New York, Manhattan, top-floor conference room at Knicks Group headquarters.
The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire bustling city of New York.
Neon lights burned through the night, reflecting the ambition and clamor of this commercial capital of basketball.
Around the heavy solid-wood conference table sat every member of the Knicks' upper management.
The team owner, general manager, operations director, and head coach Van Gundy were all in attendance.
This was an urgent, closed-door internal meeting called at the last minute.
There was only one topic—the team's self-rescue and future plans following Sabonis's departure.
The atmosphere was solemn, devoid of the usual ease and relaxation that followed a championship.
Everyone wore especially grave expressions.
For the past three years, the foundation of the Knicks dynasty had been their unshakable twin-towers system.
Li Fei was the absolute, unstoppable core on both offense and defense—the team's soul and backbone.
Sabonis, meanwhile, had unquestionably been the second-in-command and the offense's second focal point.
His high-post playmaking, interior spacing, and ability to connect the team had supported the entire dynasty's tactical system.
Half the credit for the glory of three straight championships belonged to the system built around this European legend.
Now, this most stable pillar of the system had been completely removed and had collapsed.
The team's general manager spoke first, breaking the silence in the conference room.
"We have to face reality. Sabonis isn't coming back."
"The verbal agreement has already been finalized. We can't match the Trail Blazers' offer."
His fingertips tapped lightly against the team salary report and roster analysis charts spread across the table.
"Because our salary structure has been locked up by consecutive championships, we can't offer him a max deal for his retirement years."
"For a veteran who has played for so many years and is covered