The rest is just noise

"Which one?"

Louis picked up the phone and asked.

"Coach Lu, it's me."

Louie has memorized Dave Gavitt's voice.

"Oh, Dave, I wonder why you called me?" Louis asked knowingly.

"We have carefully considered your asking price which is not unacceptable."

Louis:???

Is Auerbach dead or does he really have nothing to do?

This was Louis' question at the time.

"If you could change the 1996 first-round pick swap to a restricted first-round pick, maybe we could trade it immediately."

Counter-offering is normal, and Louis immediately asked: "How do you want to modify it?"

"Modify the 1996 first-round pick swap to a protected first-round pick, with the top 15 picks protected."

"No, Dave, I don't think you will be in that situation by 1996." Louis did not expect such conditions.

It was originally a first-round pick exchange. If the Celtics' record is not better or worse by then, the pick will definitely be higher than that of the Knicks. Then the Knicks will exchange their first-round picks with them. But at least, they still have the Knicks.

of picks.

If it is such a revised law, although they can avoid working for the Knicks, how can they be sure that they will not be competitive by then? If they are still competitive by then and their record is neither better nor worse, the lottery will definitely be at No. 20

After that, not only will the Knicks be given free draft picks, they won't even get a consolation prize...

"This is our internal decision."

"Okay, I respect your decision. After all, I am from Boston and I have feelings for it."

Gavitt didn't believe Louis at all.

"If this is what you want, I have no objection, just do as you say."

The two parties exchanged pleasantries for a few more words before hanging up the phone.

Belle's eyes were as wide as eggs: "It's done?"

Louis scratched his forehead, "So be it."

"What kind of trading method?"

Louis informed Baylor of the details of the transaction.

Unexpectedly, the old boy looked at Louis with a disappointed look on his face: "I thought you could really kill Boston, but you didn't make much. Why are you becoming less and less pursuing it? It can't be true.

Have you softened your heart after meeting your old boss?"

"You are soft-hearted, sir!" Louis stood arrogantly on the desk, "Given enough sweetness, I can even trade myself out. How can a mere Boston make me soft-hearted? You don't want to go out and ask around, I am Hannibal in New York.

Is it a wasted reputation?"

The trade between the Knicks and Celtics was confirmed and announced by the league half an hour later.

The Knicks sent the 11th pick, the 13th pick in the first round, and the 27th pick in the second round to Boston in exchange for Chris Jackson, a 1994 first-round pick, and a 1996 restricted draft pick.

As soon as the news came out, not many people applauded the Knicks.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Knicks have no room to sign new players, so they make a deal with their old club and get a parallel import for a few first-rounders.

This is human nature.

Almost no one took the deal seriously.

Lewis Shafir quickly called and wailed: "Coach Lu, if your first round is useless, you can trade with us. Isn't it just for the first round in the future? We can also produce two."

"And we won't set any limits."

This is the value of a first-round pick in the draft.

Even if it's just the 11th and 13th picks, there are people rushing to get them.

"Sorry, Lewis, you really don't have any players that I'm interested in." Louis said, "Let's work together next time."

"Interested player?" Shafir was shocked, "It can't be Chris Jackson, right? Coach Lu, why are you interested in him? I've always wanted to find an opportunity to thank you for not letting me draft this guy in the first place.

, if we had drafted him with the No. 3 pick last year, I really can’t imagine the consequences!”

Everyone's reaction made Louis realize that maybe this deal was really approved by Auerbach.

Chris Jackson has no value other than the title of No. 3 overall pick.

He is already recognized as a parallel importer.

How much is the value of a parallel import that has been inspected? Is it worth two first-round picks in early draft years? Of course not, the price increase is necessary.

Therefore, it may be wrong to conclude that Gavitt has taken over the entire operation of the Celtics based on this transaction, but it is certain that Gavitt is taking over the Celtics management.

"Believe me, Lewis." Louis said confidently, "Some garbage is not actually garbage, but we haven't recognized its value and use yet."

"Of course, I absolutely believe in you, Coach Lu. If something like this happens again next time, please contact me as soon as possible."

Louis was too lazy to listen to his complaints anymore. When he finished speaking, he found an excuse and hung up the phone.

The night the deal was completed, Louis stayed at the Blue Palace to work overtime.

Along with Tomjanovich, Yuanzheng Zhao, Billy Donovan, Van Gundy, Doug Moe and Baylor, he reviewed Jackson's best and worst games with the Hornets last season.

The best games show all his strengths, and the worst games show all his shortcomings.

After everyone watched his best game, Tomjanovich said with emotion: "We have been looking for players who can decisively shoot to punish the opponent after calling the pick-and-roll and when the opponent's defense bypasses them and opens up the defensive space. This is

Aren’t you coming soon?”

