On June 23, 2000, the president's office at the New Garden was filled with the sweltering heat of early summer.
Doc Rivers knocked and walked in, he was holding a fax from Orlando. The head coach, who had led Boston to the top of the world for two consecutive years, had a hint of apology on his face, but more than that, he looked eager to take full control of a team in the future.
" Lin Qi, I'm here to formally say goodbye... I accept the Magic's offer." Doc Rivers pulled out a chair and sat down.
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the already circulated offer. His tone was calm. "I know. 5 years, $35 million. Orlando not only gave you the salary you wanted, but also the power to build the team you've always dreamed of."
Doc Rivers was somewhat surprised. "How do you know so much?"
Lin Qi smiled faintly, "There are no secrets in the league, Doc. Besides... Boston really can't offer this price, and I can't keep you."
A brief silence fell over the office. Doc Rivers looked at his young leader, his eyes filled with admiration. "These past two years... have been the proudest time of my career. From taking over a team that was swept in the first round to lifting the O'Brien Trophy two years in a row..."
" Doc, you deserve this," Lin Qi interrupted him, his tone solemn. "I will always remember your contributions to Boston."
Doc Rivers' eyes were slightly moist. He stood up and extended his right hand. "Thank you, Lin Qi."
Lin Qi stood up and hugged him tightly. "Go to Orlando and do your best, Doc. I'm sure we'll meet again in the playoffs."
The two released each other's hands, Doc Rivers paused for a moment before truthfully saying, "There's one more thing. Lin Qi Tom Thibodeau will also be coming with me to Orlando to be my lead assistant coach."
Lin Qi's smile faded slightly, his eyes instantly returning to that of a shrewd and calculating manager. " Doc, I won't stop you from pursuing your team-building ambitions. But you and Thibodeau are both still under contract in Boston. If you're going to poach both the head coach and the defensive coach, you'd better leave me some compensation."
Doc Rivers, seeing Lin Qi's business-minded demeanor, didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled knowingly, "I knew you wouldn't do a losing deal. Don't worry, I've already negotiated with the Magic. After I officially sign, Orlando will compensate the Celtics with a draft pick."
"Deal." Lin Qi smiled again.
The two shook hands firmly. Doc Rivers turned and walked towards the door, but stopped abruptly as he unlatched it, turning back to tease, "By the way, Lin Qi... have you decided who will be next to take my place in this chair?"
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking so many questions? We're enemies now!"
Doc Rivers laughed, opened the door, and strode away.
The office returned to silence. Lin Qi sat alone in his chair, his thoughts drifting back to that summer three years ago, carried by the gentle breeze outside the window.
That was in 1997. At that time, Lin Qi tried to persuade Larry Bird Larry Bird to come to Boston. Unsurprisingly, Larry Bird refused, because he had already promised the Indiana.
At the time, Lin Qi, as a second choice, set his sights on Rick Carlisle, hoping to poach him to be the head coach of Boston. However, Larry Bird's expression changed immediately, and he flatly refused. "No way, Rick is mine."
That memory flashed through his mind. Lin Qi snapped back to reality, his gaze falling on the latest sports newspaper on the table. The striking headline on the front page was stinging the nerves of the Indiana man.
Larry Bird Larry Bird resigns as Pacers head coach, citing "back injury prevents him from continuing to coach".
It's been three years.
Without much hesitation, Lin Qi picked up the private line on the table and dialed the familiar number.
The phone was answered after only two rings.
"Hello?" Larry Bird's hoarse voice came through, revealing a hint of weariness after a heavy burden had been lifted.
" Larry Bird, this is Lin Qi."
There was a second of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a soft chuckle from Larry Bird: " Lin Qi... I bet you're not calling at this hour because you have something good to say."
"Do you remember when I went to Indiana to find you three years ago?" Lin Qi asked, getting straight to the point.
"Of course I remember. You wanted me to be the Celtics' head coach, and I refused. Then you wanted to poach Rick Carlisle, and I refused that too." Larry Bird bluntly exposed his past.
