Basketball System: Hate Makes Me Unstoppable

"You're saying he only mentioned the Clippers?"

Heisley frowned deeply after hearing Rush's report.

He never truly wanted to trade Han Sen, nor could he fully understand why Han would want to leave Memphis.

This could've been resolved by offloading those overpaid contracts of Randolph and Gay, yet it had escalated to this mess.

Was it because he underbid Han during initial negotiations?

That's a common practice—players focus on playing while owners handle the finances. If Han had been willing to sacrifice a bit of salary, the Grizzlies wouldn't have needed to make tough trade decisions last season.

He had already invested so much in the team. Couldn't Han understand his predicament?

Besides, hadn't he ultimately granted Han the supermax contract he demanded?

What infuriated him most was that Han now only mentioned the Clippers.

What was this? A dictated destination!

To Han, Heisley was invisible as the owner, and Han clearly hadn't considered what was best for the Grizzlies.

Yes, Han had indeed led the Grizzlies to a dynasty.

But was it all Han's doing?

Without the players Heisley drafted and traded for, could Han have accomplished anything?

At the end of the day, Han was just a player.

And the Grizzlies? This was his team.

"Get in touch with the Clippers," Heisley said through gritted teeth.

Even though the rumors had started, Han hadn't publicly requested a trade.

"But make sure to entertain offers from other teams as well. We need to do what's best for the team," he added, calling Rush back to emphasize the point.

...

When Han Sen saw Dan Gilbert, he was genuinely surprised.

Had it been David Griffin, he wouldn't have been shocked.

Rumors were swirling, and it was no exaggeration to say all 29 other teams were interested—including the Cavaliers.

A good horse never returns to the same pasture, but broken mirrors are sometimes pieced together again.

Gilbert got straight to the point after sitting down.

"I feel like I owe you an apology."

Back then, he only traded Han after getting LeBron's verbal commitment, but regardless of the circumstances, he made the call.

"Mr. Gilbert, that's all in the past," Han said calmly.

He had been furious after the trade, especially because he didn't know the reason behind it.

But time had passed, and learning the truth had brought him closure.

In fact, anyone in Gilbert's position back then would have chosen LeBron over him.

Of course, Han didn't harbor any "I forgive you" sentiments from Gilbert's apology. If he hadn't become a superstar, would Gilbert have come to apologize?

That was why Han remained polite. Often, politeness symbolizes distance, not respect.

"Someone from Nike approached me. They hope I'll cooperate with LeBron and say it's the best choice for me and the Cavaliers," Gilbert said, cutting straight to the chase.

"But why should I help a traitor rewrite his past? Bringing you back is what's truly best for us." Gilbert fixed his gaze on Han, his eyes brimming with hope.

No one had been more excited than Gilbert when trade rumors about Han Sen surfaced.

After all, Han had once given his all for the Cavaliers and enjoyed unparalleled popularity in Cleveland.

Cleveland fans had spent years lamenting how foolish it was to trade Han, and their arguments with the front office could fill a book.

Gilbert was now willing to admit his mistake and correct it, even if it meant enduring ridicule from the outside world.

Because compared to welcoming back LeBron—the traitor—this was the choice he'd rather make.

Han stared at Gilbert, his mind racing with thoughts.

Cleveland wasn't a big-market team, but Gilbert was someone willing to heavily invest in his team.

LeBron fans often blamed the Cavaliers' lack of investment for LeBron's failure during his first stint. That was nonsense.

Whether during LeBron 1.0 or 2.0, Cleveland's spending consistently ranked among the league's highest.

From 2003 to 2018, the Cavaliers paid the second-highest luxury tax in the league, trailing only the Knicks.

In 2016, despite winning a championship, the team reported a $40 million loss because they paid $54 million in luxury tax.

The truth was the Cavaliers' roster wasn't bad; LeBron simply wasn't the right leader.

People claimed no stars wanted to come to Cleveland, but during that era, no stars were teaming up elsewhere either.

The "no stars to Cleveland" narrative emerged only after the league shifted toward superteams.

