December 5, 1996.
The bar area outside the Boston FleetCenter Arena was packed, with Mutombo's finger wag and Garnett's dunk playing on repeat on TV. Boston were immersed in the celebration of the Celtics ' resurgence.
But that night, General Manager Lin Qi didn't show up at the arena. He sat in an old movie theater three blocks away, huddled in the shadows of the last row.
On the big screen, a preview screening of " Good Will Hunting " is being shown.
When Matt Damon on screen revealed his rough, self-destructive stubbornness in the counseling room, a middle-aged man in an old Celtics jacket in the front row quietly wiped his eyes. The entire theater fell silent; even breathing was suppressed.
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. He knew the film was in the bag.
As the movie ended, applause erupted like a tidal wave. Miramax distributors standing in the aisle were flushed, their eyes brimming with barely concealed excitement.
Distribution was handled by Harvey Weinstein's Miramax.
But what Lin Qi signed was a betting agreement where both sides revealed their cards and calculated every detail.
Using the pretext of New Line Cinema raising the price from behind, he forced Miramax to give up one of the most crucial things.
copyright.
The ownership of the film negatives, overseas rights, and every penny of the subsequent long-term sales of the videotapes for " Good Will Hunting " were all locked in Lin Qi's own company's accounts. Miramax did not receive any back-end profit sharing; all they could take was a fixed percentage of distribution service fees.
It is said that on the day of the signing, Harvey Weinstein ripped off his tie in his New York office, yelled into the phone for a full ten minutes, and smashed two coffee cups.
Of course, this Hollywood rogue wasn't going to take it lying down. He promptly added to the contract that Miramax would refuse to cover the film's marketing and awards season PR costs.
This means that the $20 million needed for subsequent physical copy cleaning, buying out prime-time TV advertising, and even bribing Oscar voters would all have to be poured in by Lin Qi himself.
"Lin, you're playing with fire."
The accompanying financial advisor turned pale and whispered a warning in Lin Qi's ear, "The accounts receivable from the streetwear brand haven't arrived yet, and the long-term subscription fee for the data company has just been paid. You've drained the cash flow for the next three years. If the box office doesn't hit the mark, you'll go bankrupt..."
Lin Qi didn't even flinch as he signed his name.
Lin Qi knew all too well what Hollywood was like in the 1990s. A good script alone wasn't enough; you had to make someone as notoriously ruthless as Harvey Weinstein see a sure-fire way to win before he'd stake all his company's resources on paving the way for you.
What Lin Qi wanted was Harvey's top-notch public relations skills.
Therefore, Lin Qi was willing to take all the risks.
Lin Qi broke down the contract's budget into the most intricate bait: Miramax would only receive the first additional payment if the preview screenings' box office exceeded the target; and the next public relations and marketing budget would only arrive after securing a nomination from the Critics' Circle.
With $20 million, Lin Qi used all his financial leverage, bearing the risk alone. Harvey didn't have to pay a single penny upfront; even if the box office flopped, Lin Qi would be the one who lost money.
Lin Qi used this absolute sense of security—completely freeing the other party—to gain Harvey's full commitment during awards season.
As long as Harvey can use his methods to elevate this film to legendary status, Lin Qi's willingness to bear all the risks will become the richest reward... The subsequent videotape sales and television rights for " Good Will Hunting " for more than a decade will forever belong to Lin Qi.
Harvey could take his distribution fee and boast to the media that he was the Kingmaker of the Oscar.
Lin Qi closed the file and looked out the car window at the white steam rising from the streetlights.
Harvey Weinstein got the industry fame and supreme glory he wanted most, while Lin Qi took almost all the benefits.
"Those two screenwriters are really from South Boston? Did they write it themselves?"
"Wow, that scene in the counseling room was amazing! When will it be released?"
Listening to the chatter of the departing crowd, Lin Qi stubbed out his cigarette.
As I got into the Lincoln for the return trip, my assistant immediately handed me a confidential folder.
"Boss, Harvey just called, laughing like a madman. He suggested continuing to hold back on the next round of preview screenings; the scarcity marketing has already whetted the appetites of the New York media." The assistant paused, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Also... here are the latest league standings and L'Équipe you requested."
