The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 113 - 100: There Needs to Be Something to Prove that the Cavaliers Shouldn’t Trade Me

Chapter 113: Chapter 100: There Needs to Be Something to Prove that the Cavaliers Shouldn’t Trade Me

After five and a half months, Su Wan returned to Cleveland. Time hadn’t been long, but he felt an unsettling sense of change.

As he got off the plane, he could still see the massive poster of LeBron James, that poster had been taken down twice over the years, and it had been...

years!

Suddenly, Su Wan had an idea, to try and push that timeline forward.

Of course, he knew it would be difficult. Asking the team to trade him was different from simply leaving when his contract expired, and it wouldn’t help LeBron’s potential return to play "hometown basketball".

Another factor was that LeBron’s team rarely asked for a trade during his contract periods.

They managed LeBron’s contracts carefully, especially after 2014, rarely signing for more than four years; usually, they were 1+1 contracts. Even in big cities like Los Angeles, a four-year contract was their limit; this was to maximize their leverage.

No matter how difficult the days were, they would stick it out until the contract ended.

But no matter how hard it was, Su Wan wanted to try.

LeBron James’ poster was as prominent as ever, yet the city no longer displayed any posters of Su Wan, as if he had never played there.

"Su, is there anything fun to do in Cleveland?"

Little O’Neal visited Cleveland once or twice every year, but his total visits didn’t add up to the two or three months Su Wan had lived there.

Su Wan told him, "The best place in Cleveland is Quicken Loans Arena tomorrow night!"

Listening to his meaningful words, Reggie Miller, who was next to Little O’Neal, chuckled.

Seeing the confident Su Wan, Miller thought back to his own self ten years ago; every time he went to New York, he aimed to accomplish something big.

He managed to do it a few times, so much so that New York fans still "loved" him deeply to this day.

Compared to Miller back then, Su’s temperament was much more aggressive, hence there were many cities "loving" him.

Not just one or two, but three...

Erin had arranged an interview with Su Wan, and she was in a pretty good mood today.

ESPN had just signed a new two-year contract with her worth one million, a decent deal for someone who had recently switched to covering basketball. She knew that getting the contract was due to her maintaining a good media relationship with Su Wan.

Thus, she specifically chose a local Cleveland restaurant to have dinner and talk with him.

Before the interview started, she asked with concern, "Su, have you solved your trouble?"

She was referring to his issues with the "Vampires."

Su Wan said, "Pretty much, I chose a middle-ground solution that worked well. They won’t be bothering me again." The brawl with the "Vampires" wasn’t a victory. He had more aggressive strategies, but that would have drawn out the conflict longer, and with the playoffs approaching, he didn’t want to be distracted.

Then they moved on to the official interview segment.

"Everyone knows the importance of tomorrow’s game for the Cavaliers. Since you were once a Cavaliers player, will you take it easy?"

"Only if LeBron personally calls me, then it’s no problem."

Su Wan was generous in his response.

Erin knew the reason, "LeBron won’t make that call."

"So I won’t take it easy!" Su Wan declared, "Before the season started, I said I would lead the Cavaliers to the playoffs..."

"Hmm?" Erin waited for him to continue.

"We need something to prove the Cavaliers shouldn’t have traded me. For example, the team that was supposed to reach the playoffs under my leadership, fails without me, even with the Chosen One, LeBron James!"

Erin smiled, "I think I’ve just booked the hottest topic for tomorrow."

"That’s what I can do for you, congratulations again Erin, you’re a great reporter!" Su Wan said as the interview ended, ready to leave.

Erin stopped him, her eyes turning seductive while her fingers restlessly moved over Su’s chest, "Su, what do you think I can do to thank you for your support?"

"You could... move aside!" Su Wan promptly brushed her aside and walked away without looking back, leaving Erin alone in the suite in disarray.

Back at the hotel, Su Wan received a text from Erin:

—Sorry if I offended you, Su. I can apologize, I’m really sorry, I was just, trying to solidify our working relationship.

Su Wan had seen "House of Cards" and read the original "Black Robe Patrol Team" comics, so he knew that intimate relations were a popular way to bind alliances among important people in the United States.

Deep interaction could foster closer relationships.

He wasn’t against such bindings.

But...

Only if he liked the model.

Erin was the typical type American men liked; "all woman," but not his type.

—It’s fine, Erin, I didn’t take it to heart, and you shouldn’t either. Let’s just forget about tonight; you’re not the only woman who wants me but can’t have me.

Seeing this reply, Erin, who had been anxious back at the hotel, breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Su Wan could still joke about it, she knew he really wasn’t bothered.

Still, she regretted being too rash tonight; perhaps with more careful preparation, or a bit more waiting, she might have successfully secured their bond.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