Coach, I don't want to retire yet

Chapter 353 Coach D, the team is broken up again!
Popovich is preparing to accept Du Kang's invitation to come to the Lakers and serve as an assistant coach to Lakers acting head coach Jeanie Buss.

Although he gave Buford final instructions, Popovich did not do nothing when he left the Spurs.

Before leaving, Popovich had a separate meeting with Leonard, the future leader of the Spurs.

Many people know that when Duncan was about to leave the Spurs, it was Popovich who kept Duncan here through direct meetings, conversations, and frank and open conversations. This stay will last a lifetime.

Popovich hopes to make a last-ditch effort, hoping to recreate Duncan's past.

After all, in Popovich's mind, even now, he regards Leonard as another almost identical Duncan.

Both of them are equally low-key and equally good at offense and defense.
When Popovich met with Leonard, everyone in the Spurs was focused on the final outcome.

The final result was that Leonard left expressionlessly. There was no emotion or answer on Leonard's face.

And Popovich...

I didn't see him come out until very late.

For a moment, the entire Spurs, including the management, coaches, and players, all looked at each other.

In fact, anyone who is not a fool knows that this result is very bad.

Leonard and the Spurs just signed a 4+1 maximum salary contract last year.

This year's rookie contract year ends, and he actually still has a 4+1 contract with the Spurs.

There is still a maximum salary player with a contract of at least 4 years to leave. This is not unprecedented in the NBA, but it is extremely rare.

Because usually in this situation, the team actually has the initiative.

If you want to dance happily, I will send you to a garbage team to see if you can still dance.

Generally, stars and superstars who have aspirations don't dare to jump around when they have long contracts.

However, Leonard is not an ordinary star or superstar.

He is a young player with superstar quality.

He is not afraid of being sent to a small team at all.

What he wants is the absolute core position of the team, with neither Popovich nor Duncan above his head.

What he wants is an absolute space for growth.

Maybe the 30-year-old Leonard needs a good stage, but now the 24-year-old Leonard only needs a stage, a stage where he can display his talents at will.

As for agreeing on a stage, when this contract expires, will all the teams in the league be free to choose?
He can choose whatever he wants.

Therefore, Leonard is not afraid of breaking with the Spurs now.

You can send me away as you like, wherever you want.

Of course, even though that is the case, if you can send me to where I want to go, I will be very grateful to you.

As for putting Leonard directly on the bench for four years.

This league is definitely not allowed. Players have unions, the players union, and all players in the entire league are not allowed. The NBA is also different from the professional football league.

It is precisely because of this that after the meeting between Leonard and Popovich, Uncle Kawhi directly spoke to the media.

"Kawhi reminded the entire league that he will eventually go to Los Angeles, whether it is the Lakers or the Clippers, that will be his destination. He will eventually return to Los Angeles and sign with a Los Angeles team."

As soon as this news came out, the entire NBA was once again in an uproar.

Uncle Ka is definitely a thunderbolt.

Because the chaos within the Spurs this season is actually something that the NBA professional circle knows.

Fans actually don't know much.

In the minds of most Spurs fans today, Leonard is still the taciturn, good student, and cute little boy.

Still one of their favorite Spurs players and their young leader.

Why did this young gang leader suddenly self-destruct?

Although they also knew that their young gang leader had a very worried uncle.

but!
If it hadn't been for Leonard's approval, Uncle Ka would never have released such important news.

This is obviously very dissatisfying with what Popovich said when he met with Leonard!

This is obviously a direct break with the Spurs and Popovich!

"Bobo, what on earth is going on?!"

The entire Spurs management was panicked by Uncle Card's sudden attack.

Especially Spurs general manager Buford.

He asked Popovich to keep Leonard as much as possible, and had no intention of letting Leonard and the Spurs explode directly!

Facing the anxious Buford, Popovich's face was also dark.

"They think I'm threatening them, saying we don't understand Kawhi's value now."

Popovich gritted his teeth.

"I said that Kawhi's current performance and evaluation have a lot to do with a great team. Without this team, Kawhi may still be very good, but he will definitely not be as good as he is now. This is a threat, this Have you not recognized the value of Kawhi? Do you have to force me to admit that Kawhi is now Tim Duncan?!"

Popovich, who felt that he had become more mature and no longer angry over trivial things, was so angry when he thought about the phone call Uncle Ka just called him.

Fake!

