The NBA's Twilight Star System

Jay Sun quickly extended his hand and shook firmly.

"Hello, Coach. I'm Jay Sun."

The Cavaliers' original head coach was supposed to be European basketball legend David Blatt, with Tyronn Lue joining as an assistant. However, due to unforeseen personal matters in Europe, Blatt couldn't take the reins immediately, leaving Lue as the interim head coach.

Jay recognized Tyronn Lue immediately, not just because of his previous life but because they had crossed paths when Jay was with the Clippers.

Yes, Tyronn Lue had been part of the Clippers' coaching staff before being poached by the Cavaliers with a lucrative four-year, $6.5 million deal.

Seeing Jay's slightly surprised expression, Lue couldn't help but chuckle.

"That's right, Jay. Reality sure can be funny. Just a few days ago, we were both in Los Angeles, and now here we are in Cleveland," Lue said with a warm smile.

"When I was with the Clippers, I recommended you to management. But at the time, they weren't particularly interested. They only said they'd consider you if you were still available in that range."

Tyronn Lue, famous for his ability to communicate well with players, continued, "Then I got an offer from the Cavaliers. And seeing that the Clippers weren't sold on you, I suggested trading for you. To my surprise, it worked out."

Jay was genuinely touched. He hadn't realized that Tyronn Lue was the one who had saved him from his draft night frustrations.

Life truly worked in mysterious ways. Jay silently vowed, I'll never mock Tyronn Lue with those memes again.

"Well, Jay, get ready for the new season. Let's make it a great one!" Lue said with a wink before walking away, not giving Jay a chance to respond.

Jay chuckled at Lue's expression. This guy was born for memes!

As Jay exited the Cavaliers' training facility, he took in the slightly run-down surroundings and turned to Bill Duffy.

"Bill, where am I staying?" Jay asked, voicing an important question.

"Don't worry, Jay. I've got it all set up—a house just ten minutes from the arena by car. You could even jog there if you're feeling energetic," Duffy replied reassuringly.

Jay nodded in satisfaction. Duffy had indeed been thorough. The house was ready as soon as they arrived in Cleveland.

After settling Jay into his new place, Duffy left. With Jay being a low-profile rookie, there weren't many endorsement deals to manage yet. Both Jay and Duffy agreed to hold off on signing contracts for now, firmly believing in Jay's potential.

Jay trusted the system. As for what fueled Duffy's confidence? That was anyone's guess.

Speaking of the system, Jay's Gary Payton card was nearly fully integrated. The past few weeks of training and Summer League games had accelerated the process, leaving just 2 points in perimeter defense to reach full integration.

The thought of unlocking a new card filled Jay with excitement. Each new card meant new skills, badges, and hidden bonuses.

A few days later, Cleveland made waves with a blockbuster trade.

On August 7th, the Cavaliers and Timberwolves reached a trade agreement in principle. Andrew Wiggins was sent to Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Love. Along with Wiggins, the Timberwolves also received Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first-round pick from Cleveland.

When the news broke, media outlets swarmed the smiling, slightly overwhelmed Wiggins. The newly minted No. 1 pick hadn't expected to be traded before playing a single game.

By August 24th, the Timberwolves officially announced the completion of a three-way deal involving the Cavaliers and 76ers. Minnesota welcomed Wiggins, Bennett, and Thaddeus Young, forming a promising young core.

Meanwhile, LeBron James gained one of the league's premier big men in Kevin Love.

Jay wasn't as familiar with the trades beyond this point. He knew J.R. Smith hadn't joined the Cavaliers yet and was still with the Knicks—likely to be traded mid-season.

As the days went by, the Cavaliers' preseason training camp approached. Jay, eager to finish integrating his card, had already been training at the facility for days before camp officially began.

By now, only 1 point remained in perimeter defense to complete the integration. Jay could hardly contain his excitement.

When training camp opened, Cavaliers players gradually returned. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Kevin Love all reported to the facility.

LeBron arrived alongside Love, the two walking in shoulder to shoulder, laughing like old friends reunited.

As a master of building relationships, LeBron greeted everyone on the team, even Jay.

Although Jay wasn't sure if LeBron would eventually trade him away for someone else, he knew it was best to stay humble and polite for now.

"I'm a huge fan of yours," Jay said, offering a friendly handshake.

He swore it was just a polite remark, but LeBron seemed to take it seriously.

Initially, LeBron might not have thought much of it. But after witnessing Jay's precise three-point shooting and solid defense in practice, his attitude shifted.

"I hear you're a fan of mine. Alright, I've got your back," LeBron said with a grin.

Jay wasn't sure how much he could trust this "fan club" relationship. One thing was clear: he needed to perform well. If he didn't, LeBron might just pat him on the shoulder one day and say, "Hey, you've got a bright future ahead," before shipping him out.

That evening, Jay left practice on time—a rare occurrence since he usually stayed for extra training. His coaches assumed he was taking a well-deserved rest and didn't ask questions.

But Jay wasn't heading home to rest.

His Gary Payton card was finally fully integrated! Jay rushed home, eager to complete the process.

After a quick shower (he thought about burning incense but settled for cleanliness), Jay sat cross-legged on his bed. He firmly believed in the power of rituals to bring good luck.

"Host, the Gary Payton card has been fully integrated. Would you like to draw a new card?"

"Yes!"

"Drawing new card… Ding—"

"Congratulations, Host! You have drawn the Prime Dwyane Wade card."