The rest is just noise

"Artis Gilmore?"

"Are you serious?"

Louis asked back:

"Don't I look serious?"

If it were Gilmore a few years ago, Bol would never be able to replace him, but now, he has reached the twilight of his career.

In his previous life, Louis knew almost nothing about him. In this life, in order to make a name for himself in the professional basketball circle, he has already made up the history of the NBA and understands everything he needs to know.

In his opinion, Gilmore during the NBA period was a man who had lost his way.

He is one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in NBA history, just like the 216-centimeter Dwight Howard who played a dominant role in the ABA.

Compare Howard to him and you will know that if you give him a suitable team, he can lead the team to a very strong fighting capacity.

But if given to a group of teammates who are so mediocre that they can't even shoot, he won't be able to do much.

When the NBA dominated history, the ABA stars always suffered.

Gilmore's peak was in the ABA, and when he entered the NBA, he wasted his last few elite seasons on a super-bad team like the Chicago Bulls.

This season, Gilmore can still start in the Spurs, averaging 11 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, which is not bad, but this is not the data that a player with an annual salary of 800,000 US dollars should produce.

The Spurs really wanted to sell him, but there was no way.

Hearing Louie ask for Gilmore, Bob Bass' breathing intensified with excitement.

Soon, a cold reality hit him.

"No, Artis cannot join the trade. His salary is too high and you can't match it...unless you want to add a few more young players." Bass didn't believe that Louis was so stupid that he would give away Gilmore for his twilight years.

Bol and other players.

Louis smiled and said, "Of course I won't give any more money to any young player, Bob. You should know that if this deal is reached, your financial pressure will be reduced a lot."

After all, Gilmore's contract didn't end until the summer of 1988.

"But how is the deal going to be completed?" Bass asked.

Louis revealed his trump card.

"In addition to Manute, I will also send Bernard King, so that the salary will match. Although the combined salary of Bol and King exceeds Artis, your current salary space is completely affordable."

Louis asked, "How about it, are you interested?"

Bernard King's name has disappeared from the professional basketball circle for a long time.

Like a retired player.

This is normal. If any player disappears from professional sports for two years, everyone will think that he is no longer playing.

"Bernard King...has he recovered?" Bass asked.

"He has recovered, but we don't have a place for him, and his agent asked me to trade him, so I added him to the deal."

"If you need his medical report, we can provide it. He is completely healthy."

Bob Buss is thinking seriously. Although the Knicks have just renewed King's contract for three years, they have a team option in the first year. If he does not perform well after his comeback, they can get rid of him this summer.

Moreover, Gilmore's contract can also be disposed of, so what reason is there to refuse?

"Coach Lu, I think we can make a deal."

"Deal?" Louis opened a bottle of Coke without ice, "Bob, are you too anxious? We haven't reached the stage of closing the deal yet."

Buzz was confused: "Any more questions?"

"Of course, of course we have problems." Louis took a sip of Coke, not sure whether being so cunning in front of Lorraine would hurt his image in her heart. "Do you think Artis Gilmore added a

Can we get Manute Bol and Bernard King in the first round in the future? Are you serious? King averaged 32 points per game before he was injured."

Bass didn't expect that Louis didn't intend to make a quick transaction.

"Coach Lu, what else do you want?"

"Of course it's more draft picks." Louis Lion said loudly, "In addition to the first-round pick in 1990, I also want the first-round pick in 1988 and the first-round pick in 1992."

"This is impossible!" Bass shouted.

Bass thought Louis would shout out an outrageous offer, but he didn't expect it to be so outrageous.

This is an unparalleled offer!

"How is it impossible? Don't you know the value of Manute? He averaged 3.6 blocks in 18 minutes per game and is the best defensive center in the league. Bernard is a dominant scorer."

"That was before he got hurt!"

"Yes, before he was injured, but he recovered very well. Even if he can't dominate the offensive end as he did before the injury, if he needs to average about 20 points per game, I think there will be no problem." Louis

Say affirmatively, "If you don't agree with me, there is no need for us to talk anymore. My offer is based on my estimate of Bernard."

Although King suffers from an ACL that affects his athletic life, Bass agrees with Louis.

After Kim returned, he was still an offensive player averaging 20 points per game.

"I agree."

