Sunset Safi: I Thought the Rockies Would be Rockier than this! (And then they were)
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2024 7:29 pm
New Years Eve.
Los Angeles, CA.
10:35pm PST
In the foreground was Safi Fino-A-Laself standing at his locker room after a dominant win. The Lakers came into the season looking to take a major step back, possibly and probably a lotto team, fighting more for the best prospects as opposed to chasing trophies. However, after back-to-back wins against the Bulls and then the Grizzlies, the Lakers found themselves at 16-15, trailing the Boston Celtics by only 2 games for a division which they've dominated for years and years.
Safi himself is a major reason behind the surprising start. Scoring, blocking shots and career highs in rebounds and assists. The human Swiss Army Knife continues to show off each different blade in the arsenal and thriving.
In the background is a different figure. He also is standing at a locker room, doing the typical things one would do after a game. He showered, he dressed, he interviewed with the media, and he's gotten dressed. Routine and normalcy.
Also like normal, Safi finishes his post-game routine first and turns to the distorted figure, which comes into focus as Safi approaches him.
Paolo Banchero.
People don't always recognize when they're in an important moment. Rarely can, right? These two teammates found themselves in one, without realizing it. If they had known, if Safi had known, I'm sure the interaction would have been different. When Safi glided by, it may have been more profound.
A tap on the shoulder.
A Paolo glance back.
Matching head nods.
"See ya."
"Adios."
And that was it. They couldn't have known it'd be the last time they shared the court together as teammates. Not with the surprising start, and not with the conversations with management barely 24 hours earlier.
12/30
Los Angeles, CA.
11:15pm PST
"Hey guys, thanks for coming by."
"No problem, boss"
"What's up?"
Safi and Paolo sat down in front of Coach Durant. A lot of trust has been built up between these three men. For Durant, first the Los Angeles Clippers greatest player to the Clippers and now Lakers greatest coach, it's his favorite duo he's gotten to coach. For Safi and Banchero, it's the coach that has supported them and shown love from day one.
"Look, there's been no secret about what this season was going to be, right?" The two players nod in unison. "It was going to be rough in spots, but we'd work to get you guys the production you deserve and build those young men's confidence that we are working with."
Durant leans forward in his chair, elbows firmly placed on his desk.
"But ... we. YOU. Are starting to win."
"Hell yeah, we are."
"And I assume ya'll want to keep on doing it too," nods again. "So, how would ya'll feel if we start poking around to see who might be available to help this team now instead of later?"
"Who do you have in mind?" Banchero asked.
The conversation veered in and out as the three men tossed names out and went over the pros and cons of how they'd fit and mesh, plus what it might cost to complete those swaps.
AJ Blaze and his scoring, but lack of defense?
Superstar Xue Huo? The two-way do-everything-and-anything MVP level talent?
Antonio Gates with ultimate position flexibility and great defense?
Then the youngsters already in Los Angeles that it could cost:
Dyson Daniels.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Jody Kinsella.
Albert Smalley.
Then questions.
How quickly?
What's the ceiling?
How's morale?
Is the future more important than the present?
A few hours later, all three men shared handshakes and an understanding that a move would be fun and get the competitive juices flowing. When Banchero and Safi left the office, they shared as few words as they would the following night.
Besides, they needed some rest, they had another game the next night.
1/1
Casa De Safi
8:33am
An early morning workout finished, a quick breakfast consumed, and packing completed for an early evening flight to San Antonio for the 32nd game of the Lakers season. Safi had been kept in the loop since the meeting with Coach and any potential trade talks to get back to competing at a higher level. He has been excited about the possibilities, but also (not openly) disappointed when talks broke down. He was ready.
Then his phone rang.
His heart thumped and his adrenaline surged. He didn't know who the trade would be for, but he just KNEW that Coach D. was calling to let him know a 3rd star was on his way. Safi's mind rushed through all the possibilities. Blocking a shot himself then moving into a fast break opportunity before lobbing a dunk to Gates. Taking a pass from AJ Blaze then dishing it back to a cutting Blaze for an easy bucket. Being the enforcer down low and watching Xue and Paolo terrorize any poor souls thinking they'll score on the perimeter.
He could almost hear the crowds and taste more championship champagne.
Safi grabbed the phone and read the caller ID.
Pauly B.
He answered.
"What's up, B?"
Through gritted teeth and teary eyes, Banchero filled Safi in on the news. A trade did happen. But it wasn't for Blaze or Xue or Gates or Colton Johnson or Kevon Looney.
It was for Henry Widener.
It was for Paolo Banchero.
And suddenly there was a lot less clarity in the city of angels for one man in particular.
