Trade Rumors

Wade was getting old, and his knees already had a long history of injuries. He was no longer the Flash who once raced across the court. These days, he relied heavily on off-ball movement, post footwork, and short jumpers near the basket. His share of points from layups had dropped sharply.

Compared with last season, Butler had gotten the ball a lot more, yet his production hadn't improved by much. He still hadn't met the team's expectations. As a wing who had built his reputation on defense, he had a limited finishing arsenal and lacked consistency on offense. In the end, he wasn't really suited to being the team's first option.

On top of that, there were a few simmering conflicts within the team this season. Rajon Rondo was making $14 million, yet had become a disruptive presence in the locker room, seriously undermining the team's stability.

It was still early in the season, but the Bulls' front office had already begun to consider rebuilding.

The Pacers were in a similar situation.

The Pacers, who had once been able to challenge James in the Eastern Conference Finals, were now struggling year after year on the edge of the Playoffs, unable to make progress. Their best result in recent years had been last season, when they took the Raptors to seven games in the first round, only to get thoroughly crushed in Game 7 and go home in the first round once again.

So far this year, their record was only 14 wins and 18 losses—worse than the Bulls next door.

George, who had once considered himself one of the top three small forwards in the Eastern Conference, was unhappy with the front office's trades over the years and with the limited support his teammates gave him. He had begun to seriously consider leaving.

If George did leave, then without any promising young prospects, the Pacers would have to tank for a high draft pick or trade for a potential star who could shoulder the burden.

As it happened, the Thunder had just such a player.

Private discussions and negotiations proceeded slowly.

Meanwhile, the games on the court went on.

Whether it was the weather or a lapse in judgment, Chen came down with a fever. He took several days off from the team in a row and missed its final three games of December.

Without their key spacing option, the Thunder narrowly beat the Heat, then lost to the Grizzlies and Clippers in succession, finishing December with a 1–2 record.

During that stretch, voting opened for the 2017 All-Star Game.

Notably, the rules for this year's All-Star voting had undergone a major overhaul. Fans had previously held 100 percent of the voting power, but their share had now been cut to 50 percent. The remaining 50 percent was split between the media and the players, with each accounting for 25 percent. Clearly, the League had made the change to prevent a repeat of Yao's rookie-season selection over O'Neal. It also offered some protection to stars with great ability but less market appeal.

The new voting rules also limited the influence of Chinese fans. It probably wouldn't be realistic to expect another rookie-season All-Star starter like Yao.

Besides, Zhou Qi was the only Chinese player in the League right now, and he was just watching from the Rockets' bench.

Jeremy Lin and Chen Xi were both Chinese American. Jeremy Lin could barely speak Chinese.

Naturally, that made it hard for people back home to get excited.

Yao had at least had the skills to back it up. As for Zhou Qi, maybe he should first try to get off the bench.

Chen wasn't expecting to make the All-Star Game this year. He just wondered if he might get an invitation to the Three-Point Contest.

If he got hot, maybe he could complete the Three-Point Contest task.

Of course, it was too early to think about that. The All-Star Game was still more than two months away.

They might not celebrate Christmas, but they still celebrated New Year's Day.

Chen had arranged his leave with the team well in advance and boarded a plane to Dallas. He wouldn't even play in the game against the Bucks on the second; he could fly straight to Charlotte on the fourth and rejoin the team there.

Chen arrived in Dallas on the thirty-first, with a full four days ahead of him...to help the old man out.

New Year's was the busiest time of year for the restaurant, so Chen had come back at just the right moment. He hadn't even put his luggage down before the old man roped him into working as a temporary waiter.

And since Chen Xi was reasonably well-known by now, the restaurant got even busier after two customers recognized him.

Chen Xi reluctantly switched into work mode. He took orders, posed for photos, signed autographs, and rushed back and forth until he was drenched in sweat.

"Ahhhhh! I knew I shouldn't have come back!"

It wasn't until ten thirty that night, after the restaurant had closed, that Chen Xi finally finished working. He collapsed into the little chair behind the register, questioning his life choices.

"This is more exhausting than playing a full game!"

"You didn't come back for New Year's? Where else would you go? Think you're too big for us now?" The old man grinned at his grandson and handed him a drink.

"When your dad was a kid, he had to study and help me work at the same time. And look at you—you're already wiped out after one night. Good for nothing."

"Come on, Grandpa, be reasonable. Without me, who'd come to eat at your little restaurant? It's all my fans showing up for me!"

"Hey! I've been running this place for years. I've got plenty of regulars. Who needs your little fan club?" The old man immediately bristled, glaring as he puffed out his mustache.

"Look at you! Fans, huh? Keep your nose in the air like that, and I'll teach you a lesson!"

"..." Chen didn't dare say anything.

Does anyone else get it?!

I'm almost twenty! And I still get threatened with violence at home!!

So annoying! What a loser!

Ignoring Chen's grumbling from the corner, the old man finished tidying up the last bits of the restaurant, then went into the kitchen and came back with two bowls of noodles. He handed one to Chen Xi.

"Your old man loved these ever since he was a kid. Every New Year, I'd ask him what he wanted to eat, and he'd always say he was craving these pork-and-pickled-vegetable noodles. That little brat was never meant to have an easy life!"

As he spoke, the old man took out the family photo and set it on the table.

Chen Xi said nothing and quietly ate his noodles. At a time like this, it was best to just listen.

The old man rambled on, recalling this and that from the past. Only after Chen Xi had finished his last bite did he send him back to his room and clear away the bowls himself.

For those four days, Chen Xi seemed to slip back into his old life. He spent his time checking his phone, scrolling through social media, and helping out at the restaurant. He barely went to the nearby pickup courts.

On the afternoon of the fourth, Chen Xi boarded a plane again to rejoin the team.

That night, they were playing the Hornets.

After missing four straight games, Chen couldn't afford to take it easy in his return game.

However, after arriving in Charlotte and joining the team for joint practice, he realized that his teammates didn't seem to be in much of a mood to play.

After discreetly asking around, he found out that trade rumors had already spread through the team.

"Apparently, Victor's the centerpiece of the deal. They don't know who the other side is yet."

Grant, who got along well with Chen Xi, shared the inside scoop with him in hushed tones while they rested on the sidelines.

No players had been named, yet the rumors were already out. Naturally, everyone was on edge, afraid they might be next.

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