"How to salvage the situation and maximize our gains—that's what we need to be thinking about!"
The moment Theodore Leonsis said those words, he set the direction for the entire discussion.
The Wizards had already made up their minds to give up on DeMarcus Cousins and squeeze out every last bit of his remaining trade value during this final window.
"But we only have a few hours left! Cousins' contract isn't a max deal, and there's only half a season remaining. Where are we supposed to find a team willing to take him now?"
The concern wasn't exaggerated.
Trades involving players of this level are usually preceded by extensive communication and drawn-out negotiations. In many cases, weeks or even months of talks come before a deal is finalized. At this point, the time left for the Wizards was nowhere near enough.
"Then what should we do now?"
Leonsis asked.
"The best solution is this."
Grunfeld answered almost without thinking. "We give DeMarcus Cousins a verbal promise and let him play out the rest of the season properly. In the offseason, whether he has surgery and re-signs with us or opts out and leaves directly, it doesn't matter. We've already accepted this season's outcome."
"Fine."
Leonsis nodded, then continued. "But letting him walk for nothing is still too big a loss. During this time, you secretly reach out to other teams. We still have Cousins' Bird rights. If we do a sign-and-trade, we can at least get something back."
"Understood."
Grunfeld nodded in agreement.
"But won't this hurt the team's reputation?"
Leonsis suddenly asked.
"There will definitely be an impact."
Grunfeld shrugged helplessly. "It'll affect our appeal to future star players and cause trouble with the players' union as well. But there's no alternative."
"Then that's that."
Leonsis stood up from his seat.
"I don't have the time to worry about these details. You all better handle it properly."
With that, Leonsis led his entourage out of the conference room.
"Boss, what about the team's personnel structure?"
Leonsis's assistant asked in a low voice.
"That depends on how that Grunfeld performs."
Leonsis snorted dismissively.
"If DeMarcus Cousins is willing to take a pay cut and stay in the offseason, then let Grunfeld keep his job. But whether Cousins leaves as a free agent or through a sign-and-trade, get rid of Grunfeld. Someone has to pay for the problems that have piled up over the last two years."
"Understood!"
"Oh, and if one Grunfeld isn't enough, fire Brooks too. He was only hired back then to recruit Durant. Now that Durant never came, he's got no value left."
...
Inside the conference room, Grunfeld and Coach Brooks exchanged looks and gave each other bitter smiles, shaking their heads.
"Start preparing a way out."
Grunfeld let out a long breath and laughed at himself. "After all these years, it still ends with the rabbit dead and the hunting dog cooked."
At today's meeting, Grunfeld knew very clearly that his position was already hanging by a thread.
Cousins had effectively given him two choices: either offer a max extension and he would play properly, or let him focus on recovery and not interfere with his pursuit of a big contract in the summer.
Under those conditions, Grunfeld had no way to turn the situation around.
"We both need to get ready."
Brooks sighed as well. Back when he was hired in Washington, he'd thought he could finally make something of himself. He never expected it to be another den of danger.
"Scott, do you have anywhere lined up?"
Grunfeld looked at Coach Brooks with a sincere expression. "At this point, there's no need to hide anything. Help me out today, and I'll repay you later."
"What options do I have?"
Coach Brooks sighed and replied casually.
"Coaching jobs in the league are insanely competitive now. Every position has countless people eyeing it. I'll probably end up going back to my old trade, see if there's a bowl of rice for me in the NCAA."
At that moment, both Brooks and Grunfeld couldn't help but feel a sense of shared despair.
"But—"
That single word from Brooks reignited hope in Grunfeld's eyes.
"I've heard Brooklyn is about to go through major changes. That owner, Tsai, hasn't officially taken control yet, but he's already started laying the groundwork. He even contacted that hyena, Chen Yilun, trying to poach him. But Chen Yilun turned him down."
Hearing this, Grunfeld immediately perked up.
"I heard about that too. That hyena is really riding high right now. Even his former deputy, Blackstone, is already running things over in Philadelphia."
"That's just how the league is."
Coach Brooks said with emotion. "One person exits the stage, another steps into the spotlight. This is Chen Yilun's era now."
The speaker may have meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart. Brooks' words sounded very different to Grunfeld.
Why not try approaching Chen Yilun?
Maybe I could join his team.
The thought instantly excited him.
He wasn't some poor relative from the countryside coming to beg for help. He'd spent years fighting his way through the league. Even if he was about to be kicked out of the Wizards due to recent failures, it didn't erase the connections and experience he'd accumulated as a general manager over the years. If he went to the Kings, that hyena might actually be willing to take him in.
Thinking of this, Grunfeld's gloomy mood lifted noticeably.
"Alright, Scott. I won't keep talking."
Grunfeld stood up. "There's still a pile of things to deal with on the team side. I'll head back and take care of it."
After quickly gathering his documents, Grunfeld left the conference room.
Watching his departing figure, Coach Brooks smiled faintly, then began to pack up at an unhurried pace.
"I wonder how much of an impact this will really have on him."
Coach Brooks muttered to himself in the empty conference room.
"Hyena, huh?"
Suddenly, Coach Brooks raised his head, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
"Only hyenas that live and hunt in packs are truly terrifying. A large pack of hyenas can even bring down a lion."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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