Chapter 83

Two days later, Philadelphia.

"Finally back!"

Upon returning home, Chen Mu felt every muscle in his body ache as if it wasn't his own. He quickly took off his shirt and plopped down on the sofa, unable to move another inch. He wished he could merge with the sofa and stay there forever, watching TV and eating chips.

During the game against the Mavericks, thanks to Chen Mu's strong performance in the final moments, a crucial assist, a successful defense, a defensive rebound, and a follow-up dunk, the 76ers miraculously won the game away from home against the powerful Mavericks, adding another victory to their road trip.

The road trip lasted over ten days, with six consecutive away games. Among the opponents were superpowers like the Suns and the Mavericks, as well as strong teams like the Clippers and the Nuggets. Before the trip, many media outlets predicted that the 76ers' record would plummet after this series of away games.

Fortunately, the team erupted with surprising strength, winning the two games they were least expected to win. Although they were thoroughly beaten by the Clippers and lost to the evenly matched Jazz, achieving a 4-2 record in this grueling road trip was enough to let the team relax a bit.

Thanks to the surge after the All-Star break, the 76ers' record soared, placing them second in the Atlantic Division, just behind the Nets.

However, the Atlantic Division was not very strong. Even ranking second in the division, the 76ers were still a ways from their goal of making the playoffs. Despite the well-known intention of the management to rebuild, the transformation from a Finals contender to a lottery team in just five years was hard for fans to accept.

After the road trip, Chen Mu thought Coach Cheeks would definitely give the team a day off. But unexpectedly, the old coach was still fixated on the losses, even criticizing the wins. Instead, he started training the team the afternoon they returned to Philadelphia.

After more than a day of continuous training, Chen Mu felt like his body was falling apart. He didn't want to move at all, wishing he could become one with the sofa and stay there forever, watching TV and eating chips.

"... After the loss to the 76ers, the Mavericks' players appeared very dejected. In the post-game press conference, the team's star, Dirk Nowitzki, called it a 'humiliating loss,' stating that the team's lack of focus led to the comeback and loss."

Turning on the TV, a sports news program was on. On the screen, Nowitzki was being interviewed, first explaining the reasons for the team's poor performance, then taking responsibility for the loss.

"I missed that shot, that's all."

A reporter then asked Nowitzki about his thoughts on the rookie Chen Mu, who he faced. Nowitzki's face showed a complex expression, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "A genius, this Chinese big man is a genius. I mean, not just his physical attributes, shooting skills, and court vision, but he has something that transcends the court and his experience."

Nowitzki didn't elaborate on what "transcends the court and his experience" meant, but after a routine praise, he concluded, "The Chinese kid can become a top power forward, I'm sure of it."

The news ended, and the host in the studio continued to discuss the game. In fact, the game had been over for two days, yet it still held a prominent position in the weekly sports news, which surprised Chen Mu.

However, a weak team winning away from home, especially reversing a strong team, was indeed rare and worthy of significant coverage.

"... The Mavericks' owner, Mark Cuban, praised the rising Chinese big man and indicated that he might join the chase for Chen Mu during the upcoming off-season."

What?

Chen Mu was shocked, unable to believe what he heard. On the news, Cuban spoke confidently, though his mood was not great after the loss. However, when the topic turned to Chen Mu, he seemed interested.

"Yes, I would. I've said it before, the Mavericks' doors are always open to talented young players."

Cuban's expression brightened, "The Chinese kid, a cool guy, huh? Rebounds, mid-range shots, playmaking, mobility, and inside presence, all of these are great. Although his defense needs improvement, he's young and has a good physical foundation, so it's not hard to develop."

After the praise, the reporter asked Cuban how much he would be willing to pay for a player like Chen Mu. Without hesitation, Cuban pointed with his hand and said, "The full mid-level exception, that's the minimum. Yes, his stats are great, and his inside presence is strong, but we already have Dirk, so we don't need another mid-range shooter. The Mavericks want a defensive center, a mobile defensive big man, and that's well-known."

"What if you didn't have Dirk? How much would you be willing to pay for him?" the reporter followed up.

"Hah, an interesting question. Without Dirk, hmm..."

Cuban thought for a moment, then looked into the camera as if speaking directly to Chen Mu, "4 years, $35 million, kid, come to the Mavericks, ha ha!"

