The Warriors, Clippers, and Suns were officially set to pull off this three-way trade once the free agency market opened.
A few days later, the annual NBA Draft hit the theater at Madison Square Garden. Zack vaguely caught up on the draft's happenings through the news afterward.
It was a perfect re-run of history: the Chicago Bulls, who snagged the first overall pick with a meager 1.7% chance, didn't hesitate for a second, snatching up their "Son of Windy City," Derrick Rose. This was a pick that, no matter how many times history repeated itself, if the Bulls got the number one pick, there'd be no surprises.
With the old guard of Adidas stars either fading or defecting, Adidas desperately needed a new face to go head-to-head with their arch-rival, Nike (who had Zack, LeBron, and Kobe), more than ever. And just like that, Rose, born in Chicago and a national sensation since high school, landed squarely on Adidas's radar, becoming their designated next-gen flagship athlete.
Though, let's be real, in terms of hype... Rose, the "Son of Windy City," was a bit short of the "Chosen One" status of back then. But to boost Rose, Adidas poured in tons of effort and resources behind him.
The Son of Windy City was about to arrive in his loyal Chicago.
Next up, the Milwaukee Bucks, holding the second overall pick, went with Michael Beasley, nicknamed "American Messiah." Beasley, standing 206 cm (6'9") in shoes, had excellent ball-handling and offensive skills, capable of swinging between small forward and power forward, and he'd already proven himself in college. The Bucks' management was convinced that Beasley, who easily dominated their reserve forwards and guards during tryouts, was the savior they'd been yearning for.
Just a few more months, though, and the Bucks' front office probably wouldn't be smiling. Because as a notorious "bad apple," what ruined Beasley was Beasley himself. If Zack remembered correctly, in his rookie season, Beasley would be penalized multiple times for violating the NBA's anti-drug policies, even being sent to rehab. And every time he got penalized, Beasley would claim he'd reformed, only to get caught violating the "anti-drug policy" again periodically, leaving his team in agony.
Zack had watched Beasley's college game footage. He knew that whether it was his ball-handling coordination or body control, this technically gifted forward could only be described as having immense potential. But... no matter how good the talent, it couldn't withstand Beasley's self-destruction. After all, "heaven's wrath can be avoided, but self-inflicted harm cannot."
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Next, with the third overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves, after selecting OJ Mayo, immediately traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, who had picked Kevin Love with the fifth overall pick. Just as Zack remembered, the Wolves, having lost Garnett, were desperate to cultivate a new Garnett as quickly as possible. And Love, from UCLA, was already a renowned double-double machine back in college. While being a white big man, Love's athleticism couldn't compare to historical big man monsters, the Wolves were still deeply impressed during his tryout by this fundamentally sound big man who had played three years in college.
And Mayo? Everyone knows that ever since Jerry West personally drafted Kobe for the Lakers, he viewed Kobe as a kind of spiritual solace. So, when Mayo, whose playing style uncannily resembled Kobe's, appeared, West absolutely didn't want to miss out on this "new Kobe." This just goes to show that even the famous West can sometimes misjudge things. Before the draft, Mayo had a soft touch and excellent skills, but in the long river of NBA history, how many "Kobe successors" have actually become Kobe?
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Meanwhile, with the fourth overall pick, in a wonderfully serendipitous twist, the New York Knicks, at the same draft slot, brought in the same helper for their "Zack 2.0," Kevin Durant: Russell Westbrook. Maybe Durant and Westbrook were destined to have this brotherhood. But compared to the Knicks Zack remembered, this Knicks team, which committed to tanking even harder, managed to gather two future MVPs at this point in time, which was largely beyond Zack's expectations.
However, if you quickly review the Knicks' draft logic, you'll easily see that they genuinely needed to pick a point guard to complement Durant. As the most outstanding defensive point guard in NCAA this year, the Knicks appreciated Westbrook's hustle and believed he was the Scottie Pippen for the point guard position. So, the Knicks picking "our Turtle" wasn't entirely a coincidence.
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And with the sixth overall pick, the Los Angeles Clippers selected "the Saiyan," Danilo Gallinari, from Italy. Why a Saiyan, you ask? Because later on, Gallinari, who was riddled with injuries all over his body—even major ones like ACL tears were commonplace for him—would visibly evolve his skills every time he returned from a major injury. This guy was a different kind of iron man. He was also the best代言人 (spokesperson) for that classic saying, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
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Additionally, here's how some of the other notable rookies Zack remembered from this year's draft fared:
Eric Gordon, whose pre-draft comparison was "a Wade who can shoot threes," was taken by the Houston Rockets with the seventh overall pick after they traded up.
Brook Lopez, with excellent low-post skills and the potential to adapt into a modern center, was snatched by the Hornets with the eighth overall pick and will team up with "King Hornet" Rajon Rondo next season. His twin brother, Robin Lopez, was picked by the Suns.
