On June 30, Link and Rachel, who had celebrated Link's twenty-seventh birthday just days earlier, left Memphis and officially began the long-planned trip to Europe.
Of course, the world did not stop turning just because Link had left Memphis.
The days of their departure happened to coincide with the NBA free-agent market beginning to stir. Every team had prepared piles of cash, ready to spend wildly over the coming days.
With the new television broadcast deal about to take effect, the league's salary cap would rise by at least 30 percent next year. Every team now had more room to maneuver, and naturally, the owners would not pass up this chance to throw money at a championship.
At noon on June 30, not long after Link had boarded his flight, Kevin Durant suddenly announced that he would opt out of the final year of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and enter free agency.
At first, no one thought too much of it. Opting out did not necessarily mean he was definitely leaving.
James had also opted out that summer, but everyone knew he simply wanted to sign a new, more lucrative contract with the Cavaliers.
With the salary cap soaring across the league, it was not difficult to understand Durant opting out in search of a higher salary.
However, that afternoon, Durant said in an interview with reporters, "I opted out because I hope to find a new home. I love Oklahoma City. I love the fans and my teammates there. But I feel that it's time for my career to make some changes."
The moment Durant said that, it felt as though the entire league had been shaken.
Kevin Durant, a superstar considered to be on the same level as Link, James, and the other dominant forces