"Two years, $21 million. That's the highest offer I can give you."
Lance said.
"Can you give me a few minutes to think about it? I'll call you back shortly and give you a definite answer."
Yao Ming spoke seriously.
"No problem."
Beep, beep, beep.
The call ended.
In the past, Yao Ming would have dismissed an offer like this without a second thought. After all, at his peak, he had earned as much as $18 million a year.
But now, he was being offered only a little over $10 million per season.
Considering that he felt his condition was already fairly good, accepting an annual salary nearly half of what he used to make was difficult to swallow.
If he hadn't spent the past several days getting rejected over and over, and Lance's two-year, $21 million deal had been the first offer he received, there was more than a ninety percent chance he would have turned it down.
But now... he hesitated.
He had no choice but to hesitate.
He had been forced to confront the harsh reality of a business-driven league.
Or rather, he finally had to recognize just how devastating injuries could be to a player's career.
Yao Ming didn't know whether he would become another "The Natural" Brandon Roy or another T-Mac.
But after one setback after another, he had come to understand something clearly.
He was no longer the "Giant" who had once stood among the very best centers in the Western Conference.
He had to face reality.
He had to accept how other people viewed him in his current condition.
"Over $10 million a year really isn't that low for someone coming off injuries as serious as mine. It's already much higher than what the other teams offered me.
"I believe I can play well above what that salary suggests, but first, I need time to prove myself.
"I need to prove that I'm healthy.
"Otherwise, even if I can eventually return to my peak, it won't mean anything if I never get the playing time or the opportunity to return to the NBA in the first place."
Once he reached that conclusion, a determined light flashed in Yao Ming's eyes.
He immediately called Lance back.
"General Manager Lance, regarding your offer...
"I'm willing to accept it."
"Excellent. Congratulations on becoming a member of the Suns."
Lance smiled.
And so, after being turned away by team after team, Yao Ming finally signed a respectable two-year, $21 million contract with the Suns.
The next day, the Suns officially announced the signing.
The news immediately caused quite a stir online.
"Damn! Yao Ming, the former 'No. 1 Center in the West,' is joining the Suns? Doesn't that make Phoenix even stronger?!"
"We're screwed."
"Hahaha, you said it yourself. Former.
"Yao Ming has already been ruined by injuries.
"Why do you think someone who used to be that good was let go by the Rockets and ended up with the Suns?
"It's because of his injuries. The Yao Ming of today is nowhere near the level he was when he was considered the best center in the West. He's finished."
"Exactly. Two years, $21 million? Have the Suns lost their minds? Or did winning the championship make them so much money that they can just throw it away now?!
"Yao Ming isn't worth that kind of contract anymore."
"Yao Ming is already washed. Stop wasting the Suns' cap space and just retire."
"Exactly. If you ask me, Yao Ming only joined Phoenix so he could ride 'The Emperor' Blake's coattails and pick up a championship ring."
"Hmph. Quit talking nonsense. I think Yao Ming has recovered really well. Just wait. Next season, he's going to prove all of you wrong."
"Is that so? We'll see."
"..."
Yao Ming had joined the Suns on a contract worth more than $10 million per year, yet instead of receiving much praise, he was met with wave after wave of criticism.
In short, very few people believed in the recovering Yao Ming.
And in truth, Lance had originally felt the same way as the other teams.
He hadn't been optimistic about Yao Ming and had no intention of signing him.
It was only because Blake had recommended Yao Ming that Lance decided to take the chance and offer him a relatively generous contract.
In other words, Lance himself didn't believe that a player who had suffered so many injuries could truly recover.
But he believed in Blake's judgment.
And because of that, he ultimately chose to believe in Yao Ming as well.
What the rest of the league didn't know was that Yao Ming's miraculous recovery only looked unreliable from the outside, as though another injury could strike at any moment.
In reality, after taking the [Injury Reduction Candies] and devoting himself completely to rehabilitation, Yao Ming really had recovered significantly.
At full effort, he genuinely could perform at around eighty percent of his peak.
He might not have been able to return to one hundred percent, but was an eighty-percent healthy Yao Ming really not worth $10 million a year?
Of course not.
But if Yao Ming wanted to prove it, if he wanted to silence everyone who looked down on him, he would have to wait until next season.
...
Meanwhile, Blake was on vacation with Mia, Curry and Ayesha, along with George, who had only recently become single.
Around the same time, at a famous beach in Los Angeles, Blake, Curry, and George were stretched out side by side on three lounge chairs, soaking up the sun and enjoying themselves.
Mia and Ayesha had gone down to the water to look for seashells.
Just then, Blake received a call from Yao Ming.
Yao Ming's cheerful voice came through the phone.
"Blake, I've got some good news. I officially signed with the Suns. We'll be teammates next season."
"Really?"
Blake already knew, of course, but pretended otherwise.
"That's great. I'm looking forward to playing together next season.
"Let's show the entire league what we're capable of."
"Yeah!"
Yao Ming nodded seriously.
"Everyone out there thinks I'm just riding your coattails. I'm going to prove myself."
"Mm."
Blake nodded as well.
"And Yao, make sure you take care of your body. We still have the next Olympics to look forward to."
"I understand. I will."
After all the brutal rejection he had experienced, Yao Ming now understood the importance of staying healthy more clearly than ever.
He valued his health even more than before.
He had made up his mind not to let himself get injured so easily again.
Beep, beep, beep.
The call ended.
Blake then shared the news with George and Curry, neither of whom had been paying much attention to league news lately.
Both were delighted.
"Really?!"
Curry immediately sat up in his lounge chair and took off his sunglasses.
"That's great! With Yao Ming, our strength inside could practically double."
"Exactly."
George nodded with a grin.
"Sure, the Suns already have the 'No. 1 Center in the League,' but that guy only has the title.
"He never does any of the dirty work inside. He doesn't play like a center at all.
"Now that we've got Yao Ming, at least our rebounding is finally covered."
"Hey, hey, hey."
Blake gave George a sideways look.
"I feel like that was aimed at me, but I have no proof."
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
The three bros, Blake, Curry, and George, continued enjoying their carefree vacation amid laughter.
But the day after the Suns officially announced Yao Ming's signing, another deal went down around the league.
A blockbuster trade that could completely reshape the NBA!!!