Chapter 1177: Chapter 374: The Champion’s Curse, The Champion’s Price
Roger nodded: "Just don’t let the locker room fall apart."
The next day, news about Allan Houston being put on the trading block spread throughout the Bay Area.
In the locker room, Allan Houston picked up the newspaper and shouted in disbelief, "So now I’m the team’s problem and trouble?"
No one spoke, except Roger: "I think so."
Allan Houston’s heart sank halfway. If Roger answered this question, it meant that his departure was already an irreversible fact.
The Divine Hand no longer needed him.
"Just because I didn’t make that damn jumper at the critical moment?" Allan Houston’s voice weakened significantly.
"You and I both know it has nothing to do with whether the ball went in or not. Good luck, Allan."
For the first time, Roger coldly and ruthlessly initiated a trade for his teammate.
Roger certainly had experienced teammate transfers before, but this was the first trade he led.
But Roger wasn’t new to this feeling; back in the day, when he broke up with Shaq, he felt the same pain.
Not even a breakup with a girlfriend had ever pained Roger as much.
But there was no other way; every dynasty is built with blood.
Many years ago, he already knew, this was both the curse of the championship and the cost of the championship. Only those who get through it all can get what they wish for.
Now, this still hasn’t changed.
A woman needs a great figure to be truly attractive, and a championship needs harsh choices to be eternal.
Allan Houston walked up to Roger, tore his name off the locker, and threw it on the floor.
The locker next to Roger meant something unspoken, and Allan Houston once thought he could become a Divine Hand like Scottie Pippen or Paul Pierce.
But now, it was all over.
Roger no longer needed him as the right-hand man; for him, his dynasty story ended here.
In the next few games, Allan Houston continued to play as usual. He needed to prove to the entire league that he could still play.
Other teams’ offers came one after another, but as Bob Bass predicted, the chips weren’t rich.
The Memphis Grizzlies were willing to give up Bonzi Wells and White Chocolate for Allan Houston, but these two were troublemakers among troublemakers.
Roger didn’t want White Chocolate to bring a wave of collective weed smoking in the locker room.
The Sacramento Kings were willing to offer Peja + Brad Miller, as they faced the same problem; they could only keep either Webber or Peja.
But Peja’s poor defense made Roger uneasy; with his level of defense, he certainly wouldn’t be a starter. And God knows what tricks Peja might pull if he came to the Warriors and had to play off the bench.
So, Roger also refused this trade.
During this time, the team played a few more games, and Allan Houston had completely drifted out of the system, becoming a complete negative asset. If not dealt with quickly, he would slowly infect the Warriors like a virus.
Eventually, Roger proposed an idea: If we can’t get immediate effective power, let’s ask other teams to add draft picks.
The Portland Trail Blazers responded to this idea.
The Trail Blazers, never short of money, were eager for results, but the team’s current lineup was quite unbalanced.
Mighty Mouse Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel’s positions overlapped with each other.
They needed a proper second position player to pair with Zach Randolph and Sheriff Abdul-Rahim to push for the playoffs.
So, the Trail Blazers offered Nick Van Exel + Derek Anderson and a 2006 first-round draft pick.
Nick Van Exel and Derek Anderson’s trade value were mediocre, and the Warriors had almost no room for them. What the team really valued was that 2006 first-round draft pick.
According to Roger and Bob Bass’s judgment, the Trail Blazers wouldn’t transform because of acquiring Allan Houston, and the draft pick’s order in 2006 shouldn’t be too low.
Of course, to offset some of the overdraft to the future, the Trail Blazers required the newly drafted Trevor Ariza from the Warriors to be included in the deal alongside Allan Houston.
Trail Blazers’ general manager John Nash trusted the Warriors’ vision and believed that this tall, long-armed small forward could become the next Tayshaun Prince, adding a bit of security to the Trail Blazers’ future.
And so, the trade was agreed upon.
After 11 games into the season, the Warriors traded away last season’s starting second position.
Allan Houston left without saying goodbye to Roger.
He would say that he doesn’t blame Roger for doing so.
But he also didn’t want to make things too awkward with Roger, after all, that man helped him earn a Championship Ring.
All he could say was that he and Roger had no more ties from here on out.
Therefore, leaving silently was the best choice.
At the press conference introducing the new players, reporters asked Erik Spoelstra: "How will you arrange Nick and Derek’s positions?"
Meaning, who would replace Allan Houston as the backup second position.
"We’ll have to see based on the specific situation." Spoelstra gave a perfunctory answer.
Because in his and Roger’s plan, Nick Van Exel and Derek Anderson weren’t the best choices.
They decided to let newly signed Matt Barnes try to enter the regular rotation.
Since this season is called the Golden State Gangsters, they have to bring in some tough guys into the rotation.
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For the Warriors, this is an A+ level trade. Although Nick’s current average score per game barely hits double digits, he is still a chaos master and doesn’t mind being a backup. He can provide a lot of help when the team needs firepower. For the Trail Blazers, this trade can only be rated a C; I think the Trail Blazers underestimated the value of their 2006 first-round draft pick. What else can I say? Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen’s money is being wasted; this team is being managed worse and worse. — "Hoop."
Just 11 games in, the Warriors already made changes, which represents Roger and the team’s management being extremely clear-minded, knowing what the team wants. — "Oakland Star."
I have nothing to say. I won’t wish Roger good luck, but I also won’t curse him. — Allan Houston speaking about Roger.
Can this mediocre trade really guarantee the Golden State Warriors a win over the New York Knicks? I don’t think so; the Warriors’ paper strength has been weakened. Roger can’t establish a dynasty everywhere; that’s too unrealistic. — "The New York Times."
Hopefully, this trade will let the Warriors get back on track; we’ve lost 3 of the 11 games, and currently, the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers’ records are ahead of ours. — "San Francisco Chronicle."
This has nothing to do with talent; if you understand the secrets of basketball enough, you know the Warriors are doing the right thing. The team with the strongest paper lineup is not always the ultimate champion; this is a proven truth over countless times. Roger knows the truth of these secrets and skillfully uses them. He will succeed, and I think I’ll see him again at next summer’s Championship ceremony. — Bill Russell in a short interview on ESPN talking about the Golden State Warriors’ prospects this season.