章 66: I Should Join the Bench.
Thomas was in California at the time. After receiving Han Sen's call, he rushed to Los Angeles overnight, and the two met in a hotel room.
"Have you made up your mind?" Thomas wasn't surprised by his request for a trade— after all, he didn't want to be in Cleveland from the start, and his time there hadn't been smooth.
"Am I still that rookie who exceeded expectations?" Han looked at Thomas.
Thomas shook his head.
In his two months with the Cavaliers, Han had hit a game-winner against the Magic on opening night, and he had solid performances defending Durant and Kobe. Against the Celtics, he had an outstanding game with 25 points.
He had proven himself capable in tough games. A 3D player who can handle the ball is one of the most sought-after types in the league.
His trade value had skyrocketed beyond what was expected of his draft position— he was now considered a hot commodity.
However, Thomas voiced his concern: "I don't think the Cavaliers' management will want to trade you."
At first, no one wanted him; now, they'd be reluctant to let him go.
Even though he had a reputation for being outspoken and a bit difficult, in the NBA, talent trumps attitude.
"You know players are always on the passive side when it comes to trades," Thomas said realistically. "If the Cavaliers' management doesn't want to trade you, even if you make a fuss, the worst-case scenario is they'll just bench you."
What he didn't say was that Han's influence in the team was still too limited. Despite some impressive performances, he was still essentially a role player.
"Even if they do trade you, if they send you to the Western Conference or to a struggling team, it might not be a good outcome for you," Thomas added.
"I've made up my mind." Thomas had some valid points, but Han couldn't shake the fire that had reignited within him after the Christmas game.
Thomas stared at Han Sen for a while before nodding. "I heard that Ferry is currently in Los Angeles. I'll go talk to him."
Even if he couldn't secure a trade, Thomas was determined to fight for more rights for him.
About an hour later, Thomas returned with good news.
"I'll fully consider your request, but a trade isn't a one-sided thing. I hope that until a resolution is reached, Han Sen will remain professional."
That was Ferry's exact response.
In other words, the Cavaliers agreed to his trade request.
Hearing this, Han exhaled deeply and once again affirmed his agent's competence.
After the Christmas game, the Cavaliers returned to Cleveland for a brief three-day break before facing the Celtics at home for the second time this season.
During this time, Han Sen maintained his professionalism, trained hard, and participated in all the promotional events assigned by the team.
However, no secret stays hidden forever, and soon the media exposed Han's trade request.
Even Kobe's post-game interview after the Christmas game was brought into the mix.
"I don't know why they benched the best-performing player in the latter half of the fourth quarter, especially the best defender, who gave me quite a bit of trouble."
Just as Kobe had shown his respect during the post-game handshake, Han Sen's performance had earned Kobe's admiration.
But at this moment, that admiration became fuel for the media's narrative.
"The Cavaliers have found the missing piece of their championship puzzle, but they don't seem to want to use it properly," said Charles Barkley, who never misses an opportunity to weigh in.
"The Cavaliers' team atmosphere is unique in this league— you'll never understand some of their actions unless you're part of it," commented Larry Hughes, who once played for the Cavaliers and now plays for the Knicks.
"LeBron is still just a kid. He's never truly learned how to lead a team," said Paul Pierce, adding his thoughts on social media, always eager to stir things up.
Soon after, several teams that had approached the Cavaliers' management revealed the team's asking price for Han Sen.
The Trail Blazers said the Cavaliers asked for LaMarcus Aldridge; the Thunder reported they were offered a deal involving Harden and Ibaka; and the Rockets claimed that even though the entire team was on the table, the Cavaliers weren't interested.
Even if you're not a professional manager, you can easily conclude from these offers that the Cavaliers have no real intention of trading Han Sen.
Han reached the same conclusion after reading the reports and realized he had overestimated the Cavaliers' integrity.
Ferry's words were nothing more than a delaying tactic.
It wasn't a new trick, but it was one of the most common and effective.
Han wasn't a superstar like Vince Carter. If he deliberately underperformed on the court, he might end up blacklisted by other teams' managers.
He now understood the NBA's business side but wasn't ready to give up.
On the last day of the break, he contacted Khalil and skipped the locker room, heading straight to the practice court later in the day.
When he arrived, his teammates couldn't help but glance his way.
Even as players, they couldn't completely block out the noise from the outside world.
Especially since Han Sen hadn't shown up in the locker room all day.
Cunningham saw him and wanted to say hello, but Han gave him a look, signaling him not to.
Coach Brown was in the middle of arranging the lineups for the full-court scrimmage.
Han hadn't missed practice without reason— he had been granted personal leave. Now that he was back, Brown intended to place him in the starting lineup.
"No, I was late to practice, so I should be on the third team," he said, surprising Brown.
In the off-season training camp, when the roster wasn't set, Brown used a black-and-white team setup. But now that the 15-man roster was finalized, the players were split into three teams: the starters, the second unit, and the bench (third team).
These lineups weren't set in stone, but generally, players assigned to the third team didn't see much playing time in actual games.
For instance, the third team currently consisted of Delonte West, Coby Karl, Jawad Williams, Leon Powe, and Darnell Jackson.
Aside from West, who occasionally rotated in, the rest only saw playing time in garbage minutes.
Brown had no idea what Han Sen was up to— he figured it was just about wanting more touches. Without thinking much of it, he nodded in agreement.
Brown even kindly accommodated his late arrival by scheduling the starters to scrimmage against the second team first, allowing Han time to warm up.
Starting lineup: Mo Williams, Parker, LeBron, Cunningham, O'Neal
Second team: Daniel Gibson, Coby Karl, Moon, Varejão, Ilgauskas
Because Han requested to be on the third team, Parker moved into the starting lineup, and Karl jumped from the third team to the second.
These scrimmages typically lasted just one 12-minute quarter and were meant to gauge players' form.
The game between the starters and second team was more intense than expected. Gibson was in excellent form, while Williams and Parker struggled.
As the game progressed, LeBron took control, driving hard to the basket, just as he would in a real game.
Moon had solid athleticism and a sturdy frame, but his defense was average and couldn't stop LeBron, leading to a shift in momentum.
The starters eventually won 16-10.
Throughout the scrimmage, Han was warming up on the sidelines. Once he was loose, he took off his jacket, revealing his practice uniform.
Brown didn't react, but Malone sensed something was off.
Before he could inquire, the scrimmage ended, and it was time for the starters to face the third team.
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