Eight Hundred and Twenty-Three: Reach a Contract

Latest website: Jimmy Butler woke up groggy, but found Link beside him still watching the video of the game.

He rubbed his eyes, stretched out, and asked in a puzzled way, "Why is it Stephen Curry again?"

At this point, Butler and Link were sitting on a plane to Memphis. In order to attend Randolph's wedding, the two temporarily put aside training in training camp and returned to Memphis for a few days.

Although it is the offseason, Link and Butler's training intensity in training camp is not small. Their training assignments were several of all the other guys in the camp, so the two were actually quite exhausted.

After finally getting a few days off, Butler naturally wanted to relax. People say he is a perpetual motion machine, but he is actually tired.

So once on the plane, Butler asked for a blanket and fell asleep comfortably. Getting up after 6 o'clock every day to train, Butler can't stand it.

However, Link was staring at the game video after he got on the plane until Butler woke up, and he was still watching. And, just watch the video of Curry and the Warriors.

Since his last encounter with Stephen Curry in the Drew League, Butler has found that Link cares a lot about Curry.

Whether in the hotel room or on the plane, as long as he was free, Link followed and stared at the video of Curry and the Warriors like a fascination.

Butler couldn't understand what Link was looking at. After all, the Warriors were only the seventh-best Western Conference last season. And they were easily eliminated by the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

And the Spurs, who killed the Warriors, only won one victory over the Grizzlies.

In Butler's view, the Warriors are no threat at all. After the Warriors failed to pursue Iguodala this summer, they never made any heavyweight moves. That said, their core lineup has barely changed from last season.

Could a team that finished seventh in the West last season with no changes to its core turn into a championship contender in a summer? It's impossible!

So, Butler couldn't help but ask the question he had been holding in his mind for a long time, "Why is it Stephen Curry again?"

After Link heard Butler's voice, he pressed the pause button and rubbed his eyes.

"Huh... What time is it? It should be almost there.

"Link looked out the window, but couldn't see anything but white clouds.

"There's still an hour to land, hello, why don't you answer my question?"

"Question? Oh, why is Stephen Curry again...I know what you're thinking, Jimmy. Seventh in the West, one round of the playoffs, no superstars, head coaches changed. Look. Go up, the Golden State Warriors are not worth mentioning at all. But don't forget, we were also not worth mentioning at the beginning. When we won the championship for the first time a year ago, no one believed that the Memphis Grizzlies who were not worth mentioning could really do arrive."

"We are different from the Warriors. Before winning the championship, we have reached the Western Conference finals for two consecutive years. We were not that far away from the finals and the championship at that time." Butler spread his hands, he did not think that now The Warriors are comparable to the Grizzlies a few years ago.

"Not so far away? Haha, there is essentially no difference between falling in the Western Conference finals and falling in the first round. Both are losers. It's true that we are the defending champions, but we still have to be in awe of every opponent. , Jimmy. Only the most prepared will have the last laugh."

After Link finished speaking, he patted Jimmy Butler on the shoulder meaningfully. If the Grizzlies want to complete their three-peat next season, Butler will have to shoulder a heavier responsibility.

It's time for him to mature.

"Stop talking about this, I'll sleep for a while. I almost forgot, I'm on vacation." Link closed the computer and temporarily left Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles.

※※※

Zach Randolph's wedding was very similar to Marc Gasol's.

Although it is not difficult for them to hold a luxurious wedding, they all chose to be low-key very uniformly.

In a remote church on the outskirts of Memphis, out of sight of reporters and fans, Randolph and his wife, Farne Drake, exchanged wedding rings and committed their lives to each other.

At the moment when he put on the ring for his wife, the "big black bear" in a white suit, the sturdy villain on the court, actually cried with joy.

"33 years old...I didn't know who my biological father was until the beginning of this year, I didn't find my father until I was 33. So I decided to end my long love run with Drake, I didn't want to be like my father , I don't want my kids to know who their father is until they're 33. From now on, I'll take good care of you, I'll protect you, and I love you."

Randolph picked up the microphone and confessed affectionately to his wife and children, and couldn't help but get rosy eyes.

This was the first time Link saw such a gentle side of Randolph.

The "cancer" that everyone used to call and beat in the past shocked Link for the second time this summer.

After the church service, Randolph and the woman's family and friends moved to the hotel, where the wedding dinner will begin.

At the dinner, Link and Grizzlies teammates went up to congratulate Randolph with wine glasses.

"Congratulations, Zach. From now on, I won't be able to make fun of you about getting married. I wish you happiness, man." Link sent his congratulations from the bottom of his heart.

"I am also very happy that you can come. Thank you. You have made me a better version of myself. Next season, we have to work together."

The wine in the cup was drained in one go, and everyone dispersed happily. But Link still didn't leave. He stayed beside Randolph and took another glass of wine from the tray.

"That...it's been a while, but I still want to say, thank you, Zach." Link said, raising his glass for the second time.

"Thank me? Thank me for what?" Randolph was a little puzzled.

"Thank you for taking the initiative to take a pay cut for the team, I know, it's not easy..."

"Okay, okay, what am I doing. It's over, there's nothing to thank you for. But if you really want to thank me..." Randolph looked at Link and raised his eyebrows .

"Tell me, Zach, what do you need me to do? As long as it is within my power, I will promise you."

"Well, if you really want to thank me, sell me the house. I like the location, and I like the big lake behind your house. That way, I can go fishing with my kids every day when I get up."

"Okay, but I can't sell it to you, I can't take your money, but I'll give you that house directly." Link replied without hesitation.

This time, Randolph was stunned. He didn't expect Link to be so straightforward!

"Fuck, are you a fool? You just gave away the house like this? I was joking, I didn't expect you to agree to such a request." Randolph shook his head. He wanted to make fun of Link, but he didn't expect Link was so serious.

"I'm not joking, I'm serious." Link spread his hands, he might buy another one elsewhere.

"Okay, why do I want your house. If you really want to thank me, Link, try your best to bring us to the top next season. I'm taking a pay cut for the championship! Three consecutive championships, If we can do it, the city of Memphis is going to be a big place in basketball history! That's all I want, Link. This time, I'm not kidding."

Link stared at Randolph's serious eyes, nodded lightly, and drank the second glass of wine in one breath.

"I'm going to fight for a three-peat, Zach, I promise."

After drinking, Link stretched out his fist and touched Randolph lightly.

For Link, it was a sort of "contract" with Randolph.

At the end of the dinner, Randolph's bride turned her back to the crowd and threw the flowers heralding love and happiness in her hands.

Link originally just watched the fun and didn't want to rob it.

But the bouquet of flowers fell precisely into Link's arms with an elegant parabola like a three-pointer shot by Stephen Curry.

Link looked at the flowers, and then looked at the people who were coaxing.

It looks like my next year will be quite exciting.

Whether it's on the basketball court or in life.