The Way of the Center

When An Jie left his future in Portland at a price of 202 million, he must have never imagined that his contract renewal would actually become the beginning of this crazy summer.

After Kobe, Duncan, Anjie's old opponent, also officially announced his retirement. Unlike Kobe's high-profile curtain call, the news of Duncan's retirement is just like the character of the "stone man", so low-key that you can hardly believe it is true.

Who is Duncan, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the greatest power forward in NBA history. It's just such a guy, but he announced a news that shocked the world in an ordinary way. Duncan really will never change.

An Jie knows that from now on, the master of this alliance will become a younger generation. More and more legends have withdrawn from the game, but more and more powerful players have also joined the battle.

After Duncan retired, the Spurs immediately recruited Pau Gasol. It can be said that this team has completed the succession ceremony very well. With Aldridge, Leonard and Gasol, the Spurs will continue to remain competitive in the West.

On the east side, the New York Knicks with Anthony and Porzingis got Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Next season, the Knicks' lineup will become quite terrifying, and maybe James' Cavaliers will also be affected by this.

Al Horford joined the Celtics, Howard joined the Eagles, Wade joined the Bulls... this summer, one pile after another blockbuster trades continued to strike. The league structure is changing every day, and An Jie doesn't even bother to turn on his phone after getting up every day. Because as soon as he opened it, there would be a lot of news that would upset him.

Angie has been waiting, waiting for Nell Orsey to make changes to the team. The opponents have become stronger and stronger. If the Trail Blazers continue to drag the same lineup as last season, the championship can only be a dream.

Think about it, the Warriors with Durant, Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green. Such a team cannot be defeated by Anjie and Lillard with C.J. McCollum.

This league has been completely chaotic. An Jie still remembers that when he first joined the NBA, it was impossible for the league to have a team like the Warriors. But now, every team is looking to the Warriors.

Anjie doesn't like this very much, but for the sake of the championship, the Trail Blazers must also make compromises. Anjie also needs another right-hand man besides Lillard.

Nell Orsi is indeed looking for reinforcements everywhere, and Wade was once one of Orsi's candidates. Angie even had a meal with Wade in Portland to discuss the "Flash" joining the team. But unfortunately, compared to Portland, Wade finally chose his hometown Chicago. Maybe Wade himself knows,

His sore knees couldn't help An Jie get back to the top.

Harrison Barnes, a former Warriors potential forward, also had contact with the Trail Blazers, but Barnes' asking price of 90 million in four years was indeed unacceptable to Orsi. He and Anjie agreed that Barnes' performance in the Warriors in the past few years is not worth the price.

In the end, Cuban, who had a lot of money and was willing to spend money, brought Barnes to Dallas with a price of 94 million in four years. The potential signing of the Trail Blazers fell through again.

It is precisely because of this and other reasons that Nell Orsi hit a wall everywhere this summer. Seeing that there are fewer and fewer big fish this summer, Orsi has nothing to do but worry.

In the end, Olsey only brought Evan Turner and Shabazz Napier to the Blazers. Although these two guys can indeed bring great supplements to the Trail Blazers' outside line, but this level of signing is still far from what An Jie wanted.

※※※

"You, don't just stare at the news about those deals and signings. It's the offseason. If you don't relax, how can you win three more championships?" Sitting on the sofa, frowning and staring at An Jie on the phone, Catherine couldn't help leaning over to snuggle up to her husband.

"Dad, dad, let's go play." At this time, the two-year-old An Xiang staggered and walked to An Jie with a small ball in his arms.

His wife is by his side, and his son is in front of him. At this moment, An Jie suddenly felt very comfortable. Yes, basketball is not everything in my life. He already has a complete family, a happy family. As Catherine said, it's the offseason. In addition to improving yourself during the offseason, the most important task is to rest.

"Let's go son! Daddy will teach you how to shoot a fadeaway today!" So Anjie stood up, lifted his son up, and walked to the basketball court in the backyard of his home.

"Be careful!" Catherine looked at the two of them with a smile. As long as An Jie stopped worrying about work, Catherine would be in a good mood.

Another summer is coming to an end, Anjie and Catherine are getting old, but their children are growing up. The alliance is constantly changing, but An Jie just wants to enjoy the warmth of family at the moment.

※※※

An Jie always felt that the past two years passed faster and faster, and he hadn't realized what happened. A season ended in such a muddle.

The following season, the Trail Blazers finally achieved a record of 59 wins and 23 losses, once again ranking third in the Western Conference. But this is the first time in four years that the Trail Blazers failed to win more than 60 games in the regular season.

In the playoffs, the Trail Blazers and Warriors once again met in the Western Conference Finals. However, Durant did not show mercy this time. 4 to 2, the Warriors, under the leadership of Curry and Durant, two mvp-level guys, killed Anjie cleanly.

After being defeated by the Warriors for two consecutive years, Anjie now understands a little bit how James felt when he lost to him for three consecutive years.

After the game, Anjie could only hug Durant helplessly. This season, the top three positions in the nba scoring list belong to Westbrook, Durant and Anjie respectively. The former Thunder's three young men occupied the top three in scoring, but they failed to create brilliance together.

In people's eyes, this is an embarrassing thing. Seeing three people wearing jerseys of different teams standing in the top three of the scoring list, Oklahoma fans felt very uncomfortable. Time has allowed these three youthful boys to finally grow up, but time has also made them fight on their own now.

"You have created an era of your own, now it's my turn!" Durant looked very happy after winning the game. He smiled in front of An Jie, but he didn't notice that An Jie's expression was a little depressed at the moment.

"No, Kevin, my time is not over yet!" Anjie's strong instinctive reaction made Durant a little embarrassed.

