"Dwyane, let me tell you, don't underestimate Cleveland. It might be a small city, but the basketball atmosphere here is incredible, absolutely no worse than where you're from."
James slung an arm around Wade's shoulder, introducing him to Cleveland's culture.
At that moment, the bartender approached to serve them drinks. Upon seeing it was James and Tang Long, he greeted them enthusiastically.
Hearing that James and Tang Long were present, patrons in the nightclub began shaking their glasses and glow sticks, shouting their names.
"See? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"
Wade shot James a look, understanding perfectly what he was hinting at.
Wade had also been widely adored by fans in the past, his popularity no less than James'. However, he was now hearing boos from some fans who believed he was hindering the Heat's progress and that he should make way for better talent.
"LeBron, I know what you two are up to. Let me think about it."
James and Tang Long exchanged glances and nodded.
At this point, there was no need for further persuasion. Wade's expression of willingness to consider it was enough.
They didn't press the issue further and instead engaged in a casual conversation with Dwyane.
Wade had clearly had a bit too much to drink. Tang Long and James escorted him back to the hotel. Tang Long, being considerate, asked the hotel staff to look after Wade, concerned he might be unwell from drinking.
The next day, Wade slept until late morning. Despite a slight headache, he instinctively opened the team's official website, wanting to check which teams had made it into the playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers held a solid first-place position with no suspense. Following them were the Celtics, Pistons, Magic, Wizards, Raptors, 76ers, and Hawks.
According to playoff seeding, the Cavaliers would face the Hawks, the Celtics would play the 76ers, the Pistons would meet the Raptors, and the Magic would contend against the Wizards.
The Western Conference also held little suspense. The Lakers led with 57 wins, followed closely by the Hornets with 56 wins. The Spurs also had 56 wins, ranking third. The Jazz were fourth, and the Rockets fifth. These two old rivals would meet again. The Suns were sixth, the Mavericks seventh, and the last team to secure a playoff spot was the Nuggets.
The Warriors were in ninth place with 48 wins, only two games behind the Nuggets. Crucially, while teams were fiercely competing for playoff spots, the Hornets had ended their season with two consecutive losses.
Wade sighed. Compared to others, the Heat, with their 15 wins for the entire season, ranked at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. It was quite embarrassing.
"Sir, you're awake."
At that moment, a server entered the room. Seeing Wade awake, he let out a sigh of relief.
Tang Long made him work hard for that tip.
"You look quite tired," Wade observed, being a perceptive person himself.
"Sir, Mr. Tang asked me to check on you periodically and see if you had any requests. I haven't rested all night. Now that you're awake, I can call Mr. Tang back."
"Is that so? Thank you for your trouble."
Saying this, Wade handed the server a hundred US dollars.
The server quickly waved his hands. "Sir, no need. Mr. Tang has already paid. He gave me five hundred US dollars!"
Wade felt a bit embarrassed.
Watching the server skip away joyfully, Wade murmured, "Being teammates with these guys... it seems like it wouldn't be too bad."
...
"Everyone, in three days, we'll be playing the Hawks at home. So, today is a day off. We'll have two days of intensive training starting tomorrow to prepare for the playoffs."
Mike Brown scanned the team, raising his voice. "No drinking during this break, no visiting nightclubs, and absolutely no trouble. Anyone who disrupts our playoff preparation will be sent to the Development League!"
"Alright, meeting dismissed."
Mike Brown announced the end of the meeting but asked Tang Long and James to stay behind.
"LeBron, Tang, how did your interaction with Wade go?"
After all, private contact with players only represented an intention. A true transfer required the head coach's involvement, especially with star players. It wasn't just about the coach; it also involved tactical arrangements suited to the star, on-court support, and even promising future prospects.
"I think he's starting to be swayed," James mused. "Coach, it's your turn to step in."
"Tang, do you agree?"
Tang Long nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Mike Brown's phone rang. After a few sentences, Mike Brown's expression darkened, and he appeared quite angry.
A moment later, Mike Brown hung up the phone and looked at Tang Long. "Tang, the Chinese Basketball Association is looking for you. Our staff has temporarily arranged for them in the reception room."
Tang Long paused, then reacted. "I'll go meet them then."
"Wait."
Mike Brown called out to Tang Long and, after a moment of hesitation, said, "If you feel pressured, you can push it onto me. I won't let you go."
Tang Long nodded, still somewhat puzzled.
After meeting with the two members of the Chinese Basketball Association, Tang Long understood why Mike Brown had looked so displeased earlier.
The Association's intention was for Tang Long to return to the team earlier. After all, the Olympics were in August, and the Association hoped Tang Long would familiarize himself more with his teammates to achieve a better result on home soil.
This clearly conflicted with Mike Brown's plans.
Especially this season, Mike Brown was aiming for a championship. If Tang Long was distracted, the Cavaliers might once again fall short in the playoff finals, which would surely infuriate him.
"Alright, as soon as the competition ends, I'll return to China immediately."
The Association members frowned slightly. "Tang Long, you must understand that national honor is paramount. It's just a league. We hope you can return to the team as soon as possible. We've already arranged practice games with some Asian teams. The sooner you return, the better the players will mesh. Don't you want to see our national flag raised high on the basketball court?"
"Of course, I do, but..."
"That's settled then."
The two from the Association stood up. "In June, we'll have a few friendly matches with some Central Asian teams. Report as early as possible."
Tang Long opened his mouth, but swallowed his words.
At this point, he began to understand why Mike Brown's expression had been so grim earlier.
He emerged from the reception room to find James waiting at the door. Seeing Tang Long's constipated expression, James put an arm around his shoulder. "What's wrong? Is it about the national team?"
Tang Long nodded.
"If you don't want to go, then don't."
James said this casually. In the United States, many star players were reluctant to participate in the Olympics or national team games, so James found it hard to comprehend.