"Isiah..."
McCloskey motioned Thomas to get up, and the two came to the player tunnel, and after staying away from several security guards, they said: "Isiah, do you have any thoughts about your comeback? You know what I want to know."
"finally come."
The smile on Isiah Thomas' face faltered slightly.
Of course, he has been considering his position after his comeback, and of course it is difficult for him to accept the possibility of becoming a substitute.
If the team focuses on cultivating Tekken and strives to complete the reconstruction on Tekken, he will become the most important supporting force, and he himself will become Tekken's substitute.
In that case, if Iron Fist grows fast enough, he can still follow the wave. If Iron Fist does not grow fast, then he can only become a stepping stone for Iron Fist, and the last few years of his career will be wasted on Iron Fist. On the body.
In fact, for a guy like him who is unwilling to leave the Pistons, there are not many options. Reconciliation with Iron Fist is a compromise. He is likely to continue to compromise in the future, and he has a clear understanding of this.
If he were in the starting lineup with Joe Dumars and Iron Fist, it wouldn't be impossible, but he would be at a disadvantage in terms of height.
If he or one of Tekken goes to the bench, it would actually be a very good choice for the team.
Now that there is Mark Aguirre on the bench, plus one of him and Iron Fist, the strength of the bench will reach a level that can fill the hole for the main lineup.
If the team lets him play the main point guard and lets Iron Fist play on the bench, this is of course the best result for him. He is confident that with the current lineup, he can compete with Jordan.
"Do I really have faith?"
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but touch his ankles and knees.
Isiah Thomas actually knows very well that it was precisely because of serious injuries that he lost his peak last season, so the team was swept by Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals.
So even if you add a rookie, can you beat Jordan? He said he had confidence, but he really didn't have that confidence.
Others don't know, but he knows it very well, and the management should also know by now. Including him, the current Pistons lineup has actually lost its indomitable spirit.
It is difficult for a team that has lost its aggressiveness and vigor to compete with a guy like Jordan who has an astonishing desire to win, so the Pistons were swept.
McCloskey didn't press Thomas to answer his question. He himself had been thinking about it for so long, let alone the person involved?
"Isiah, before you come back, tell me your answer." He said.
A rebellious smile flashed across Thomas's face, he turned around and looked at McCloskey coldly, and said disdainfully: "Jack, you underestimate me too much. You have already made up your mind, haven't you?"
McCloskey couldn't help but sigh. Thomas's psychology was really sensitive. If it weren't for this sensitivity, there wouldn't have been such a serious conflict with Iron Fist that day.
But he nodded and said, "Yes, Isiah, I have decided."
A look of disappointment flashed in Thomas's eyes, but he immediately said: "Don't tell me, I'll tell you my answer."
McCloskey was startled and couldn't help but smile bitterly. The Smiling Assassin is the Smiling Assassin. No matter when, he is still so strong, so proactive, and so aggressive.
A trace of determination flashed across Isiah Thomas's face, his chin was raised high, and he said coldly: "After I come back, I hope to be on the bench."
"..."
McCloskey felt a little touched, and for a moment, he was speechless.
After thinking about it, he found something to comfort Thomas and said, "Isiah, when you come off the bench, you will face much less defensive pressure and tasks. The reduction in playing time will definitely extend your career."
"If it's okay, I'll leave first. If I don't leave, I'm afraid I will regret it."
Thomas left these words and walked into the corridor beyond the home team's locker room. He walked quickly and quickly disappeared in the dim light.
"Perfect!"
McCloskey breathed a sigh of relief that the problem was finally solved.
Just as Thomas said, he has indeed decided that the team will be rebuilt with Zhou Quan as the core, and he gave up the idea of continuing the glory with Thomas as the core.
The reason for giving up was Thomas' injury, being swept by Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals, Laimbeer's retirement, and the loss of all the spirit of the Bad Boys. He had no confidence in continuing his glory with Thomas as the core. It was uncertain. The future of Zhou Quan also made it difficult for him to give up on Zhou Quan's future.
Now that the problem has been solved and the team's development issues have been determined, the Pistons will focus on cultivating Zhou Quan as their main task in the future, even if they sacrifice a few seasons.
With Thomas and Joe Dumars, the team should have no problem reaching the playoffs. After a few seasons of training in the playoffs, Zhou Quan's growth rate will not be too bad. I hope he has enough potential. Digging.
On the other side, Thomas came outside the locker room.
It was lively inside, the atmosphere was great, the Knicks were leading by 16 points at halftime, and everyone was excited.
He stood at the door and did not open it. He did not want to open it or go in. He felt empty and had a strong sense of loss.
Facing the silent smiling assassin, several staff members outside the door were cautious and no one dared to speak.
At this moment, the door was opened from the inside.
"Isiah, why don't you come in?"
The person who opened the door was Joe Dumas. He was startled when he saw Thomas standing at the door but not coming in.
Nodding, Thomas walked slowly into the familiar locker room.
"Isiah, what happened?" Zhou Quan felt something was wrong with the smiling assassin's expression, so he immediately stood up and asked.
Thomas walked up to Zhou Quan, a trace of determination flashed across his face again, and he said seriously: "Iron Fist, the future of the team has just been decided. Just now, it was officially decided."
"..."
Zhou Quan was worried.
But I immediately realized that Thomas' comeback was imminent. The competition between him and Thomas for the main position at No. 1 was related to the future of the team. This should be what Thomas was talking about.
He was more decisive than McCloskey and Thomas on this matter and had made the decision long ago.
His decision is that if the team lets him play as a substitute, it means that it will continue to use Thomas as the core and reduce its training efforts, then he will seek to leave Detroit.
He never disclosed this idea to anyone, including his agent Philip.
He has a system, and the system will continue to raise his ceiling, and his growth rate should be very fast, at least faster than ordinary players, so he cannot waste time, especially during the period when his ball growth has been the fastest in recent years.
But he also needs an environment to grow, and the main position is the best training environment. If not, he can only choose to leave and go to a team that can play as the main team, whether it is a weak team or a small team.
"What's your decision?" he asked.
"I decided……"
Isiah opened his mouth, then stopped when the words reached his lips.
He knew that once the words were spoken, he could not take them back. At this time, a trace of hesitation and a trace of struggle flashed in his heart.
