2016 NBA Trade Deadline.
"It's over!" Charles Barkley shouted from the commentary booth, rising to his feet with both hands raised.
The arena was already shaking from the deafening roar of the crowd.
The three most difficult dunks in history?
The double-ball dunk.
The 720 spin.
And now?
The free-throw line 360.
Zach LaVine stood and joined in the applause for Han Sen.
He knew the truth—if he had managed to pull off a free-throw line 360 in the tiebreaker, the trophy would be his.
But Han did it first. And LaVine knew it was over.
The judges wasted no time.
50 points.
Five dunks. Five perfect scores.
Han Sen was officially the champion of the greatest Dunk Contest ever.
And with this victory, he became the first player in NBA history to win both the Three-Point Contest and Dunk Contest in the same All-Star Weekend.
Had anyone ever won both contests before—even in different years?
Still no.
And LeBron James?
Once again, overshadowed by Han Sen—crushed, without even putting up a fight.
But unlike a regular game, LeBron couldn't just walk off early. He had to stay and watch the celebration unfold.
Han stepped up to the mic as the arena buzzed with energy.
He started by acknowledging all the participants—including LeBron.
"Without him," Han smirked, "it just wouldn't have been the same."
He turned to Aaron Gordon, offering words of encouragement.
"You put on a show, man. I hope to see you take this crown one day."
Then, he saved his biggest praise for Zach LaVine.
"This battle with LaVine? That's what made tonight unforgettable."
As Han finished, Nikola Jokić, grinning, handed him the Three-Point Contest trophy as well.
Now, Han stood at center court, a trophy in each hand.
One for the Three-Point Contest.
One for the Dunk Contest.
The cameras flashed.
A moment forever etched in basketball history.
That night, the All-Star buzz reached new heights.
Han's performances in both contests had not only rewritten history but had also pushed All-Star Weekend to record-breaking viewership levels.
And with all eyes now locked onto the final event—the All-Star Game itself—anticipation had never been higher.
---
In the All-Star Game, Han stayed true to his word from Media Day.
He didn't play along with the narrative of giving Kobe Bryant a farewell MVP.
Despite Stephen Curry's constant passes to Kobe, the Lakers legend wasn't forcing his shots.
Kobe did exactly what he said he would—he enjoyed the game without chasing stats.
On the other hand, LeBron James showed everyone why he's been labeled with one phrase throughout his career:
"Say one thing, do another."
LeBron played like a man possessed, dropping 38 points in an all-out push for MVP.
But it wasn't enough. The Western Conference lost.
Han Sen dropped 31 points and secured his second All-Star Game MVP trophy.
At the final buzzer, Kobe walked over, a knowing smile on his face as he extended his hand.
"Man, you really weren't gonna let me have this, huh?" Kobe chuckled.
Han shook his head, smirking. "Wouldn't have felt right. You don't need a scripted farewell, Kobe. You've written your own legacy."
Kobe nodded, his grin widening. He pulled Han into a hug, patting him on the back.
"Respect," Kobe said simply. "You did it the right way."
Privately, Kobe was grateful. Without Han, LeBron and the others would've boxed him into chasing an MVP he didn't want. But because of Han, he got to enjoy the game on his terms.
---
After the All-Star Weekend, Han kept his promise and gave the $50,000 Dunk Contest prize to Nikola Jokić.
Jokić's first move back in Cleveland? Upgrading to a bigger apartment.
Living up to his mantra: "Nobody enjoys life more than me."
With the All-Star break behind them, the first half of the season officially came to a close.
Next up?
The trade deadline.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were active in the market.
Their rotation was mostly set, but they were looking to address one key weakness:
They needed a tough, defensive-minded center to anchor their interior.
True centers were becoming rare in the league, but there were still a few options.
One notable target?
Dwight Howard.
The Brooklyn Nets were struggling, sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference. If the Cavs faced them in the first round, Howard would be a matchup nightmare for both Jokić and Kevin Garnett.
He wasn't guaranteed to crack the Cavs' rotation, but having a defensive big man as insurance could prove invaluable.
As for Spencer Hawes? He had already fallen out of the rotation. His departure was inevitable.
However, due to the upcoming salary cap spike, teams were cautious in making moves. Most expected the trade deadline to be quieter than usual.
---
As expected, a few minor trades trickled in.
The Cavaliers struck a deal with the Orlando Magic, sending Tayshaun Prince and a future second-round pick in exchange for Dewayne Dedmon.
