One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty-Six. 4am to 4am Madness

On the evening of July 11, 2013, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel near the Singapore Flyer, Sun Ce had just finished a day's work and returned to his room. He had two stops in Southeast Asia, Brunei and Singapore, and was about to return to China for the last three stops.

He took a shower, changed into short-sleeved shirts and shorts, and prepared to go out to find a roadside stall for dinner. The last time he came here for promotion, Sun Ce knew that there were many delicious food at the roadside stalls here.

He took out his mobile phone and checked it. It was 7:02 p.m. He was about to go to the next room to call He Zhengkai, the domestic agent who was responsible for his business affairs in Asia and came to Singapore with him, when his mobile phone rang. It was Klay Thompson calling. Sun Ce calculated that it was just after 4 a.m. in the United States, right?

After sliding the screen to connect, Sun Ce just put the receiver close to his ear and heard a heart-wrenching roar from the other side: "Brother San, please read the news! Sports Illustrated just broke the news that James is going to the Lakers!"

…

At 4 a.m. on July 11, 2013, US time, Sports Illustrated was the first to break the news that the Lakers and the Heat reached a preliminary agreement. Paul will sign and then trade to join the Heat with a starting salary of 18.67 million and a total of 5 years and 107 million. The bargaining chip sent by the Heat is LeBron James.

According to Sports Illustrated, the two teams are still discussing the specific details, but the two sides have reached a consensus that the Lakers need to take a player with an annual salary of 10 million from the Heat. Among the Lakers players, except Kobe, the Heat can take any player at will if the salary is equal.

Bosh was sent to the Mavericks, and Griffin and Rose joined forces as the two No. 1 picks. These are all trivial matters.

More than a month ago, in the 12-13 season Western Conference Finals, the Lakers lost 0-2 at home, but they managed to regain a home advantage in the third game. It seemed that the Lakers had the possibility of a comeback, which meant the possibility of a Kobe vs. James Finals.

At that time, Kobe fans and James fans were arguing so fiercely, as if they had already seen the two of them fighting in the finals, and the Internet was full of verbal battles.

Suddenly, out of the blue, Kobe and James teamed up!

According to WOJ's follow-up revelations, it was the Lakers who made a tentative offer, but Pat Riley agreed to it quickly; as for the Lakers taking on a 10 million annual salary contract and selecting any Lakers player except Kobe, it was Pat Riley who proposed it; after the Heat agreed to the deal, the Lakers asked Paul, and Paul accepted the choice.

According to WOJ's constantly updated Twitter, Pat Riley was worried that James would leave in 2014 because of two finals losses in three years.

So Pat Riley responded positively after receiving the Lakers' trade offer.

After receiving the offer on the 9th, he started to discuss it in detail and immediately began to prepare for the trade. After completing the trade that must be placed before James' trade yesterday, he negotiated with the Lakers overnight and reached a preliminary agreement.

Basketball fans around the world, and even some other sports enthusiasts, have focused their attention on the "trade of the century" between the Lakers and the Heat.

At 8 a.m. US time, sports media from all over the world and regions in the United States quickly gathered at the American Airlines Arena in Miami and the Toyota Center Training Hall in Los Angeles to find out.

But the two teams were closed and asked to postpone the interview.

Although neither team has responded positively, and the NBA official said that it has not received a trade application, there is no doubt that the exchange of James and Paul is true!

Both the Heat and the Lakers seem to want a quick battle. The media stayed outside the two teams' arenas or training halls and did not leave. Fans on the Internet have been anxiously waiting for the result of the matter. They are still waiting in the early morning on the other side of the ocean.

Finally, at 1 p.m. U.S. time, the Lakers, Heat, and NBA official website jointly announced a news that was like a nuclear bomb explosion for basketball fans, and the entire basketball world was shaken!

The Lakers and Heat reached a deal. The Lakers sent Chris Paul and Jordan Hill, plus Josh Smith, in a sign-and-trade method, in exchange for LeBron James, Nene Hilario, and Tracy McGrady.

Before the deal was reached, many people were still praying that the deal would fall apart. After all, if it was not officially reached, it would still not be reached.

Among them, Kobe and James fans were the most resistant to each other.

However, when the official announcement was made, Kobe fans and James fans suddenly became a family...

Kobe fans + James fans dominated the screens of major sports portals and basketball forums!

……

……

At 4 a.m. Los Angeles time, Sun Ce learned this crazy news from Klay Thompson.

At 4 a.m. Beijing time, Sun Ce, who was enjoying the night view in Singapore at the same time, received a call from the team's general manager Chris Wallace. The Lakers, Heat and NBA officials confirmed this amazing deal.

After hanging up the phone, Sun Ce remembered 12 years ago, when the Lakers had just won two consecutive championships, and the Kings traded Jason Williams for Mike Bibby, and the Kings' five tigers were complete.

Three years ago, the Heat formed the Big Three.

Now, it's his turn, and there is a madness that has never appeared before!

The Heat has a major change, forming a super four-man team of Paul, Wade, Josh Smith and Chandler.

The Lakers 23 and 24 joined forces.

The Mavericks formed a core combination of Conley + Bosh, and Nowitzki.

The Spurs have Gay, who is at his peak and plays in the system he likes, and a troika that can still be tough.

The Bulls' double No. 1 pick combination of Rose + Griffin is matched with Noah, Luol Deng... and Curry + Harden...

At this moment, Sun Ce finally understood the difficulty of building a dynasty. The first championship and the shortened season are considered normal mode. Last season, it was difficult mode.

And this time, it has directly entered hell mode!

Since Klay Thompson called at 7 o'clock last night, Sun Ce's phone is about to explode. When he answered the phone, people asked him what would happen if this deal really went through, and Sun Ce really didn't know how to answer.

Less than a month after he won two consecutive championships, the league was reshuffled and the pattern changed suddenly, just like no one expected James and Bosh to sign with the Heat in 2010. It came suddenly.

As for Sun Ce's feelings... he really didn't think there was anything to be afraid of.

The opponent is very strong, and the kind of strong that can be felt even with eyes closed, but for Sun Ce, his first reaction is not worry or fear, but just surprise and astonishment.

And the emotions that followed were not all negative, but mostly positive, for example - he really wants to play against the duo of Kobe and James!

Think about the duo on the opposite side is James at his peak + Kobe who just played the most efficient season last season after changing his playing style, Sun Ce feels the desire to play immediately, right away, and can't wait!