The fatigue from training was washed away a little by a hot shower as Link dragged his slightly heavy steps back to his new apartment in West Los Angeles.
While he'd been buried in games and workouts, Andrew and Amy had already taken care of everything.
Ever since moving into the new place, even his mood had lifted. Every time he saw the clean, tidy apartment, the exhaustion from training seemed to fade just a bit.
The moment he pushed the door open, the smell of food hit him head-on.
"Perfect timing, Link!" Andrew's voice rang out from the kitchen, full of energy. "Dinner's ready!"
Link slipped into his house slippers and walked into the spacious open kitchen, where Andrew and Amy were bustling around happily.
"Link, your dinner's ready," Amy said without looking up, nodding toward the dining area with her chin.
Link walked over to the table and saw three plates laid out—each with a completely different vibe.
His plate held a grilled chicken breast, steamed broccoli and carrots, a small portion of brown rice, and a glass of oddly colored fruit-and-vegetable juice.
Andrew and Amy's plates, on the other hand, were loaded with mouthwatering pasta drenched in rich meat sauce, with garlic bread on the side.
"Oh my God!" Andrew dramatically clutched his head as he forked a huge bite of pasta into his mouth, chewing with obvious satisfaction.
"Link, you've got it rough. You're eating like a monk."
Amy finally finished up, wiped her hands, and walked over with a faint smile.
"To be precise, this meal is scientifically designed based on Link's energy expenditure, muscle recovery needs, and training schedule."
Link looked at his bland food, then glanced at the tempting pasta on Andrew's plate and sighed with a helpless smile.
"I'm starting to think you're doing this on purpose—using good food to test my willpower."
"That's part of being a professional athlete," Amy said as she sat across from him and elegantly twirled a small forkful of noodles.
Andrew shoveled food into his mouth and spoke through a mouthful of pasta.
"Link, once you're a superstar, you have to hire a Michelin-star chef just to cook for our team!"
Amy replied calmly, "Only if your next negotiation brings in a Michelin-level budget."
The three of them ate their very different dinners while chatting casually.
Andrew excitedly reported on several potential business partnerships he'd been contacting lately. They were still small brands, but his enthusiasm was sky-high.
Amy used the opportunity to briefly mention some tweaks she'd made to Link's training program based on his latest physical data and game film—mainly focusing on core activation and ankle stability.
"I can feel it, Amy," Link nodded. "I definitely feel more stable when I move now."
Just then, the phone on the table rang. The caller ID showed the assistant to the team's general manager.
Link picked it up, slightly puzzled. Calls from the front office at this hour were unusual.
"Mr. Robert, this is Link."
"Good evening, Link. I hope I'm not interrupting your rest," the voice on the other end said politely.
"There's something I need to inform you about. The team just completed two trades," Robert paused briefly before continuing.
"We've traded Devin George to the Dallas Mavericks for a future second-round pick and some cash."
"And we've traded Smush Parker to the Washington Wizards for Kwame Brown, who will take over as our starting center."
"Kwame is expected to arrive in Los Angeles tomorrow. After his physical, he'll make his debut on Christmas Day."
(Note: For story purposes, the trade details and timing differ from real life.)
Link's heart skipped slightly.
So it finally happened.
The thought flashed through his mind instantly.
It seemed that even in this life, some things were hard to avoid—only the timing and details had changed.
Kwame Brown…
A former No. 1 overall pick. His talent was undeniable, but as someone who "knew the future," Link was all too familiar with Kwame's performance in Washington—and the path that awaited him with the Lakers.
Time would tell that sometimes, changing your environment doesn't guarantee a better outcome.
Still…
Devin George was currently an important swingman for the team. His stats weren't flashy, but his defensive experience and locker-room presence mattered.
"So…" Link asked cautiously. He knew the assistant hadn't called just to deliver news.
"With Devin gone, until we find a replacement, Phil and Brian would like you to temporarily fill his role."
The assistant's tone remained calm.
"I understand. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be ready," Link replied steadily.
After hanging up, he set the phone down and looked up at the two curious, questioning faces across from him.
He told them everything he'd just heard.
"They traded Devin? And brought in Kwame Brown?" Andrew's eyes went wide before he slapped his thigh.
"That's great news, Link! It means the coaching staff trusts you more. They want to give you more minutes! This is your chance to move up!"
Link nodded, feeling conflicted.
The opportunity was real—but Devin had been a good teammate.
His value didn't show up in the box score.
This season, Devin George averaged about 25 minutes a game, second only to the starters and first among bench players.
For Link, this wasn't just about a few extra minutes on the floor.
It meant the coaching staff expected him to contribute more on both ends of the court—not just as a spot-up shooter hiding in the corner.
"Robert said it's only temporary," Link said with a wry smile, rubbing his head.
"Don't think like that," Andrew said seriously.
"A lot of players rise because of opportunities like this. Luck favors the prepared!"
Amy set her fork down and looked at Link intently.
"Andrew's right. This is a good opportunity. And steady playing time is crucial for maintaining and improving an athlete's form."
She paused slightly, choosing her words.
"From film analysis, your lateral movement and defensive positioning have improved significantly lately."
"You may not have Devin's experience yet, but physically, you're more than capable of handling a wing role."
"You're right," Link said, putting down his fork as determination settled into his eyes.
"This is an opportunity—and I'm going to make the most of it."
Andrew rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"That's the Link I know! I'll start reaching out to the media tomorrow—we need to plan your publicity!"
"Hold on," Amy cut in, turning to Link.
"You'll need to adjust your training plan and watch more defensive film on wing players."
"No problem, Amy," Link nodded. He liked having clear goals.
"Bring on the training plan. I'll start the film study as soon as possible."