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It wasn't Tyson Chandler that Lin Yi asked Pat to help him target. After all, even though Knicks GM Donnie Walsh didn't exactly have the sharpest basketball mind, he was shrewd when it came to trades. If Lin Yi remembered correctly, the Knicks wouldn't even need that many assets to pry Chandler away from the Bobcats.
The league hadn't quite caught on to the true value of him yet. People tend to forget that Chandler didn't fully prove himself until the 2011 Finals. But by the time he arrived in New York for the 2011–12 season, he was a defensive force, a legitimate anchor, with outstanding awareness, elite rim protection, and eventually a Defensive Player of the Year award to his name.
Lin Yi had bigger goals next season — he planned to make a serious MVP run — so he needed someone else to shoulder the defensive load inside.
Iguodala? Not an option. Iggy was holding onto his max contract and high expectations, and had his sights set on leading the Nuggets.
The player Lin had his eye on was Shaun Livingston, the fourth overall pick from 2004.
Lin Yi knew his minutes would increase next season, and he wouldn't have as much time to stabilize the bench himself. That's where Livingston came in: tall, composed, with a reliable midrange game and excellent feel. He fit seamlessly into any lineup, and his calm, deliberate style was the perfect complement to the Knicks' faster pace.
More importantly, he gave them another option against their likely biggest rival in the East — the Miami Heat. Livingston could match up reasonably well against LeBron and Wade in critical moments. He wasn't going to shut them down, of course — no one could — but at least he wouldn't be a liability.
And the best part? Livingston could be had for a veteran's minimum. Great value, great fit. If his play held up, they could easily re-sign him later for a mid-level exception.
"That works," Javier nodded. "I think he'd be interested in coming here." He then moved on, asking which teams might be willing to sell off second-round picks, since Lin Yi had flagged two names on his draft wish list: Hassan Whiteside and Lance Stephenson.
Lin wasn't planning to start at center anymore, now that David Lee was gone. After his breakout rookie year, most NBA teams had already stopped trying to stick a center on him — he'd torch them anyway.
Instead, he wanted to slide over to power forward, where his length and skill set would give him a clear edge. One of his offseason priorities was mastering a smooth pull-up jumper — a move he wanted to perfect and unleash next year.
Having already joined the 180 Club (50/40/90 shooting), Lin Yi was ready to let it fly next season. MVP was his goal. And if he could grab that award before a certain Baby-Faced Assassin got his hands on one? More teasing material.
Whiteside was intriguing, too. He'd shown flashes even before heading to the CBA to eventually level up into the player Lin knew he could become. Lin figured it'd be better to bring him along slowly, letting Chandler mentor him defensively. Lin didn't need Whiteside to become a low-post scorer — just a reliable rim protector and rebounder.
He wasn't worried about Whiteside slowing down the Knicks' fast pace either — he already had ideas for how to make it work. Chandler still had about three elite years left, and with the dynasty vision in mind, the Knicks couldn't afford to waste potential like Whiteside's.
As for Stephenson, Lin grinned when he told Pat:
"You know why I want him? Because someday we're gonna need someone to bother LeBron."
Javier raised an eyebrow, taken aback.
Of course, Lin Yi knew full well that no one, not even Stephenson, could stop LeBron. But Lance's feisty, physical defense could at least annoy him. At the very least, he'd force LeBron to expend more energy.
And besides, Stephenson had ball-handling skills and could create his shot. The Knicks didn't lack for personality, and having him and Gallinari around would only add to their bench's… entertainment value.
Lin wasn't worried about Stephenson's occasional boneheaded moments either. He had a plan to keep him in line — Lance was about to learn what real pressure felt like.
If everything worked out, with Stephenson, Chandler, Danny Green, and Livingston, the Knicks would have their version of a Big Four on the defensive end.
Next season still isn't quite the time to go all-in for a championship, but opportunities come to those who stay ready. Without a few solid wing defenders in place, the Heat fans would eat them alive if they tried to sell the dream too early.
"Oh, and Jav—make sure of this," Lin Yi added firmly. "No matter what happens, the Knicks must not trade away the 2011 first-round pick we got from the Clippers."
Last summer, the Clippers and Knicks had swapped first-rounders. The Knicks' pick came with protections, though it didn't matter much now — they weren't finishing at the bottom of the league anymore.
But that Clippers pick? Lin Yi remembered it clearly. In his mind, that pick ended up becoming the #1 overall.
At the time, Cleveland only managed to land the fourth pick in that draft. Yet the Clippers' pick they acquired became the top selection.
So, no matter what, the Knicks had to hold onto that pick. The 2011 draft class was stacked with potential stars. Both Kawhi and Klay had the perfect profile of a second option on a championship team. And if it did become the #1 pick… well, pairing Kyrie with him would give the Knicks a Shooting Stars 2.0 vibe—plus he brought the kind of iso-scoring punch Lin needed next to him.
If everything went to plan, the Knicks could officially begin their dynasty run once the lockout lifted.
Of course, Lin knew he'd already changed the timeline in a big way. How the draft shook out was anyone's guess now. But knowing the Clippers' track record, he was betting it was worth keeping that pick at all costs.
Javier nodded in agreement. As someone who knew basketball, he wasn't too fond of throwing picks into trades either—but sometimes that's just how the business worked.
"Don't worry. I've got it noted. And honestly? Sometimes a pick's more valuable than the star you're trading for anyway."
"Good. Then that's settled," Lin Yi said, leaning back. "And now that David's decided to leave, no need to hold back. One more thing—make sure Donnie Walsh knows this: if Stoudemire is all that's left on the free-agent market… don't bother. He doesn't fit my game."
With Dolan backing him, even Lin was a little surprised by how much say he already had in New York.
The Knicks were a desperate franchise. And now that they'd grabbed hold of him like a lifeline, they weren't letting go.
Javier chuckled. "Relax. Donnie's not going to cross you now. Trust me, after what you did this postseason? To Knicks fans, you're Michael Jordan already. Dolan's not about to let anyone mess with your reputation either."
Lin Yi just spread his hands with a wry smile. This wasn't about him wanting to play the prima donna—he hadn't asked for all this. But the Knicks had him take charge.
After clearing his mental to-do list, Lin Yi couldn't help but notice how much more mature and grounded he felt.
He wrapped up his meeting with Javier, feeling satisfied, then headed off with Zhong Muchen to catch their flight to Los Angeles. Game 1 of the NBA Finals was just around the corner.
And there was one more thing waiting for him out west—Yao Ming had also asked to meet up in L.A. Lin Yi knew Yao well enough to know he wouldn't ask lightly. If Big Yao was calling, it had to be something important.
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