March 2nd, morning, Boston, Celtics president's office.
On the desk were two documents that had just been faxed from Italy.
Lin Qi took a sip of black coffee and picked up the first document. It was an absolutely confidential document that only he and Maurizio Gherardini had access to: the EBA ( Europe Basketball Association )'s first season's operational and financial statements.
As March arrives, the regular season of the first EBA season has concluded, and the semifinals are about to begin.
The financial figures are very healthy. Thanks to the box office appeal of traditional powerhouses and consistent full cash payouts, EBA's broadcast ratings are extremely stable in the Italy and Spain markets. Sky Sports not only readily settled the first year's guaranteed fee but has also submitted a draft exclusive broadcasting renewal contract worth $25 million for the second year.
Lin Qi's $21 million gamble last summer to build an independent league is now on track.
He then turned to the second document. This contained the actual game data and player evaluations of each EBA team.
The people he sent to Europe for training have delivered impeccable results.
Under head coach Scariolo's rigorous system, Olympia Milan topped the EBA standings with a record of 21 wins and 5 losses.
Stephen Jackson, under the pressure of the Europe zone defense, shed his tendency to play one-on-one, averaging 18.5 points and a team-high 4.2 assists per game, truly learning to read the defense and integrate into the team's system.
Raja Bell, under the tutelage of assistant coach Kokoškov, stabilized his three-point shooting percentage at 41.5%, becoming an NBA starting-caliber 3-and-D player.
Meanwhile, Virtus Rome, led by Crespi and Nique Nurse, played with the fastest offensive and defensive pace in all of Europe. " Birdman " Chris Anderson didn't need any tactical adjustments, averaging 22 minutes per game, efficiently contributing 8 points, 7 rebounds, and an amazing 3.1 blocks. His help defense coverage perfectly compensated for the lack of athleticism among Argentina big men like Scola.
Lin Qi calmly reviewed the data. Whether it was Jackson, Bell, or Anderson, he could call them back into the NBA rotation at any time if the Celtics needed them.
Then, he pulled out the last few pages of the fax.
These pages record the performances of several young players from opposing teams when Milan and Rome played against other Europe teams.
Lin Qi locked the data on EBA revenue and his own players in a safe, only putting the last few pages of pure scouting assessments into a brown paper bag before turning and walking out of the office.
10:00 AM, Celtics training facility video analysis room.
Three large screens on the wall were simultaneously broadcasting the NCAA " March Madness " national tournament. Sports media and scouts across the United States were caught up in a frenzy for college basketball.
At the conference table, several scouts were engaged in a heated debate.
" Sean Battier's defense is very solid, he's definitely a player who can contribute immediately," a scout said, pointing to the Duke University game on the screen. "And that high schooler Kwame Brown, his physical attributes are amazing, many teams' scouting reports list him as a top prospect for the number one pick. We still have that Suns pick in the middle to late first round, should we package our assets and trade up to grab a promising domestic player?"
The door to the video recording room was pushed open, and Lin Qi walked in.
Upon hearing the name " Kwame Brown," Lin Qi didn't speak. He simply walked to the wall, reached out, and turned off the two screens that were playing NCAA games.
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
"The NCAA tournament is indeed exciting," Lin Qi pulled out a chair, sat down, and tossed the brown paper bag he was holding onto the table, "But for the long-term development of a team, focusing too much on the 'goldfish bowl' that everyone in the country is watching is not cost-effective. If we look domestically, around the 20th pick in the first round, we can only pick the scraps that others have left over."
Lin Qi pointed to the paper bag. "Open it and take a look."
The chief scout opened the paper bag with a hint of doubt.
The chief scout turned to the first page.
Chris Paul Gasol
Team he played for: Barcelona, Spain.
Assessment: "His footwork and finishing ability with both hands are fully developed in the paint. In last week's game against Milan, he still managed to score 22 points efficiently despite facing Oberto's tough defense. He has extremely high basketball IQ and excellent court vision."
" Gasol is currently the most sought-after big man in Europe." Lin Qi looked at the scout. " The Grizzlies and Hawks are both eyeing him. Our first-round pick isn't high enough; if we want him, we'll have to trade up, giving up future assets. Put him on the A-list and assess the trade costs first."
The scout turned to the second page, where a relatively unfamiliar name appeared.
Tony Parker.
Club he played for: Celtics (France ).
Assessment: "In last month's match, his first step was explosive and his floater after a breakthrough was extremely sharp. Despite his slender build, Rome's Prigioni was still unable to limit his speed when pressing him closely throughout the game."
The third page follows immediately.
Mehmet Okur.
Position: Center/Power Forward.
Current club: Efes Pilsen (Turkey).
Assessment: "Possesses the screen-setting qualities of a traditional Europe big man, while also having a soft three-point shot. Can be developed as a tactical big man to stretch the floor."
The scouts in the conference room looked at the report in their hands and fell into a brief silence.
The report was more detailed than they had ever imagined. It covered everything from players' character flaws and family backgrounds to their specific reactions when facing high-intensity zone defenses, and even their dietary habits during away games.
"In the coming years, international players will play an increasingly larger role in the draft. We can't rely on luck to strike it rich; we need to pay more attention to Europe players."
Lin Qi stood up, straightened his suit, and turned to walk out of the video analysis room.