Volume 4: Golden State Prosperity

There had been no word of this before, but once the Jazz selected Zhou Qi, there was no need to hide it anymore, and Morey quickly found out what had happened. "Of course. Since you're coming to the Bay Area, I have to play host... How about this? The next time we play the Nets, if the timing works out, I'll introduce you to Yi Jianlian. He's my protégé, so please look after him in the future." Yao had called him yesterday to recommend Zhou Qi. Morey had already been considering drafting another Huaxia player to maintain the Rockets' enormous market in Huaxia, so he readily agreed. "Damn Huaxia bastard!" Afterward, Zhang Yu said goodbye to Joe Tsai and returned to their hotel with Wirtz and Riley. Carrying a suitcase, they went to an upscale restaurant in Brooklyn and took their seats at a window table they had reserved beforehand. Zhang Yu smiled as well. Yi Jianlian's earnest advice and careful reminders were filled with deep concern and affection. Morey had even prepared his talking points. Once the draft was over, he would tell reporters that he had valued Zhou Qi's talent, not his nationality, then casually "let slip" that Yao had recommended him. That would show respect for Zhou Qi, stir the emotions of Huaxia fans, and, most importantly, conceal his hunger for the Huaxia market so as not to alienate those fans. It was perfect. Morey muttered, "Just wait, Huaxia bastards. Don't let me catch an opportunity, or I'll make you pay..." Still, Morey had not held much hope for this draft in the first place. He only had one question now: how had Zhou Qi been snatched away by the Jazz? "This kind of maneuver is common. The Warriors probably reached an agreement with the Jazz beforehand,