After Margaret acknowledged her order and left the office, Lin Qi sat alone at his desk, looking out at the Boston street scene.
There is still a full month until the ban officially takes effect on August 1st. David Stern has defined this month as a "handover and transition period," but he still has some details that he needs to confirm with the iron-fisted CEO in person.
Lin Qi picked up the secure phone on the table and dialed Stern's office line directly.
The phone rang a few times before being answered. Stern's slightly wary and serious voice came through the receiver. " Lin Qi, if you're calling to complain about that ticket, I advise you to save your breath. The disciplinary committee's decision is irreversible."
"Relax, David." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his tone calm. "I'm not calling to protest. On the contrary, I have no objection to the league's punishment; the $10 million fine will be deposited into the league's account tomorrow. I fully accept this one-year suspension."
Stern on the other end of the phone was visibly taken aback. He had expected Lin Qi to be furious and even prepare a legal team to wreak havoc. Lin Qi's unusual cooperation, however, made the old fox wary.
"Then what is the purpose of this call?" Stern asked in a deep voice.
"I just want to confirm the specific boundaries of this 'ban' as a law-abiding team owner," Lin Qi smiled, his tone inquisitive. "Since I can't participate in any team decisions or be present at team facilities, then... after the new season starts, will I still be able to buy a ticket and watch a Celtics game as an ordinary fan?"
"Don't even think about it." Stern interrupted him coldly, leaving no room for compromise. "You are not allowed to be at Celtics games, not even in your private box. Furthermore, you are not allowed to watch any other NBA team's games. For this year-long suspension, all NBA arenas are completely closed to you."
"What a shame, looks like I'll have to stay home and watch TV." Lin Qi shrugged, then posed his second question, "So, if I go to watch a few NCAA college games or invitationals between top high schools across the country to experience the youthful atmosphere, that shouldn't violate the league's rules, right?"
Stern took a deep breath on the other end of the phone; he instantly understood Lin Qi's plan. This guy was nominally suspended, but in reality, he wanted to use this year off from dealing with the team's daily affairs to personally travel all over the United States and scout next year's rookies!
2003 was widely recognized by scouts across the United States as a super draft year, featuring not only the talents of March Madness but also the Akron high school student who was famous throughout the country.
" Lin Qi..." Stern was a little exasperated. "The NBA's ban doesn't apply to you going to a high school gymnasium or NCAA stands as a private spectator. But you better remember, don't let me catch you contacting those amateur players privately on behalf of the team!"
"Of course, I'm a law-abiding citizen." Lin Qi pressed his advantage, throwing out one last question, "There's one more thing, David. What if I privately invite a few current players to dinner, or have a drink at a private party? After all, aside from basketball, we have personal relationships. The ban can't deprive me of my basic social rights, can it?"
Stern fell silent for a moment on the other end of the phone. He knew very well that Lin Qi was frantically testing the league's bottom line, trying to tear a loophole in the ban.
"I can't control who you dine with, nor can I control your private social circle," Stern's voice carried a dangerous warning, "But you'd better pray that nothing about basketball operations, tactics, or contracts comes up at your dinner table. If I catch you doing anything wrong, proving that you illegally recruited or manipulated the team at a 'private dinner,' Lin Qi, I guarantee your suspension will be lifelong!"
"Very clear. Thank you for your patient explanation, Mr. President. Have a pleasant summer."
After hanging up the phone, a glint of shrewdness flashed in Lin Qi's eyes.
Having established the boundaries, this means he can freely scout the 2003 " Platinum Generation " during this "sentence" without any reservations. And as for the so-called "private dinners" where basketball can't be discussed, once the dinner is arranged, will David Stern still be able to eavesdrop?
Bringing his thoughts back, Lin Qi pressed the intercom, and Margaret came back in.
She held a copy of the alliance deal announcement that she had just taken from the fax machine and handed it to Lin Qi.
"Boss, the New Jersey Nets just officially announced that they've waived veteran Mark Jackson."
Lin Qi glanced at the name on the notice and nodded in satisfaction. Mark Jackson was a package deal New Jersey acquired in the trade for Van Horn from the New York Knicks just before the draft. Lin Qi had already instructed Mark Roberts that New Jersey already had assist leader Andrei Miller at the starting point guard position, they didn't need a 37-year-old veteran taking up space, so they should just waive him and put him on the free agent market.
"Once he's out of the 48-hour waiver period, immediately contact his agent on behalf of the Boston Celtics and offer him a two-year veteran minimum contract," Lin Qi instructed methodically. "Also, look for Rod Strickland in free agency and offer him a two-year veteran minimum contract as well."
Margaret paused slightly as she took notes, then looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Signing Mark Jackson and Rod Strickland, both in their thirties and nearing the end of their careers and potentially retiring at any time, offers almost no real improvement in the team's strength and may even take up valuable regular season roster spots.
"Did you sign these two veterans for the sake of locker room stability?" Margaret asked tentatively.
"Not entirely." Lin Qi stood up, picked up a report from the table, on which was prominently displayed the name Dwyane Wade.
"I signed them to find two mentors for the rookie we selected with the 13th pick." Lin Qi looked at Wade's name, a slight smile playing on his lips.
In this timeline, thanks to Lin Qi's underhanded intervention, Wade's meniscus remained intact. This meant he possessed even more terrifying and sustained explosive power than in his previous life. But a rough gem still needs polishing, especially for a combo guard whose tactical skills were not fully developed during his college years.
" Mark Jackson, although he's getting old, he has the best court vision in the league and is a pure point guard who excels at post-up moves." Lin Qi patiently explained the team-building logic to his future "shadow general manager".
In Lin Qi's past life memories, after retiring, Mark Jackson took up coaching and laid the initial tactical foundation for the Golden State Warriors. He was also an important mentor to top shooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in their early days. He knew too well how to build an offensive system and how to use rhythm and post-up skills to punish opponents.
"I want Jackson to personally teach Wade how to read the defense in half-court sets and how to use his physical advantages to dominate those skinny guards in the low post." Lin Qi's eyes gleamed. A Wade with a healthier body and who had mastered top-notch post-up skills early on would be a nightmare for all perimeter defenders.
"As for Rod Strickland..." Lin Qi tapped the table.