"Hey, don't be so serious. Enjoy the victory. This year, the Warriors will not capsize again in the finals. I hope you can finally be the one to lift the O'Brien Cup." An Jie found that he had just What he said seemed a little inappropriate, so he immediately rounded it up.

After Durant left, An Jie clenched his fists tightly. Because in An Jie's heart, he only hopes that he is the one who wins the O'Brien Cup...

So far, the 16-17 season of Anjie and the Trail Blazers has come to an end. An Jie, who originally hoped to create the myth of the second three consecutive championships, returned empty-handed again.

On June 23, 2017, Anjie's 28th birthday. This year, neither Westbrook nor Durant, who won the championship as he wished, came to Portland to attend his birthday party. Because of these two guys, no one wants to meet anyone in private. Therefore, these two guys simply chose to disappear.

Although they still called An Jie and sent gifts, An Jie still hoped that the three young masters who were already on their own side could get together again.

After two failed seasons, Anjie and the Trail Blazers are not as popular as before. People seem to have forgotten that this oriental giant just established a dynasty that shocked the world two years ago.

The Blazers are still a strong team in the league, but people rarely associate them with the championship.

"What are you thinking, buddy." Just as An Jie was looking at the entire Portland from the balcony with a glass of wine, Andrew Morris suddenly approached An Jie.

"Hey, Morris, how's the dish today?" An Jie withdrew his thoughts of wandering, and smiled at his good brother. Today is my birthday, everyone come to celebrate for yourself. At such a happy moment, I shouldn't be frowning.

"Your food is always so delicious. Hey, I kind of want to move here to live with you. In this way, I can eat delicious Chinese food every day." Morris said, and Angie chatted about the happy time they had living under the same roof when they were both in Oklahoma.

"...Hahahaha, you still remember the incident when I blocked the toilet. You brat, you will never forget my embarrassment." The two chatted happily The sound also kept coming out. Seeing An Jie and Morris chatting so happily, Paul George, who had been wanting to talk to An Jie about something, couldn't intervene for a long time.

"Hey Ann, I just said that I want to come to Portland to be with you...I mean it." After laughing, Morris's expression suddenly became serious. This guy seems to have made up his mind to say something.

"Come on, I have a lot of empty beds here. You, you can also get along well with your godson. Speaking of which, when are you going to find a partner, buddy. My son is two years old, you You have to hurry up." An Jie smiled and patted Morris on the shoulder, he was a grown man, and he still didn't even have a home.

"No, Ann, I'm serious. I don't want to renew my contract with the Thunder. This summer, I hope to cut my salary and join the Trail Blazers! I hope, stay in Portland!" This time, Mo who always loves to laugh Reese wasn't smiling!

An Jie's eyes suddenly widened. It was obvious that he was frightened by the news.

"No...you've been in Oklahoma for so many years, and you and Russell have a very close relationship. You really..."

"I really want to come to Portland, Ann. The swordsmen of the Cyclones, it's time to reunite. I want to fight for the championship with you. I've had enough of losing in the Western Conference semifinals." After Jie finished speaking, Morris took the right to speak.

"My God.....man...you fucking..." Anjie was too excited to speak, although Morris has become a defensive blue-collar player, let He is rarely in the public spotlight.

But An Jie is very aware of Morris' strength. If it weren't for him, Morris would have at least three Best Defensive Player trophies now.

If Morris is really willing to come to Portland to reunite with Anjie, then the strength of the Trail Blazers will definitely be greatly enhanced.

"I don't want you to win the championship alone, brat." Morris stretched out his fist, Anjie smiled, and touched Morris.

After that, Morris ran to another room and continued to discuss this matter with Ricard. An Jie's mood also calmed down a little.

Seeing that Morris had finally left, and Anjie was the only one left on the balcony, Paul George immediately went up to him with a glass of wine. He had to say this about today!

"Hey, Ann." An Jie was still thinking about the explosive news just now, so that he didn't notice when George came up to him.

"Hey, George! Hahahaha, how was your day?"

"Very happy, by the way, just now you and Morris..."

"Oh, Morris said... that he was going to join the Trail Blazers this summer. To be honest, I was a little surprised. Because he and the Thunder have always been very harmonious, I never thought he would choose to leave." Anjie I wanted to evade it, but after thinking about it, George has nothing to hide about this matter. So, it was all revealed.

"Really? This is really good news." George said, lying on the fence of the balcony, looking at the scenery of Portland in front of him. With the addition of Morris to the Trail Blazers, George likes his plan even more.

"This is the first few years I've been to your house for a birthday party, Ann?" George relaxed and chatted with An Jie.

"Let's say it's been four years." An Jie lifted his fingers to calculate, time really flew by. It had been so much time since he and George had gone from being strangers to being good friends.

"Do you still remember what you said to me at the birthday party on your 25th birthday?" George turned his head and smiled at An Jie.

"25th birthday?" An Jie scratched his head hard, trying to remember. It is not easy to suddenly remember a certain event three years ago.

"25th...birthday party...you mean!" Suddenly! An Jie's expression became terrified. George gave his signature smile and left the balcony. It's enough for An Jie to have this expression!

"Tomorrow, you will hear the news." George waved to An Jie, and continued to join the party.

On the balcony, only An Jie was left standing there blankly. On his 25th birthday, at the same place, he once said to George: "How about it, are you interested in working with me?"

George suddenly mentioned this matter, could it mean that...

On his 28th birthday, An Jie suddenly smirked. He knew that after waiting for two years, this crazy summer in Portland finally came...

The whole world is about to forget the Blazers and Anjie? Don't worry, the oriental giant who rules the league will soon sweep the entire nba continent again!