Dedmon, an undrafted player from the 2013 NBA Draft, had bounced around the league, spending time with the Warriors and 76ers before finding a role in Orlando.
Standing at 6'11" (2.11m) with a 7'4" (2.24m) wingspan, Dedmon lacked offensive polish but was a solid rim protector and shot-blocker. This season, serving as Brook Lopez's backup, he averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Most teams made similarly minor moves.
But just when it seemed like the trade deadline would end quietly, a last-minute blockbuster shook the league to its core.
---
Three-Team Trade: Nets, Celtics, Hawks
Boston Celtics received: Al Horford (6'10" / 2.08m, 7'1" / 2.16m wingspan)
Atlanta Hawks received: Dwight Howard (6'10" / 2.08m, 7'5" / 2.26m wingspan), Future first-round pick
Brooklyn Nets received: Amir Johnson (6'9" / 2.06m, 7'1" / 2.16m wingspan), Jared Sullinger (6'9" / 2.06m, 7'1" / 2.16m wingspan), Two future first-round picks
Shortly after the trade was finalized, reports surfaced that the Nets were negotiating buyouts with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.
This series of moves signaled a major shift for the Nets—they were officially entering a rebuild.
When Mikhail Prokhorov took over the Nets in 2010, he promised to build a dynasty. He moved the team to Brooklyn, spent recklessly, and sold the dream of a powerhouse franchise.
But after years of burning through millions, the result? Not a single Conference Finals appearance.
And now?
They were barely clinging to playoff hopes.
Prokhorov had just proven a hard truth about the NBA—spending money doesn't guarantee success.
---
Why Did the Hawks Trade for Dwight Howard?
Al Horford had a player option for the upcoming summer, and most expected him to decline it in search of a long-term max contract.
Still haunted by last year's playoff sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers, the Hawks' front office hesitated to commit a max contract to Horford.
Rather than risk losing him for nothing, they pivoted.
Bringing Dwight Howard home to Atlanta gave them a defensive anchor and a marketable superstar.
---
For the Celtics? It Was Highway Robbery.
In exchange for two role players and a future pick, they landed Al Horford.
Pairing Horford with Isaiah Thomas (All-Star) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Rookie of the Year frontrunner), along with a deep supporting cast, made the Celtics legitimate contenders overnight.
As Danny Ainge had promised, Boston's rebuild was complete in just one season.
---
Winners and Losers of the Trade Deadline
Biggest Winner: Boston Celtics.
Biggest Loser: Houston Rockets.
The Rockets stood pat, despite Chris Bosh being ruled out for the season due to blood clot complications.
Bosh had now suffered back-to-back seasons cut short by the same condition. Even worse? The Rockets had signed him to a five-year max contract in 2014, and only two years had been completed.
When GM Daryl Morey first orchestrated the trade for Bosh, Rockets fans hailed him as a genius.
Now?
The same fans were calling for his ouster.
Adding to the Rockets' woes, James Harden was struggling, and Houston had slipped from a top-four seed in the West.
The once-feared three-team war between the Warriors, Spurs, and Rockets had now collapsed.
Instead?
The West was once again a three-way race between the Lakers, Warriors, and Spurs.
---
Before the Cavaliers' first game after the All-Star break, Han Sen met Dewayne Dedmon for the first time.
Han had very little impression of Dedmon—not just in reality, but even in 'history'. His only memory of him came from 2K Online, where Dedmon was labeled as a 'refugee center' by players.
(TL/n: 2K Online was an online basketball game developed by 2K Sports and Tencent, specifically for the Chinese market.)
Still, based on that limited impression, Han thought Dedmon might be a solid fit for the Cavaliers. He wasn't just a defensive big—he could also knock down three-pointers, making him a rare 3-and-D center.
Of course, he wasn't as versatile as perimeter 3-and-D players, but for a center, that skill set was incredibly rare.
At least, that's what Han believed.
Until he stepped onto the practice court.
Within minutes, Han realized something wasn't right.
Dedmon didn't shoot threes. At all.
For a second, Han wondered if his memory was playing tricks on him. Had he mistaken Dedmon for someone else? Maybe he had the wrong player entirely? After all, plenty of guys in the NBA shared the same last name.
But after thinking it through, that didn't seem possible. Sure, there were a lot of players named James, but only one LeBron James.
That left only one logical explanation—Dedmon didn't have a three-point shot now but would develop one later.
It made sense.
As the NBA shifted toward small-ball lineups, many traditional bigs had no choice but to expand their range just to survive.
