The Way of the Center

When Anjie left his future in Portland at a price of 202 million, he must have never thought that his renewal had actually become the beginning of this crazy summer.

After Kobe continued, Duncan, Anjie's old opponent, also officially announced his retirement. Unlike Kobe's high-profile curtain call, the news of Duncan's retirement is 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 was such a guy who announced a news that shocked the world. Duncan, this guy, 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 More and more legends have withdrawn from this game, but more and more powerful players have also joined the battle.

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

In the East, the New York Knicks with Anthony and Porzingis got Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Next season, the Knicks lineup will become quite terrifying, and perhaps James' Cavaliers will also be affected.

Al Horford joined the Celtics, Howard joined the Eagles, and Wade joined the Bulls...This summer, one block after another has continued to hit. The league structure changes every day, and Anjie doesn’t even bother to turn on his phone after getting up every day. Because as soon as it is opened, there is bound to be a lot of news that will upset him.

Anjie has been waiting, waiting for Nell Orsi 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 Drummond Green. Such a team cannot be defeated by Angel and Lillard with a 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 following the Warriors.

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

Nell Orsi is indeed looking for reinforcement everywhere, and Wade was once one of Orsi's candidates. Anjie even had a meal with Wade in Portland to discuss the "Flash" joining the team. But unfortunately, compared to Portland, Wade eventually chose his hometown of Chicago. Maybe Wade himself knew that his battered knees couldn't help An Jie reach the top again.

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

In the end, Cuban, who was rich and willing to spend money, took Barnes to Dallas with a price of 94 million yuan in four years. The potential signing of the Trail Blazers has once again failed.

It is for this and other reasons that Nell Orsi is hitting a wall this summer. Seeing that there are fewer and fewer big fish this summer, Orsi has no choice but to be anxious.

In the end, Orsi only brought Evan Turner and Shabaz Napier to the Trail Blazers. Although these two guys can indeed greatly supplement the outside line of the Trail Blazers, this level of signing is still a thousand miles away from An Jie's ideals.

※※※

"You, don't just stare at the news about the trade signings. Now it's the offseason, don't you relax, how can you win three championships." Sitting on the sofa, frowning and staring. Catherine on the mobile phone couldn't help but leaned forward and cuddled up with her husband.

"Dad, dad, let's go play." At this time, An Xiang, who was two years old, walked to An Jie with a staggering pace and holding a small ball.

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 all in my life. He already has a complete family, a happy family. As Catherine said, now is the offseason. Apart from improving yourself during the offseason, the most important task is to rest.

"Let's go son! Dad teaches you to shoot backwards today!" So An Jie stood up, raised his son, and walked to the basketball court in his backyard.

"Be careful!" Catherine looked at the two men with a grin. As long as An Jie no longer suffers from work, Catherine's mood will be comfortable.

Another summer is going to pass, Anjie and Catherine are slowly getting old, but their children keep growing. The alliance is constantly changing, but Anjie, at this moment, just wants to enjoy the warmth of family.

※※※

An Jie always feels that the past two years have passed faster and faster, and he hasn't realized what happened. A season ended in such a sloppy way.

The following season, the Trail Blazers finally won a record of 59 wins and 23 losses, once again ranked third in the West. But this is the first time in four years that the Trail Blazers have not won more than 60 games in the regular season.

In the playoffs, the Trail Blazers and Warriors met again in the Western Conference Finals. However, Durant did not soften this time. 4 to 2, the Warriors, led by Curry and Durant, two mvp-level guys, cleanly killed An Jie.

After losing to the Warriors for two consecutive years, Anjie now understands a little bit how James felt when he lost to himself for three consecutive years.

After the game, Anjie had no choice but to hug Durant. This season, the top three positions in the NBA scoring list belong to Westbrook, Durant and Anjie. The former Thunder three occupies the top three in the scoring list, but they failed to create brilliance together.

In people's eyes, this is a embarrassing thing. Seeing three people wearing different team jerseys standing in the top three positions of the scoring list, Oklahoma fans are very uncomfortable. Time has allowed these three young boys to finally grow up, but time has also allowed them to 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 didn't notice that An Jie's expression at the moment was a little decayed.

