Chapter 298: Carter Joins the Suns

Carter genuinely wanted to join the Suns.

He had been in the league for over a decade and wasn't sure how much longer he could play. Few players from his draft class were still active.

At his age, he was a bench player for the Mavericks, and all he thought about was winning a championship.

He didn't want to retire without a championship, and he didn't want to be known as an 'Uncrowned King.' With no MVP, scoring title, All-NBA selection, or All-Defensive selection, calling him an 'Uncrowned King' would be a stretch.

"If I have the chance, I'd love to play with you," Carter emphasized again, indicating his determination.

"Thank you," Dong said. "I grew up watching your game... It would be a joy to play alongside you."

"You watched my game?" Carter glanced at himself and waved his hand. "You're too kind. I can't even dunk better than you!"

Iverson raised his glass, "Haha... It's all about fate in this league. Let's drink."

"Cheers, cheers."

The three of them continued drinking without further discussion.

After the drinks, someone picked up Dong and took him to a hotel. During the off-season, Dong always had an assistant with him for convenience and safety.

Unfortunately, Dong's assistant wasn't a beautiful woman but a forty-year-old man with a slight limp, named Feng Yuxiu.

According to rumors, Feng Yuxiu was a skilled fighter, and he accompanied Dong for safety reasons, as the M Country could be chaotic.

...

At the hotel, Dong took a shower and made a three-way call with Spoelstra and Tian Zhen. He wanted to discuss Carter's potential joining the Suns, as Carter himself had expressed interest.

After confirming Carter's intention, the players had to report back to their teams, as the new season was about to begin.

Dong casually mentioned that he had dinner with Carter, who wanted to join the Suns. Spoelstra said, "I don't think we need to trade for Carter."

Last season, Carter played as a backup for the Mavericks, averaging 24 minutes per game and scoring 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He didn't even have many dunks throughout the season.

The Suns already had enough scorers, and if they wanted to strengthen their team, trading for Howard would be a better option. However, the Suns didn't have the assets they were willing to give up to acquire Howard.

"What do you think, Tian Zhen?" Dong asked.

"We can trade Middleton for Carter," Tian Zhen replied after some thought. Middleton and Carter played the same position, and bringing in Carter as a backup would be a good move, adding experience to the bench.

"That's a dangerous idea, Tian Zhen," Spoelstra said. "If it were peak Carter, two Middletons wouldn't be enough. But for an aging veteran and a promising young player, anyone with eyes can see which one should stay on the team."

"I dare say that if you propose this trade to the Mavericks, they'll agree immediately, and Cuban will even give you a big red envelope." Spoelstra joked.

"I'm just doing it for sentimentality. Carter is my idol," Tian Zhen said softly.

Spoelstra had high emotional intelligence and didn't ridicule Tian Zhen. He understood that Dong had initiated the three-way call to facilitate this trade.

Many players on the Suns were considered untouchable, including Dong, Durant, Curry, and others who excelled in their respective positions. The team's chemistry was crucial, and they didn't want to disrupt it. If they were to trade for Carter, Middleton would be the most suitable option.

After Spoelstra and Tian Zhen finished speaking, Dong said, "Let's do it as Coach Spo suggested. Tian Zhen, contact the Mavericks and try to finalize this trade before the start of the new season."

"If this trade goes through, Coach Spo, you'll need to talk to Middleton."

"OK."

Spoelstra agreed, "Nowitzki is also getting older, and the Mavericks need scorers. Middleton's arrival will be good for their development."

...

The off-season seemed both long and short.

Dong had a busy off-season, not only enjoying rafting but also managing the Dong Group and finding time to win two world championships in sprinting while dominating Rucker Park.

Shattering the backboard at Rucker Park made Dong a legend in the M Country's streetball scene.

The last trade news before the start of the season was the Mavericks trading Carter and a 2018 first-round pick to the Suns for Middleton.

The Suns' 12-man roster was set:

Wade Dong, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Marcin Gortat, Tracy McGrady, P.J. Tucker, Vince Carter, Hassan Whiteside, Channing Frye, and Luke Walton.

McGrady and Carter, the two cousins, reunited on the same team once again.

In early October, the preseason began.

All players reported to the team, and Dong played an average of 12 minutes per game in the first and third quarters.

Even with Dong's limited playing time, the Suns still achieved a perfect 10-0 preseason record.

Before the start of the regular season, a well-known M Country media outlet released its ranking of the top ten players:

No.1: Wade Dong!

No.2: LeBron James!

No.3: Kevin Durant!

No.4: Chris Paul!

No.5: Kobe Bryant!

No.6: Carmelo Anthony!

No.7: Derrick Rose!

No.8: Russell Westbrook!

No.9: James Harden!

No.10: Dwight Howard!

The following players included Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, Paul George, Huang Yu, Dirk Nowitzki, DeMarcus Cousins, Pau Gasol, and others...

No media outlet dared to rank Dong outside the top ten, and he was unanimously considered the number one player going into the new season. However, these preseason predictions weren't always accurate, as the NBA was full of surprises. Injuries, declining performance, and other factors could significantly impact a player's abilities.

The top ten players reflected the craziness of the upcoming NBA season.

Eight of the top ten players were from the Suns, Heat, and Lakers, and several more players from these three teams were ranked between 11 and 20.

Therefore, the top three championship contenders were predicted to be:

No.1: The Suns!

No.2: The Heat!

No.3: The Lakers!