Work Hard Play Harder

It's

    Asher's jaw dropped. Utah? There was no way he was being traded to the Utah Jazz. Utah. That Mormon state! Who's to say if he went there he wouldn't be abducted into some weird cult? He'd heard stories about that place.

    "Please, Coach, there's got to be some mistake." Asher pled, leaning forward on his chair.

    "Sanovski, you're on the trading block, and the owner wants Mike Conley." Asher didn't really understand why they wanted Mike over him. Asher was already a starter, and he was in the first years of his career. Mike, besides being a returning All-Star, was already nearing the end of his career, and he was injured a lot of the season.

    "You're trading me for Mike Conley?" Asher's knee bounced.

    Coach nodded.

    Asher clenched his eyes shut. He thought he'd spend the rest of his career in New York. Which, now, looking back, was a very naive thought process, because he was only 22. After a moment of silence, Asher felt the room closing around him and he needed to get out. He jumped up, walking to the door.

    "You'll text the details to me?" Asher looked back at coach, who nodded sadly.

    "Sad to see you go, Sanovski. You were one of the few here who enjoyed the game more than the success."

    Coach's words made him feel even more trapped. If Asher spent one more second in that suffocating room, he was sure he would pass out. He nodded a goodbye, and rushed out of there as fast as he could. He ignored his concerned team-mates' comments on the way out.

***

    Quinn Keller stared at her phone in disbelief. She'd just gotten the email.

    Mike Conley was being traded. For Asher Sanovski.

    She didn't know whether to feel sad or ecstatic. When he did play, Mike was a perfect fit for their team and everyone loved him. On the other hand, Mike was often out on account of his frail hamstring, and Asher Sanovski had averaged 22 points per game this past season,which was exceptional. Like, really good.

    "What's got you looking like you've seen a ghost?" Dad asked, and Quinn's face snapped up. She'd temporarily forgotten about the conversation she was having with her parents before she saw the email. Quinn was sitting down with her parents for their weekly dinner.

    "I uh . . ." Quinn hesitated. Was she allowed to tell anyone yet? "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say."

    Dad's eyebrows rose and he stopped eating. "So it's about the team." Dad guessed, "Who was fired?" Quinn laughed, then sighed. As long as Dad didn't tell anyone, it would be okay if he knew.

    "You won't tell anyone?" Quinn asked, and Dad shook his head frantically. Quinn heard her mother's chuckle from beside her. She didn't have to ask Mom, Quinn already knew she wouldn't spill any secrets. Mom was like an information vault when needed.

    "Conley's being traded." Quinn watched as her Dad's expression turned from surprise to thoughtfulness. Because Dad's six-foot-eight frame was all muscle, he was often misunderstood. Dad retired from playing in the NBA almost twenty years ago, but he'd kept in shape tip-top shape. Really, despite his scary demeanor, Dad was like a big teddy bear.

    "For who?" Dad asked, but rushed on before Quinn could answer. "Is it Damian Lillard? His contract is up. Didn't he say he wants to play here?"

    "I wish." Quinn smiled. "But no. It's Asher Sanovski."

    "He's from the Knicks." Dad nodded slowly. "That's a good trade. He's got good stats. He'll do well with us."

    "Are you sure?" Quinn asked rhetorically, "Ever since DRose left the Knicks, Sanovski's probably used to being the most prominent guard on his team. We have Mitchell. How will he do when he has to share the ball with our other big playmakers?"