After listening to Chen Yilun, even though Magic Johnson had already done plenty of homework, he still sucked in a sharp breath.
"Look at this! Look at this! You know what they say — feast at the top, famine at the bottom. This was exactly that."
His own team didn't have a single draft pick and had to send the scouting department all over the world searching for potential undrafted players. Meanwhile, the Kings had so many draft picks they could practically sell them in bulk.
Magic Johnson felt like he had walked into Walmart—these draft picks were lined up on the shelves like neatly arranged goods waiting for him to take his pick.
"We're not asking for much,"
Magic Johnson said, swallowing hard.
"I'm too embarrassed to even ask about those three premium first-round picks. How about your own first-rounder? Interested in moving that one?"
"Oh, come on."
Hearing that, Chen Yilun's disappointment was visible to the naked eye.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Kings would once again finish with the best record in the league, which meant their own draft pick would naturally fall at No. 30.
A pick like that wasn't exactly going to fetch a great return.
As for the other three first-rounders, Chen Yilun had always been open to offers—it's just that the asking price for those picks was so high that most teams wouldn't even try.
"So, we're talking about our pick this year? What are you offering?"
"How about Travis Will plus our 2021 first-round pick?"
"Who?"
It took Chen Yilun a long moment to recall who Travis Will even was.
An undrafted guy who had a short stint with the Knicks last season, then signed a minimum deal with the Lakers. Up to now, he was still proudly serving as Los Angeles's water-bottle manager.
"You're trading that?"
Chen Yilun couldn't hold back a laugh. "I remember this Will guy. You haven't cut him yet?"
"Nope."
Hearing the sarcasm, Magic Johnson awkwardly rubbed his nose.
"Alright, Yilun, let's skip the Will part. The 2021 first-rounder—no protections. Whatever happens, it'll still be higher than 30th, right?"
"You should at least look at the draft year."
Chen Yilun cut him off immediately.
"Everyone knows that after consecutive strong draft classes, a stretch of weak ones always follows. The 2021 class hasn't shown anything yet, but it definitely won't be great. So I'm supposed to trade a first-rounder from a strong year for some weak-year pick with an unknown position?
And add a trade exception too? Do I look like a rookie GM to you?"
"Then what do you want?"
Seeing his first attempt fail, Magic Johnson simply tossed the ball back.
No matter what offer he made, Chen Yilun would just climb up the ladder to extract more value—better to let him name his price. Ask for the moon; he'd counter accordingly.
"I'll make an offer."
Chen Yilun thought for a bit before speaking. "Your rookie, Josh Hart—I like him. You give me him, and I'll throw in Willie Reed to balance the salary. But you'll also need to add a draft pick as compensation."
Josh Hart? No chance.
Magic Johnson didn't even need a second to reject the idea.
As last year's 30th pick, he'd been traded to the Lakers right after the Jazz drafted him. Half a season in, his ironman traits were already starting to show.
Trading draft picks was supposed to help stockpile rookie assets for a future star trade. Giving up a prospect already showing real potential for a first-round pick? That was losing value no matter how you looked at it.
"No way! That's not happening!"
Magic Johnson shook his head.
"How about we meet in the middle?"
He hesitated for a moment, then continued.
"The Cavaliers are negotiating a big trade with us. We're expected to get Andrew Bogut—do you want him?"
Why would I want a dog chained to the bench?
Chen Yilun held back the urge to curse right then and there.
The "big trade" Magic mentioned wasn't even that big—just the Cavaliers' final desperate swing in 2018. They shipped out Isaiah Thomas and got Jordan Clarkson and Channing Frye from the Lakers.
"No way, I'm not interested in that type of player."
After taking a moment to compose himself, Chen Yilun continued, "But since you've brought it up, I'll take another step back. Still centered on my first-round pick and Reed, but this time I want your Ivica Zubac plus one more first-round pick. How about that?"
One major reason Chen Yilun was even willing to talk to the Lakers was the hope of picking up a steal.
After all, this year's Lakers were stacked with talent: Randle, Ingram, Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope, Lonzo Ball—guys who were all destined to become something.
The problem was that Luke Walton, ever since taking over, had been pushing an extreme egalitarian style on offense. Everyone averaged around ten points, and those unremarkable numbers meant there was no chance of acquiring any of them cheaply. It killed Chen Yilun's motivation to trade for them.
When he finished talking, Magic didn't immediately reject the idea.
Zubac did have some trade value. As the 2016 second-round No. 2 pick, his role with the Lakers was awkward. Julius Randle and Brook Lopez blocked him from above, while Larry Nance Jr. and even Thomas Bryant competed from below.
Thinking about it that way, moving him wasn't impossible.
"But there's something I need to clarify first."
Chen Yilun suddenly added.
"If I remember correctly, Zubac's contract will only have one team-option year left after this season. You'll have to guarantee me you'll extend him, otherwise I'm not doing the deal."
A contract extension guarantee? As if that's something you just hand out!
Magic Johnson thought the request was pointless. A player like Zubac was a dime a dozen—he should be grateful to get any contract at all. And Chen Yilun wanted some superstar-level commitment?
Dream on.
The only concern Magic had was that in their ongoing talks with the Cavaliers, Cleveland kept trying to include Larry Nance Jr. in the deal. If they traded Nance Jr. and Zubac, the team's center rotation would look thin.
But then Magic quickly realized—without those two, they still had three centers. Worst case, they'd just give Thomas Bryant more minutes. No big deal.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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