"Then let's figure out where these two second-round picks are coming from!"
Gar Foreman wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.
This time, he had truly seen Chen Yilun's power. No wonder every GM in the league feared him like a tiger. Negotiating with this man was utterly draining.
"I can give you an unprotected 2017 second-round pick. For a protected one, I'll offer something further down the line."
"How about an unprotected 2018 second-round pick?"
"No chance!"
Chen Yilun rolled his eyes and rejected Foreman's offer without hesitation. The 2014 draft had been recognized as historic, while the years that followed were mixed. But consensus around the league was that 2018 would be the next major draft class. That second-round pick was far too valuable to give up.
"You already have three 2018 first-rounders, and you're guarding a second-rounder like it's treasure?"
Foreman's words were blunt, but he wasn't wrong. The Kings held three 2018 first-round picks: their own, the Wizards' pick from the Cousins trade, and the Knicks' pick from the Williams deal.
From a typical GM's perspective, the Kings were overloaded with 2018 draft capital. Most would gladly trade a second-rounder to relieve the logjam.
But Chen Yilun wasn't a typical GM. He refused to move any 2018 picks.
After some tug-of-war, they finally reached a deal: an unprotected 2017 second-round pick and a 2018 second-round pick protected within the top 45.
"That's settled. Once I'm back in Sacramento, I'll file the paperwork with the league. Everything should be wrapped up in the next couple of days."
With that, Chen Yilun walked out without looking back.
"Hey? Leaving already? Won't you stay for a meal?"
"Nope! Still got a ton to do!" Chen Yilun waved and kept going. "Next time, make sure you treat me to some Chicago specialties!"
These past two days had drained him. All he wanted now was to collapse into bed.
"Alright then! Next time you're in Chicago, let me know—I'll set you up!"
...
Just hours after the negotiations ended, Malone found Zach LaVine in a small gym.
LaVine, still in his Kings practice gear, was absentmindedly putting up shots.
"Zach!"
Coach Malone's voice echoed from the sideline, snapping LaVine back to reality.
Seeing the mentor who had been with him since he entered the league, LaVine forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Come take a walk with me."
Malone picked up LaVine's jacket from the floor and handed it to him, motioning for him to follow.
"You've heard everything?"
The Sacramento streets glowed under the night lights as the old coach and the young player walked slowly side by side.
Before the negotiations ended, Chen Yilun had already told LaVine's agent. Now that everything was finalized, the agent had, of course, spoken with him.
"Coach."
After a long silence, LaVine finally asked, "Am I really leaving?"
Seeing his player's pained expression, Malone's heart twisted. "Yes. But listen, the Bulls are a great place for you. You'll get more shots, a bigger role. It'll be huge for your future."
"So… the team doesn't need me anymore?"
"No, no! We all love you!" Malone quickly reassured him. "But this is business. None of us can change it."
Their walk led them to the Sacramento River.
Malone pulled LaVine onto a bench by the water. "Nothing is absolute in this league. Today it's you. Tomorrow it might be me. The day after, it could even be Chen."
"But that's the beauty of it. Even though we're parting now, as long as we both keep moving forward, one day we'll meet again at the top."
"Yeah."
Malone's words eased LaVine's burden, if only slightly. The Kings were his first team, and as a rookie, he had already come to see them as home. He had even dreamed of being a one-franchise player, retiring his jersey in Sacramento someday.
But now reality had struck him hard.
"Even though this is how things turned out, I hope you don't resent me. And don't resent Chen either. He was just doing the owner's job."
"I know, Coach."
LaVine looked out at the flowing Sacramento River, letting the breeze dry the sweat on his face.
"No matter where I go, I'll never forget this year in Sacramento. You and Chen will always be my leaders."
"That's all I could hope for."
Malone draped an arm around LaVine's shoulder.
"Work hard, keep climbing. And if you ever have a rough day, call me. My phone will always be open."
...
...
"Chen Yilun has once again pulled off the impossible!"
On his blog, Sir Charles was nearly spitting into the mic with excitement.
"You all saw the news, right? The first blockbuster trade of the season is here! The Kings sent Zach LaVine, their 2019 first-round pick, 2020 first-round pick swap rights, an unprotected 2017 second-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick protected in the top 45—all to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler!"
"And if you throw in the mid-level exception and cash they included, that's basically seven-for-one for Butler!"
Joining Barkley on the podcast once again was his longtime frenemy, Shaquille O'Neal.
"I don't even know what to say about Chen Yilun anymore," Shaq said, shaking his head. "The guy always finds a way to shock us when we least expect it."
"True, Shaq. So how would you grade this trade?" Barkley asked.
"Grade it?" Shaq rubbed his chin in thought. "Based on what we've seen so far, I'd give the Kings an A—or even an A+."
"That high?"
"Absolutely. This trade, along with the earlier ones, shows Chen Yilun's ambition." Shaq grew serious.
"He's never been about building a championship team just to tear it down. He's never blindly chased superstars either. Instead, he's been methodically building this Kings roster."
"Jokić, Booker, CJ, even LaVine—before he was traded—they all developed step by step. And now Butler fills the final missing piece."
"The Kings already had defensive anchors like Ben, Thaddeus Young, and Oden. But with Butler, their defense is on another level. They finally have a true lockdown defender who can take on the opponent's best player!"
...
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