Roy Hibbert and JaVale McGee were taken by the Pacers and Wizards at the 17th and 18th picks, respectively.
To create a good offensive environment for His Majesty LeBron, the Cavaliers' management passed on JJ Hickson, whom they initially liked, and instead opted for the white stretch forward Ryan Anderson, who could shoot threes.
In the latter half of the first round, the Magic successfully picked Courtney Lee, further bolstering their "one star, four shooters" lineup.
Jerry West, who previously brought OJ Mayo to the Grizzlies via trade, showed his prowess with the 24th overall pick, selecting Serge Ibaka from Spain for the Grizzlies.
Following that, the Rockets also used their other first-round pick to select Nicolas Batum from France.
To strengthen their point guard position, the Celtics traded for George Hill, who had played three years in college and already possessed a decent immediate impact.
DeAndre Jordan, who sat in the Green Room all the way until the second round, was picked by the Clippers.
Goran Dragic, who would need significant time to develop, was taken by the Suns in the mid-second round, a team that would soon lose Steve Nash.
Overall, despite many of the 2008 rookies not growing as expected, this was still a high-quality draft class. Zack knew very well that it was precisely because of the consecutive strong draft classes in 2007 and 2008 that next year's draft would indirectly become what everyone knew as a "down year." After all, aside from Blake Griffin... putting aside any future knowledge, before the 2009 draft began, compared to the previous two drafts, 2009 truly didn't have any major prospects that would excite the world.
But as early as March of this year, someone had already noticed his nephew leading the Davidson Wildcats to multiple upset victories in the NCAA. He had already made up his mind: if the opportunity arose, Zack would definitely demand that the Warriors find a way to acquire a pick that could land Stephen Curry. In Zack's eyes, while Brother Dell's son, Stephen, would need time to grow, given Curry's development arc, wasn't he also the perfect successor to Steve Nash? And just thinking about standing at the top of the key, cracking the whip to make Curry run around, inexplicably excited Zack.
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In July, as soon as the free agency market opened, the three-team trade involving the Warriors, Clippers, and Suns sent shockwaves through the league.
The Warriors, who had failed to defend their title last season, at the strong insistence of the benevolent Clippers, first used Bird Rights to re-sign Baron Davis for a super-max deal, giving him a five-year contract worth nearly $60 million. Then, after Nash opted out of his contract and signed a new four-year, $44 million deal with the Suns, the three-team trade was officially completed.
The Warriors, who sent Davis to the Clippers, would receive two-time MVP Steve Nash from the Suns. And the Clippers? You might not believe it, but to get Davis, who was just emerging from an ACL tear, the Clippers sent Corey Maggette and two anonymous players to match salaries to the Suns.
Even without the Clippers, the Warriors could have done a sign-and-trade with the Suns through other means. But in this three-team trade, Zack still couldn't understand the Clippers' thinking. Trading away Maggette just to get Davis, whose effectiveness was uncertain, and offering him a high-paying long-term contract at all costs.
As he bid farewell to Davis, watching his former First Mate head off to Los Angeles for big bucks, Zack curiously asked, "Baron, do you have something on Elgin Baylor?"
"Absolutely not," Davis replied, looking confused. "I don't know Elgin Baylor at all, but I'm very grateful that he values me so much." After a pause, Davis added, "Brother, remember to add 'Messiah's Only First Mate' to my epitaph."
Former Warriors championship member. Zack's "only" first mate. The original Mr. Big Beard, Baron Davis, now rests in peace. Although "cruel reality" crushed the grand ambitions in his chest, as a member of the old "We Believe" Warriors, fans will never forget this hero who charged the court for the team time and time again.
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And interestingly... Nash, who had previously been blacklisted by Warriors fans during the "trophy theft incident" and was still a running joke even now, immediately became the best partner for Zack in the hearts of Warriors fans the day this three-team trade was finalized.
"Steve Nash made the smartest decision of his entire career! With his assistance, Messiah will surely lead us back to contend for the championship next season!"
"I said it back then, Steve Nash is the perfect point guard for Messiah in my mind!"
"Steve is just a little older, but if he's even 80% of what he used to be, then we'll have a star guard who can unleash even more of Messiah's offensive energy!"
What's that? You said Warriors fans once cursed Nash to never win a championship?
"We absolutely never said anything like that! We clearly said back then that Steve Nash would definitely win more than one championship in the future!"
Just as Zack expected, fans are indeed the most "fickle" group of people in the world.
However, even after becoming a member of these Warriors, Nash still felt... that he seemed to have the suspicion of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." After all, the Warriors had defeated the Suns in the Western Conference Finals that year and ultimately became the champions. That's right, if Nash hadn't been 34 and knew his time was limited, plus Kerr's "brain-dead" moves left him with no hope, no matter how eloquently Zack spoke, he likely would have chosen to stay in Phoenix.
