Volume 5: Unrivaled

Volume Five: Unparalleled — Chapter 747: A Ruthless Shakedown. George had already made his position clear: he would opt out of his contract next summer and join the Lakers, and the Lakers and Pacers were in trade talks. Riley contacted Magic Johnson on his own initiative, willing to negotiate with the Warriors over Lopez, but the asking price remained three first-round picks. Magic Johnson had only taken over as the Lakers' president of basketball operations in February, controlling all basketball matters for the team. He had made a huge show of it—bringing in George today, James tomorrow. If he failed to land either one, he would become a laughingstock. After that, Zhang Yu repeatedly displayed his "arrogance" in front of the media, drawing doubts from reporters and fans, but also making Magic Johnson waver. Faced with Zhang Yu's implicitly angry questioning, Riley sighed and said helplessly: Lopez could protect the rim, pass the ball, and stretch the floor. When necessary, he could even score in the post. He perfectly fit Zhang Yu's requirements. There were hardly any good centers on the market—there weren't even many usable ones—and the Warriors had blocked too many teams' paths over the past few years, offending far too many people. If the outside world learned that the Warriors truly intended to strengthen at center, other teams would surely join forces to fleece them even harder. Lopez had originally been traded to the Lakers to clear cap space, while Jerebko was also on an expiring deal. The trade exception was extremely flexible: it could be split up, traded again, or even voided if necessary. It would not interfere with the Lakers' plans for next summer's market, and they could also acquire a first-round pick. All they had to give up was an aging center who was