"Yes. Back then you told me Rick was one of yours," Lin Qi said calmly and confidently. "But now, Larry Bird, you've resigned. Rick is a free agent now. This time... you seem to have no reason to refuse me, right?"
A long silence followed on the other end of the phone. After a moment, Larry Bird sighed, "You really can't wait even a day longer."
"I've waited three years, Larry Bird," Lin Qi said bluntly. "I just traded away Doc Rivers, who brought me two championships, but now he's gone to Orlando. I need a head coach, and Rick Carlisle is the best candidate."
Larry Bird warned Lynch over the phone, " Lin Qi, I have to warn you, Rick has a very strong personality, and he doesn't tolerate any injustice. If he gets into conflicts with the star players in the locker room, you need to be prepared."
"I know. But what I need isn't a pushover who just tries to smooth things over; I need someone who can lead this team further."
Larry Bird smiled, a hint of relief in his voice. "Okay, Lin Qi Rick is an adult; he has the right to choose his own future. I'll give you his phone number."
After hanging up with Larry Bird, Lin Qi didn't waste any time and immediately dialed Rick Carlisle's number.
The moment the call connected, Rick Carlisle's slightly puzzled voice came from the other end. "Hello?"
" Rick, this is Lin Qi, President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. "... Lin Qi? The Lin Qi who tried to poach me as a teaching assistant three years ago?"
"Yes. But this time is different." Lin Qi's voice came through the receiver clearly, " Doc Rivers went to Orlando. I'd like to ask you to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics."
Rick Carlisle was silent for a few seconds, clearly taken aback by the weight of the invitation. "... Are you serious?"
"Very serious. The core of the team that won two consecutive championships is here, and I need a head coach who can lead them forward."
" Lin Qi, I'm honored," Rick Carlisle's voice held a hint of seriousness, "But I need to know... how much autonomy are you willing to give me?"
Lin Qi didn't immediately make any blind promises; his tone revealed a rational consideration. "The tactical system, daily training, and game rotation are all your responsibility. But Rick, you need to understand that this is the core of a two-time champion team, with Garnett and Gary Payton in the locker room. Larry Bird Larry Bird warned me before that you have a very strong personality."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, then Rick Carlisle said frankly, "I'm going to win, Lin Qi, not to make friends with them."
"I don't need you to be a peacemaker," Lin Qi said calmly, "But regarding player relations, I hope you won't resist the club's arrangements... I will specifically assign several assistant coaches to your coaching staff who are skilled in communication and dedicated to mediating player conflicts. I don't want to see unnecessary friction eroding team cohesion. As long as the direction is right, the management will be your support."
Rick Carlisle chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, "Looks like Larry Bird's said everything you needed to say. So... what about the contract?"
"Four years, eighteen million US dollars, fully guaranteed." Lin Qi stated his bottom line.
"Deal. When are we going to Boston?" Rick Carlisle didn't press the issue any further.
"The sooner the better." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair. "We still have a ton of things to do... Oh, and Rick, there's something I need to tell you beforehand."
"What's up?"
"I might trade Dikembe Mutombo to Dallas."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, then Rick Carlisle's voice rang out. " Defensive Player of the Year? You're going to trade away your defensive anchor at this time?"
"He's thirty-three, with only one year left on his contract. Dallas is willing to give him a four-year, $65 million contract and trade three first-round picks for him—it's a win-win-win situation." Lin Qi's voice was unusually calm. "I need you to come to Boston and discuss with us how to rebuild this defensive system after losing him."
Rick Carlisle took a deep breath, his tone revealing a resolute determination to face the challenge. "Okay. See you in Boston in a week, Lin Qi."
The call has ended.
Lin Qi put down the receiver and looked out the window at the azure Boston sky.
In the memory that didn't belong to this era, in his mind, was Rick Carlisle's later coaching years in Detroit, where he single-handedly discovered and fully activated Ben Wallace's defensive value.
Now, with Mutombo's imminent departure, Boston's frontcourt faces restructuring. Lin Qi's task is to have this tactical mastermind replicate the Detroit miracle in Boston ahead of schedule.