2013 NBA Trade Deadline.

LeBron James was fuming. Truly fuming.

Kevin Durant couldn't see the bigger picture. If he had, he could have gone on a scoring spree, crushed the Western Conference team, and claimed the All-Star Game MVP!

But unfortunately, Durant wasn't yet the infamous 'KD2nd' (a reference to his reputation for being a second fiddle). And considering LeBron's failure with the Heat's peak Big Three, it was still uncertain if Durant would ever get there.

Clearly, Durant's mindset wasn't on the same wavelength as LeBron's.

However, what frustrated LeBron even more than Durant was the situation on the court.

If he were still with the Miami Heat, having three Heat players on the Eastern Conference All-Star team would've given him absolute control of the ball.

But now, on the Western Conference team, he was surrounded by four players who were all aligned with Han Sen. LeBron couldn't get the ball!

Without possession, LeBron James was like a 'king without his crown'—he was there, but just that: present and powerless.

This was arguably the most humiliating moment of LeBron's NBA career. The once-mighty 'Chosen One' was reduced to running back and forth on the court, utterly sidelined.

Was there no justice left? No law to protect his greatness?

To add insult to injury, Joerger, the Western Conference coach, wasn't exactly merciful. Watching LeBron tirelessly running up and down, he still made him play the entire quarter.

But, to be fair, granting LeBron extended playing time was a nod to his status as Nike's poster child. That was non-negotiable.

Eventually, even Han Sen couldn't bear to see LeBron's plight. On the court, he passed him the ball a few times.

Of course, just like at the start of the game, the passes were more about shifting responsibility, similar to the ones LeBron used to dish out to Han during their Cavaliers days.

LeBron didn't want to accept those passes, but without possession and needing to pad his stats, his body betrayed him.

Two years later, they were once again on the same team—but the roles had reversed.

At the start of the second quarter, as LeBron finally sat down to rest, he watched Joerger stagger Han Sen's minutes. Unable to contain himself, LeBron muttered a string of expletives.

Perhaps, for the first time, the 'Chosen One' truly understood what it felt like to be suppressed and targeted.

Ultimately, the Western Conference All-Stars leveraged their superior depth to defeat the Eastern Conference 143–135.

Han Sen played 33 minutes, shooting 15-for-25 and scoring a game-high 38 points, earning the first All-Star MVP award of his career.

LeBron, in contrast, played 27 minutes, managing only 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting.

Meanwhile, Durant's valiant 30-point effort on 12-for-23 shooting went to waste.

By the time Han Sen began his MVP acceptance speech, LeBron had already left the arena. Durant, however, stood with his fists clenched, silently praying that Han Sen would lead the Grizzlies to the Finals.

With the All-Star break over, the 2013 NBA trade deadline loomed.

Trade rumors flooded the league.

In the Western Conference, teams with playoff aspirations scrambled to make moves, while those out of contention sought to stockpile draft picks.

The Memphis Grizzlies were active in the trade market.

Han Sen's 61-point Christmas Day performance to beat the Heat was still fresh in memory. But their second matchup before the All-Star break had ended in a loss to Miami.

With that, the Grizzlies' management was compelled to explore roster upgrades.

Similarly, the Heat were also searching for ways to improve, particularly in their playmaking department.

Both teams shared similarities: they led their respective conferences but had minimal cap space.

However, the Grizzlies appeared to have better luck.

Rumors surfaced that Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter was open to being traded to Memphis.

The Mavericks had signed O.J. Mayo, who was discarded by the Cavaliers, to a two-year deal with a player option for the second year.

Unexpectedly, Mayo flourished in Dallas, averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting a career-best 40.7% from three-point range.

As a result, Carter's playing time dwindled, leaving the veteran dissatisfied.

Unlike in the 'history' we know, Carter had previously reached the Finals with the Magic and experienced that stage's allure.

For him, the Finals was akin to Eden. Having once tasted it, he craved it even more.

At 36, Carter was a veteran chasing a championship. The Mavericks, understanding this, actively sought a trade partner.

Finally, on the trade deadline, the Mavericks struck a deal with the Grizzlies.

Dallas sent Vince Carter to Memphis in exchange for Jordan Crawford and Grant Hill.

The move was logical for both sides. The Mavericks needed backcourt depth after losing Jason Terry to the Celtics, and Crawford fit the bill. Hill was included to match Carter's $3 million salary.

The Grizzlies promptly thanked the departing players for their contributions, particularly Hill, who had joined Memphis not just as a veteran presence but also as a playmaker. Unfortunately, Hill's injuries prevented him from ever suiting up.

Meanwhile, Shaun Livingston's strong performances made Hill expendable.

On the other hand, Miami failed to land any impactful trades, narrowing the gap between the two top teams.

Two days after the deadline, Carter was escorted into the Grizzlies' locker room by a staff member.

Carter went straight to Antawn Jamison, embracing his old North Carolina teammate.

The duo, once youthful stars in the NCAA, now reunited as aging veterans on the brink of retirement.

After catching up with Jamison, Carter approached Han Sen.

"Welcome, VC," Han Sen greeted warmly.

Jamison had already discussed the possibility of Carter joining with Han in advance.

Han had no objections. After all, Carter was the recipient of Han's first $500,000 bet in the NBA, and their on-court clashes were long in the past.

After a brief chat, Han invited Carter to train together.

Carter, known for his easygoing nature, happily agreed.

In the post-Jordan era, Carter, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady were all masters of the post-up game, a critical skill for shooting guards of their generation.

That afternoon, the two hit the gym for extra practice.

Carter showcased his signature move: a back-down leading into a spinning floater.

For Han, it was a revelation. Compared to hook shots, floaters were more suited to perimeter players and a technique he already had some experience with.

After their training session, the two sat on the sidelines to rest.

