Jimmy. Butler's departure was both unexpected and reasonable for Link.

Indeed, three consecutive championships, this is an achievement that many players dream of. Many people don't want to win three championships in a row, if they want to win a championship, they have to work hard for their entire career.

Even then, it is not always possible to get it.

But it's not always the case that a team that has won three consecutive championships will be able to maintain the status quo, after all, everyone has their own goals and goals. Not everybody wants to do one thing over and over again in a team.

Especially after three consecutive championships, people's psychology changes.

Not to mention three consecutive championships, even after winning the championship once, it is not uncommon for the championship squad to be torn apart.

The Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Lakers after the last three-game championship, etc., are all living examples.

No team can dominate one side all the time, and the huge mobility of players is also one of the biggest charms of the NBA.

In this regard, the famous NBA coach and current general manager of the Heat team, Pat Brown. Riley has long studied and summarized this situation, which he vividly calls "greediness".

Pat. Riley isn't just a well-known manager, that doesn't encapsulate his greatness. Riley's understanding of the sport and the NBA as a league is very thorough.

He's one of the few people in the league to win a championship in three different capacities: player, coach and general manager, and that's not because of Riley's luck.

He can lead the team to a championship as a coach, and he can also finalize the seismic transfer of the Heat Big Three as a general manager.

He has his own ideas about basketball, and he once predicted that in the future, the boundaries between different positions in basketball will become more and more blurred, and there will be five players around 2.05 meters playing on the basketball court.

Today, this trend is becoming a reality.

The champion team's greed is also Pat. Riley came up with a very real theory.

A game, a series, or even a season may not reflect the impact of engagement on a player's enthusiasm and motivation.

But what about two seasons? What about founding a dynasty? When you're still sitting in the corner in the third or fourth season and shooting open three-pointers, combined with the inertia of the championship team "I've been to the top of the mountain", can you still maintain the concentration you had when you first hit the championship, and still feel that it's fun, exciting, and honorable to see the same face every day and play 82 games?

After a team wins a championship one year, all the players want more time, more money, higher status, or more shots the following year.

They're like, "I'm already a champion player, I should have some privileges of my own, instead of doing pick-and-rolls and open threes every day and giving the spotlight to somebody else."

He will want to take charge of himself and create his own championship era.

He'll think he's won enough championships, maybe he should continue his career in a different way.

Everyone has their own thoughts and desires, and this is the greed of the championship team, a phenomenon that happens to every championship team and is unavoidable.

Pat. Riley had seen and theorized about this phenomenon many years ago, and he knew that the players in this league were not just strings of data, but living people.

You can't get everybody's mind on the same page, just like Iguodala doesn't like the role of the star of the house, but some people are obsessed with it.

Many years ago, defender Gary Murphy, who was discovered by Popovich and single-handedly cultivated. Neil said when he left the Spurs, "The Spurs are a great team, but no matter how many championships and wins you have there, you will never be the protagonist." The main characters are Parker, Ginobili, Duncan, and no one will remember you at all. ”

Therefore, Gary. Neil chose to leave.

Therefore, it is not that if a team wins all the time and wins the championship all the time, everyone will stay for the rest of their lives.

Not to mention these role players, superstars like James, Garnett, Paul and other superstars have never made it to the old team.

And those players who have been on the first team for the rest of the year are not necessarily as glamorous as they seem.

Don't look at it now, Duncan has become an icon of the Spurs, but at the beginning of the millennium, he was also infinitely close to the Orlando Magic.

Don't look at Kobe Bryant is now the totem of the Lakers, but he used to be noisy to play in Chicago. If it weren't for the Lakers bringing in Gasol, God knows if Kobe Bryant would still be wearing a purple and gold jersey.

At first, Link actually had some difficulty accepting that Butler was leaving.

But when he went back and thought about it the next day, Link was relieved.

Not only did he accept that Butler wanted to leave, but he was also mentally prepared for more people to leave.

This summer is a wonderful summer. But inevitably, it will be a summer of parting.

"What's wrong? You've been wandering since you came back from dinner with Jimmy yesterday. Rachel, who was lying in Link's arms watching TV, touched his face, and Link came back to his senses.

"Nothing, thinking about our travel route, hehe." Link smiled, he didn't want to take his work troubles onto Rachel.

"Pretty good, go take a shower, the water should be hot."

"It's still early, it's only eleven o'clock."

"You have to rest early today, did you forget, are you going to go to the rookie tryout tomorrow?"

"Oh, yes." Link patted his head, tomorrow is the day when this year's rookie players go to the Federal Express Arena for tryouts.

Naturally, Link will be there to get the Grizzlies to bring back some useful people for the team.

Since the Grizzlies have always been a championship team, there aren't any high-pick picks. And the low-pick draft is very much in need of Link's experience from the future.

Speaking of which, time flies. I don't know how Jokic and Dinwiddie, who were drafted last year, have grown up a year later.

One of them is in Europe, the other is in the development league, and before they have yet to make their mark in the Grizzlies, it's time to make another choice.

Link got up to head to the bathroom, but barely a few steps before he turned back to look at Rachel, "Aren't you along?" ”

Rachel smiled and turned off the TV and got up from the couch.

"Okay then."

※※※

When Link arrived at the Federal Express Arena the next day, he found that there were many fans gathered outside the arena.

They are all rushing Jimmy. Butler came.

This morning, Butler officially announced that he will not immediately renew his contract and will test the waters of the free agent market.

There is no doubt that this is a depth charge for the free agent market as a whole.

Butler may not be the star of the Grizzlies, but he has undoubtedly made a difference. Everyone believes that there will be a lot of teams vying for a big contract for Butler.

So early this morning, some fans gathered at the entrance of the stadium. Some of them held signs that read "Stay, Jimmy" and some held signs that read ", traitor."

It seems that fans have very different opinions about Butler's departure.

Link shook his head, parting was unpleasant for all but had to be experienced.

Soon, Link made his way through the players' tunnel to the training hall. Like last year, the rookies on the pitch are already warming up.

Seeing the arrival of "His Majesty the King" in Memphis, the rookie players instantly became serious.

"Good morning, Link." When Jogger saw Link, he waved at him, "What's wrong with you?" Dark circles are so heavy. ”

"Uh...... I slept a little late yesterday, hehe. Link scratched his head in embarrassment.

He even suspected that Rachel urging herself to take a shower was a trap from the start......

"Pay attention to rest, how are you recovering from your injuries?"

"I'm almost recovering, as long as I don't exercise vigorously, I basically don't feel any pain. By the way, Jimmy's ......"

"Jimmy had already spoken to management, and he insisted on leaving, claiming not to be in it for the money. I think the loss of Jimmy is already irreparable. Besides, we don't have an advantage in the price of the contract. I've heard that a lot of teams are ready to sign Jimmy for close to 100 million in five years. We can't open this number at all. Because this summer, we have to renew Mark's contract. With Conley signing Conley next summer and we don't have much room to maneuver. ”

"Hmm...... No way, this is the NBA. Link shook his head, not continuing to lament too much.

"But I have worse news than Jimmy." Joggle looked at Link with a serious face.

"Worse news?"

"I've heard that Kevin. There's a good chance Durant will want to jump out of the final year of his contract and enter the free agent market. And, the Golden State Warriors will be his No. 1 transfer target. ”

"Watts!?"

Link was completely dumbfounded, Durant left the Thunder a full year earlier than in the original history!

The face of history has changed beyond recognition.