Starting a Nomadic Journey?

(TL/n: Finally done with finals..)

Not yet—there's still one more option.

Wade and Paul might not want to team up with LeBron, but the Banana Boat crew isn't just three people—it's four!

Soon enough, Brian Windhorst wrote an article speculating about LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony teaming up.

In theory, LeBron as a playmaker and Melo as a scoring machine are the most compatible pairing among the Banana Boat brothers.

Of course, this doesn't mean LeBron is angling to go to the Knicks. His carefully constructed 'loyalty' persona would never allow him to request a trade. If he were to leave Oklahoma, it would have to appear as though he had no choice.

The real motive behind this story? It's another power play, pressuring the Thunder's front office to trade Russell Westbrook for Carmelo Anthony.

This wasn't the first time such rumors surfaced. Ever since OKC's first-round sweep last season, reports like these have been relentless.

LeBron's influence in the media is a perfect 100, while Westbrook's barely hits a 10. But a wave of Thunder fans took to social media to back Russ, declaring they could accept Durant's departure, but not Westbrook's.

The fan outcry added pressure on OKC's front office. After all, you can't entirely ignore the fans—not when you're trying to sell tickets.

Reports soon emerged that OKC management had approached LeBron's team, asking him to commit to exercising his player option for the next two years.

The message was clear: if it's a straight-up choice between Russ and LeBron, they'd pick LeBron without hesitation. OKC's revenue last season was their best since moving to Oklahoma City. It's not about wins or losses—it's about money.

The hesitation boiled down to one concern: LeBron's 2014 player option.

OKC's management had read Jamal Khalil's piece dissecting LeBron's Nike contract—and they agreed with it wholeheartedly.

If LeBron would commit to his player option, the Thunder wouldn't bat an eye trading Russ. But no follow-up news came from LeBron's camp.

The reason? That Nike contract expiring in 2014. LeBron's next move would likely hinge on Nike's preferences. Committing now could jeopardize his renewal.

And that wasn't happening.

Now things were getting spicy. If OKC misplayed their hand, LeBron might actually embark on a nomadic journey.

While the Thunder saga brewed, the Warriors dropped a bombshell.

Andre Iguodala, whom the Nuggets had paid handsomely last season, announced he wouldn't re-sign with Denver. Instead, he was heading to Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal for a modest 4-year, $48 million contract.

Nuggets fans were livid. Their star player not only left, but joined the very team that upset them in the playoffs last year. Betrayal stung deep.

Under pressure, Iggy revealed his reasons for joining the Warriors.

It wasn't just about money—it was about respect. He admitted being awestruck by Steph Curry's heroic, injury-defying playoff performances. Iggy's sentiment echoed Han Sen's from last season: "Watching Curry fight through injury was inspiring."

But that wasn't all. Iggy also claimed he left Denver because, during their playoff struggles, head coach George Karl had allegedly asked him to 'step under' Curry. Iggy refused, deciding he no longer wanted to play for a team with such tactics.

That revelation was a bombshell.

Karl denied the allegations, claiming Iggy was just making excuses for his departure. Other Nuggets players backed Karl, saying they'd never heard such instructions.

It was a classic case of 'he said, they said.'

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies quietly strengthened their roster.

With Antawn Jamison retiring, Memphis needed a backup power forward. They signed veteran Rashard Lewis, who'd played sparingly with Miami last season, to fill the spot.

At guard, Shaun Livingston's strong play earned him a 4-year, $20 million deal with the Warriors, replacing Jarrett Jack. Memphis responded by signing Chauncey Billups as a replacement.

They also re-signed James Johnson and Dahntay Jones to minimum deals.

Han Sen's supermax contract had Memphis way over the luxury tax line, paying an extra $40 million. Owner Michael Heisley was clearly at his financial limit.

As Memphis operated on a tight budget, the Heat's offseason struggles mirrored theirs.

Miami failed to re-sign Josh McRoberts, who chose the Bobcats for a starting role. For most role players, contracts outweigh championships.

Ultimately, Miami brought back Lamar Odom on a minimum deal, despite his underwhelming stint in Houston, where he made headlines more for clubbing with Harden than playing basketball.

They also signed Michael Beasley, the former second-overall pick and a close friend of Kevin Durant.

While teams retooled, TNT dropped another highlight: Shaquille O'Neal finally fulfilled his infamous 'bathwater' bet.

The show took place poolside, where Kenny Smith, in a pair of very snug swim trunks, dived into a massive swimming pool.

Shaq then scooped up a glass of pool water and drank it. Sure, it was diluted a thousand times over, but hey—it was technically bathwater!

And Shaq, ever the showman, had to take a parting shot.

"If you want to drink Scarlett Johansson's bathwater, it's easy," Shaq quipped. "Just host a pool party and invite her over."

The shade was unmistakable: KD, you're on your own!

...

By late July, the NBA free agency period was nearing its conclusion when ESPN dropped a bombshell that stunned the basketball world: the Oklahoma City Thunder traded LeBron James to the New York Knicks in exchange for Carmelo Anthony and a future first-round pick.