"You might not believe this, but I think you'll surpass him one day," Carter said. It was obvious who 'him' referred to.

He wasn't just flattering Han Sen; Carter genuinely meant it. Han's rapid progress was simply astounding.

Surpass Jordan?

Han Sen hadn't considered that possibility before, but Carter's words opened up new avenues of thought.

Back in Cleveland, Han Sen had once intentionally stirred controversy by claiming LeBron could rival Jordan. If he were to declare now that he aimed to surpass Jordan, it would likely provoke the same uproar.

After all, even with a championship under his belt, Han Sen still wasn't in Jordan's league. For now, though, he was focused on training his post-up skills and saw no immediate need to stir the pot. He could save that move for later.

"Speaking of which, you were once regarded as the heir to Jordan yourself," Han Sen remarked nostalgically.

Carter smiled wryly, letting out a sigh. Who wouldn't reminisce about the past?

Once the league's top player for a couple of years, Carter was riding high before injuries and Bruce Bowen's aggressive defense derailed his trajectory. If not for those setbacks, he might have achieved a historical status similar to Kobe's.

"At my age, I'm not sure how many years I have left. Just winning a championship before I retire would be a dream ending." At 36, most players were already out of the league.

Han Sen chuckled. Grant Hill had defied expectations as an ageless wonder, and Carter was even more remarkable.

Few could have predicted Hill would play until 40, let alone that Carter would keep going until 43.

"Speaking of championships, why didn't you choose Miami?"

The Heat were not only the top favorites for the title but also the undisputed strongest team in the league. With their lack of depth on the bench, Carter joining them would have been a surefire boost to their chances—a metaphorical 'god mode' cheat.

"I don't even use cheat codes when I play video games," Carter replied with a vivid analogy.

The response made Han Sen laugh, but it also revealed the old-school ethos beneath Carter's mild demeanor.

For Carter, a championship wasn't just about fame and fortune—it had to be earned the right way. If everyone treated basketball solely as a business, sacrificing integrity for the sake of winning, the NBA would eventually lose its luster.

Fans loved the NBA not just for its stars' accolades but for the thrilling games and the legendary stories that came with them.

"If you ever want more training sessions, just let me know," Carter offered as the two prepared to leave.

"Should I pay you a training fee?" Han Sen teased.

"You already have," Carter replied with a smirk.

Han Sen was momentarily confused until Carter made a hand gesture representing $500,000. Realization dawned on him, and he burst out laughing.

"By the way, did Kobe ever ask you for $500,000?" Han Sen asked, amused.

"Oh, he did. He said you owed him from a lost bet."

"Did you actually give it to him?"

"Of course not! A debt isn't transferable if we weren't sitting at the same table!"

The two left the training facility, chatting and laughing along the way.

In Carter's first game with the Grizzlies against the Clippers, he struggled to adjust and only scored four points. However, in the following game against his former team, the Raptors, Carter found his rhythm, hitting three of four from beyond the arc and scoring 13 points.

Does Carter still have fuel in the tank?

The answer was yes—plenty, in fact.

Though he could no longer perform the high-flying dunks of his younger years, his three-point shooting remained highly effective. This season with the Mavericks, he had averaged over 40% from beyond the arc, contributing around 11 points per game.

In truth, had it not been for Carter's own request, the Mavericks wouldn't have traded him to a direct competitor like the Grizzlies.

When paired with Jamison on the court, the former UNC stars earned a new nickname: the "Twin Elders," a nod to their veteran wisdom and ability to outsmart opponents.

March 1 marked a crucial point in the season—the buyout deadline.

The Miami Heat decided to waive big man Dexter Pittman and signed Grant Hill.

After being traded to the Mavericks, Hill had quickly agreed to a buyout due to roster constraints. Miami's need for a playmaker made the move unsurprising.

However, this set the stage for an intriguing story if the Heat and Grizzlies met in the Finals. If the Heat won, even though Hill was a gentleman unlikely to brag, Kevin Durant would surely have a lot to say about it.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were also active in the buyout market, looking to fill roster spots left vacant by the Carter trade.

On this particular day, as Han Sen and Carter were training, team executive Wallace approached Han Sen.

The Grizzlies were eyeing a candidate for their final roster spot but had concerns. That player was Delonte West.

The Grizzlies needed a third point guard, and West, a former Memphis player, fit the bill. However, his recent history raised red flags.

Last season, West was the Mavericks' starting point guard. But before this season began, he was indefinitely suspended for 'conduct detrimental to the team' and later waived.

While the Dallas media didn't detail the incidents, West's continued free agency suggested concerns about him being a locker room disruptor.

To complicate matters, players signed after the buyout deadline were ineligible for the playoffs, meaning the Grizzlies would be stuck with him for the remainder of the season.

Wallace sought Han Sen's opinion—not just as a star player but as someone who might have insights into West's situation.

Han Sen admitted he didn't know much, as he hadn't kept in close contact with West. But luckily, standing nearby was someone who had just been with the Mavericks.

Carter, as it turned out, had the inside scoop. The so-called 'conduct detrimental to the team' stemmed from the intense competition in Dallas after the team signed O.J. Mayo. West lost his starting spot and even fell far down the rotation during preseason.

Known for his mental health struggles, West had an emotional outburst in the locker room, leading to conflict with teammates and the ensuing fallout.

"Delonte isn't a bad guy," Carter said plainly.

While the NBA offered lucrative salaries, it also brought immense pressure, and mental health issues were not uncommon. Most players kept their struggles private, but West's had unfortunately impacted his team.

"If you're asking for my personal recommendation, I'd say as long as he performs well in workouts, there's no harm in signing him," Carter concluded.

Whether West could help the team or harm its chemistry would ultimately be management's decision. From Carter's perspective, he saw no reason to object.