4 years, $35 million!

Chen Mu gasped, his mouth wide open, unable to recover for a long time.

Although Cuban was generous, 4 years and $35 million, with a starting salary of over $9 million and increasing each year, would break the $10 million mark in the final year.

Am I... that marketable?

So far, in the games Chen Mu had played, he averaged 128 points, 124 rebounds, and 28 assists.

Although his blocks and steals were less than one per game, as Cuban said, with Chen Mu's talent and work ethic, improving his defense was not difficult.

These stats were indeed impressive, but the sample size was still small. A closer look at Chen Mu's performance trends revealed that consistency was his biggest weakness.

He could score a double-double and dish out 8 assists in one game, but in the next, he might completely lose his way, scoring only 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, with 3-4 turnovers.

This significant disparity in performance always left Chen Mu unsatisfied and gave Coach Cheeks a headache.

How to improve his consistency? What was the problem? Chen Mu himself was unsure.

However, as an undrafted rookie, Chen Mu's exceptional talent, especially his rapidly evolving skills, had indeed attracted the attention of many teams.

After this season, Chen Mu's contract with the 76ers would be up, and as a free agent, he would have the right to choose the team that offered the highest bid.

In the 2005-2006 NBA season, max contracts and large deals were not as common as they would become later. However, with Chen Mu's double-double average, a contract with an average salary of $8 to $10 million was still within reach.

A few days ago, D'Amato had called Chen Mu, mentioning that during a private dinner with the owner of the Magic, the latter had expressed a strong interest in finding a big man who could stretch the floor to pair with Dwight Howard. The implication was clear: the Magic wanted to pursue Chen Mu in the off-season.

Additionally, teams like the Kings, Trail Blazers, Grizzlies, and Nets had also expressed interest in Chen Mu, albeit indirectly.

According to the rules, after this season, Chen Mu would become a restricted free agent. If he did not sign an early extension with the 76ers, he could listen to offers from other teams. The 76ers could match any offer, and if they did, Chen Mu would have to stay.

Chen Mu had a good relationship with the 76ers and Philadelphia, but if Allen Iverson were traded, the team would face unprecedented challenges in the next season. Could he and Iguodala carry the team on their own?

Chen Mu was uncertain.

The advantage of being an undrafted player was that he was not subject to the NBA's salary cap for rookies. Whether a first-round or second-round pick, the NBA had strict regulations, making it difficult to earn big money in the early years.

As an undrafted player, Chen Mu signed with the 76ers as a free agent, so he was not bound by these restrictions. The next contract could be negotiated within a reasonable range, and the specific amount could be discussed with the team.

Ha ha, I'm going to be a millionaire!

Thinking about the potential income from the new contract, Chen Mu became excited.

I'll buy a big house, a luxury car, and a building for my parents, and they can live in whichever room they want! Wow!

"Ring ring"

Just as Chen Mu was daydreaming, his phone rang. He opened it to see a message from Su Yin.

"Bro, I saw the news that the Mavericks want you. Can you not go to the Mavericks? Come back to the Suns, ha ha~!"

At the end of the message was a smiley face. Chen Mu smiled and replied, "I don't know where I'll be next season. If I decide, I'll tell you right away!"

After sending the message, Chen Mu looked out the window and muttered to himself, "It's time to pay attention to the market trends..."

There were about 40 days left until the end of the 2005-2006 regular season.

==========

Unconsciously, the first season was almost over. Although it was filled with ups and downs, it was still Chen Mu's rookie year, with both high points and low points, and he had carved out a small niche for himself.

There would be more exciting games ahead, and Chen Mu would continue to perform well. Then... hehe, the time to dominate would come.

The curtain of the new season would soon be raised. How much would Chen Mu's contract increase? Could he enter the world of the wealthy? I'm looking forward to it too!

This Wednesday, I will keep my promise and update with 10,000 words today! This is the first update. As usual, the second update will be at 12:30 PM, and the third at 8:10 PM. Don't forget to check back!

I also have some good news to share. For a while now, we have been the only sports novel in the top ten of the sports category, thanks to everyone's support! As always, sports never die, and basketball never fades. Let's embrace basketball and head to the court, go go go!

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