This news sent social media into a frenzy.

"Two years with the Heat, one year with the Thunder, and now 2014 free agency? Is he officially starting the nomadic life?"

"The world outside is too cruel—maybe it's time to return to Cleveland!"

"Cleveland? Did you forget how Dan Gilbert exposed that potential Han Sen trade? There's no going back for him."

"Every decision has consequences. If he hadn't ceded power in Miami back in 2012, he might still be with the Heat."

"Honestly, this might work out for him. He's back in the East, in a major market, and with the Knicks, which was always on his radar."

"CBA teammates? Nah, don't forget Steve Nash. LeBron once said he wanted to play with Nash. Thunder really did him a favor—this is touching!"

Even Han Sen, catching wind of the trade, was taken aback—not by the Thunder's decision to move LeBron after he declined to pick up his player option but by the Knicks' willingness to part with Carmelo Anthony and add a first-round pick to the deal.

A closer look at the details revealed that Anthony, too, was on the final year of his contract. This meant OKC was rolling the dice; if Melo left after one season, the trade could backfire. Still, it was likely the best offer the Thunder could have secured. Few teams would gamble big assets for a player with an impending opt-out, especially if they weren't in a major market.

The aftermath was immediate and entertaining. Before OKC even officially welcomed Melo, Russell Westbrook posted on social media:

"Melo is a warrior. I can't wait to go to battle with him!"

Han couldn't help but laugh. The sarcasm in Russ's tone was unmistakable. After enduring relentless media pressure during LeBron's tenure, Westbrook's frustrations were spilling out.

Meanwhile, Han checked out the Knicks' new roster:

- Steve Nash

- Iman Shumpert

- LeBron James

- Amar'e Stoudemire

- Andrea Bargnani

- Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Kenyon Martin

While some joked about CBA-level teammates, Han noted the weakened Eastern Conference. This Knicks lineup had enough to make the playoffs.

With the LeBron trade marking the end of a surprising and eventful free agency period, the Western Conference was reshuffled.

The Thunder improved slightly. The Rockets made major strides. The Nuggets and Lakers took significant hits.

For the Memphis Grizzlies, this reorganization played into their hands. The true threats were other top-tier teams; the broader strength of the West mattered less, as the Grizzlies had already proven they could dominate.

...

However, a more pressing challenge emerged in August when the league introduced a new rule: the Verticality Rule.

Han recognized its game-altering potential. Like the old 'no-handcheck' rule, it aimed to encourage perimeter play. Specifically, it limited interior defenders' ability to rotate mid-air to contest drives.

Han had anticipated this rule arriving later, possibly in response to some high-profile incident like LeBron's infamous elbow on Roy Hibbert. But its early implementation seemed targeted at Memphis, particularly their dominant duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Targeting Han directly was challenging, but weakening the interior defense of Gasol and Randolph? That was fair game. And conveniently, it aligned with the league's overarching goal of promoting more offense.

This wasn't just your typical referee bias or questionable calls; this was a direct attack through the rules. For Memphis, establishing a dynasty now felt like playing a video game set to hell mode—the difficulty maxed out before they even began.

The rule also prompted Han to reconsider his next talent acquisition.

Players couldn't change the rules; they could only adapt.

In the timeline Han remembered, this rule helped the Miami Heat edge out the Indiana Pacers to reach the Finals, only to lose to the Spurs. That was the immediate impact.

The long-term ripple came with Steve Kerr's arrival in Golden State. Kerr abandoned Mark Jackson's traditional style, embraced small-ball in line with the rule changes, and unleashed Stephen Curry to ignite the Warriors' meteoric rise.

But the Grizzlies were built differently from the Warriors. Mimicking that path was impossible. Memphis needed to double down on its core identity.

And what defined the Grizzlies?

Defense.

The Verticality Rule's core stipulation was this: interior defenders could no longer rotate their bodies mid-air to contest shots.

In matchups between big men, this wasn't an issue. However, when defending perimeter players driving to the basket, it became critical. Like the old hand-check ban, this rule essentially catered to perimeter scoring.

The solution was straightforward: suffocate opponents at the perimeter and prevent them from attacking the paint in the first place. If they couldn't penetrate cleanly, the rule's impact would be minimized.

Han decided his next upgrade in the Hater System would be an elite defensive talent—perhaps one rivaling Jordan's impact on that end of the floor.

The [Star Catcher] talent at Tier-2, combined with his other talents, had already produced stunning results. If he could unlock a Tier-1 defensive ability, Han believed he could reach that level.

The problem? He didn't have enough hater points.

With over 500,000 hater points amassed, Han was closing in on his goal. Ironically, much of this hate stemmed from accusations that Memphis's championship run was 'lucky,' due to injuries like Dwyane Wade's in the Finals. Yet, he still needed more to unlock a Tier-1 talent.

But as Han contemplated his next move, an unexpected boost came from overseas. At the FIBA Asia Championship in Manila, the Chinese national team suffered a shocking 78–96 quarterfinal loss to Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), igniting a media firestorm.

Han realized he didn't need to manufacture controversy—the storm had already arrived.