Bab 157: Toppling Dominoes.
The dismissal of Hollins was justified, as his performance in last season's playoffs had shown him to be both stubborn and incompetent.
Stubbornness alone isn't a dealbreaker; many renowned coaches have this flaw, as their previous success often makes it hard for them to adapt to changes in the game.
But incompetence—being thoroughly outmatched by coaches like Popovich and Carlisle—was deadly.
When a team sets its sights on a championship, it's almost inevitable that the coach will be let go. After all, in the NBA, coaches come much cheaper than players.
What surprised Han Sen was the timing.
If the front office had realized Hollins' flaws by the end of the playoffs, they should have dismissed him right afterward, allowing them time to find a replacement.
If they still wanted to evaluate him, the decision could have been delayed until the season had progressed a bit.
But with the lockout barely lifted and the season yet to start, firing him now felt like a case of "executing the general on the eve of battle."
Or… could it be that some big-name coach had already agreed to come on board with the Grizzlies? Phil Jackson? Jerry Sloan?
Either of these legendary coaches could return at any moment. Mike Brown and Larry Brown were also available.
But even those big names would need time to implement a new system, and with a shortened season, time was tight.
Since the Grizzlies hadn't announced a new head coach, Han Sen decided to chat with Damon about it.
After their talk, he realized the situation wasn't what he'd initially thought. Hollins' dismissal was tied not only to the playoffs but also to Conley's contract renewal.
Gasol's renewal had gone smoothly. Although Nowitzki dominated him in their matchup with the Mavericks, that version of Nowitzki was unstoppable against almost anyone.
Gasol had shone against the Thunder and the Spurs, drawing offers from teams like the Knicks and the Rockets.
A top-tier center, or one with top-tier potential, is highly valuable in this era.
And since Gasol was a restricted free agent ①, matching any offer was the Grizzlies' obvious move, resulting in a hefty four-year, $58 million deal.
The issue was Conley.
The Grizzlies only offered him a five-year, $40 million contract (with an additional $5 million in hard-to-achieve bonuses).
This was an obvious lowball offer, as Conley's performance last season justified a contract worth at least $10 million a year.
As for why Hollins was fighting for Conley, Han Sen had some insights from his conversations with him.
As the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft, Conley had initially started for the Grizzlies, but in his second year, Coach Marc Iavaroni replaced him with Lowry.
It was Hollins who reinstated him as a starter, so in a way, Hollins was Conley's mentor. It was unsurprising he wanted to secure a deal for him.
But Hollins failed to see his own precarious position with the front office, and now he had paid the price.
This reminded Han Sen of the lowball offer the Grizzlies had made to Gay. Could it be that this was their standard operating procedure?
It wouldn't be too surprising for a small-market team, especially with the new CBA imposing harsher luxury tax penalties, pushing owners to consider their finances more carefully.
But what does that have to do with the players?
The Grizzlies reached the Western Conference Finals last season, proving they could contend for a championship.
Even just on a merit basis, Conley should have received a generous offer. Players work hard to earn better contracts, after all.
Even from a team-building perspective, shouldn't they be willing to spend more to chase a title?
The Mavericks didn't have a star-studded lineup last season, but they still paid $19 million in luxury taxes.
Paying luxury tax doesn't guarantee a title, but trying to win it all while avoiding it is unrealistic—unless you luck out on rookie deals.
Let's not forget, Han Sen thought, that the Thunder sacrificed their title chances by refusing to pay Harden an extra $4 million, resulting in a barren trophy cabinet.
Han Sen decided to take his concerns to Wallace directly.
"We need Mike," Han Sen made his stance clear.
Conley, like Gasol, was on a rookie contract, and if another team offered a higher bid and the Grizzlies didn't match it, Conley would be gone.
This wasn't like when LeBron was trying to get Varejao a better deal; this was about whether Conley would stay with the team.