Lin Qi casually flipped to the back, his gaze sweeping over the Mountain in the Eastern Conference that seemed to suffocate people. Finally, his eyes stopped abruptly on the fourth position in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Lakers.
Lin Qi stared at the name, his brows slowly furrowing. The situation had deviated from his original calculations.
In the original timeline, Jerry West went on a spending spree on draft night, hoarding 18-year-old Kobe, Peja Stojakovic from Europe, and O'Neal Jr.. This would inevitably lead to a weak frontcourt and a chaotic season for the Lakers. However, Lin Qi underestimated the ruthlessness of that West Coast veteran. Verstegen had no intention of waiting for the young players to mature.
He used the subtle butterfly effect of Lin Qi's trade to create a reverse frenzy in the free market.
David Wesley... This guard, who was traded to Seattle by Lin Qi on draft night in exchange for a second-round draft pick, was somehow lured away to Los Angeles by West. Finding no room for growth in Boston, Wesley became the starting point guard alongside O'Neal, averaging 16 points per game, displaying tough defense, and becoming the perfect supporting player for the giant.
What surprised Lin Qi even more was that because he snatched Garnett away on the night of the 1995 draft, Jerry Stackhouse, who was originally the third pick, fell to the fourth pick, and the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Rasheed Wallace with the fifth pick.
In the summer of 1996, Tom Gugliotta was immediately put on the shelf because his position overlapped with Wallace's. Jerry West, the shrewd old fox on the West Coast, seized the opportunity and decisively packaged Vlad Divac and sent him to Minnesota, effectively swapping Gugliotta for Wallace.
This move completely completed the Lakers ' frontcourt puzzle.
Gugliotta's physique and shooting range are very similar to Kevin Love during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves... He shares the same tough white heritage, can stretch the floor to shoot threes, and possesses top-notch rebounding and long passing skills; however, he is more agile than Love, and his dribbling and lateral movement on defense are more aggressive.
On a tactical level, he's more like Gordon Hayward, taller than 2.08 meters and heavier than 110 kilograms. This versatile quality—able to pass, shoot, handle the ball, and never be a liability on defense—is the type of player that all head coaches in the league love most.
What's even more remarkable is that he can facilitate from the high post and has an extremely consistent mid-range shot. Most importantly, he never occupies the low post. When he stands on the court, he not only doesn't block O'Neal's paint, but he also completely organizes the frontcourt space and offense.
After being outmaneuvered by Lin Qi on draft night in 1994, with Eddie Jones being snatched away, Jerry West was forced to search the entire Lakers for a 3-and-D guard to replace Jones. As luck would have it, West finally managed to snag Doc Doug Christie, a 6'3" player with aggressive defense, from the Toronto Raptors for a very small price.
Subsequently, in order to further inject a tough, competitive element into the perimeter, West also signed 34-year-old old-school tough guy Jerome Kersey from the free market at a low price.
The Lakers were completely transformed in just one summer.
David Wesley, Doc Doug Christie, Jerome Kersey, Tom Gugliotta, Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal.
On the bench were A.C. Green, Brian Shaw, and Byron Scott, not to mention, hidden on their bench was that high school student who would one day amaze the entire nation... Kobe Brian.
This starting lineup, tough to the core, allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to secure fourth place in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.
Lin Qi closed the folder, leaned back in the car seat, and closed his eyes.
Looking at this lineup, he felt a strange sense of absurdity.
Why does this Jerry West seem like a time traveler too?
This alliance was not made simpler just because he was a time traveler.
Outside the car window, the Boston night wind was biting cold.
Lin Qi chuckled self-deprecatingly, the ease in his eyes vanishing instantly.
Jerry West, that old fox, is indeed ruthless.
But it would be too boring if the alliance remained unchanged.
"Boss?" The assistant glanced at Lin Qi's suddenly cold expression in the rearview mirror and tentatively asked, "Back to the apartment?"
"Back to the stadium." Lin Qi's voice was devoid of any warmth.
"But the FleetCenter is closed now..."
"Contact security to open the door," Lin Qi interrupted him directly. "Move all the master tapes of the Los Angeles Lakers' games this season to my office, especially their games against the Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics..."
The assistant was startled and immediately realized what was happening.
December 25th, the Christmas battle.
Less than twenty days remain until this highly anticipated showdown between arch-rivals.