Twitter was buzzing.
First up was Dwight Howard kept up his rant even on his summer trip to Japan—an indirect way of telling the Magic front office that he wanted out.
But Superman didn't get his wish. The Magic still hadn't found a suitable trade partner, and the Orlando media roasted him for it—calling him a coward and a clown.
Then came the second bombshell—Steve Nash announced he wouldn't be renewing his contract with the Suns. According to Woj, the two-time MVP was likely to join the Lakers on a veteran minimum deal.
Lin Yi knew right away that this was the butterfly effect caused by the flap of his own little wings.
Moments later, he was already sparring with Kobe on Twitter.
@Lin Yi: @SteveNash Don't listen to Kobe. I'm his fan—I know him too well. There's no hope for the Lakers. Come to New York!
@KobeBryant: @SteveNash Don't believe Lin. I've got five rings; he's got one. Experience matters. The Knicks are still learning how to win.
Mike D'Antoni saw the exchange and couldn't help but ask, "Lin, why are you stirring things up? We don't even need Nash."
Lin shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Exactly, Coach. I'm making trouble."
Because he knew—the real headline that day wasn't Nash. It was the Knicks.
The league had finally approved the blockbuster deal between the Knicks and the Hornets.
Knicks receive: Chris Paul.
Hornets receive: Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams, 2013 Atlanta Hawks first-round pick.
Lin Yi remembered that when the Clippers traded for Paul in the original timeline, their offer wasn't that impressive either. The Lakers' deal, meanwhile, had been vetoed by Stern for basketball reasons. Their salary situation was just too messy.
But the Knicks' offer?
Different story.
They were giving up their championship team's second option and Sixth Man of the Year. Gallinari was young, skilled, and marketable; Lou Williams had already proven his worth off the bench. Both had reasonable contracts—ideal for a Hornets rebuild.
Better yet, the Knicks still had plenty of cap space to absorb Paul's deal without breaking a sweat.
So when the trustees running the Hornets reviewed the offer, there wasn't much to debate. Even Stern was pleased.
After all, he didn't want a superstar like Paul wasting away in limbo. The Knicks' offer was strong and sincere. And the idea of pairing Lin Yi with Paul? That was box-office gold.
Gallinari wanted a bigger role anyway, and Lou Williams had ambitions of becoming an All-Star. The trade worked for everyone.
By the end of the day, the deal dominated every sports headline.
Chris Paul was officially a Knick.
Chinese fans were ecstatic.
The birth of the new duo was all over social media.
Paul sent heartfelt farewell messages to Hornets teammates and staff. New Orleans fans were sad but understanding. It was time for him to chase a new chapter.
Public opinion exploded the moment the trade went through.
Lin Yi's teasing tweets had been nothing more than a distraction, of course. He'd known the trade was coming.
But the buzz wasn't just about the Knicks' new super-duo—it was about whether they could actually coexist. After all, Paul was known for dominating the ball, while Lin Yi had already proven he could win a title as the team's lone centerpiece.
Pressure naturally shifted to Paul. Despite his reputation as the league's best point guard, he'd never even reached the Western Conference Finals.
Deron Williams fans had a field day.
"Guess Paul came to the East just to lose to Deron again," one joked.
Now the two would face off regularly—Nets vs. Knicks, Brooklyn vs. Manhattan.
On paper, the Knicks' roster was almost complete. But Lin Yi knew defending a title was far tougher than winning one. A shortened season, new chemistry, and the weight of expectations…
...
Not long after Chris Paul joined the Knicks, Steve Nash finally made his move.
With Paul, Billups, and Livingston already handling the backcourt duties in New York, the Knicks clearly didn't need another point guard. For Nash, the Lakers were the logical choice.
Some things in basketball just feel inevitable. It was as if fate itself was determined to bring Kobe and Nash together. The only question now was—could last season's assist king still average more than seven a game in this new chapter?
Kobe was thrilled about the move. Still, he couldn't help thinking that if the Lakers could somehow offload Bynum, that would be the real upgrade.
After all, the guy had ballooned during the lockout.
Bynum's off-season was pure chaos—parties, travel, eating, and drinking like a man with no season ahead of him. The only surprise was that he hadn't called Odom to learn the art of partying for three straight days without collapsing.
Meanwhile, Yi Jianlian signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Wizards, keeping his NBA dream alive. With the salary cap set to spike soon, Yi might just play himself into an eight-figure contract in the coming years.
Across the league, front offices were scrambling. With so little time to operate before the season, negotiations had become brutally direct. You could almost hear general managers saying, "Cut the small talk—what do you want? We're running out of time."
…
With Paul now officially a Knick, Motiejūnas flew into New York, and the entire roster finally assembled for the new season.
The Knicks' lineup looked stacked:
Centers — Tyson Chandler and Hassan Whiteside.
Power Forwards — Markieff Morris, Shane Battier, and Donatas Motiejūnas.
Small Forwards — Lin Yi, Wilson Chandler, and Chandler Parsons.
Shooting Guards — Danny Green, Tony Allen, and Klay Thompson.
Point Guards — Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, and Shaun Livingston.
Fourteen players in total—a roster that looked ready for war.
Wilson Chandler signed a 4-year, $18 million deal.
Tyson Chandler got 4 years, $56 million.
Battier extended for 2 years and $6 million, and Danny Green re-signed for 4 years, $23 million.
Altogether, the Knicks' payroll hit $68 million—over the $58 million cap, but still under the luxury tax threshold of about $70 million.
Once Billups' $10 million deal expires next year, the Knicks would gain even more flexibility. Lin Yi's contract renewal—thanks to the Lin Yi & Rose Rule—wouldn't even count toward the cap until the 2013–14 season.
Again, for the second season running, James Dolan wasn't overspending. He almost missed the old days when paying luxury tax felt like a badge of honor.
But Lin Yi wasn't about to help Dolan save money. With one roster spot left, he felt it was time to bring in a veteran hungry for a ring.
So after the first team training session on the 29th, he pulled out his phone and tweeted:
"Looking for like-minded players who want to win a championship. Knicks championship squad—training personally with Shaq himself! Come join us!"
Somewhere in a TNT studio, O'Neal nearly spat out his drink. He'd been bragging to Barkley all week about his five championship rings—and the fifth one he'd be receiving this season as part of the Lin's squad. But now Lin had gone and made him sound like an old prop in a recruiting joke.
Shaq quickly fired back on Twitter:
@Shaq: "Kid, you really do miss me. If you're struggling with the pressure, just say the word, and Big Old Diesel can come out of retirement. 💪💪👌"
To which Lin Yi instantly replied:
@LinYi: "Nah, with the weight you put on, you are more like a Big Mac, old man. 😂🤣✌️"
O'Neal stared at the screen, fuming.
Fine, he thought, if that's how it is, I'll save my revenge for the season. Once the games start, I'm roasting him and Kobe every night on TNT.
Thus began the birth of Shaquille 'I'm just a troll' O'Neal's broadcasting era.
Meanwhile, agents of several veteran players started calling the Knicks' front office, hoping for that final roster spot.
Among the names on the list, Lin Yi immediately recognized one that brought a smile to his face.
...
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