NBA: LeBron James wants to team up with me

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The trade between the Bulls and Timberwolves saw the Bulls sending Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, Raja Bell, Chris Duhon, and a 2009 first-round pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett.

This 5-for-1 trade is one of the most sensational deals since the advent of free agency. After all, Garnett is an MVP-level player in his prime. By teaming up with Wang Chong, the two MVP players now join forces, instantly making the Bulls the favorites to win the new season!

Who would have thought that the Bulls, after an outstanding season, would take such a huge gamble? But looking closer, some believe the Bulls might not necessarily benefit from this deal. The price paid for Garnett was steep.

Tyson Chandler, this season's Defensive Player of the Year, was the core of the team's defense. The Bulls' ability to win 69 regular-season games owed much to Chandler's defensive presence in the paint.

Luol Deng and Raja Bell were crucial to the Bulls' perimeter defense. Bell, a standard 3-and-D player, was not only an excellent defender but was also selected for the All-Defensive Team. He was the team's most accurate three-point shooter, with a 42% three-point shooting percentage higher than Wang Chong's.

As for Luol Deng, although his skill set is somewhat limited, his future potential at only 21 years old is promising. A forward who can consistently contribute 16 points and 6 rebounds per game at 21 has room to grow.

These three players were part of the Bulls' starting lineup this season, each averaging over 30 minutes per game.

From a star power and commercial value perspective, none of these players compare to Garnett.

However, from a team-building standpoint, the trade's value is harder to gauge.

Garnett, known for his defensive versatility, can defend both inside and out. His defensive prowess is matched by a solid offensive game, averaging a consistent double-double of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game for nine consecutive seasons.

But even with all his strengths, Garnett can only play one of the five starting positions on the court.

The Bulls now have the Big Three of Wang Chong, Garnett, and Billups, but what about the remaining positions, shooting guard and center? Wang Chong and Billups just signed contract extensions, and with Garnett's $23.75 million salary for the 2007-08 season, the Bulls' salary cap is maxed out, leaving little room for free-agent signings. Even if the remaining roster spots are filled with minimum-salary players, the team's total salary will exceed $60 million.

The league announced a salary cap of $55.63 million for the 2007-08 season, with the luxury tax threshold at $67.86 million.

This means the Bulls have almost no flexibility left, aside from a mid-level exception of $5.35 million, which could be used to sign a significant player. However, who would sign for only $5 million?

Previously, the Bulls were strong not only because of Wang Chong's scoring ability but also due to a well-balanced lineup and standout performances from key players.

Now, the Bulls have dismantled half their team to acquire Garnett. The deal looks exciting, but whether it truly strengthens the Bulls' competitive edge remains to be seen until they test it on the court.

No matter what happens, Garnett joining the Bulls and partnering with Wang Chong to chase the championship has sent shockwaves through the league, putting other teams on edge.

Even the runner-up team with 69 regular-season wins wasn't content with the status quo and went all-out to pursue Garnett for further success. How can other teams that couldn't even reach the Finals be at ease?

The Magic, who returned to the playoffs this season, followed the Bulls' lead by reaching a sign-and-trade deal with the Seattle SuperSonics for All-Star forward Rashard Lewis. The Magic signed Lewis to a six-year, $118 million contract.

This was one of the top-tier, high-value contracts in 2007. At the time, only a few players like Kobe Bryant, Duncan, and Garnett had contracts worth over $100 million in the league.

Although Lewis is an excellent player and has been an All-Star, that's his ceiling. His peak season, which just ended, saw him average 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

With such performance, a $100 million contract is a premium price.

But there wasn't much choice. The Magic, lacking enough allure and competitiveness, had to use this strategy to acquire talented players.

In the early stages, signing Lewis was seen as a success for the Magic, especially since they were expected to peak by the 2008-09 season. With a system built around Howard, the Magic successfully challenged the Celtics and LeBron's Cavaliers in the East, although they ultimately lost to the Lakers in the Finals.

However, as Lewis's contract wore on, it became a burden. By the end of his five-year contract, Lewis, then 33, would see his performance decline, with his salary exceeding $20 million in the final years.

Regardless, the Magic's active recruitment and acquisition of an All-Star player made their neighboring Cavaliers look envious.

Although both teams come from small markets, the Magic has always managed to attract big names, like O'Neal and Hardaway in the past, and then Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Now, the Magic has a future star in Howard and has invested heavily in Lewis, promising an enhanced roster for the new season.

The Cavaliers, by contrast, have a lackluster lineup around their number-one pick, LeBron James. While Ben Wallace is an All-Star and has been selected more times than Lewis, he's essentially a role player focused only on defense and rebounds.

If the Cavaliers want success, they too need a star with individual talent.

The best option is the Seattle SuperSonics, who have decided to rebuild.

In reality, the Sonics were unlucky; due to the ripple effect of Wang Chong, they lost the chance to draft Durant, a future league superstar.

With the fifth pick, the Sonics only managed to select Jeff Green, who was initially intended as a trade chip for Ray Allen with the Celtics. But with the Celtics already having Durant and Pierce on the wing, they had no plans to add another guard, so the Sonics retained Ray Allen.

In an unexpected twist, the Cavaliers pounced on this opportunity.

On July 15, the Cavaliers reached a deal with the SuperSonics, sending guard Larry Hughes, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and a first-round pick to Seattle in exchange for All-Star guard Ray Allen and power forward Chris Wilcox.

This trade once again rocked the league.

Fans couldn't help but wonder: what kind of offseason is this? Why is everyone making major moves?

Ray Allen, widely regarded as the league's top three-point shooter, led the Sonics in scoring during the 2006-07 season, averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, ranking among the league's top five shooting guards.

In a league still dominated by the "Big Four" shooting guards—Kobe, Iverson, McGrady, and Carter—Allen holds his own among these giants, with rising star Wade joining their ranks as well.

Meanwhile, power forward Wilcox, though not as skilled as Big Z, brings athleticism and mobility, making him a more versatile option alongside Ben Wallace, enhancing the Cavaliers' lineup structure.

Moreover, this trade wasn't a direct swap between Big Z and Wilcox. Larry Hughes was the main trade piece for acquiring Ray Allen, while Wilcox was added to balance the salary cap.

With Ray Allen on board, the Cavaliers now have a formidable lineup featuring All-Stars James, Ray Allen, and Ben Wallace. While they may not match the Bulls' trio of Wang Chong, Garnett, and Billups, they are certainly the best team in the Eastern Conference and a strong support system for James.

This trade also marked a turning point for the four recognized stars from the 2003 draft class, each of whom now had strong rosters and teammates around them. Wang Chong joined forces with Garnett, Wade partnered with O'Neal, Anthony teamed up with Iverson, and James got his own star support in Ray Allen.

For neutral fans, Wang Chong and the Bulls clearly stood out as a Tier 0 powerhouse, with the remaining three at Tier 1, still playoff-bound teams with high chances of making it to the second round or even the Conference Finals.

This dynamic put those lagging behind even more on edge.

Yes, this includes the Lakers' No. 24.

After witnessing several large trades in just two weeks, the Lakers hadn't made any moves, and impatience was starting to show.

In this timeline, without Wang Chong as a disruptor from the future, Kobe would almost certainly have joined the Bulls after the 2006-07 season due to frustration with the Lakers' lack of progress.

But with Wang Chong's presence, the Lakers now have a better bargaining chip than they did in the original 06-07 season.

With Kobe demanding immediate reinforcement trades, the Lakers' management scrambled to make moves. After negotiations, they reached a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, sending Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Eddy Curry to the Grizzlies.

While this trade doesn't rival the original Pau Gasol deal for the Lakers, it's reasonable, as the Lakers acquired an All-Star power forward in his prime without giving up a first-round pick.

As a result, the Lakers' three-man lineup of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom—a dominant frontcourt for the next two championships—was formed ahead of schedule.

End of this chapter

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