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Afternoon – New York
Executive Office, MSG
Donnie Walsh wasn't ready to back off just yet. He stepped into the office of Knicks owner James Dolan, visibly frustrated but holding his tone in check.
"Jim," Donnie said, "look, Carmelo Anthony is an All-Star. A legit scorer. Getting him here could elevate us—make us a contender."
Dolan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Have you talked to Lin Yi?"
Donnie nodded, albeit reluctantly. "I did. He's not in favor. But I think he's wrong this time. I really do."
Dolan raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. Let me call him myself."
...
Lin picked up before the second ring. He already had a good idea why Dolan was calling.
"Hey boss," Lin said, "Mhmm. Yes. Ok. I'll be honest with you—Gallinari's been a rock for us. He can shoot, handle the ball, and doesn't need it in his hands to be effective. Plus, at 6'10", we can even slide him into small-ball lineups."
"Wilson Chandler? Athletic too. He's been locking up wings all last season, and he brings a lot of grit to the team. He's one of the few guys who don't need the spotlight to make an impact."
"Shane Battier's the ultimate glue guy. He doesn't care about stats, just does the dirty work. Sets screens, rotates, boxes out—everything that doesn't show up on the scoreboard but helps you win."
Lin paused before continuing. "Now let's talk Melo and JR. What do they bring that we don't already have? Isolation scoring? We don't need that. We're building a team-first culture here. Ball movement, spacing, accountability. Melo's a bucket, no doubt, but his game takes air out of the offense."
He took a breath, then lowered his tone slightly. "And JR? Come on. We already have Lou Williams as our sixth man. What are we gonna do with another streaky scorer with… let's say, baggage?"
"Jim, you've been in the media world a long time. You know how the headlines go. This team doesn't need any more drama—especially not now, when we're 11–1 and making real noise. Trading chemistry for headlines? That's not a smart play."
Dolan was silent for a moment.
Lin's voice softened. "You don't need to spend big just to be the best. This roster right now—this team? They've bought in. Let's give it time. We're building something sustainable."
...
MSG – Later That Day
Dolan hung up and sat quietly for a moment. Lin made a strong case. Logical. Passionate. Confident. He'd seen what Lin brought to the team—not just stats, but stability, culture, belief.
And Dolan wasn't blind. The Knicks were one of the most profitable franchises already, but with Lin Yi at the helm, they were also finally relevant for the right reasons.
Trading for Melo now? That'd send the wrong message.
"Donnie," Dolan said finally, "we're not doing the deal."
Donnie's eyes widened. "Jim—"
"No. I trust Lin. And frankly, so should you."
He added firmly, "Don't push Lin again, Donnie. He's earned more than our respect. He's earned the right to steer this thing."
...
Denver
Meanwhile, in the Mile High City, Carmelo Anthony wasn't taking the news well.
"What do you mean they turned it down?" he said, pacing his living room as his agent explained the Knicks had pulled out.
"They didn't even take the call," the agent muttered.
Melo snorted. "That's cap. Ain't no way the Knicks pass on me. Must be Denver tryna play hardball."
But deep down, he knew the truth. New York didn't want him.
He slumped on the couch, frustration simmering. "Man… playin' with Lin would've been different. MVP run, rings, all that. We could've owned the East."
As Melo stared at the ceiling, the local media buzzed louder. Nuggets fans were split—some defended their star, others were exhausted by the off-court drama. Whether he was a true leader was still debatable.
...
Los Angeles
While trade talks faded in the rearview mirror, the Knicks boarded a plane west, prepping for their upcoming road trip.
First stop: the Clippers.
The buzz was electric, and fans were eating it up. MSG had backed Lin, the team had rallied around him, and now even Gallinari and Wilson Chandler—who knew they were almost sent packing—were playing with renewed purpose.
In Lin's memory, both had been sacrificed in another timeline. But not this one. This time, they stayed.
And they knew who to thank.
Back in LA, Blake Griffin was grinding late into the night. After a brutal workout, he collapsed next to his dog, Victory.
"You think I can be a superstar?" he asked the dog between bites of a peanut butter-jelly sandwich.
Victory didn't even look up.
Griffin sighed and looked at the calendar. "Guess I'll have to prove it on the court."
The date was circled.
Staples Center.
Knicks vs. Clippers.
Lin vs. Blake.
The media had dubbed it a duel. But for the Knicks?
It was business.
...
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