As the wedding progresses, guests toast each other and the band plays to make the atmosphere of the estate extremely romantic.

Henson and Angelie also began to take care of their friends, especially Henson, who made an exception today and drank quite a bit. However, drinking a little a little once in a day is actually not much damage to Henson's body.

Finally, in a small pavilion on the estate, Henson meets Leonard. The taciturn guy didn't seem to like the excitement of the occasion, so he waited until Henson was alone before choosing to come up and toast Henson.

"Congratulations, Chief, happy newlywed, and I wish you eternal happiness."

With a faint smile, Leonard raised his glass at Henson. Henson also raised his glass and touched Leonard, but he knew that Leonard came to him more than just wanting to clink glasses.

Back in the summer of last year, Henson predicted that the Pacers would face a contract extension.

Sure enough, this season, the renewal issue broke out in full swing. Leonard, one of the best young stars in the league right now, deserves a long-term contract with a maximum salary.

But with Horford, Paul and George already in place, the Pacers are having a hard time giving Leonard a contract that he's happy with.

Coupled with Leonard's uncle's obstruction, Leonard, who trusted his family very much, was shaken. So, rumors about Leonard and entering the free agent market this season have long been known throughout the United States.

Therefore, Henson believes that Leonard's trip is not only to bless himself, but also to say goodbye to himself.

"Thank you for your blessings, Kawaii. What do you think? Have you figured out where your next stop is? ”

Henson asked bluntly, causing Leonard to bow his head in some shame.

Henson naturally also knows that after losing Leonard, the strength of the Pacers will definitely drop significantly. But what can he do? He can't break the league rules, and he doesn't have the financial strength to take a stake in the Pacers and take on more luxury taxes for Vivek and Stephen.

Despite the trifecta of the Triple Crown, Indianapolis is not Los Angeles and New York. Like Nets general manager Billy. Jin burns money like that, and not everyone can follow suit.

"I ......" Leonard hesitated, seeming a little guilty. When he decided to leave, the hardest thing he faced was Henson. Although, he is no longer the head coach of the Pacers.

"Say, I'm not going to be angry."

"I'm going to San Antonio." Leonard finished speaking and looked up into Henson's eyes. Soon, though, the league's most feared perimeter defense expert timidly avoided Henson's gaze.

Henson was taken aback, but his expression of surprise only flickered. Yes, the San Antonio people have long coveted Leonard, but Henson was the first to take the lead in that year's draft.

Now, the Spurs have plenty of salary space, and they desperately need a successor to their GDP. Therefore, there will definitely be a crazy pursuit of Leonard.

Moreover, the Spurs are also a team with championship potential. Leonard goes to the Spurs and still has a chance to win the championship. How many players in this world are there who don't want to play for the San Antonio Spurs?

Henson glanced at Popovich, who was eating and drinking, and shook his head. This cunning old man, has he already started the idea of the Pacers without saying a word......

"Boss ......" The silence between the two lasted for dozens of seconds, and was finally broken by Leonard, "You won't blame me, right?" ”

"Why should I blame you, silly boy? It's your career, it's your choice. Although, I do prefer you to stay. However, I have no right to interfere. Because now, I'm just a guy who has nothing to do with basketball. Henson smiled wryly, yes, what right did he have to stop Leonard?

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't dedicate my entire career to Indianapolis, but that's why I chose to go West. At the very least, I can avoid being an enemy of the Pacers as much as possible. ”

"Don't say I'm sorry, I said, it's a personal choice. Be happy, I don't want anyone to cry at my wedding. ”

Henson patted Leonard's sturdy shoulder, and the two had another drink before the taciturn No. 2 striker left with self-reproach.

Leonard left, and the damage to the Pacers is self-evident. Losing a top star in the league is a huge loss for any team.

But what happened to the Pacers didn't stop there, because just 15 minutes after Henson sent Leonard away, Jimmy Bush. Butler also found Henson alone.

Undoubtedly, he also came to say goodbye. The transfer rumors between him and Leonard have been raging since last year. And, Jimmy. Butler's desire to leave is much stronger than Leonard's.

Leonard's side, to put it bluntly, is only a matter of money. He was willing to play for the Pacers, but the money didn't come in.

But Jimmy. Butler, on the other hand, has risen to the issue of career planning.

"At Indianapolis, I'll always be a sixth man, a fourth attacker behind Paul, George, Leonard. But I think my value goes beyond that. I hope you understand me, sir. ”

When Jimmy. When Butler said this, Henson was not surprised. Jimmy. Butler is like a bulldog, which means not only that he is willing to bite desperately on the court, but also that he is equally unruly off the court.

