Since speaking on the phone with Link, Howard has been quick to reach out to Grizzlies management.

As a result, trials and interviews were quickly arranged.

Under normal circumstances, Howard doesn't need to report in advance. He just needs to show up on time on the day of the tryout and interview to be polite enough.

However, to the surprise of Grizzlies management, Howard actually came a day early for individual training.

In his words: "I want to get used to it early and play better in the tryouts. ”

Naturally, Link wouldn't be idle enough to run to see Howard, but Link was still a little surprised to learn that Howard appeared early.

Is this attitude really Howard?

If Howard had to have this attitude in the Lakers back then, he and Kobe Bryant would not have a falling out.

That night, Howard also sent a text message to Link asking him to attend his interview and tryout tomorrow.

Strictly speaking, Link is Howard's junior. When Link entered the league as an undrafted pick, Howard was already a superstar.

In the NBA league, it is still more important to talk about seniority. No matter how good you are, you generally have to be respectful to the senior players. And the seniors will not be so low-minded to the juniors in most cases.

Like Tony last season. Allen and Randolph, their strength is no longer as good as that of young people such as Jokic and Dinwiddie, but Jokic and Dinwiddie still have to listen to those two old guys.

But now, Howard, as a senior, treats Link as an interviewer.

This is enough to show that Howard really put his posture very low, even lower than in front of the media.

Has that guy really changed? We'll find out tomorrow.

※※※

At noon the next day, Link drove to his home stadium.

At this time, outside the Federal Express Arena, several huge posters of new players have been hung.

Rose, Jermichael. Green and Morris brothers, next season, Link will play alongside them.

For the above four people, Link still has expectations. But for Howard, for some reason, Link just couldn't get interested.

After all, it's really hard to imagine how a person can suddenly make such a big turn.

By the time I parked my car and walked into the training hall, there were already several staff members on the field testing Howard's various statistics.

And Link couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw Howard on the court.

Howard's figure is a full circle thinner than before!

"Surprised, huh? I was also shocked. It is said that he strictly controlled his diet this summer, trained like crazy, and lost 25 pounds in four weeks! He has returned to his best form in recent years and, of course, has given him greater mobility. ”

Next to Link, Dave. Joggle looked at Howard with a smile on his face.

In this day and age, the standard of a center requires that he must be able to eat cake offensively, be able to delay defensively, move quickly, and be able to help defend and protect the basket.

And in Howard's style, a large delay is simply not possible, and squatting under the basket is the norm. Once the misplaced change of defense, he was beaten into a sieve in minutes.

After weight loss, these shortcomings of Howard will be significantly improved.

25 pounds, that's more than 20 pounds of meat. With so much weight loss, it's impossible to do without an increase in flexibility.

Although this can't directly turn Howard into a top defense master, it won't be caught and beaten up at this point.

It can be seen that Howard began to adapt to the times and began to actively seek change. These are things he couldn't do before.

Throughout the tryout, Howard showed his good athletic and physical condition.

Although only 9 games were played last season, it is almost equivalent to a season reimbursement. But it can be seen that he has put a lot of effort into staying in shape.

"How? He did fit our requirements very well. After watching Howard's tryout, Joggle turned his head and asked Link.

Howard wiped his sweat with a towel while looking at Link and Joggle on the sidelines.

Although he used to be an opponent with Link, even a sworn enemy.

But Howard is well aware that now he needs a nod from Link to get a job.

On the Grizzlies, Chris. Wallace nodded uselessly, Dave. Jogger's nod was useless.

Only those who are approved by Delink can stay in Memphis.

"It also depends on whether he can accept his role." Link didn't come to a conclusion so quickly, after all, it was not his ability that limited Howard, but his attitude.

After the tryout, Link and Joggle went to the head coach's office to wait for Howard to change clothes.

As a result, in less than ten minutes, Howard, who had just been sweating on the training ground, appeared in front of Link and Jogle cleanly.

"Hello, I'm glad you're here today, Link." Howard greeted him with a grin as he walked through the door, a smile like Link hadn't seen on Howard's face in a while.

"Let's ask you a few questions, Dwight." Instead of greetings, Joggle went straight to the point.

Link didn't say a word, acting like a strict interviewer.

It's really a line of love.

"I can answer any question, Coach!" Howard spread his hand and nodded slightly.

"Well, next season, are you willing to accept the tactical role that the team has given you? Specifically, the presence on the offensive end is relatively low, mainly responsible for defense, doing the dirty work such as grabbing rebounds and protecting the restricted area. ”

After Joggle asked the question, Link could already imagine Howard slapping the table and leaving.

If he could accept it, he wouldn't have been so miserable all these years.

Howard has been thinking of himself as a supergiant all these years, he still doesn't like pick-and-roll, and he is very confident that he often plays inside shots. But the most important thing is that his back-to-back shooting rate is not good, which seriously undermines the team's offensive system.

However, in the face of such a blatant question, Howard's smile did not diminish by half a point: "I am willing to do anything for the team, I have learned from the past few seasons, I will focus on rebounding, defense, blocking, pick-and-roll, and shooting near the basket on the court." And only when the coach asks for it, will he play. ”

Link:???

Howard's brain show is funny!?

His answer was simply watertight, "I'm willing to do anything for the team", and the answer was very crisp.

"Can we trust you in the locker room?" This time, it was Link who spoke.

In addition to his on-court role, Howard's other shortcoming is the destruction of the locker room atmosphere.

On Howard's resume, he has left his "bad record" on almost every team!

The application for trade during the Magic period, the contradictions and casual attitude between the Lakers and Kobe Bryant during the F4 period, and the disagreement with Harden during the Rockets period, dissatisfied with the ball......

The most exaggerated is that in the Hawks, a reporter broke the news that there were Hawks players celebrating after Howard was traded!

Newly appointed Wizards general manager Shepard said cutting Howard was the fastest decision of his career......

From all of this, it is not difficult to see that he is definitely a true locker room cancer, and every team wants to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"Of course you can trust me, Link. It's true that in the last few seasons I haven't been the kind of teammate that everyone else needs...... But I've changed my mind and just want a chance to redeem myself. I don't want anything now, I don't fight for anything, I just want to win. Howard's tone was calm, as if he hadn't made a lot of determination, but thought he should have been.

"I used to hate Draymond. The way Green played, but then I noticed that in the playoffs he did everything for the team. He's everywhere, he's got technical fouls, he's making offensive fouls, he's going around to make up defenses, he's always shouting, he's doing pretty much anything. These things don't show up in technical statistics, but everyone who watches the game takes it to heart, and I want to be that person at this point! ”

After saying that, Howard also added to himself.

Yes, the rebuilding team doesn't need a 34-year-old veteran. As for the championship team, the most lacking centers are the Grizzlies and Lakers.

After the Lakers signed Cousins, Howard's only chance was in Memphis.

So, he has to take advantage of the opportunity no matter what. If you can't grasp it, it's likely to be goodbye!

Looking at Howard, who was almost begging for a job offer in front of him, Link and Joggle looked at each other.

Perhaps, he can really play his part.

After that, Link didn't ask any more questions. Because no matter what he asked, Howard was very humble and answered convincingly.

The Grizzlies' final piece of the puzzle may be the most unlikely of these things.