After he finished talking to Kawhi, Uncle Kawhi called him directly and scolded him overwhelmingly.

His opinion of Kawhi is already very high.

However, in Uncle Kawhi's opinion, he still did not understand Kawhi's value.

How can he realize the true value of human kindness?
Is it you who don't really realize Tim's value? !
Tim is a single-core player who led the Spurs all the way through the powerful Western Conference and finally won the championship!

How do you make me believe that Kawhi can do such a thing! !

No one believed Kawhi could do it!

Except for the uncle who always thought his nephew was invincible.

In this uncle's opinion, the only reason why his nephew is not invincible is that the Spurs and him, the head coach, did not give his nephew invincible treatment.

In a place like the NBA, where wolves are everywhere, there is no problem in protecting your nephew, but you can't go too far!
Even he was made very angry by this guy.

He hadn't settled the score with this guy who had taken away Parker in the first place, and now this guy was here to get him again.

After listening to Popovich's complaints about Uncle Cardiff, Buford finally understood why Uncle Cardiff chose to break up with the Spurs directly.

Because Uncle Kawhi has already broken up with Popovich, and Popovich is the Spurs, so Popovich can directly represent the Spurs.

"Bobo, what do we do now?"

After Buford asked, Popovich was still gritting his teeth.

"Kawhi is a good boy. I still believe that Kawhi is a good boy, but... he has an uncle who will destroy him!"

After saying that, Popovich closed his eyes. The look on his face was very tired and painful. After a long time, Popovich opened his eyes, as if he had made an extremely difficult decision.

"We sent Tony to the Hornets. Kawhi's next destination cannot be better than the Bobcats. This is the bottom line. When the transaction chips are close, the better the team he is sent to, the worse the better."

After Popovich finished speaking, Buford was dumbfounded.

Bobo, you still remember Tony!

It can be seen how much Bobo cares about sending Tony away.

Although Tony betrayed Bobo, Bobo still didn't blame Tony.

It was true that he gave Tony some wrong hints.

It made Tony feel that he was the future boss of the team, which ultimately led to a conflict between him and Renner.

Bobo has always felt that he has a great responsibility.

Bobo bears the main responsibility for the conflict between Tony and Kawhi.

However, such a conflict eventually turned into a life-and-death struggle, and Uncle Ka must have contributed a lot.

Therefore, Bobo has always blamed Uncle Ka for this matter.

"Since you don't care about anything, then prove to me whether Kawhi can really lead the worst team in the worst city to win the championship with a single core like Tim did!"

Bobo is still angry with Uncle Ka!

Hearing Popovich's words was almost gritted and cold.Buford was feeling cold all over.

Bobo is still the same Bobo.

Ruthless!

Compare Bobcat.

There aren't many teams in the league today that are worse than the Bobcats.

Especially after the Timberwolves emerged in the Western Conference this season, they were the worst in the league, with teams on the same level as the Bobcats, namely the Raptors, 76ers, Pistons, Kings, and Clippers.

Although these teams have poor results, Philadelphia and California are definitely not bad places and are small ball markets.

Even the Pistons have a tradition of success, and the Spurs are not qualified to say that the Pistons are a garbage team.

Therefore, the only super bad team that can compete with the Bobcats now is actually the Raptors...

After losing Kyle Lowry last season, the Raptors' performance collapsed this season.

The Raptors this season are going directly to Karl-Anthony Towns.

The last one, the biggest favorite for the No. [-] pick.

Thinking of this, Buford knew why Bobo said what he just said.

What is comparable to the Bobcats? The only one who can compare with the Bobcats now is the Raptors.

Pop, this is the quasi-number one pick for the Raptors!

Bobo, it’s time to practice your account again!

But, will the Raptors be interested in Leonard?
After all, they only have four years of Leonard.

Given the strength of the Raptors, it would take four years to rebuild. Four years later, after the rebuilding was completed, Leonard left, the core of the rebuild left, and then started rebuilding again?
This...isn't it appropriate?
“We can be a little bit more okay with having chips that aren’t that great.”

Okay, got it.

In other words, even if the Raptors are not the top pick, they will try their best to send Leonard to the snowy foreign paradise, Toronto!
"The colder the weather, the calmer people become. The warmth of the Holy City makes some people's heads always feel hot."

As soon as Popovich said these words, Buford knew that he was right.

Because he still has feelings for Kawhi, Bobo can't say some things. Bobo may still have plans to reconcile with Kawhi now.

Kawhi was so well protected by Pop in the Spurs. After a few years of hitting a wall outside, he realized how happy he was in the Spurs.

However, this requires testing the IQ and guessing skills of the general manager.

Buford is still relatively lucky that he is a reasonably smart person.

"Bobo, don't worry, I know what to do."

The Spurs' failure to win the championship this season basically means that the Spurs need to rebuild in the future.

Sending Kawhi away means that there is no point in the Spurs keeping Duncan and Ginobili.

And this is why Pop hates Uncle Kawhi so much that he wants to send Kawhi to Toronto to calm down even if he doesn't have the best bargaining chip.

You ruined Bobo's promise to Tim.

Letting you go to the freezing Toronto and be tortured for four years is already Bobo's greatest kindness!
Do you really think that Toronto is the worst choice in the current NBA?

No, for Leonard, the worst choice in the NBA right now is the Boston Celtics!

Haven't you always wanted to be in the spotlight and have no one above you?

I'll fucking send you to Boston, and then you'll have a bunch of people on your head!

James, Paul, Ainge, and the rest of the Celtics can all fix you to death.

If Kawhi is really sent to the Celtics, Uncle Kawhi will die in pain, and Kawhi may also be destroyed by James' side like Jamison, Bosh and others.

Therefore, Bobo is kind to Kawhi.

After all, I have no feelings for Uncle Ka, but I do have feelings for Kawhi.

at Leonard's home in Los Angeles.

Leonard found out that the trade application he applied for was approved.

Leonard is a silent smart guy who knows that his trade request will definitely be approved.

In the NBA, as long as a player is determined to leave, the team will generally not force him to stay.

Those who can be forced to stay by the team are generally those who have no determination to leave.

However, what he didn't expect was that Bobo and the team agreed so quickly.

It's as if he is an insignificant player, a small role player.

"Kawhi, see? This is why I keep asking you to leave the Spurs. In their minds, you will never be the most important person. In the Spurs, the most important person will always be Pop." Vicky, always Duncan!”

Uncle Ka could see at a glance his nephew's complicated mentality of worrying about gains and losses.

I have to say, let’s not talk about Uncle Ka’s personality. He really understands Leonard and really dotes on him.

"As long as you leave here, we can prove to the world how good you are. In the Spurs, Kawhi will never be recognized. If the game is lost, you will take the blame. If the game is won, Popovich will always take the credit." Qi, it belongs to Duncan, I have long had enough of their contempt for you!"

and!

"Kawhi, you know, do you know why I keep letting you play clean on the court?"

Ok?
"I'm afraid that one day, you will become the retribution for that guy Popovich's sins!"

Leonard's eyes widened!
Will I be the retribution for Pop and the Spurs' sins?
"That guy Popovich offended too many people on the court and taught too many bad people. In this league, there are more and more so-called Spurs. The darkness has not diminished, it has just been deeply hidden. As long as you Still with the Spurs and with Popovich, you are the most dangerous player!"

"And this is the most important reason why I want you to leave. The sooner you leave, the better. The sooner you leave, the more relieved I will be."

"..."

Leonard's eyes were still widening.

This time, all the reluctance and incomprehension in Leonard's heart about his uncle disappeared...

"I know...uncle..."

"Ok?"

"thanks……"

Spurs, broken up!

……

……

"Coach, congratulations, you have dismantled another team, and it is the most sinful team in NBA history!"

Nash is very excited!
The great revenge was finally avenged!

In fact, Nash was not the only one excited at this time.

Carter, Iverson, Wheat, and Ray Allen... I don't know how many people are excited!
"Coach, Kobe and I, TMC feel that they are also injured, and we want to make more contributions to the team. Coach, can they and I act as the head coaches of the team?"

"..."

Du Kang stared at the excited Nash in shock.

For a while, I didn't even know how to answer.

What the hell!

You guys really can do it!
A bunch of acting head coaches with one assistant?
This……

……

……

Ah sneeze~!

"Bobo, are you okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Even if I go to the Lakers as an assistant coach, I won't make suggestions for the Lakers, not even once. I won't do anything for the Lakers!"

Popovich smiled and said goodbye calmly to Duncan, Manu, Buford and Budenholzer who cared about him.

"Coach D, are you ready?"

Avengers, here we come!

(End of this chapter)