Zack knew that Nash still needed time to transition and adapt. But to prevent Nash from having any psychological burden, on the day Nash joined, Zack spoke to him on the phone: "Steve, although we were already champions before you joined, past glory belongs to the past, not the future. I hope to create the future with you, which is why I invited you."
Hearing this, Nash chuckled on the phone: "I hope I won't regret this choice in the future."
Zack said, "I think you can start thinking of a great 'epitaph' for your future career right now."
Nash thought for a moment and said, "If I could, I'd want that 'epitaph' to be: 'Born for a championship, died for an ideal.'"
The collaboration between an old veteran and a young star, two MVPs, had already made the Warriors' rivals feel that this team, which had dominated the league for two years, would not sit idly by.
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And with this three-way trade completed, Zack, witnessed by team owner Chris Cohan and general manager Chris Mullin, and accompanied by his agent Aaron Goodwin, officially signed that early contract extension with the Warriors. This super-max deal, which would officially kick into the Warriors' salary cap starting in the 2009-10 season, had a starting salary exceeding $20 million. With the Bird Rights' salary increases, its total value surpassed $130 million. If Zack, who signed this "4+1" super-max deal with the Warriors, chose to exercise his player option in the final year of the contract, after four consecutive years of salary increases, he would earn nearly $33 million in the last year of the deal.
Additionally, during these early extension negotiations, at Zack's strong insistence, a trade veto clause was also written into the agreement. All of this made Chris Cohan feel once again that Zack, his superstar player, was pushing him to sell the team quickly. Because once Zack's salary started counting against the Warriors' salary cap, the luxury tax Cohan would have to pay for this team wouldn't be as simple as just "spending a little money" anymore. Especially noting Zack's unwavering expression when demanding the trade veto clause, Cohan felt that Zack wasn't asking for a trade veto; he was clearly telling him: "If you can't play, don't play. If you don't want to spend money, there are plenty of people who do."
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News of Zack and the Warriors reaching an early extension undoubtedly became the best news for Warriors fans this summer. In the eyes of Warriors fans, even the previous three-team trade couldn't compare to a single hair of Zack signing this five-year long-term deal with the Warriors.
Originally, when re-signing, Zack had considered signing a "3+1" contract that would be more favorable for his future options. But in the Bay Area, Zack had long found a sense of belonging. Zack would never forget the deafening cheers from Bay Area fans every time they played at home. He would especially never forget the scene of him leading the Warriors back to Oakland after losing Game 7 this year: As Zack stepped off the plane, he heard the sky-shattering cheers erupting from the crowd, and the Bay Area fans who came to greet him incessantly chanted his name.
In Oakland, Zack's god-like status was cemented. The Bay Area fans' recognition of him and his growing sense of belonging there had already made him consider these Warriors his own team. And with a trade veto in hand... in the NBA, who says a player can only leave as a free agent when their contract expires? Zack knew very well that as long as he could continue to dominate on the court and maintain his current exposure, his fate would only remain in his own hands.
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In mid-July, Zack, along with Yao Ming, who had recently participated in the Sonics' championship parade, returned and joined the Men's National Basketball Team, which had already begun its training camp.
However, unlike previous years, in preparation for the Olympics held on home soil, this year's Men's National Basketball Team's training camp wasn't so much a "training camp" as it was a special training session that gathered all outstanding domestic basketball players. At the request of "European Caesar" Jonas Kazlauskas, the men's team's perimeter players, including Zhu Fangyu, Wang Shipeng, Liu Wei, and Sun Yue, had to put in extra three-point shooting practice every day. This high-intensity training had an immediate effect. The data Zack remembered wouldn't lie. Historically, at the 2008 Olympics, men's team's perimeter shooters all showed excellent competitive form.
And with Zack bringing Grover and Payton back Grover also designed more detailed special training programs for each player based on their individual characteristics. As for Payton? The day he returned , Zack handed him a thick book of FIBA rules.
"Gary, I need you to help me study FIBA's defensive rules. You know, in FIBA, you foul out after just five fouls per game, so I need to adopt a different defensive strategy than in the NBA to prepare for the Olympics."
As someone who'd been there, Zack knew very well that due to the damned "face-saving" culture, apart from playing at home, the men's team would have no home-court advantage whatsoever at these Olympics. Therefore, to avoid foul trouble due to differing officiating standards during games, Zack had to prepare early. In Zack's opinion, Payton was a top defensive master in the NBA, and to be good at defense, you naturally had to master the rules.
However... for a moment, Payton felt like he had become a "traitor to America."
"FIBA's rules are just too many, and a lot of them are different from the NBA, so in a short amount of time..."
"Gary, I'll pay you five times your salary."
"Actually, I just thought about it carefully. With my experience, give me three days, and I can figure out FIBA's rules completely."
What "traitor to America"? Since Payton was Zack's personal defensive trainer now, he had to use his experience to help Zack defeat the utterly evil USA Men's National Team! Any opponent who dared to try and stop Zack from venting his anger with an Olympic gold medal would be Gary Payton's enemy!