Johnny ‘The Jr. Joker’ Juzang Jr. sat in the locker room, lacing up his sneakers. It was a quiet afternoon at the Jazz practice facility, and for once, he felt like things were starting to settle. After his father’s revelation that Johnny Sr. wasn’t really his biological father, Johnny Jr. had spent the last few weeks trying to adjust. It hadn’t been easy, but their bond remained strong. They were still a team—on and off the court.

The Jazz had high hopes for the father-son duo, and they were gearing up for the new season with a lot of media buzz around them. The story of the Juzangs—Johnny Sr., the veteran, and Johnny Jr., the rising star—was irresistible. Every outlet was talking about how they could revolutionize the Jazz and become one of the most intriguing narratives in NBA history.

As Johnny Jr. sank a mid-range jumper during shootaround, his dad, standing nearby, gave him a nod of approval. "Looking sharp, kid."

"Thanks, Dad," Johnny Jr. responded, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

But something in the air felt off. There had been rumors swirling around the league for the past few days—whispers of big trades, of stars moving, of unexpected shifts in team dynamics. Johnny hadn’t paid much attention to them; he was just focused on proving himself in his rookie year. Plus, he had no reason to believe anything major would happen to him or his dad.

But he was wrong.

As practice wrapped up, Jazz head coach Will Hardy walked into the gym, his expression more serious than usual. “Johnny, can I see you in my office for a minute?” he asked.

Johnny Jr. exchanged a quick glance with his dad, who shrugged as if to say no big deal. But Johnny could feel a knot forming in his stomach. Something didn’t feel right.

In the coach’s office, the atmosphere was tense. Johnny sat down, the weight of the room pressing in on him.

“Coach, what’s going on?” Johnny asked, his voice steady, but inside, anxiety was building.

Will Hardy sat down across from him and sighed. “Johnny, I won’t sugarcoat this. There’s been a trade.”

Johnny’s heart stopped for a second, but he stayed composed. “Okay… Who?”

Hardy leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “It’s you, Johnny. The Jazz have agreed to trade you.”

The words hit him like a freight train. He couldn’t believe it. “What? I just got drafted. Why would they trade me?”

Will Hardy looked at him with sympathy. “It’s not about you, Johnny. It’s business. We’re making a deal to get a star player—a win-now move for the team. I know this is tough, but it’s how the league works sometimes.”

Johnny sat there, stunned, trying to wrap his head around the news. “Where… where am I going?”

Hardy leaned back in his chair, the gravity of the situation weighing on him. “The Miami Heat.”

Johnny’s mind raced. Miami? They had a strong, established team, playoff contenders year in and year out. But he hadn’t expected this—being uprooted so quickly, leaving Utah before he even had a chance to prove himself. And what about his dad? Johnny Sr. had stayed with the Jazz, counting on their father-son bond as a selling point for the team.

“And my dad?” Johnny asked, his voice shaky.

Hardy hesitated. “He’s staying. The trade doesn’t involve him.”

Johnny felt the air leave his lungs. The idea of being separated from his father, after everything they had just gone through, was too much. The Jazz were splitting them up, and suddenly, everything felt like it was falling apart.

“Why… why would they split us up?” Johnny said, almost to himself.

Hardy shook his head. “I don’t know, Johnny. I really don’t. But Miami is a good team. You’ll get your shot to shine there, I promise you that.”

Johnny stood up, unable to sit still any longer. “I need to talk to my dad.”

“Take your time,” Hardy said. “I know this isn’t easy.”

Johnny left the office, his legs feeling heavy as he made his way back to the locker room. His dad was sitting on the bench, scrolling through his phone. Johnny hesitated for a moment, wondering how to break the news.

"Dad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Johnny Sr. looked up and immediately knew something was wrong. “What happened?”

“They traded me,” Johnny Jr. said, his voice cracking.

Johnny Sr. stared at him, disbelief flashing across his face. “What? No, that can’t be right.”

“It’s true,” Johnny Jr. said. “I’m going to Miami.”

Johnny Sr. stood up, pacing around the locker room, his mind clearly racing. “Miami? What the hell are they thinking? We were supposed to do this together!”

“I don’t know, Dad,” Johnny Jr. said, tears welling up in his eyes. “They’re keeping you here. I’m the one getting shipped out.”

Johnny Sr. stopped pacing and turned to face his son. “This wasn’t the plan, Johnny. We were supposed to make history together. I—” He paused, his voice breaking. “I raised you. I fought to keep you safe, and now they’re just… taking you away.”

Johnny Jr. felt a surge of anger and sadness, but he swallowed it down. “I don’t want to go either, but what choice do I have?”

Johnny Sr. pulled his son into a tight embrace, his voice shaking. “I’ll always be here for you, Johnny. No matter where you go, no matter what team you’re on. You’re still my son. Don’t ever forget that.”

Johnny Jr. nodded, fighting back tears. “I won’t.”

They stood there in silence for a moment, father and son, their shared dreams suddenly shattered by the business of the NBA.

Later that night, the news broke across all media outlets: "Johnny 'The Jr. Joker' Juzang Jr. traded to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deal." Analysts were shocked. The father-son duo that had captivated fans was no more.

Johnny Jr. packed his bags, trying to come to terms with his new reality. He would be heading to Miami, away from the man who had raised him and the city he had just started calling home. He felt betrayed, lost in the chaotic world of professional basketball.

But deep down, he knew one thing: no matter where he went, or how far away from his father he ended up, the Juzang name would continue to carry weight. And the Jr. Joker had a new mission—to prove to everyone, including himself, that he could carve out his own path, even if it meant doing it far from home.

What should Juzang do next??