basketball task

Chapter 261
After several rounds of repeated discussions, in mid-October 2008, when there were only ten days left before the opening game of the new season, everything was finally settled.

NBA Commissioner David Stern personally approved the three-way deal:
The Pistons sent Billups and Antonio McDyess for Iguodala and Jarrett Jack;
The Rockets sent Yao Ming and Mutombo to get Billups, Antonio McDyess and Gortat;

The 76ers sent Iguodala, Jack, Gortat, and got Yao Ming and Mutombo.

This is a three-party transaction involving 6 players. The transaction process was ups and downs, so I won’t describe it in detail here. In short, after 76ers manager Cheeks, Rockets manager Morey, Pistons president Joe Duma Thanks to Si's unremitting efforts, all three teams are happy.

For the Pistons, from 2003 to 2008, the Pistons reached the Eastern Conference finals for 6 consecutive seasons, among which they successfully reached the finals in 2004 and 2005, defeated the Lakers Super F2004 in 4 and won the NBA championship in 2005. After 7 games with the Spurs, it is a pity that they failed to defend their title.

This is a lineup that has been successful. This is a brilliant team, but after 04, it has not been able to taste the taste of the championship again. This makes Joe Dumars, the famous Pistons president and president, eager for a change.

Joe Dumars has always been a guy who dares to think and do things. When he first became the president of the Pistons in 2000, he made bold reforms, sent Jerry Stackhouse away, and brought in Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, who was frustrated in the Timberwolves, built a complete civilian team in just two years, and the Pistons also won the championship ring for him.

After winning the championship, the Pistons slowly showed their old state, like an aging machine, especially in recent seasons, the team's performance has not met expectations, so Joe Dumars is determined to actively seek change.

After the end of the 05-06 season, Big Ben Wallace left the Bulls due to contract issues, and the Pistons began to disintegrate. It is the future leader of the team, and even the core of the team to succeed Billups.

There were many problems between Billups and the team last season, and Rodney Stucky did well in his rookie season. Joe Dumars couldn't wait and wanted to send Billups away immediately.

Getting Iguodala added fresh young blood to the Pistons' old-fashioned lineup configuration. Stuckey, Jack, and Will Bynum are the point guards, Hamilton and Efflalo are the shooting guards. Darla, Little Prince Prince, Amir Johnson playing small forward, plus Mark Hill, Kwame Brown, Rasheed Wallace, etc. inside, the Pistons' new lineup is not bad.

After all this trouble, Joe Dumars sent Billups away as he wished, and got the younger Iguodala and Jarrett Jack, and finally he was able to right Rodney Stucky according to the setting of this domineering president. Be the boss.

But the new boss of the Pistons, Qian Ning chuckled, seeing each other, let's go and see.

Rockets owner Alexander is also quite satisfied with the operation of general manager Morey. Yao Ming can't keep it anymore. He can get the veteran Mutombo who doesn't have much oil in exchange for Antonio McDyess, who has a good inside combat power, and The rookie center Gortat who can make do with it, at least not too weak on the inside, and the addition of Billups, the former finals MVP and the key man, made the Rockets have been criticized for many years at the point guard position. We welcome a superstar.

Billups, Tracy McGrady, Artest, Scola and McDyess served as starters, and Alston, Weaver, Hayes, Landry, Brent Barry, Brooks, Gortat and others served as substitutes. The Rockets' internal and external lines are more balanced.

With the assistance of Billups, the top control master, the Rockets' new season may not be as bad as imagined.

Of course the happiest team is the Philadelphia 76ers. With Yao Ming’s hundred-dollar bill in his pocket, the strength of Philadelphia’s lineup has improved instantly. The center has Yao Ming and Uncle Mu, and the power forwards include Ibaka, Birdman Anderson, Channing Frye, Jr. Forward Battier, Brewer, shooting guard Belinelli, Pietrus, point guard Lowry, Dragic and Livingston, plus Channing, Philadelphia's new generation lineup has been formed.

Although there is still a lack of a qualified backup center, the players at the point guard and power forward positions are relatively immature, and the status of Birdman Anderson and Livingston can be restored to a few percent, but these are minor problems. , there will certainly be many opportunities for tinkering.

Yahoo reporter Woj immediately tweeted:

"The most important three-party deal of the year is finalized. Houston bid farewell to Yao Ming, Detroit sent away the key Mr. Billups, and Philadelphia may become the biggest winner!"

At that time, Wo Shen did not have a high reputation and credibility. As soon as this tweet came out, it was immediately regarded as a joke by fans.

"Billups is our FMVP, and he will never leave!"

"Houston is Yao Ming's second home, there is no reason to leave!"

However, soon, the official news came out, and the Philadelphia 76ers, Pistons, and Rockets made official announcements at the same time, confirming Wo Shen's statement.

In an instant, the Internet exploded.

Compared with Pistons fans, Rockets fans reacted very violently.

Although the management of the Rockets is stingy and stingy, the Houston fans still really like Yao Ming. When they suddenly learned that Yao Ming was determined to leave, and it was a deal that he applied for actively, the fans couldn't accept it at all.

Countless Houston fans posted all over the Internet, asking each other why Yao Ming left. The Rockets' official mailbox received a snowflake of emails, all of which were questioning letters from fans.

Even many die-hard fans of Yao Ming shed sad tears.

Although he didn't burn jerseys or throw stones at James' billboard like the treatment James encountered in 2010, it has to be said that Yao Ming's departure broke the hearts of many Houston fans.

There are also a few rational fans who stand up and speak out, saying that Yao Ming has been working hard for the Rockets for so many years and has given everything for the team's victory. However, the management of the Rockets has done nothing for many years and is not worthy of such Yao Ming. Instead of letting Yao Ming die alone in Houston, it is better to generously send blessings.

For Houston fans, this is definitely a sad day, but for Philadelphia fans and Chinese fans, this is a once-in-a-lifetime happy day.

With Channing, a super scorer, and Yao Ming, the top center in the league, the Philadelphia team's cash cow combination is officially released. Philadelphia fans believe that this will be a pair of super partners comparable to the OK combination.

(End of this chapter)