The best example? Brook Lopez.
In his first eight seasons, Lopez attempted a grand total of three three-pointers.
Over the next six seasons? He shot 649 of them—and at a respectable percentage.
Of course, shooting wasn't something any big could just develop.
No matter how much Dwight Howard worked on his jumper, he was never going to become a legitimate floor spacer.
Shooting was a talent.
But if a big-bodied, rim-protecting center like Dedmon could one day stretch the floor, that would be a fascinating evolution to watch.
For now, though?
That wasn't the Cavaliers' concern.
They acquired Dedmon for one reason only—to provide a defensive presence in the paint.
---
The Trade's Biggest Impact? Nikola Jokić.
Dedmon's arrival didn't shake up the Cavaliers' roster too much—except for one key change:
Jokić was back in the starting lineup.
With Dedmon in place as insurance, head coach Michael Malone could afford to give Jokić more freedom to develop.
It was a low-risk, high-reward move.
If Jokić struggled with foul trouble, Dedmon was there to hold down the paint.
But if the Cavaliers wanted to reach another level, they needed Jokić to take that next step.
They weren't under the same pressure to chase wins like last season, so this was the perfect time to experiment and develop their young core.
---
March 1st: Cavaliers Extend Their Win Streak to Five.
Jokić was still struggling with occasional foul trouble, but compared to the start of the season, he had already improved significantly.
Part of that was due to his strong adaptability, but the real difference?
Repetition. Experience. Learning through mistakes.
Like Kyrie Irving before him, the Cavaliers were giving Jokić the freedom to grow, knowing that the only way to improve was through trial and error.
If LeBron were still in Cleveland?
Jokić might have already been traded away.
---
March 1st: The Buyout Market Heats Up.
With the Nets officially entering a rebuild, the biggest names in the buyout market were Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.
Deron agreed to a buyout with Brooklyn and weighed offers from Dallas and Los Angeles before choosing the Lakers.
Once considered one of the best point guards in the league, Deron had suffered a steady decline due to knee injuries.
This season, he was still averaging 13 points and 6.6 assists, but his efficiency had plummeted—his shooting percentage had dipped to 38.7%.
Still, a declining Deron Williams was better than most backup guards, and his experience made him valuable to any contender.
So why did he choose the Lakers?
Simple.
They were desperate for a point guard and could offer him a starting role.
With Kobe, LeBron, Love, and Mozgov, the Lakers had firepower—but lacked a true floor general.
With Deron in the mix, the Lakers' starting five now looked like this:
Deron Williams | Kobe Bryant | LeBron James | Kevin Love | Timofey Mozgov
Just seeing those names together?
Fans could hardly believe it.
Meanwhile, Joe Johnson, after securing his buyout, signed with the Miami Heat.
The key reason? Pat Riley.
Reports revealed that Riley and Johnson had a lengthy conversation—over an hour long—before Riley convinced him that joining the Heat was his best shot at reviving his career.
More importantly, Riley promised Johnson a key role off the bench as Miami's sixth man.
Riley's ability to sell a vision was legendary.
He convinced Wade to take a pay cut.
He convinced LeBron to come to Miami in 2010.
And now?
He convinced Joe Johnson to embrace a bench role.
If nothing else, Riley's persuasive skills were top-tier.
---
Cleveland's Rivals Got Stronger.
Between Miami and Los Angeles, the Cavaliers' competitors all made moves.
But Han Sen?
He wasn't worried.
Because both the Lakers and Heat were in their last-ditch effort mode.
This was their final push.
---
March 2nd: Cavaliers vs. Lakers – Final Regular-Season Matchup
The Lakers traveled to Cleveland for their second and final game against the Cavaliers.
Newly signed Deron Williams didn't make the trip, still finalizing his transition to the team.
Before tip-off, the Cavaliers honored Kobe Bryant with a tribute video.
Unless the Lakers made the NBA Finals, this would be Kobe's last-ever game in Cleveland.
Like their first meeting, the game was a hard-fought battle.
But this time?
Kobe came out firing.
He had no interest in chasing All-Star Game MVPs, but against Han Sen, he had something to prove.
LeBron James? A much quieter night.
In the end, the Cavaliers walked away with the win.
Lakers fans weren't ready to concede.
"Just wait until Deron suits up. Then we'll take you down."
One problem.
The regular-season series was already over.
If the Lakers wanted another shot at Han Sen's Cavaliers, there was only one way.
The NBA Finals.
But could they even make it that far?
(End of Chapter)