Volume 4: Golden State Prosperity

When the Cavaliers eliminated the Celtics on May 26, the Warriors players had already rested for four days. Zhang Yu gave the entire team two days off, and they trained for only two days. The best way to bury one piece of news was never to suppress it forcefully, but to cover it with another story. But if a general manager dared to go back on his word after a trade had been agreed upon, he would lose all credibility. No team would be willing to trade with him, nor would any team dare hire him. Yet after considering it for just one day, Danny Ainge agreed to Riley's request. After the Celtics were eliminated, negotiations between Riley and Danny Ainge suddenly accelerated, and Riley reported the latest developments to Zhang Yu. "Give him to me, and we can win four championships in five years too!" But everyone else was focused on the approaching Finals, and Shams's tweet quickly sank without a trace. Danny Ainge received Durant's affirmative answer and, abandoning his previous stalling, immediately agreed to Riley's terms. Not only did he agree to offer the first overall pick and Jaylen Brown, but he also agreed to include three future Celtics first-round picks and two matching contracts in a trade with the Warriors. Irving and Love's performances had spurred Durant on; he wanted better help than Isaiah Thomas. Fortunately, the Warriors' original wing depth was quite solid. Wiggins, Antetokounmpo, and Covington could all play major roles, and there was also a chance to acquire high draft picks through the Leonard and Green trade, so there was no need to worry about replenishing the wings. Once he made a decision, he carried it out unwaveringly, never quibbling over minor gains and losses. What Zhang Yu wanted was Jaylen Brown and