Sixth overall pick, Boston Celtics.
When the green light flashed again on the big screen, the noise in Madison Square Garden subsided slightly.
Suddenly, the dedicated line on Lin Qi's desk vibrated.
On the Pat Miami Heat 'Pat Riley signature deep voice.
" Lin Qi, I know you're not planning to keep that sixth pick. Name your price, I want Sean Battier." Pat Riley didn't mince words, his tone carrying an undeniable forcefulness.
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his hand, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather. " Pat, Sean's performance at Duke Blue Devils speaks for itself; he's a natural winner. Two first-round picks, that's the bottom line."
"Two first-round picks, no problem," Pat Riley said in a deep voice on the other end of the phone. "I can sign you to the first-round picks from 2002 and 2004."
Upon hearing these two years, Lin Qi chuckled and shook his head.
"No, I want the 2003 and 2005 draft picks, and..." Lin Qi's tone exuded an air of absolute control, "... they must be unprotected."
There was a brief three-second silence on the other end of the phone.
Then, Pat Riley growled incredulously, "Unprotected? Unprotected in 2003?! Lin Qi, do you think I'm stupid? Everyone in the US knows what those high schoolers from 2003 meant! You're asking for an unprotected first round from 2003, making me stake the team's future? Absolutely not!"
Pat Riley was all too aware of the rumors circulating in 2003. In a year hailed as a period of explosive talent growth for the next few years, handing over an unprotected first-round pick would be tantamount to pushing the team into an abyss of no return.
Faced with Pat Riley's fury, Lin Qi didn't even blink, his tone remaining calm and composed.
"Then I'll leave you a way out."
Lin Qi leaned forward, detailing the conditions. "The 2003 first-round pick is top-three protected. If you actually get the top three picks (number one, second, or third), you keep it. But if you fall out of the top three, it belongs to Boston. As for 2005... it's still unprotected."
There was another moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Pat Riley paced back and forth in his office, microphone in hand. His mind raced: the top three protections of 2003... trading that for a Battier who could immediately anchor the Heat's defensive system and perfectly fit the " Heat culture" was definitely a worthwhile deal.
After weighing the pros and cons, Pat Riley finally managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth.
"Make a deal."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Qi handed the prepared transaction memorandum to Presti beside him.
The draft continues...
Three minutes later, David Stern returned to the podium.
"The sixth pick, the Boston Celtics selected... Sean Battier."
A round of applause erupted from the audience, but Stern then adjusted the microphone and gave a cryptic smile.
"At the same time, I need to announce a trade that has just been completed. The Boston Celtics have officially traded their sixth overall pick to... the Miami Heat!"
When Stern read out the package Miami had offered—a top-three protected first-round pick from 2003 and an unprotected first-round pick from 2005—the entire Madison Square Garden erupted in uproar.
The camera instantly cut to the Green Room. Sean Battier, dressed in a suit, was initially taken aback, then broke into a relieved smile. He put on a Miami Heat jersey and hat and strode to the front of the stage.
With the seventh pick, the New Jersey Nets selected the exceptionally talented but controversial Eddie Griffin (who was later traded to the Rockets ).
The eighth and ninth picks were also announced.
The draft continues...
The countdown on the big screen reset again, and all eyes were focused on the fourteenth pick, which originally belonged to the Orlando Magic but later ended up in Lin Qi's hands.
Inside the private room, Lin Qi was about to pick up his pen when the dedicated line on his desk suddenly rang urgently.
Caller ID: Gary St. Jean, General Manager of the Golden State Warriors.
" Lin Qi, we want your 14th pick." The moment the call connected, St. Jean eagerly threw out his offer. " The Warriors also need a big man; we want Troy Murphy."
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, twirling his pen, and said casually, "I want your 2003 first-round pick, completely unprotected."
"... Okay, deal!" Saint Jean finally gritted his teeth and agreed, "Help us choose Troy Murphy!"
Lin Qi hung up the phone, crossed out the name he had just written, rewrote "Troy Murphy," and handed it to Presti beside him.
Three minutes later.
" The Boston Celtics selected... Troy Murphy with the 14th pick!"
As soon as the applause subsided, Stern readjusted the microphone:
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics have officially traded their 14th overall pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 2003!
The draft continues...
When the draft pick on the big screen progressed to the 21st pick in the first round, the phone in Lin Qi's office suddenly rang.
"It's Utah Jazz," Presti glanced at the caller ID and quickly reported, "It's Kevin O'Connor ( Utah Jazz General Manager) on the line."
Without much discussion, the deal was quickly finalized.
Minutes later, David Stern announced the unremarkable draft position adjustment trade on stage: Boston sent its 21st pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the Utah Jazz's 23rd pick and a 2003 second-round pick.
Several more picks passed...
When the countdown reset and the Celtics ' logo lit up on the big screen again, it was Boston's turn to make their selection at the 23rd pick.
This time, Lin Qi didn't linger. He quickly wrote his name on the confirmation slip and handed it to the staff.
Three minutes later, David Stern walked steadily back onto the stage and took the envelope.
"In the 2001 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected the 23rd overall pick..."
Stern paused, glanced at the audience, and read out the name.
" Gerald Wallace from the University of Alabama!"
Applause erupted. Gerald Wallace let out a long breath, a smile of excitement spreading across his face. He rose to embrace his family, put on his Celtics hat, and strode onto the stage.
The draft is progressing rapidly, and the first round is nearing its end.
The 28th pick, the San Antonio Spurs.
David Stern returned to the stage and announced the name that would later reshape the landscape of point guards in the league, " Tony Parker from France."
Inside the small green room, a young Parker donned the Spurs ' black and white jersey and hat. In the VIP box, Lin Qi watched this scene, his eyes flickering slightly. The Spurs had snagged their future backcourt core with this late draft pick; Popovich's eye for talent was indeed sharp.
However, Boston has already set its sights on its next target.
Next, the 29th pick went to the Boston Celtics.
Lin Qi picked up the card on the table, wrote down the name, and then handed it to the staff member.
Three minutes later, David Stern returned to the stage.
" The Boston Celtics selected the 29th pick..."
Stern paused, then read the name aloud.
"Memet Okur from Turkey!"
A slight murmur arose from the media section.