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

"Hey, don't be so serious. Enjoy the victory, this year, the Warriors don't capsize in the finals again. I hope that you can eventually become the one who raised the O'Brien Cup." An Jie found out that he had just What he said seemed a little out of place, so he came back right away.

After Durant left, Anjie clenched his fists tightly. Because in An Jie's heart, he only hopes that the person holding the O'Brien Cup is himself...

So far, the 16-17 season of Anjie and the Trail Blazers has come to an end. An Jie, who had hoped to create the myth of three consecutive championships for the second time, 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, did not come to Portland to attend their 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 men who had been on their own sides could get together again.

After two failed seasons, Anjie and the Blazers have become less popular than before. People seem to have forgotten that this eastern giant had 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 Anjie looked across Portland through the balcony with a wine glass, Andrew Morris suddenly leaned in front of Anjie.

"Hey, Morris, how's the food today?" Anjie retracted his thoughts and smiled at his good brother. Today is my birthday, everyone came to celebrate for themselves. At such happy moments, you shouldn't be frowning.

"Your food will always be so delicious. Hey, I have a bit of an idea to move over to live with you like back then. In this way, I can eat delicious Chinese food every day." Morris said, and Anjie talked about the happy time when the two of them were in Oklahoma when they lived under the same roof.

"...Hahahaha, you still remember how I blocked the toilet back then. You stinky boy, you will never forget my embarrassment." The two chatted and laughed happily. The sound also kept coming out. Watching Anjie and Morris chatting so happily, Paul George, who has always wanted to talk to Anjie, couldn't even get in the mouth.

"Hey Ann, I just said I want to come to Portland to be with you...I mean it." After the laughter, Morris's expression suddenly became serious. This guy seems to have made a lot of determination 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, when will you find a **** partner, buddy. My son is two years old, you You have to hurry up." Anjie smiled and patted Morris on the shoulder. He is also a big man, he still doesn'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 get a salary cut to join the Trail Blazers! I hope to stay in Portland!" Reese didn't laugh!

An Jie's eyes suddenly widened, and it was obvious that he was shocked by the news.

"No... you have been in Oklahoma for so many years, and the cooperation between you and Russell is very close. You really..."

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

"Gosh... buddy... you fucking..." Anjie was so excited that he couldn't speak, although Morris had become a defensive blue-collar player, let He rarely becomes the focus of the public.

But Anjie is very clear about Morris's strength. If it weren't for himself, Morris would now have at least three Defensive Player trophies.

If Morris is really willing to come to Portland and Anjie to reunite, 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, and Anjie smiled and met Morris.

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

Seeing Morris finally left, and only An Jie was left on the balcony, Paul George immediately leaned forward with the wine glass. He must speak out about this matter today!

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

"Hey, George! Hahahaha, how did you play today."

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

"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 been very harmonious, I never thought he would choose to leave." I wanted to prevaricate it, but after another thought, there was nothing to hide from George. So, they told them all.

"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 Morris joining the Trail Blazers, George likes his plan even more.

"This is the first few years since I have been to your birthday party, Ann?" George relaxed and chatted with Anjie.

"It's been four years, right?" An Jie lifted his fingers and settled, time really flew by. So much time has passed since he and George never knew each other until they became good friends.

"Do you remember what you told me at your birthday party on your 25th birthday?" George turned his head and smiled at Anjie.

"25th birthday?" An Jie scratched his head hard~www.NovelMTL.com~ began to think hard. It is not easy to suddenly remember something from three years ago.

"25 years old...birthday party...you mean!" Suddenly! An Jie's expression became horrified. George showed his trademark smile and left the balcony. An Jie has this expression, that's enough!

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

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

George mentioned this incident suddenly, does it mean that...

On the day of his 28th birthday, An Jie suddenly giggled. He knew that after waiting for two years, this crazy summer that belonged to Portland had finally arrived...

Is the whole world about to forget the Blazers and Anjie? Don't worry, the eastern giant who rules the alliance will soon sweep the entire NBA continent again!