Chapter 21: Running-in lineup

Soon, word spread across the league: the Kings had swapped draft picks with the Knicks. Derrick Williams headed to the Knicks, while Quincy Acy made his way to the Kings. The Knicks also gained a 2018 first-round pick, while the Kings executed another trade with the Nets, sending Jason Thompson to Brooklyn in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, who had yet to debut in the NBA, and a 2017 second-round pick.

These trades didn't generate much buzz initially, given the relatively unknown players involved. But the Kings' subsequent moves sparked plenty of conversation. After completing the trade with the Knicks, Jake wasted no time buying out Quincy Acy's contract. He then signed Greg Oden, a former No. 1 overall pick who had been plagued by injuries and cast aside by the league, to a non-guaranteed deal.

ESPN commentators didn't hold back their skepticism. "The Kings still haven't given up on Oden? This feels like trying to scratch a losing lottery ticket again after it's already shown 'Better luck next time,'" one analyst quipped.

While the critics sneered, the Kings pressed on. They easily dispatched the Suns in Phoenix but saw their six-game winning streak snapped in a tough loss against the Thunder. Next up was a trip to Dallas to face the Mavericks.

"Stick to the usual rotation today," Coach Malone instructed in the locker room. "Oden, you're still not ready to play, so take it easy. Bojan, you'll be coming off the bench in place of Williams."

Malone then turned serious. "The Mavericks are strong this year, especially after adding Parsons. Nowitzki and Ellis have more space to operate. We have to make sure we don't fall into their pace."

As the Kings stepped onto the Mavericks' home court, they were met with a chorus of boos from the Dallas fans. Jake glanced over at Oden, who sat at the end of the bench, expressionless. Jake quietly walked over and sat down beside him.

"How does it feel to be back on the court?" Jake asked.

Oden blinked, surprised by the question. "It's been a long time. Even just sitting here on the bench feels good," he admitted.

Jake smiled. "Don't worry. I didn't bring you all the way from New York just to warm the bench. I'll make sure you get your chance. You just need to be patient."

He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. "As long as you can contribute, I've got a three-year contract ready for you."

Even though it was just a veteran minimum deal, the offer meant the world to Oden, who was desperate for a second chance. He clenched his fists. "Thanks, Jake. I won't let you down."

On the court, the Kings employed a double-tower lineup of Cousins and Mozgov to counter the Mavericks' aging star, Dirk Nowitzki. Though Nowitzki was nearing the twilight of his career, his signature fadeaway jump shot and the strong support from his teammate Monta Ellis kept him competitive.

Ellis spotted Nowitzki in the paint, feeding him the ball. Nowitzki backed down Cousins, only to turn and rise up on one leg, gracefully executing his trademark fadeaway. Cousins stretched his arms as far as they could go, but the ball sailed just over his fingertips, bounced off the rim twice, and dropped in.

The crowd erupted in applause for their veteran leader, and the cheers seemed to rile up Cousins. Frustrated, he demanded the ball on the next possession, looking to take Nowitzki one-on-one. But the experienced Nowitzki got in his head, forcing Cousins into a poor shot.

Malone shook his head from the sidelines. Cousins' emotional style often disrupted the smooth, team-oriented offense that Malone had worked hard to implement. The Kings were evolving into a cohesive unit, but their centerpiece, Cousins, had a tendency to go rogue, disrupting the machine.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks' roster bore some similarities to the Kings. Dirk was paired with veteran Tyson Chandler, while Parsons and Ellis provided offensive firepower from the perimeter. The two teams matched up well, but Nowitzki's craftiness gave the Mavericks an edge.

As the game wore on, Nowitzki continued to outmaneuver Cousins with his footwork, scoring with ease. Cousins, dominant at times in the paint, grew increasingly frustrated as the rhythm of the Kings' offense began to crumble. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Malone signaled for a substitution, replacing Cousins with Jokic.