However, Han recognized a major issue: returning to Cleveland meant no stars would come to join him.

He'd be left with just Kyrie Irving as his main help—a massive challenge in any championship pursuit.

On the other hand, there were clear benefits to returning.

Gilbert was pragmatic and willing to adapt. If he could accommodate LeBron's every whim in "history," he'd surely do the same or better for Han.

From a strategic perspective for UA, returning to Cleveland would also disrupt Nike's plans.

And then there were the fans of Cleveland—the ones who cheered "MVP" for him behind LeBron, gathered to send him off when he left, and roared for him when he visited as a Grizzly.

"We were so close to a championship before it all fell apart because of that traitor. Now we have a chance to restart," Gilbert said, throwing in another "traitor," his disdain for LeBron evident.

In "history," he had no choice. Now, he did.

"I want to go to the Clippers," Han finally said.

While returning to the Cavaliers sounded appealing, he had better options now.

Gilbert, visibly disappointed, quickly composed himself.

"I respect your choice. But we won't give up. Even if we don't succeed, I'll wish you a wonderful new journey in Los Angeles."

Gilbert's response left Han with a bit of newfound respect for the man.

For an NBA owner, profit was the priority—money talks, after all.

Han escorted Gilbert to the door.

Before leaving, Gilbert turned to him again. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me today, no matter what."

"I told you, that's all in the past, Daniel," Han replied calmly.

...

With the draft approaching, rumors were intensifying.

The Miami Heat, initially on the brink of falling apart, had regained some confidence thanks to Han Sen trade rumors.

The team's front office was actively working to re-sign Wade and Bosh for one more push.

However, other sources suggested Miami might let Wade and Bosh go, opting instead to build a new superteam around Kevin Durant.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the Cavaliers had put this year's No. 1 overall pick on the trade block.

In late May's lottery, Cleveland had miraculously won the top pick with just a 1.7% chance.

This year's projected No. 1 pick, Andrew Wiggins, had been dubbed the greatest prospect since LeBron James.

That top pick carried immense trade value.

In Los Angeles, media reports indicated Kobe Bryant was recruiting stars to join him in his final push for a championship, vowing to make any sacrifices necessary to achieve that goal.

The day before the draft, Rush visited Han at his home.

After hesitating, he finally spoke after sitting down for a long time.

"The Clippers can't provide what the team needs. We're sending you to Cleveland," he said, coughing and shifting uncomfortably.

It was clear he lacked confidence in delivering the news.

And rightly so—this decision would upset Han and even alienate Grizzlies fans.

But this was the decision Heisley had just made.

"You're telling me they're treating the man who brought them a dynasty like this?" Rondo slammed the table and stood up in fury.

"They didn't even want me to notify you yet. The trade will finalize tomorrow night… I-I never should've taken this GM position!" Rush admitted, shame etched on his face.

As Wallace's former assistant GM, he inherited the role by succession. Now, he deeply appreciated Wallace's foresight in dodging this inevitable scapegoat role.

Rush's unexpected outburst left Rondo momentarily speechless.

"Go tell Michael Heisley this: if he really goes through with this decision, he'll regret it," Han Sen finally spoke, his tone calm yet cutting.

Relieved as if a heavy weight had been lifted, Rush nodded apologetically before leaving.

...

"How could Heisley even dare?!" Rondo fumed after Rush left.

Han Sen didn't respond.

From a purely transactional perspective, the trade was logical. The Clippers lacked young stars, with Blake Griffin being their most valuable trade chip. Yet, Memphis already had the "Black and White Bears." Acquiring Griffin would only replace Zach Randolph, leaving the power forward position largely unchanged—essentially trading him away for nothing.

Draft picks? Just like the picks Miami gave Cleveland post-"The Decision," those picks would lose value with a competitive team.

In contrast, the Cavaliers had far more enticing trade assets: the 2014 #1 overall pick, last year's #1 pick Nerlens Noel, the 2012 #4 pick Dion Waiters, and the 2011 #4 pick Tristan Thompson. If pushed, Cleveland might even include Kyrie Irving in the deal.