Conley may not have superstar potential due to his limited athleticism, but you couldn't find many steady, high-IQ point guards like him in the league.
The Grizzlies' limited cap space, with big contracts for Gay, Randolph, and Gasol, made it nearly impossible to sign a guard of Conley's caliber if he left.
Letting him go would weaken the team's strength and disrupt locker room stability.
Wallace didn't expect Han Sen to confront him so directly, though he understood the importance of keeping the core roster intact.
"We'll do our best to keep him," he assured.
From his response, Han Sen could tell this wasn't entirely Wallace's decision. This was likely coming from higher up in management—or rather, owner Michael Heisley.
Later that day, Han Sen received a call from Shaquille O'Neal.
Shaq had decided to retire.
Like Peja, he might have been able to maintain his conditioning if there hadn't been a lockout, but the layoff took its toll on him.
This was no surprise, as we'd seen with "Reign Man" Kemp, whose career essentially ended after the 1998 lockout.
Lockouts test players' discipline, and Shaq was never known for his discipline—especially after winning his fifth ring.
As for where he'd go post-retirement?
"I'm taking my talents to TNT, joining Barkley and Kenny Smith to form the ultimate Big Three," Shaq said over the phone.
Shaq had always held a bit of a grudge against LeBron for not winning that fifth ring in Cleveland, so while he'd already outshone LeBron last season by winning another title, we could expect a steady stream of jabs from him on the broadcast.
Shaq's retirement felt sudden, but it reminded Han Sen of the compressed free-agency market.
Cuban had said he'd "do it again" with the roster, but several months later, the situation was much different, especially with Nowitzki injured in a German national team game.
Would the Mavericks keep their championship roster?
While the answer was still up in the air, rumors about Chris Paul were swirling.
The Magic were trying to convince Howard to stay, but the Hornets were doing no such thing with Paul.
It wasn't an issue of trade value but rather the Hornets' ownership status.
With their owner, George Shinn, unable to manage the team due to cancer, the team was up for sale.
The league stepped in to manage the team temporarily, meaning that David Stern, not a dedicated owner, was overseeing operations.
Stern wouldn't play the part of a desperate owner pleading with Paul to stay. Paul's trade was inevitable; the only question was where he'd go.
Three trade rumors had already been shot down.
First was the Celtics' offer to trade Rajon Rondo for Paul. Stern had no reason to approve, as swapping Paul for Rondo would lower the Hornets' appeal.
Next was the Warriors' offer of Curry and the 11th pick, Klay Thompson, for Paul.
While better than the Celtics' proposal, Stern still rejected it; Curry's value wasn't yet on par with Paul's, and Klay was an unproven rookie.
Besides, Curry's injury concerns hurt his value.
By now, Stern's criteria were clear: the Hornets needed young talent and draft picks for a rebuild.
Lastly, the Clippers offered a package of young players led by Gordon and draft picks, which Stern also declined.
This left Han Sen puzzled.
While he couldn't remember every trade, he knew Paul had ended up with the Clippers.
But soon, news clarified the situation.
The Hornets had agreed to a three-team trade with the Lakers and Rockets.
Pau Gasol was to head to Houston, Chris Paul to the Lakers, and the Hornets would receive Lamar Odom, young players, and draft picks.
Han Sen remembered what came next: Stern's infamous veto for "basketball reasons."
As acting owner, Stern's decisions were subject to the other 29 owners, and if more than 18 opposed, he'd be forced to comply.
As expected, the Lakers and Hornets reached an agreement, but the trade was vetoed due to opposition from the owners.
So the Hornets turned back to the Clippers, whose offer was ultimately accepted.
By December 10, the free agency market was in full swing.
The Grizzlies finally matched the Knicks' offer, re-signing Conley to a five-year, $50 million deal (with a $5 million bonus).
Simultaneously, they re-signed Battier on a three-year, $12 million contract.
Although delayed, the Grizzlies managed to secure their core.