Van Gundy had a different opinion: "But he lacked discipline and tactical literacy on the court, shot randomly, and had poor defensive habits."

"These are not problems." Lao Mo said with a smile, "We have many good defensive players to help him wipe his ass."

When they watched Jackson's worst game, he made 4 of 18 shots from the field and scored 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes.

Van Gundy shook his head and said: "This is where his data comes from. He is an irresponsible player, an arrogant attacker, an incompetent defender, and a parallel import whose self-perception has been affected by low-level college games. We

Should be traded”

"Wait, wait." Louis interrupted him with a smile, "Jeff, don't say that, I think he's pretty good."

Van Gundy said: "I respect your opinion, Coach Lu, but I also reserve my opinion."

"What about the others, what do you think?" Louis asked.

After watching Jackson's worst games, Tomjanovich lowered his expectations for him: "Anyway, he is the third pick and has only played for one year. We should observe him for a while.

"

Only Zhao Yuanzheng and Louis thought of going together.

"Actually, he has a lot of good habits." Zhao Yuanzheng picked up the remote control and cut to him to a certain round. "Charlotte didn't cover him hard enough. Moreover, he is still adapting to the intensity of NBA confrontation, but he already has the ability to play in the NBA."

The ability to take shots against high-level defense. His long-range shooting threat is impressive, and he is a very creative ball-handler. He needs more pick-and-rolls and screens, and we have the most pick-and-rolls and screens."

Zhao Yuanzheng’s words were sonorous and powerful.

"I think he's still a great prospect if he learns how to play the right game under a great head coach."

"Zhao, do you flatter Coach Lu even when you sleep?" Baylor joked. "Otherwise, how could you be so skilled?"

"You old man talks so much nonsense!" Louis said angrily, "Isn't he telling the truth?"

Belle burst out laughing.

"Okay, we don't have to think so much about him. After all, what we are pursuing is just a qualified backup guard. If he is not qualified, Danny can barely use it." Louis took one last look at the TV, which happened to be for Chris Jackson.

"If he is qualified and even performs beyond expectations, for example, realizing the potential of his pick, how do you think Boston will react?"

The Knicks' coaching staff ended the discussion and went home.

Louis saw Lu Wuxia on the court of the Blue Palace.

Whenever this kid gets a chance, he will sneak to the Blue Palace to play basketball and pretend to be a member of the Knicks.

"Dad, can we go home later?"

Lu Wuxia was sweating profusely from practicing and couldn't let go of Lan Palace.

“Don’t you have a golf course at home?” (Chinese)

"There is no atmosphere. I like the feeling of playing here." (half Chinese, half English)

Louis chose to sit on the sidelines. This was his son's request, and he had no reason to refuse.

Just by watching Lu Wuxia dribbling on the court, you can see how much he loves this sport.

It's a pity that Louis can't see his qualifications yet.

Although he has better resources than 99.9% of his peers, it is hard to say whether he will be able to play professionally in the future.

Lu Wuxia is very dedicated to basketball, but he is extremely carefree when it comes to choosing his idol. He likes Jordan's jump shot, the tragedy maker's ShowTime, Bird's big heart, and the series of wonderful moments created by Benj and Ewing at MSG.

His favorite player is probably Benj.

"Benj is dribbling in the middle!" Lu Wuxia patted the ball and explained to himself, "Facing the tragedy maker, he forced a breakthrough and made a jump shot, oh! oh! The Conqueror made that shot, and the Lakers were killed!

!!”

He was so excited that he stepped on his own sweat and fell upside down.

※※※

Outside the Blue Palace, Louis was walking slowly with his son on his back.

"Dad, I want to play in the NBA in the future." Lu Wuxia, who is 6 years and 7 months old, said without knowing the truth, "I want to play better than everyone else, win many, many games, and get a cooler appearance than Uncle Benj."

Number."

"Cooler than Benj's nickname? That might be a bit difficult." Louis tried, "ReignMan?"

"This is Sean Kemp's nickname. I don't want it to be the same as anyone else's."

"Then you're making things difficult for me." Louis smiled, "What do you want others to call you?"

"God?"

Louis almost imitated Liu Bei and threw his son, but Liu Bei treated his son as a pendant, and he was completely shocked.

A little brat wants to be nicknamed God?

"Aren't you a little arrogant?" Lu Wuxia asked innocently.

"is a bit."

“What about the Son of God?”

Good guy, you are praising daddy as God in a roundabout way, right?

Louis said happily: "This is not bad. It should be said that it is a great achievement."

For Lu Wuxia, this day was just an ordinary day in his magnificent life.

But for Louis, no matter how many years have passed, whenever someone asks about it, he will happily recall the day before the 1991 draft, when Lu Wuxia, who was only 6 years old, discussed with him his hopes for playing professional basketball in the future.

What a nickname for the night.

Another chapter will be updated at 2pm