The Celtics' public statement that they listened to Mutombo's offer caused a huge uproar throughout the league.
Over the next few hours, Lin Qi's office phone was ringing off the hook.
Lin Qi leaned back in his executive chair, ruthlessly hanging up on one insincere phone call after another. He was waiting for a real big fish.
At six o'clock in the evening, the private line on the table rang. The caller ID showed a Dallas number.
Lin Qi pressed the speakerphone button, and Mark Cuban's highly recognizable, fast-paced, and energetic voice immediately came from the other end of the line.
This tech upstart, who had just spent a whopping $285 million to buy the Dallas Mavericks a few months ago, was eager to prove his ambition to the entire league. He did things unconventionally, even bypassing the team's general manager, Don Nelson, and made the call directly to Lin Qi.
" Lin Qi, I saw the ESPN report." Cuban cut to the chase without any pleasantries. "I want Dikembe. Dallas's perimeter defense has Michael Finley, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki. If you give me that big man who can anchor the paint, the Mavericks will immediately surpass the Los Angeles Lakers and become the biggest contender for the championship!"
" Mark, congratulations on taking over the Mavericks." Lin Qi twirled his pen, his tone calm. "But did you see the additional conditions in my statement? If you want him, you must give him a long-term contract befitting a championship center."
"How much do you think is appropriate?" Cuban asked casually on the other end of the phone, his tone as relaxed as if he were asking about the weather.
Without hesitation, Lin Qi dropped a number that would make most general managers in the league gasp. "4 years, $65 million."
"No problem."
Without haggling, without even a second's hesitation, Cuban readily agreed. "The moment the deal is struck, this contract will be printed and placed before him! Also, please tell Dikembe State of Texas has no state tax; the cash he receives with this $65 million will be far more than he would in Boston!"
Even Lin Qi had to admire Cuban's fervor in "spending a fortune to buy bones".
"You've met Dikembe's demands," Lin Qi said calmly. "So, what do you plan to offer Boston?"
The sound of documents being flipped through came from the other end of the phone. Then Cuban offered his bargaining chip. "I'll give you Sean Bradley to match Dikembe's salary. In addition, I'll give you two first-round picks, one for this year (2000) and one for 2002. How about that?"
Upon hearing the offer, Lin Qi chuckled softly.
" Mark, everyone in the league knows exactly what kind of contract Sean Bradley has—his seven-year, $44 million deal. It's an absolute garbage contract." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his voice turning cold. "With Dikembe, the Mavericks will definitely be a top-half playoff team next season, which means your 2002 draft pick will be a worthless late first-round pick."
Lin Qi paused for a moment, then presented his core logic. "You want me to help Dallas get rid of a bad contract while also trading away a championship-caliber starting center, only to get two draft picks in return, one of which is a late first-round pick? That doesn't make sense."
"Then what do you want?" Cuban countered.
"I want three first-round picks." Lin Qi made his exorbitant demand without hesitation, precisely cutting off Cuban's escape route of mortgaging the future. "Moreover, I don't want empty promises from the future. All three first-round picks must be from this year...2000."
There was an instant silence on the other end of the phone.
" Lin Qi, are you crazy?" A few seconds later, Cuban's voice suddenly rose, "I only have one 2000 first-round pick belonging to Dallas! Where am I supposed to conjure up two more for you?!"
"That's your problem, Mark." Lin Qi's tone was undeniably authoritative. "You just spent over two hundred million dollars to buy the team. You have cash, fringe assets, and Don Nelson has plenty of connections. Go make trades with other teams, buy, swap, I don't care how you do it. Put Sean Bradley's contract, plus three 2000 first-round picks on my desk. Dikembe Mutombo is a Dallas player. That's my deal."
Cuban's heavy breathing came through the phone. It was definitely a demanding request, but faced with the ultimate temptation of a championship-caliber center, his reckless gambling instinct ultimately prevailed.
"Give me some time." Cuban gritted his teeth, his voice laced with ruthlessness. "I'll have Nelson ask the other teams. Three 2000 first-round picks, plus Bradley, get the trade papers for Mutombo ready!"
"It's been a pleasure working with you, Mark." Lin Qi hung up the phone without hesitation.
Before the next day even arrived.
As the Boston morning was just awakened by the Atlantic Ocean breeze, David Blatt pushed open the door to the president's office, holding a stack of fax documents still warm from the printer.
The strategist, known for his meticulous tactical approach, now wore an expression of utter disbelief and absurdity.
"Lin, Mark Cuban is a complete madman." Blatt slammed a thick stack of faxes onto Lin Qi's desk. "He really did it. And he practically threw money at people."
Lin Qi picked up his black coffee, took a sip, and calmly picked up the top document, the alliance transaction record.
Because the Boston Celtics displayed terrifying dominance over the past two seasons, winning the championship with the best record in the league, the lottery pick that would have historically belonged to Boston was relegated to the end of the first round. This triggered a subtle butterfly effect... all teams that were originally ranked behind Boston were automatically moved up one spot in the draft.
In less than two days, in order to meet Lin Qi's almost extortionate demands, Cuban and Don Nelson launched a frenzied buying spree in the trading market.
The documents clearly record the two three-way trades that the Dallas Mavericks just completed at the last minute.
To secure the 12th overall pick (originally the 13th overall pick), Cuban called the Orlando Magic Team. Faced with the Magic's management's hesitation, the well-funded tech mogul offered $3 million in cash, plus a lottery-protected first-round pick from 2001 and a second-round pick from this year (31st overall), forcefully breaking down the Orlando players' defenses.
He then quickly reached an agreement with the New York Knicks. The Dallas Mavericks traded their starting Eric Erick Strickland, plus a second-round pick, managing to carve out the 21st overall pick in the first round (originally the 22nd pick in history), and even took over forward John Wallace's contract to balance the deal.
" The Dallas Mavericks already had the 11th pick in the first round," Blatt, taking a deep breath as he stood in front of his desk. "Plus, the 12th pick from the Magic, the 21st pick from the Knicks..."
"The 11th pick, the 12th pick, the 21st pick, three draft picks. Plus that garbage contract of Sean Bradley used to balance Mutombo's salary." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his long fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"Yes." Blatt nodded, a hint of shock in his voice. " Don Nelson packaged all three first-round picks, along with Bradley, into the trade, and the details have already been sent to our fax machine. He even added a note asking when we could finalize the paperwork for Mutombo's four-year, $65 million contract extension."
Looking at the composed Lin Qi, Blatt couldn't help but exclaim, " Cuban has practically mortgaged all of Dallas' assets this summer for a 34-year-old center. It's insane."
"In the eyes of those wealthy individuals who are desperate to win, money is the least valuable asset. Cuban bought the team to enjoy the vanity of a championship, not to be as meticulous as an accountant."
Lin Qi neatly folded the transaction documents in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
Dikembe Mutombo, the key player who made significant contributions in the NBA Finals, received the max contract he had always dreamed of and left Boston with dignity.
Lin Qi, in this mutually beneficial game, cleverly exploited Dallas's eagerness to win, gaining Boston valuable strategic assets in return.
This was a win-win-win deal; Mutombo, Cuban, and Lin Qi all got what they wanted.
" David, inform the league office that Boston has officially confirmed the deal."
Only a few days remain until the Millennium Draft.
Holding the 11th, 12th, and 21st picks, plus his own 29th pick, these four first-round picks give Lin Qi a significant advantage in any future trade negotiations.
[Transaction Summary]
Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks:
Celtics sent:
Dikembe Mutombo
From the Mavericks:
Sean Bradley
11th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft.
12th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft.
21st overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft.