NBA: LeBron James wants to team up with me

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With the growing popularity of Transformers in the United States, Wang Chong gained both wealth and fame.

During this period, transactions and trades were still taking place within the league.

However, after experiencing the frenzied trades of July, the league was notably quieter in August. Occasionally, there were some trades, but they were more symbolic and minor.

Essentially, the league's structure for the new season was already set.

ESPN began rating each team's offseason moves during the summer.

The Bulls' five-for-one trade to acquire Kevin Garnett was rated an A+, the highest in the league.

According to ESPN, although Garnett's performance had slightly declined last season and he wasn't selected for the All-NBA Team, he still maintained accolades such as leading in rebounds and being on the All-Defensive Second Team. Garnett averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in the regular season, solidifying his place as one of the league's top superstars.

Although the Bulls paid a hefty price to acquire Garnett and dismantled half their team, the arrival of this elite superstar, now forming a "Big Three" with Wang Chong and Chauncey Billups, promised to take the Bulls to an even more powerful level.

The Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol and the Cavaliers signing Ray Allen were both rated as A-tier moves.

Gasol complements Kobe Bryant, while Ray Allen pairs well with LeBron James. Both combinations seemed to fit seamlessly into their respective playing styles. Fans eagerly awaited how the Lakers and Cavaliers would perform in the upcoming season.

The Magic's move to sign Rashard Lewis from the SuperSonics with a $100 million contract was rated B+. While Lewis is undoubtedly a very good player, the 5-year, $100+ million contract was slightly overvalued, and he had yet to officially deliver.

Nevertheless, with this deal, the Magic secured an All-Star forward, which was better than nothing.

As for the new season's power rankings, even though the preseason had not yet begun, media outlets had already made their predictions.

At the top of the list were the reigning champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

Though the Spurs made virtually no offseason moves after winning the championship, retaining their original lineup was enough to make them the favorites for the new season. The dominance they displayed during last season's playoffs was apparent to everyone and deserving of attention.

The second-ranked team was Wang Chong's Chicago Bulls.

This was hardly surprising. Acquiring Garnett essentially meant the Bulls now had two MVP-caliber superstars alongside All-Star point guard Billups. The combination of these three far outclassed Boston's "Big Three."

After all, while Boston's trio of Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen was sensational, Billups, who doesn't hold an FMVP, might be slightly inferior to Pierce and Allen in terms of star power. However, despite having only four years of professional experience, Wang Chong's individual accolades vastly outshone those of his Boston counterparts.

Combined, the honors of Pierce and Ray Allen didn't measure up to Wang Chong's achievements.

At the end of the 2006-07 season, Pierce had only two All-NBA Third Team selections, while Ray Allen had one Second Team and one Third Team selection, totaling four All-NBA selections between them. In contrast, Wang Chong had been named to the All-NBA Team three times in three seasons, including two First Team selections, and had the league's highest individual honor, a regular-season MVP award—something Pierce and Allen could not compete with.

However, there was a key difference. After the Celtics formed their "Big Three," they significantly impacted the league and initiated the trend of building superteams. Though their trio wasn't as extreme as some in recent years, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen were undeniably in their prime.

Before they joined forces in the 2007-08 season, Garnett averaged 22+13+4, Ray Allen 26+4+4, and Pierce 25+6+4 during the 2006-07 season. Each still had at least three peak years remaining, making them anything but a fading group.

In fact, the Celtics' Big Three remained the Miami Heat's biggest Eastern Conference rivals even five years later in the 2011-12 season. Battling through seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals highlighted their enduring strength.

Still, no one accused the Bulls' "Big Three" of forming a superteam, and the reasoning was simple: the processes and methods behind the Bulls' and Celtics' formations were entirely different.

Wang Chong joined the Bulls in the 2005-06 season, Billups arrived via midseason trade last year, and Garnett was acquired through a blockbuster trade this offseason—a step-by-step process. It wasn't a case of three players agreeing to team up simultaneously to chase a championship.

Though the lineup seemed overwhelming and unique in the league, it wasn't labeled as a superteam. Instead, it was seen as a testament to the Bulls' management (or, more accurately, Wang Chong) and their excellent planning and execution of trades.

Despite the identical results, the processes and philosophies were vastly different. Otherwise, by this logic, 99% of league teams could be accused of forming superteams, including the 1990s Bulls with Jordan and Pippen or Kobe's Lakers.

Would anyone claim Jordan and Pippen formed a superteam? Or that OKC's young trio was one?

Some wondered if Garnett, a fiery personality known as a tough guy, joining the Bulls would lead to clashes over leadership with Wang Chong. Would they end up like Wang Chong and Kobe during his Lakers days, unable to coexist?

This scenario was highly unlikely.

If Garnett were 26, the two might indeed butt heads. Garnett himself has a strong, flamboyant personality, similar to Wang Chong. When two players with dominant personalities team up, conflicts are inevitable, and they often escalate.

But Garnett was turning 31 this season and clearly knew what he wanted: to win as many championships as possible during his final peak years.

Though he didn't meet Wang Chong in person during the offseason, the two had multiple phone conversations to clarify their roles for the new season. Wang Chong would focus on offense, while Garnett would anchor the defense. Their synergy would maximize the Bulls' effectiveness.

When asked by reporters about his role in Chicago, Garnett said without hesitation:

"The Bulls are Wang Chong's team. He just won the regular-season MVP and secured back-to-back scoring titles. He's the best fit to lead the team. My job is to use my experience to help Wang Chong and the Bulls win a championship."

When asked how many championships they could win together, Garnett smiled and said, "I think more than one. I trust Wang Chong's abilities."

End of this chapter

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