All of these were players Memphis could use and avoid the luxury tax in the process.

No wonder Gilbert had approached Han Sen earlier with such confidence.

But to Han, this wasn't just about trade returns.

He had built a dynasty in Memphis, elevating the Grizzlies to heights they'd never dreamed of.

Yet Heisley—like Rondo said—dared to ignore his wishes.

"Chris, go bring Jamal over," Han instructed after a moment of silence.

Originally, Han wanted a peaceful departure. After all, winning a dynasty meant Memphis and the Grizzlies were a significant chapter in his journey.

But if Heisley insisted on ignoring his demands, Han would ensure the miserly owner paid dearly for his choice.

...

The 2014 NBA Draft was set for June 26th at 8 PM at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

However, before the draft began, a bombshell rocked the league.

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded the 2014 #1 overall pick, the 2013 #1 pick Nerlens Noel, the 2012 #4 pick Dion Waiters, unprotected first-round picks in 2015 and 2017, and a $5 million trade exception to acquire Han Sen and James Johnson from the Memphis Grizzlies.

While trade rumors had been swirling, the deal's confirmation sent shockwaves across the league.

Its impact was likened to Michael Jordan's first retirement after completing his first three-peat.

Speculation initially suggested Han might've lost interest in contending with Memphis, just as Jordan did with Chicago. Given Han's achievements, no one could've forced his departure unless it was his own desire.

However, that narrative didn't last long.

Within hours, an explosive report from TNT journalist Khalil revealed another side of the story:

"Han Sen was ready to lead the Grizzlies to a fourth consecutive title, but owner Michael Heisley traded him away to dodge the luxury tax."

The article included damning details, noting the animosity between Han and Heisley over the owner's insistence on trading away Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, which ultimately led to this fallout.

Much like how Brian Windhorst was known as LeBron's go-to reporter, Khalil was widely recognized as close to Han.

The credibility of Khalil's report instantly incited a firestorm among Memphis fans.

They believed it wholeheartedly, as it even explained Wallace's resignation—he had stepped down to avoid trading Han!

Heisley wasn't the only one under fire; new GM Rush also became a scapegoat for the fans' ire.

In response, Heisley hurriedly took to social media to issue a denial:

"Han Sen requested the trade! It was part of the agreement when he signed the supermax contract!"

He even tagged Wallace and Han's agent, Thomas, hoping for corroboration.

But Wallace and Thomas chose silence.

Even more tellingly, the Grizzlies' players collectively "disappeared" from social media.

Then came the truly chaotic part.

As Adam Silver walked onto the stage to begin his first draft as commissioner, news broke of a shocking incident in Memphis.

Michael Heisley's mansion had been stormed and set ablaze by furious fans. His luxury cars in the driveway were vandalized and destroyed.

Simultaneously, large crowds of Grizzlies fans gathered outside the FedEx Forum, hoisting signs and chanting, "Get Heisley out of Memphis!"

Reports indicated Heisley fled Memphis on a late-night flight.

Despite preparing for backlash, Heisley clearly hadn't anticipated Han to retaliate with such calculated ruthlessness.

Worse yet, Memphis fans believed Han's side of the story without question.

...

Meanwhile, Cleveland was abuzz with celebration.

Fans spontaneously flooded the streets without any formal rallying call, creating scenes of jubilation.

Journalists scrambled to capture the surreal moment.

People held up hastily-made signs with messages like, "Welcome Home, Han!" and "We've Missed You, Han!"

Many donned old #77 Cavaliers jerseys from Han's rookie season—some so ill-fitting after years of wear that they looked like spandex—but their excitement was undeterred.

Gathering outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (formerly The Q), they chanted Han's name with uncontainable enthusiasm.

At that moment, it became clear: Han's popularity in Cleveland wasn't just a product of his Grizzlies success. It had been cemented during his rookie year with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland's king was coming home.

-End of Chapter-

TL/n: Sorry for the poor quality of this chapter. Tried translating on the phone for the first time..

Edit: Re-translated on 29th Dec, 2024.