Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Jordan's desire to trade Yu Fei sent shockwaves through the Wizards management as soon as the news reached the Verizon Center.

Confusion, incomprehension, disbelief.

If Kwame Brown's draft pick was akin to a lottery ticket that had been half scratched to reveal the words "Thank You" indicating a loss, then Yu Fei was that rare "jackpot" prize already claimed.

The eighth draft pick is a sensitive spot.

The last All-Star player selected at that position was Vin Baker, whose career was marred by alcoholism.

Finding another All-Star at the eighth pick is quite challenging.

Yet, Yu Fei's rookie season saw him nearly stepping into the All-Star Game proper.

Whether it was leading the team into the playoffs after Jordan and Hamilton were sidelined for the season, or averaging 19+8+7 in his rookie year, the future was bright.

He was sure to develop into a stable, perennial All-Star.

It could be said that Yu Fei's extraordinary talent overshadowed the drafting disaster of Kwame Brown.

Now, Jordan was actually considering trading away his greatest draft achievement?

Were the top brass of the Wizards surprised? Over the past year, countless events had unfolded within the team, they were witnesses, they knew the tense state of Yu Fei and Jordan's relationship, how Yu Fei was challenging Jordan's dominance, especially among the players. When Yu Fei publicly expressed his desire for Jordan not to make a comeback at the Verizon Center, the other players chose to remain silent.

Their silence signaled their support for Yu Fei.

For Jordan, Yu Fei was no longer a wild horse to be tamed but an enemy to be taken down.

Yu Fei's actions couldn't be dismissed as simple "youthful rebellion." He directly defied Jordan's dominion, showing a will to usurp it.

Once he acted on those intentions, coexistence with Jordan became impossible.

However, what made people like Susan O'Malley feel helpless was that they thought this scenario would unfold in two years or even longer, yet here was Yu Fei, right after his rookie season, unable to contain his ambition.

His lead in taking the team to the playoffs was the source of his confidence.

If he proved he could take the team to the playoffs without the help of Jordan and Hamilton, he no longer needed them.

Still, he was in too much of a hurry.

"Susan, what do you think we should do about this situation?" Wes Unseld asked O'Malley with a troubled look on his face.

"The question isn't what we should do," O'Malley said, "the question is what is Mr. Pollin prepared to do?"

Ansel asked again, "What will Mr. Pollin do?"

A struggle for power between a fading 39-year-old superstar and a rising young star--which side to take?

The answer was clear, franchise owners will always choose the future.

But Michael Jordan is not just any 39-year-old past his prime. Explore hidden tales at empire

He represents a vast market, the confidence for the Wizards to sell out season tickets for years to come, the face that attracts sponsors, the single reason Wizards' merchandise sales soared this season.

Yu Fei is a star, but one year of ascendance could never compare to Jordan's nearly two decades of terrifying influence.

In a single year, Jordan could recuperate Pollin's losses from the past five years.

What if he played for two years?

Or three?

When could Yu Fei bring such profits to his owner?

Moreover, like Jordan, he never saw Pollin as a "master" from the start.

From the beginning, he refused to pledge fealty to a "master."

Faced with the temptation of immense short-term revenue and a check for the future filled with X-factors, Pollin would choose the former.

Letting go of Yu Fei might be painful for Pollin, but when he thought about what Jordan could bring and Yu Fei's disrespect, impulsiveness, and disloyalty, the future check was meaningless to Pollin.

This was the Pollin that Susan O'Malley knew so well.

"I don't know," O'Malley chose not to share her judgment with Ansel because it was purely personal speculation, "I believe Mr. Pollin will make the best decision for the franchise."

Ansel laughed heartily, "So, Mr. Pollin will choose Frye? That's great!"

O'Malley smiled similarly, seeing Ansel's conclusion based on normal sports logic as naive.

Between past and future, choosing the latter is an iron law of professional sports.

But if you understand those who choose the former, then you comprehend the dark rules of professional sports.

The moment Jordan's demands passed through the Wizards management to the boss, Abe Pollin, Jordan's contract negotiations officially began.

All the executives were present.

David Falk, representing Jordan's team, put forward three non-negotiable terms: "From now on, Michael will have autonomy over Wizards' trades. The marketing department is not allowed to use his image and name for promotion without his consent. And when Michael retires from the court, Mr. Pollin should sell 15% of the Wizards to Michael at last year's stock price, and Michael should resume his former position to continue managing the team."

These three terms were outrageous and seemed impossible to accept.

After stating these, Falk laughed with a predatory grin, "Only if Mr. Pollin agrees with these three terms will Michael discuss renewing his contract with you."