As the first round of the draft progressed into its later stages, the teams' attention began to wander, and the broadcast cameras focused more on the executive benches on the sidelines.
Having dismantled their four-time champion roster, Boston now holds a draft pick capable of reshaping the team's future.
As David Stern prepared to announce the 21st overall pick, Lin Qi, through the front office, completed what appeared to be a somewhat insignificant "downward trade."
Boston traded its 21st overall pick to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Nets Nets ' 22nd overall pick and a future second-round pick.
This trade was ostensibly to help New Jersey slightly adjust their seeding, while also profiting from the difference in chip prices.
Five minutes later, Boston selected Tayshaun Prince from the University of Kentucky with the 22nd pick.
After Stephen Jackson and Grant Hill left the team, Boston's frontcourt depth was significantly weakened. In an era that values physical attributes and athleticism, scouts generally considered Prince too thin, and as an older rookie who had played four years in the NCAA, his potential seemed to have peaked.
But in Lin Qi's eyes, Prince was a perfect piece of the puzzle for immediate impact. Although he was thin, he possessed a terrifying 2.18-meter wingspan, extremely sharp defensive judgment, and excellent flexibility in switching on defense. More importantly, he didn't need the ball at all on offense, had a reliable three-point shot, and a calm and low-key personality. Such a player could immediately fill the defensive vacuum on Boston's wing and perfectly fit into the existing tactical system.
The draft then reached the end of its first round.
Using the 28th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft acquired from the Sacramento Kings in the Eddie Jones trade, Boston selected Argentina center Luis Scola.
Then, when David Stern announced the name of Boston's own 29th overall pick in the first round, it surprised many international scouts familiar with Europe draft trends.
Boris Diaw, a France.
Boris Diaw's name should never have appeared on the original 2002 NBA Draft roster. Boris Diaw had previously tested the waters in 2001 but ultimately withdrew. During the draft preparation period this year, Boris Diaw's draft stock plummeted due to criticism from scouts regarding insufficient upper body strength, inconsistent outside shooting, and a lack of offensive drive. He had already drafted his withdrawal from the "International Player Withdrawal List," intending to wait another year.
But he ultimately did not withdraw from the race.
On the eve of the roster submission deadline, an executive from France basketball club called the " Paris Celtics " privately knocked on Boris Diaw's agent's door. This club, which had risen to prominence in France basketball, was actually controlled by Lin Qi's overseas capital matrix. Through the Paris Celtics ' executives, Lin Qi offered Boris Diaw an offer he couldn't refuse: the Boston Celtics promised to select him with their first-round pick.
With this initial guarantee, Boris Diaw decisively withdrew his decision to withdraw from the competition.
From the perspective of scouts and commentators, Boston's consecutive drafting of two international players, both with questionable immediate impact, was a complete waste of first-round picks. Scola's lateral quickness might be a disadvantage in NBA-level interior battles, while Boris Diaw was so selfless on the court that he was afraid to shoot.
But Lin Qi had no intention of having them wear Celtics jerseys next season.
Scola possesses the dazzling footwork and exceptional basketball IQ typical of South America players, while Boris Diaw boasts a rare interior physique and top-tier passing vision. Lin Qi plans to send them both to Italy to play for Olympia Milan.
Over the past two years, Lin Qi has overseen a complete top-down overhaul of Olympia Milan. This Europe powerhouse has effectively become the Boston Celtics' "shadow academy" overseas. From tactics and data analysis to American-style physical training and a lavish medical team, Olympia Milan has completely mirrored Boston.
Besides Scola and Boris Diaw, another name that Lin Qi particularly values on the "Shadow Academy" signings list is Dimitris Diamantidis.
This 22-year-old Greece point guard was automatically eligible for the NBA draft this year. However, in 2002, a year that championed individual heroism and explosive physical talent, his obsession with passing and his almost complete lack of focus on the basket, coupled with his dull and uninteresting game footage, caused him to be completely ignored by NBA scouts, and tonight he unsurprisingly became an undrafted player.
However, Lin Qi discovered in the Europe EBA League's data system that this Greece guard had amazing potential. He possessed a terrifying wingspan comparable to a forward, suffocating defensive anticipation like an octopus, and top-notch pick-and-roll playmaking ability. Lin Qi has already instructed the Olympia Milan management to immediately poach him from the Greece league with a lucrative contract and focus on developing him.
Lin Qi plans to offer them flexible one-year contracts with salaries based on the standards of top Europe foreign players. He intends to throw these young men into the fiercely competitive EuroLeague, letting them play in a tactical system completely modeled after Boston's, honing their skills and building muscle in high-intensity real-world matches, while also familiarizing them with Boston's defensive rotations and offensive tactics a year or two in advance.
If they were brought to the NBA immediately, they wouldn't get much playing time in Boston's existing roster, and they would occupy valuable regular season roster spots, wasting the bonus period of their rookie contracts. But at Olympia Milan, as long as Boston clears salary cap space or has a position need, Lin Qi can recall these fully mature "rookies" who are seamlessly integrated into the tactical system at any time.
This is the secret arsenal that Lin Qi built for Boston.
With the second round of the draft concluded, the noisy 2002 NBA Draft finally came to a close.
The following day, almost all the sports newspapers in the United States were filled with articles mocking Boston's "self-destruction."
"A short, inconsistent guard, a skinny, older role player, plus two soft overseas players who wouldn't even dare to report to the NBA," a columnist for the New York Post wrote scathingly. " Boston dismantled their four-time championship-winning roster this summer. Look at this disastrous draft night; not only is the Celtics ' dynasty over, they've even chosen the wrong direction to strengthen their roster."
On the surface, Boston's star-studded roster for its four-time champions has been forced to dismantle, satisfying David Stern and the league owners' desire for "balance."
But what the outside world didn't know was that, through behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Lin Qi indirectly controlled not only the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference but also the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference.
Furthermore, it has established a continuous source of revenue generation in Europe.
[ Boston Celtics 2002 Draft Night Recap]
First round, 13th pick: Dwyane Wade ( Marquette University )
22nd overall pick in the first round: Tayshaun Prince ( University of Kentucky )
First Round, 28th Pick: Luis Scola ( Argentina )
29th overall pick in the first round: Boris Diaw ( France )