The Grizzlies didn't land a big-name coach—in fact, it seemed they hadn't intended to. They promoted Dave Joerger as head coach, with Damon as his lead assistant.
This decision was unsurprising for Han Sen; it was the most budget-friendly, least disruptive option for the team.
Around this time, Stern's "basketball reasons" hit the news.
Lakers fans—especially Kobe fans—protested strongly.
The Hornets' front office had already accepted the trade offer, only for Stern to veto it with a flimsy excuse.
This could have been Kobe's last real chance at a sixth title to surpass Jordan. A bit of thought would reveal that this decision was likely influenced by other team owners.
Analysts on social media pointed out a key point: Was a Kobe-Paul duo powerful? Certainly, but not enough to terrify other teams, given that the Lakers would be giving up Gasol and Odom in the trade.
The real issue was the free-agent market of 2012. Even if the Magic held onto Dwight Howard this season, Howard could become a free agent in 2012.
The Lakers, while over the cap, could use Andrew Bynum as trade bait to form a super-trio of Paul, Kobe, and Howard—a terrifying combination.
With three of the league's top five players, it would be even stronger than Miami's Big Three.
If Miami's Big Three already intimidated the league's other owners, then adding a super-trio on the Lakers would leave everyone else with little hope.
So, things seemed to be unfolding just as Han Sen expected.
But the next day, something unexpected happened.
Upon learning he was trade bait, Odom asked the Lakers for a trade, but at this point, the Mavericks didn't want him.
Though delayed, Cuban made his move, extending contracts for Barea and Delonte West, showing his determination to keep the team intact.
He also engaged in active negotiations with Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler.
And then, Kobe spoke out.
Kobe rarely involved himself in front-office decisions, with his only prior request for a trade to strengthen the roster coming in 2007.
Now, driven by Shaq's fifth ring, he made his second request.
The immediate result was that the Lakers upped their trade package, replacing Gasol with Bynum.
This change set off a domino effect, leading to a series of alterations.
Gasol, while valuable, was 31 and showing signs of decline. Bynum, at 23, had a promising future, especially as the Rockets had a reputation for developing centers.
With the Lakers offering Bynum, the Rockets were willing to increase their offer.
The biggest change in their offer was swapping Goran Dragic for Kyle Lowry.
Lowry had joined the Rockets in the 2008-09 season, and after Aaron Brooks' injury last season, he quickly claimed the starting role, averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.
Known as the "mini tank" for his strength, shooting, and playmaking, Lowry was highly regarded in the league.
To put it simply, Dragic was still just a backup-level player at this point, lacking physicality. This roster tweak quickly elevated the Rockets' trade offer to Stern's satisfaction.
Most importantly, by trading Bynum, the Lakers lost the main piece they'd use to acquire Howard. In terms of trade value, Gasol lagged behind Bynum.
With Bynum, the Lakers could pursue Howard. But with Gasol, already 32, it'd be almost impossible to draw the Magic into a deal—even bringing in a third party would be challenging.
This effectively killed the chances of a Kobe-Paul-Howard lineup forming the following season.
So, on December 15, the last day of free agency, a four-team trade took place that shocked even Han Sen.
The Hornets traded Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor, receiving Scola, Kevin Martin, Lowry, Nate Robinson, the Rockets' 2012 first-round pick, the Lakers' 2012 first-round pick, and a future second-rounder from the Thunder.
The Rockets traded Scola, Martin, Lowry, Jordan Hill, and a 2012 first-round pick, receiving Bynum and Odom.
The Thunder traded Nate Robinson and a future second-round pick, receiving Derek Fisher.
The Lakers traded Bynum, Odom, Fisher, and their 2012 first-round pick, receiving Paul, Okafor, and Jordan Hill.
—End of Chapter—
① Restricted free agents: Players whose teams have the right of first refusal after their rookie contracts, allowing them to match any offer from other teams within a specified timeframe.
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