"Thank you for your candor." Louis asked, "Now, you only need to send Artis Gilmore, who can't be beaten, to get the best defensive center in the league and an offensive star who averages 20 points per game.

Don’t they deserve three first-round picks?”

"No, Lu, this is not how we do business!" Bass shouted, "We can't possibly give away three first-rounders for these two people!"

"So there's no need to talk?" Louis adopted high-pressure tactics, "Bob, I know your financial problems are very tight, so resolving Artis's contract should be of great significance to your boss.

Jin is in a contract year. If you don't use him smoothly, you can activate the team option to give up on him and start playing light next year. On the contrary, after taking Artis' contract, do you know how much our total salary exceeds the salary cap?

?”

"I hope to find a good place for Manute, and I also hope that Bernard will be happy in his next stop, but if you are not sincere, we will definitely not be able to reach an agreement."

Even if Louis breaks the news, Bass is unlikely to send out three first-rounders.

"Two first-rounders."

"goodbye."

"Wait!" Bass yelled, "Way! You should know that the expansion draft will be held next June. If you don't complete this deal, you will give Manute to the expansion team for nothing!"

Bass is eager to use the reality of the situation to save himself a little bit of the situation.

"Do you want to give him away for nothing?"

"Hahaha~~~"

Louis laughed out loud.

"Bob, thank you for your concern. Maybe we have never talked face to face, or maybe we have never done transactions before, so you don't know me well."

Louis put the phone to his mouth and said sinisterly: "If you can't feed me, I would rather send Manute away for nothing than give it to you."

"you...!!!"

Louis calmly took a sip of Coke.

The image of Louis was a little cracked in Lorraine's eyes.

Is this still her boyfriend?

In Lorraine's impression, Louis has always been an elegant, easy-going, polite, and knowledgeable person. How could it be like this?

Looks like a profiteer?

"How about it, Bob, have you thought it through?" Louis asked.

Buss said weakly: "I can't give you three first-round picks."

"Really not?"

"cannot."

"Have you thought it through? This deal allows you to get rid of Artis' contract and get two good players." Louis pressed again, "I'm going to sleep. I'll give you another 30 seconds, your last chance."

"The first-round pick in 1990 and the first-round pick in 1992 plus the second-round pick in 1991, this is our bottom line!" Buss was pushed to the end, "Give me a sweet word!"

Louis deliberately remained silent for ten seconds.

During this period, Bass called him many times.

"Well, I am not an unreasonable person. Although the result is not good enough, this is the first time we have discussed business and I hope there will be a good result. I can accept two first-round picks and one second-round pick, but

I want the first-round pick in 1989 and the first-round pick in 1991, and you can choose the year of the second-round pick."

Louis' eyes were like looking at prey in a pit.

"This is also my bottom line, Bob. I will no longer accept any counteroffers." Louis' eyes frightened Lorraine.

After a few seconds, Bob Bass sounded like a deflated ball.

"I agree."

"Nice to work with you, Bob." Louis smiled, "I'll call Elgin right now, and you and him will do the rest."

Bass said weakly: "No, it's not pleasant at all. I hope it won't happen again."

"Don't be like this, Bob. I really like discussing business with you. In fact, I am a very loyal person. You are absolutely reliable when doing business with me."

"hehe."

Louis put down the phone with satisfaction and saw Lorraine hiding under the quilt tremblingly.

"Are you guarding against wolves?" Louis asked.

Lorraine said: "You looked so scary just now... Are the news written by those reporters true?"

"Of course it's a lie. I hang out in front of you every day. Don't you know who I am?"

Louis has a reputation as a loyal man, but not many people are willing to believe this.

Before tonight, the letters included 76ers general manager Pat Williams and Lorraine.

After tonight, probably only Pat Williams will be left.

Louis' character was completely ruined in front of Lorraine, and he didn't know if it was worth ruining his image for such a deal.

"You're lying. You looked so scary just now, like you were trying to eat someone."

"That's right."

While taking off his clothes, Louis said like a lecher who was about to commit murder: "I'm about to eat people."

The next day, the trade between the Knicks and Spurs was officially announced.

No one expected that the Knicks would make big news before the trade deadline came.

The Knicks sent Manute Bol and Bernard King to the Spurs in exchange for Artis Gilmore, two future first-round picks and a future second-round pick (1992).