Seattle, Washington state.
Inside a black van heading to Mercer Island, Lin Qi was flipping through several local newspapers.
The Seattle Times sports section's headlines were almost entirely dedicated to reporting on the irreconcilable conflict between Gary Payton, a former hero of the city, and the team's new owner, Howard Schultz. Their honeymoon period lasted only a few months before ending in a complete break.
In a lakeside mansion on Mercer Island, Gary Payton sat before a large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the gloomy, continuous drizzle outside. His right knee was heavily braced, and beside him lay a stack of medical assessment reports, dozens of pages thick.
When Lin Qi pushed open the door and walked in, a complex emotion flashed in Gary Payton's eyes.
A year ago, Gary Payton, who had just helped Boston win four consecutive championships, took the initiative to sit in Lin Qi's office and request a trade back to Seattle because of his deep-seated desire to "return to his roots." At the time, Lin Qi generously granted his request.
But just a year later, this veteran was used and discarded by the new owners of Seattle, and was kicked out, becoming a "defective product" questioned by the entire league. At this time, the first person to fly to Seattle to find him was actually Lin Qi, who had sent him away years before.
"This damn weather is so annoying." Gary Payton didn't turn around, his voice filled with undisguised weariness and bitterness. "Lin, I used to think Seattle was my home. Back when Barry ( Ackerley ) was the owner, at least before Kemp left, this team really felt like home, full of warmth and human connection."
Gary Payton turned his head, his eyes filled with deep disgust. "But the Seattle I remember is dead. That nouveau riche coffee-selling Howard Schultz knew nothing. That bastard was always trying to move the Seattle SuperSonics out of Seattle! He didn't care about the city at all!"
"Mr. Lin Qi," Gary Payton's agent, Aaron Goodwin, stood up at the opportune moment, pushing the thick stack of medical reports to the center of the table, "This is Gary's latest MRI results and the experts'..."
Lin Qi walked to the table, didn't even glance at the report, and simply pushed it to the corner of the table.
He pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze passing over the agent and fixed directly into Gary Payton's eyes.
"I don't need those experts in white coats to tell me whether Gary Payton can still play." Lin Qi's voice was calm and powerful. " Gary, I'm sitting here today asking you only one question: If you tell me you can still play, that you can still direct those bastards on the defensive end, then I'll believe you. Tell me yourself, can you play?"
For the past month, Gary Payton had had enough of the general managers' questioning, probing, and haggling on the phone. Everyone was staring at his meniscus and groin like they were examining a damaged item.
Gary Payton took a deep breath, and his previously somewhat gloomy eyes were rekindled with that fearless fighting spirit.
"I can still play." Gary Payton stared at Lin Qi. "I want to go back to Boston..."
"Very good, welcome home." Lin Qi smiled with satisfaction.
Just as the two were about to reach this understanding, their manager Goodwin, coughed lightly and interjected.
"Mr. Lin Qi, I understand your sincerity, and we are very grateful. But business is business..." Goodwin placed his hands on the table, his tone becoming highly professional and firm, "The highest offer on the market for Gary right now is a full middle-class salary. If you want to sign him, you have to pay that price."
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow slightly. He looked at Gary Payton, the usually outspoken superstar who chose to remain silent and turned to look at the lake outside the window.
Lin Qi immediately realized that this was with Gary Payton's tacit approval.
For a shrewd veteran like Gary Payton, who made tens of millions in the stock market last year thanks to Lin Qi's inside information, he doesn't care about the difference of a few million between a veteran's minimum salary and a full mid-level contract. But this former superstar is obsessed with saving face. After being humiliated in Seattle, this starting salary represents at least some respect for him. If he goes back on the minimum salary, he'll feel like a homeless person slinking back to Boston to beg. Only by getting a decent contract can he return as the "core of the championship team."
"I'm willing to offer a 5-year, $20 million contract. A starting salary of $6 million, decreasing by $1 million each year. This will protect Gary's interests and also be healthier for the team's future salary cap," Lin Qi offered.
"We can accept a reduction as long as the starting salary is higher than the average middle-class salary." Goodwin nodded.
According to the latest collective bargaining agreement in 2003, the league set an extremely strict "luxury line," which was set at $4 million above the luxury tax threshold. When a team's total salary exceeded this "luxury line," it would be directly disqualified from using the full mid-level exception.
The Celtics ' current total salary budget has long exceeded the "rich man's" threshold, and Lin Qi simply doesn't have any full-fledged mid-level contracts available. The only way to offer Gary Payton a starting contract of $6 million is through a "sign-and-trade" arrangement.
Two hours later, Lin Qi walked out of Gary Payton's mansion, got into his van, and immediately dialed Rick Sund, the general manager of the Seattle SuperSonics.
After explaining his intention to sign first and then exchange, Lin Qi offered his prepared tentative offer.
"Rod Strickland ($1.03 million) and Mark Jackson ($1.03 million), these two expiring contracts can help you clear cap space. Add Tayshaun Prince ($1.02 million) and Mehmet Okur ($1.61 million) to the mix."
This chip stack totals approximately 4.69 million, which is just enough to barely cover Gary Payton's starting salary of 6 million.
When Lin Qi quoted the price over the phone, he felt his heart was bleeding. To match Gary Payton's starting salary of $6 million, he had to reluctantly part with two very promising young players, Prince and Okur. In his view, this was a huge loss for Boston.
However, the Seattle SuperSonics general manager on the other end of the phone scoffed at the idea.
" Lin Qi, the Seattle SuperSonics don't need these scraps." Sund scoffed. "We want Chauncey Billups Billups."
"You guys are really asking for an exorbitant amount!"
Lin Qi almost burst out laughing in the car.
" Sund, Chauncey Billups's current contract is very cheap, and he averaged nearly 18 points and 6 assists in the just-concluded NBA Finals, and nearly 16 points and 5 assists throughout the playoffs! He's in the prime of his career! His value is now far higher than Gary Payton's!"
Lin Qi ruthlessly shattered the other party's illusions. "You can have Chauncey Billups, but give me at least two first-round picks first, otherwise forget it!"
After saying that, Lin Qi hung up the phone.
But he knew very well that although Billups was now more individually capable than Gary Payton, he could never replace Gary Payton's role in the offensive and defensive system. Moreover, Gary Payton would have a very positive impact on Wade's development. By trading the skyrocketing value of Billups for Gary Payton, a perfect piece of the system, he could also keep the young players Prince and Okur, and gain two draft picks in return.
Now, it all depends on how much the Seattle SuperSonics want Billups.
Rick Sund, who was working in Seattle, was not angry when the call was hung up on him; instead, his eyes blazed with a fervent passion. Billups' performance in the playoffs was exactly the kind of core player the Seattle SuperSonics had been dreaming of.
To meet Lin Qi's demand for "two first-round picks," the Seattle SuperSonics general manager instantly transformed into a trading maniac in the free agent market.
Over the next 48 hours, Sund orchestrated complex exchanges of interests with multiple teams.
First, he traded Sam Cassell, the team's sixth man, to the Miami Heat, who had plenty of salary cap space and were struggling in the free agent market. He successfully extorted a 2007 first-round pick from Pat Riley, who was eager to strengthen the team, and several second-round draft picks from the Heat.
Immediately afterwards, Sund traded the team's young, promising shooter Vladimir Radmanovic, along with a second-round pick he had just acquired from the Heat, to Los Angeles. This move precisely addressed the Lakers's breakup, and successfully brought back the Lakers ' 2005 first-round draft pick.
When the two first-round picks finally fell into Seattle's hands, Sund took a deep breath and dialed Lin Qi's number again.
Ultimately, a sign-and-trade deal that shocked the league was officially completed.
Half an hour after the deal was finalized.
Gary Payton, still sitting in his lakeside mansion, looked out the window at the still gloomy Seattle rain scene and let out a long sigh.
He turned his head and looked at his agent, Aaron Goodwin, sitting opposite him.
" Aaron, go contact a real estate agent and put this house on the market." Gary Payton's tone was surprisingly calm, even tinged with a sense of relief. "The Seattle I knew is dead. I have no more attachment to this place."
[Transaction Summary]
Boston Celtics vs. Seattle SuperSonics:
Celtics sent:
Chauncey Billups Billups
Rod Strickland
Mark Jackson
Obtained from Seattle SuperSonics:
Gary Payton (sign-and-trade, 5 years, $20 million, $6 million in the first year, decreasing each year)
2005 Lakers first-round pick
2007 Heat first-round pick