813: More Than Just Business

The rumors linking Iguodala and the Warriors had spread like wildfire.

At a time when the superstars had yet to make their moves, Iguodala—the key contributor to the Grizzlies' back-to-back championships—was the biggest name on the free-agent market.

His contact with the Warriors had become the hottest topic among fans in recent days.

In the NBA, there was practically no such thing as a secret when it came to transfers. The slightest hint of movement would immediately be leaked.

After all, transfer scoops alone were enough to support a whole group of basketball reporters—an entire industry.

Those famous basketball reporters typically had enormous, intricate networks of connections, so getting inside information was hardly difficult for them.

It was impossible for Kerr's negotiations with Iguodala to be known only to Kerr and Iguodala themselves.

And as long as a third person knew about it, there was a 99% chance it would be leaked.

Iguodala looked at the news about himself and curled his lip. He had never expected that he, too, would get to be a "main character" this summer.

Four years, $48 million—without a doubt, it was an extremely tempting offer for Iguodala.

And Kerr was right: in Oakland, in the Bay Area, investing would be much more convenient for Iguodala.

Iguodala had always yearned for a big city. Back when he left the Philadelphia 76ers, he had hoped to go somewhere like that.

But Memphis had changed his mind.

He liked playing for the Grizzlies. He liked battling at FedExForum.

He liked Randolph's daily jokes, the vegetables and fruit Gasol occasionally brought for everyone, Tony Allen's card games, Conley's piano performances...

Most importantly, he liked that team leader—the one who always told everyone, "The game isn't over yet. Let's keep fighting." The one who could always turn the tide