Jokic, still young and new to the league, looked nervous as he stepped onto the court. Facing Nowitzki, one of Europe's greatest players, Jokic felt a mixture of awe and intimidation. Legends of Dirk's dominance were well-known across Europe, and standing opposite him was like a dream—and a nightmare.

Nowitzki, for his part, saw a bit of himself in the young Serbian. Though they came from different countries, the shared European heritage gave Dirk a soft spot for Jokic. There was a mutual respect between the two as they prepared to square off.

"Kid, watch this." Nowitzki received the pass just outside the paint, with Jokic guarding him closely. Suddenly, Dirk spoke to Jokic, a grin on his face. "I'll only show you once."

Before Jokic could fully register what was happening, Nowitzki gave him a subtle shoulder bump, creating just enough space for a pull-up jumper. Realizing he was out of position, Jokic jumped quickly to contest the shot—but there was no shot. Nowitzki had faked him out completely, turning smoothly and launching a perfect fadeaway. The ball arced high through the air and sank cleanly into the basket.

Jokic, hanging in midair and helpless, caught only a glimpse of Nowitzki's picturesque form—the graceful extension of his limbs, his signature one-legged jump shot, and the way his long, golden hair seemed to float in the air. Damn, this is too smooth. Jokic was left in awe, replaying the moment in his mind. Nowitzki had just shown him, and the world, why he was the greatest European power forward of his era.

"Don't just stand there, let's go!" CJ called out as he brought the ball up the court, snapping Jokic back to reality.

"Ah? Right! Coming!" Jokic shook off his daze and hustled to the frontcourt, trying to keep his cool.

In the broadcast booth, Barkley couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha! Jokic was stunned by Nowitzki! This is why Dirk is such a joy to watch—no one can resist his charm on the court."

Reggie Miller, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "Nowitzki's in rare form today. First, he dismantled Cousins, and now Jokic. It's hard to believe this man is nearly 40 years old."

But down on the Kings' bench, Coach Malone wasn't as amused. Watching Nowitzki tear apart his defense was frustrating. The Mavericks had surged ahead, leading 19-11 by the end of the first quarter, thanks to Dirk's offensive brilliance.

"Mozgov, you're on Nowitzki! Use the No. 1 tactic!" Malone barked, trying to rally his team. "We can't let them keep scoring so easily."

CJ tried to steady the team, calling for a pick-and-roll with Jokic. Using his quickness, CJ drove to the basket, drawing defenders toward him. With the defense collapsing, he kicked the ball out to Casspi, who stood wide open at the three-point line. Casspi hesitated briefly, then released the shot.

Clang! The ball bounced off the rim, missing the mark. Underneath, Tyson Chandler had already positioned himself perfectly, snagging the rebound without resistance. He quickly passed the ball to Monta Ellis, who sprinted down the court.

Though Ellis was already in his thirties, his speed was still top-tier. Ben, trying to keep up, nearly stumbled as Ellis smoothly glided past him. With a swift move, Ellis shook off the last defender and laid the ball in easily. The Mavericks' crowd erupted in cheers.

Ellis, now in his 30s, had just torched a much younger defender, adding insult to injury for the Kings.

"Timeout!" Coach Malone's voice boomed as he called for a break. Frustration was written all over his face as the team huddled around him.

"What are you doing out there?" Malone demanded. "We aren't sticking to the plan! We've missed open shots, and Nowitzki—who's almost forty—has been tearing us apart inside. Start executing the tactics!"

His voice softened just a bit as he continued. "Stick to the plan. Whether the ball ends up with Casspi, Ben, or someone else, shoot with confidence! Don't be afraid to miss."

As the players headed back onto the court, Malone shook his head. CJ's our most reliable ball handler, but that also means we're losing out on his shooting. And without him, who's running the offense?

Just then, Malone glanced over at Zach LaVine, who was sitting on the bench, towel over his shoulders, watching the game intently.