Because of Jimmy. Butler's problem, the Pacers' locker room atmosphere wasn't very good last season. Vogel isn't the kind of coach who can get along with the players completely, and the Bird guy is also very tough. So he and Jimmy. Butler's conversations usually don't have much effect.

When Leonard tells Henson that he wants to leave, Henson can sense Leonard's apology. And in Jimmy. In Butler, Henson felt most of the anger.

And when Henson knew Jimmy. When Butler's next stop was Chicago, he understood why the "pit bull" was so eager to leave.

After Rose fell due to injury, the Chicago Bulls have been leaderless. In the 13-14 season, Rose, who had just returned from injury, played only 10 games before being reimbursed for the season. In the 14-15 season, Rose's attendance was similarly low, playing only 51 games.

And the performance of 17.7 points and 4.9 assists per game in these 51 games clearly does not meet the expectations of Chicagoans for Rose. While Rose averaged a better 20.3 points and 6.5 assists per game in the playoffs, that was on the condition of an increase in shots and a whopping 3.2 turnovers per game.

The scores and assists piled up by the number of shots and turnovers are not high.

In other words, Rose has fallen due to continuous injury torment, and he is no longer the all-powerful "Windy City Rose", and he can no longer play at the level that the youngest MVP should be.

So now, the Bulls need a whole new leader. A younger, healthier, and stronger leader. And the leader in the minds of the Bulls is naturally Jimmy. Butler.

In Indianapolis, Jimmy. Butler was only the sixth. But in Chicago, he was able to ride to Rose and become the star there. Under such conditions, you can also get a higher salary.

Undoubtedly, such an attraction is Jimmy. Butler couldn't resist.

And unlike Leonard, Jimmy. Butler chose to join an Eastern Conference team and remain an old rival of the Pacers. Among them, there seems to be some revenge in it.

You won't let me start, you won't let me be the first card? Okay, then I'll take another team to beat you!

It's just that now in Henson, in front of the most prestigious man on the All-Pacers, Jimmy. Butler struggled to contain his anger. He dared to mess with Vogel in the locker room, but that doesn't mean he dared to argue with Henson as well.

Jimmy. Butler gave Henson enough respect that he didn't lose his temper. What's more, he can't lose his temper casually now.

"Well, I can only wish you all the best in your future career, Jimmy." Henson reminded himself more than once in his heart that none of this had anything to do with him, and that he was no longer the head coach of the Pacers.

"I'm glad to have your blessing, sir. So, once again, I wish you a happy new marriage. May you be happy forever. ”

Henson looked at Jimmy. Butler's back was far away, and he pouted. When he saw the Green Triumvirate go their separate ways, Henson was still a little gloating in his heart.

But now, when this "bastard" saw that the "Galactic Battleship" he had built also began to disintegrate, he realized how heart-wrenching this kind of thing was.

Together, they went from obscurity to global fame. Once, together, they broke countless doubts. Once, they crushed one terrible opponent after another. Once, they won three O'Brien Cups together, they won 73 wins, won 30 in a row, and built a dynasty!

However, there is no such thing as a feast. How long has it been? The Pacers' dynastic roster is starting to fall apart.

Henson struggled to calm his emotions down, reminding himself over and over again that today was his happy day and that he should be happy.

But in the end, Henson. Joe, a stubborn man, must admit it. He couldn't let it go, and he felt sorry for what happened to the Pacers. He didn't want to see the dynasty he had built fall away.

And in the end, it was Bird's request that broke Henson's last psychological defense.

"Come back, Henson. You also know how difficult it is for us now, and you are the godfather of basketball in Indianapolis. How can a 'gang' be without their godfather!? "Bird was a little drunk, and today he had some intention of drinking to kill his sorrows.

So, when he spoke to Henson alone before leaving, he was talking from his heart.

"I'm retired, Bird. And in three days, I'm going to Venice for my honeymoon with Angeli. Please, I'm not basketball. Henson smiled wryly and stuck to his last psychological defense, for the sake of his body and for the sake of Anjiali, he couldn't be so selfish.

"I understand you, brother. I understand...... Once again I wish you a happy wedding and I wish you ......"

"But if you need it, I can give you some advice on team building." Before Bird could finish, Henson interrupted him, "Of course, I won't be in any position with the Indiana Pacers. It's just some personal advice. ”

"Huh!?" Bird jerked his head up, as if the wine had woken up.