1/6
Cleveland, OH
Visitors Locker room
7:12pm
Heads hung low after 3 straight losses after the Banchero deal. Safi felt the sting personally, losing a brother and friend to the desert in Arizona. Though Safi knew that his coach was speaking to the team, that other veterans were chipping in and speaking up about what was going wrong, Safi felt dazed. His eyes were fixated on a single droplet of sweat on his arm, watching it travel down his arm, making jagged lines, taking quite a path to pool up then fall. A long drop until it splashes on the floor.
Then, like Dewey Cox, Safi thought about his entire life in a moment.
Sitting three seasons.
Injury.
Dominance.
Heartbreak.
Determination.
Belief.
Championship.
But that first one crawled upfront and stuck. Those three seasons waiting. Hoping for an opportunity. Needing coaching and guidance.
The fog began to lift as he looked around the locker room, almost as if for the first time since last season.
He saw these important faces.
Henry Widener.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Albert Smalley.
Jody Kinsella.
Dyson Daniels.
Wide eyed, new, scared, disappointed. They want to play, they want the coaching, the Guidance, the love.
And the one thought that fully woke him up.
"What if I never had those things"
It wasn't a time to feel sorry for himself. It was the time to give back. Or, at least, to try.
Safi stood up in the middle of another rant by Coach Durant. All heads turned and mouths shut.
"Yo coach. I got this."
1/15
Los Angeles, CA
CRYPTO.COM ARENA
Warriors at Lakers
4th Quarter
0:23 seconds remaining
The accouncer's voice over slow motion game footage.
Gary Rockwell passes the ball to JR Smith Jr. at the baseline, clock ticking away.
JR Smith Jr. drops the ball to budding superstar Kevin Cross on the wing, who has been having his way with this Lakers defense. Kevin Cross gives the ball up to new Warriors Point Guard, Gary Rockwell.
Rockwell gets a great screen from Stewart! Robby Owens falls to the hardwood with the contact. Rockwell rises up as the time washes away completely.
It's Good!!
The Warriors win!
Safi, Kinsella, Chavez, Conover and Gordon walked off the court together.
No heads hanging though.
Motivation and props. The youngsters from the bench, many in street clothes, greeted the veterans with hugs and the vets responded with explanation and coaching.
Positivity won the day, even if the game was lost. As the group walked off the court, Safi is stopped by Durant. They shared a familiar look. One Safi saw just about 2 weeks earlier when meeting in his office.
Curiosity took over. Hesitantly.
"Sup, coach?"
"Well," Durant said with a smirk. "Let me run something by you."
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk
Los Angeles, CA.
10:35pm PST
In the foreground was Safi Fino-A-Laself standing at his locker room after a dominant win. The Lakers came into the season looking to take a major step back, possibly and probably a lotto team, fighting more for the best prospects as opposed to chasing trophies. However, after back-to-back wins against the Bulls and then the Grizzlies, the Lakers found themselves at 16-15, trailing the Boston Celtics by only 2 games for a division which they've dominated for years and years.
Safi himself is a major reason behind the surprising start. Scoring, blocking shots and career highs in rebounds and assists. The human Swiss Army Knife continues to show off each different blade in the arsenal and thriving.
In the background is a different figure. He also is standing at a locker room, doing the typical things one would do after a game. He showered, he dressed, he interviewed with the media, and he's gotten dressed. Routine and normalcy.
Also like normal, Safi finishes his post-game routine first and turns to the distorted figure, which comes into focus as Safi approaches him.
Paolo Banchero.
People don't always recognize when they're in an important moment. Rarely can, right? These two teammates found themselves in one, without realizing it. If they had known, if Safi had known, I'm sure the interaction would have been different. When Safi glided by, it may have been more profound.
A tap on the shoulder.
A Paolo glance back.
Matching head nods.
"See ya."
"Adios."
And that was it. They couldn't have known it'd be the last time they shared the court together as teammates. Not with the surprising start, and not with the conversations with management barely 24 hours earlier.
12/30
Los Angeles, CA.
11:15pm PST
"Hey guys, thanks for coming by."
"No problem, boss"
"What's up?"
Safi and Paolo sat down in front of Coach Durant. A lot of trust has been built up between these three men. For Durant, first the Los Angeles Clippers greatest player to the Clippers and now Lakers greatest coach, it's his favorite duo he's gotten to coach. For Safi and Banchero, it's the coach that has supported them and shown love from day one.
"Look, there's been no secret about what this season was going to be, right?" The two players nod in unison. "It was going to be rough in spots, but we'd work to get you guys the production you deserve and build those young men's confidence that we are working with."
Durant leans forward in his chair, elbows firmly placed on his desk.
"But ... we. YOU. Are starting to win."
"Hell yeah, we are."
"And I assume ya'll want to keep on doing it too," nods again. "So, how would ya'll feel if we start poking around to see who might be available to help this team now instead of later?"
"Who do you have in mind?" Banchero asked.
The conversation veered in and out as the three men tossed names out and went over the pros and cons of how they'd fit and mesh, plus what it might cost to complete those swaps.
AJ Blaze and his scoring, but lack of defense?
Superstar Xue Huo? The two-way do-everything-and-anything MVP level talent?
Antonio Gates with ultimate position flexibility and great defense?
Then the youngsters already in Los Angeles that it could cost:
Dyson Daniels.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Jody Kinsella.
Albert Smalley.
Then questions.
How quickly?
What's the ceiling?
How's morale?
Is the future more important than the present?
A few hours later, all three men shared handshakes and an understanding that a move would be fun and get the competitive juices flowing. When Banchero and Safi left the office, they shared as few words as they would the following night.
Besides, they needed some rest, they had another game the next night.
1/1
Casa De Safi
8:33am
An early morning workout finished, a quick breakfast consumed, and packing completed for an early evening flight to San Antonio for the 32nd game of the Lakers season. Safi had been kept in the loop since the meeting with Coach and any potential trade talks to get back to competing at a higher level. He has been excited about the possibilities, but also (not openly) disappointed when talks broke down. He was ready.
Then his phone rang.
His heart thumped and his adrenaline surged. He didn't know who the trade would be for, but he just KNEW that Coach D. was calling to let him know a 3rd star was on his way. Safi's mind rushed through all the possibilities. Blocking a shot himself then moving into a fast break opportunity before lobbing a dunk to Gates. Taking a pass from AJ Blaze then dishing it back to a cutting Blaze for an easy bucket. Being the enforcer down low and watching Xue and Paolo terrorize any poor souls thinking they'll score on the perimeter.
He could almost hear the crowds and taste more championship champagne.
Safi grabbed the phone and read the caller ID.
Pauly B.
He answered.
"What's up, B?"
Through gritted teeth and teary eyes, Banchero filled Safi in on the news. A trade did happen. But it wasn't for Blaze or Xue or Gates or Colton Johnson or Kevon Looney.
It was for Henry Widener.
It was for Paolo Banchero.
And suddenly there was a lot less clarity in the city of angels for one man in particular.
1/6
Cleveland, OH
Visitors Locker room
7:12pm
Heads hung low after 3 straight losses after the Banchero deal. Safi felt the sting personally, losing a brother and friend to the desert in Arizona. Though Safi knew that his coach was speaking to the team, that other veterans were chipping in and speaking up about what was going wrong, Safi felt dazed. His eyes were fixated on a single droplet of sweat on his arm, watching it travel down his arm, making jagged lines, taking quite a path to pool up then fall. A long drop until it splashes on the floor.
Then, like Dewey Cox, Safi thought about his entire life in a moment.
Sitting three seasons.
Injury.
Dominance.
Heartbreak.
Determination.
Belief.
Championship.
But that first one crawled upfront and stuck. Those three seasons waiting. Hoping for an opportunity. Needing coaching and guidance.
The fog began to lift as he looked around the locker room, almost as if for the first time since last season.
He saw these important faces.
Henry Widener.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Albert Smalley.
Jody Kinsella.
Dyson Daniels.
Wide eyed, new, scared, disappointed. They want to play, they want the coaching, the Guidance, the love.
And the one thought that fully woke him up.
"What if I never had those things"
It wasn't a time to feel sorry for himself. It was the time to give back. Or, at least, to try.
Safi stood up in the middle of another rant by Coach Durant. All heads turned and mouths shut.
"Yo coach. I got this."
1/15
Los Angeles, CA
CRYPTO.COM ARENA
Warriors at Lakers
4th Quarter
0:23 seconds remaining
The accouncer's voice over slow motion game footage.
Gary Rockwell passes the ball to JR Smith Jr. at the baseline, clock ticking away.
JR Smith Jr. drops the ball to budding superstar Kevin Cross on the wing, who has been having his way with this Lakers defense. Kevin Cross gives the ball up to new Warriors Point Guard, Gary Rockwell.
Rockwell gets a great screen from Stewart! Robby Owens falls to the hardwood with the contact. Rockwell rises up as the time washes away completely.
It's Good!!
The Warriors win!
Safi, Kinsella, Chavez, Conover and Gordon walked off the court together.
No heads hanging though.
Motivation and props. The youngsters from the bench, many in street clothes, greeted the veterans with hugs and the vets responded with explanation and coaching.
Positivity won the day, even if the game was lost. As the group walked off the court, Safi is stopped by Durant. They shared a familiar look. One Safi saw just about 2 weeks earlier when meeting in his office.
Curiosity took over. Hesitantly.
"Sup, coach?"
"Well," Durant said with a smirk. "Let me run something by you."
Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk