving to the basket techniques.

By the end of June, he would learn from James Worthy, certainly focusing on off-ball techniques, but he couldn’t completely ignore ball-handling attacks, at least mastering basics like post-up spins, wing catch and drive, and baseline drive to the basket.

Unfortunately, while learning these things with Pierce, Zhang Hao couldn’t trigger the learning mode.

But it was fine; Zhang Hao could still ponder in the simulated training of the learning mode and then compare during daytime training. His learning speed was already driving Pierce to the point of feeling depressed.

Initially, Pierce was quite impatient during training, frequently asking Zhang Hao when they were going to meet Barkley. However, as he trained and witnessed Zhang Hao’s tremendous learning ability, he got fully committed.

Time passed day by day, with no movement from either the Lakers or the Phoenix Suns sides.

Zhang Hao and Pierce both settled down. On the night of June 6th, while watching the live broadcast of the Supersonics and Bulls game, Zhang Hao received a call from Henry Thomas.

After hearing what the other side said, Zhang Hao was stunned—so quickly?

So quickly they decided to trade a point guard who would undoubtedly have an All-Star performance next season for a big guy without considering another big guy?

The moments of shock and bewilderment only lasted a few seconds.

Then Zhang Hao was elated!

Why wait patiently for a superstar when you’ve got a superstar right here! Sure, in uncertainties, waiting for a 24-year-old superstar is something Zhang Hao is willing to do.

But to immediately get a veteran star, a veteran star who is guaranteed to perform at a star level next season, what more could you want?

It’s just, why Van Exel...

Although the play styles don’t exactly match, Zhang Hao quite likes this straightforward teammate.

...

On June 6, 1996, after just a week of consideration and negotiation, the Phoenix Suns released news that the Lakers agreed to use Van Exel, Donyell Marshall, Anthony Peeler, and the Raptors’ lottery-protected first-round pick through 1999, which they practically couldn’t get, as chips to trade for Barkley.

The trade couldn’t be completed yet; it was against the rules, and it would have to wait until after the finals to involve another team in the deal, depending on how the Suns wanted to operate.

When Zhang Hao saw this news, he figured it wasn’t the Suns who released it because the message was very clear—after the trade for Barkley, the Lakers couldn’t even put together a starting lineup. The only players with contracts were Doug Christie, George Lynch, and Zhang Hao. With Barkley, only if the Magician chose to renew could they put together a starting lineup, meaning they were doing everything they could to get Barkley.

Pushing the trade to the final stage is the smartest choice when the target object has the right to opt-out and is willing to come.

If these chips can get Barkley, when his salary next season is only 4.7 million US Dollars, even if it’s just for one year, it’s definitely worth every penny!

"All are good businessmen, but in terms of NBA trade operations, Logo Man’s maneuvers and vision are way stronger than the Magician’s..."

Since they chose to bring in Barkley, this kind of chip must be sent out, so pulling sincerity to full value from the start, according to Zhang Hao, is the best choice.

This sincerity isn’t about giving the Suns much return but about letting Barkley see it.

After seeing this news, Zhang Hao and his group went to the mall to buy some gifts, preparing to visit Barkley in the evening.

From seeing the news to buying stuff, to buying the goods and coming back, Pierce couldn’t stop talking, excitement overflowing.

Zhang Hao was impressed; Pierce could talk about different things continuously for two hours, all about Barkley.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think Pierce was an ardent fan of Barkley.

However, Zhang Hao could understand Pierce’s excitement, just like what was said on the TV news—the Lakers are welcoming the strongest power forward in their team history!

Throughout the Lakers’ history, the point guard position had the greatest point guard, the Magician; the shooting guard had the second greatest shooting guard, Jerry West; the small forward had a top-five all-time player, Elgin Baylor; and the center position was formidable, with George Mikan, Chamberlain, Jabbar—since the NBA’s establishment until the end of the ’80s, every top center except Russell, played for the Lakers and helped them win championships.

But the power forward position was pitiable. Before Barkley’s addition, Zhang Hao’s rookie season already stood as the best power forward performance in Lakers history.

When they had George Mikan, Chamberlain, and Jabbar, the Lakers only needed a blue-collar player at power forward.

The group finished shopping and returned to the villa, seeing a big guy pacing back and forth by the door sign.

Zhang Hao was surprised; they were just about to visit Barkley, and Barkley had arrived first!

...

Zhang Hao found out where Barkley was staying, and the media knew that Barkley came to Hawaii. Naturally, Zhang Hao’s arrival in Hawaii was also exposed by the media, allowing Barkley to find out where Zhang Hao was staying.

Barkley didn’t need Zhang Hao to say anything; he could guess why Zhang Hao came here.

Thus, after the media exposed the Lakers’ sincere offer, Barkley immediately came to Zhang Hao’s residence.