It was hailed as another super draft year after 1984 and 1996.
Lately, no teams have traded their first-round picks for this year, the bad teams are just waiting to try their luck in the lottery.
Van Exel received a call from Vandeweghe, he did not train with the team on the 21st, nor did he go to the away game, instead, he packed at home, ready to leave.
He didn't know where the Nuggets would trade him, he hoped it would be Dallas, or Los Angeles, or perhaps in the Western Conference, to Boston, where he wanted to win a championship.
A championship was so important to him, otherwise, he felt his life would forever linger in the departure of the 1996-1997 season.
He couldn't remember why he left at the time, even someone like Riddle didn't leave, what was his reason?
He only remembered that day was foggy, in Houston, a misty day, Larry Bird decided to bench him, he couldn't accept it, decided to leave alone, to teach the team a lesson.
But the Trail Blazers didn't look for him, they finished the series with the Rockets and won, then traded him in the summer, sending him to the Hawks for Brellock.
Since then, Van Exel felt he never emerged from that mist.
The Hawks rebuilt, sending him away, the Warriors rebuilt, sending him away, the Nuggets rebuilt, and were about to send him away—though this time he proposed it voluntarily.
Proposing it voluntarily feels somewhat more dignified than suddenly being notified of a trade, doesn't it?
"Nick! Congratulations, you've been traded."
"I knew this day would come, thank you Cheche, where am I sent?"
"A good place, a very good place, you'll like it, there's an old friend of yours there."
"Old friend?"
"Yes, welcome to Las Vegas!"
"..."
Van Exel hadn't expected that he'd be traded to Las Vegas, to play for the Glory Team.
He liked Las Vegas, no player doesn't like it there, the problem is, that's Ah Gan's team.
Is it possible that after all the twists and turns, he's returned to Ah Gan's Five Finger Mountain? Van Exel found it difficult to describe his feelings.
What he couldn't have anticipated was that on the 22nd, when he flew alone to the sunny, even somewhat hot Las Vegas Airport, the person waiting to pick him up was Gan Guoyang himself.
He personally drove an old gold Cadillac convertible, like a Vegas gambler from an '80s movie, welcoming Van Exel's arrival.
"Nick, welcome to Las Vegas." Gan Guoyang pointed to the trunk, gesturing for him to put his luggage in the back.
Las Vegas is actually not big, with a modest population, Gan Guoyang driving himself out like this doesn't really attract attention.
Van Exel loaded his luggage properly, then got in the car obediently, Gan Guoyang put on sunglasses and handed a pair to Van Exel, saying, "Even though it's February, the sun here can still be quite dazzling."
Van Exel put on the sunglasses, his eyes indeed adjusted a bit, Gan Guoyang asked again, "Where do you want to go? To MGM Hotel to rest, to the casino for some games? Or find a chick to help you relax."
Van Exel turned to look at Gan Guoyang, he raised his sunglasses slightly, feeling the glare of the sun.
"Take me to the training center, I haven't trained in a long time, I want to practice some three-pointers."
"As you wish, buddy. Welcome back." With that, Gan Guoyang started the car.
And Van Exel had a feeling, the mist, finally dispersed.