"Secondly, regarding our domestic talent pool, the reorganization of the NBDL ( National Basketball G League )," Lin Qi then offered his second suggestion.
"You know the current state of the NBDL better than I do," Lin Qi said frankly. "The league has a centralized system, everyone gets paid the same, and those smaller teams are constantly losing money. Even worse, NBDL players only earn a couple thousand dollars a month. Any slightly talented undrafted player or fringe rotation player would rather play in the Europe EBA for a higher salary than stay in the G League and struggle. The talent drain is becoming increasingly urgent."
Lin Qi looked at Stern and offered his solution. "My suggestion is to completely integrate the NBDL into the operational structure of each NBA team, allowing NBA team owners to fully own their own affiliated development teams as independent entities."
"The finances of this affiliate team are entirely managed by the investors, with the team bearing its own profits and losses and not affecting the parent team's salary cap or luxury tax. Regarding salaries, to retain talent, the affiliate team can offer players higher contracts based on its own financial resources, even without a total salary cap. However, to prevent the large market from maliciously hoarding superstars, a strict rule must be set: the annual salary offered by the affiliate team to a single player must absolutely not exceed the NBA's minimum salary standard for that season."
"In this way, each team can establish its own 'talent pool' outside of its parent club. By using independent budgets to nurture promising young players, they can provide decent salaries for talented youngsters, preventing them from leaving for Europe for a living, and also allow teams to call up players internally when faced with injury waves. This also effectively builds a talent firewall to prevent Europe teams from poaching players."
A shrewd glint flashed in Stern's eyes.
As a seasoned business operator, Stern instantly grasped the ingenuity of this system.
With each team owner funding the second-tier league out of their own pocket, the league not only no longer needs to bail out the NBDL's losses, but also naturally upgrades this half-dead G League into a farm for each team. Using the commercial spillover from the parent teams to subsidize lower-level players and firmly locking talent within the North America system, this is indeed the most efficient shield against EBA poaching.
More importantly, this proposal neither breaks the existing NBA salary cap framework, nor does it significantly enhance the overall talent pool of the league.
But Stern also understood that once this system was implemented, the biggest beneficiaries would be management teams like Lin Qi, which had deep pockets and were good at discovering young players. The Celtics could then unhesitatingly send those promising talents outside their deep roster to their own affiliated teams for meticulous development, further raising the bar for Boston's talent pool.
"There's a third point, and it's the most important one." Lin Qi didn't give Stern much time to process it, cutting straight to the rules of the game, "The officiating standards for dangerous actions on the court, especially intentional tripping on the defensive end."
Stern paused for a moment, clearly not expecting Lin Qi to suddenly steer the conversation from macro-business to the details of refereeing.
" David, Michael has completely retired." Lin Qi looked at Stern, his eyes particularly sharp. "The broadcasters and fans across the country are now counting on Kobe, Vince ( Vince Carter ), Tracy ( McGrady ), and the young perimeter players who just entered the league this year, LeBron ( LeBron James ) and Dwyane ( Wade ). They are the guarantee of ticket sales for the next decade. But what is the defensive environment like in the league right now? Many defensive players, in order to limit outside shots, deliberately stick their feet into the opponent's landing point after the opponent jumps."
Lin Qi tapped the table, his voice turning serious. "Tough defense doesn't equal dirty tricks. This kind of foot-planting move isn't basketball skill at all; it's deliberately destroying a player's ankle and Achilles tendon. A superstar worth hundreds of millions of dollars could have their season over, or even their career precipitated, all because of a single malicious foot-plant. This would be an irreparable and devastating blow to sponsors, broadcast contracts, and the entire league's commercial interests."
Stern's expression visibly turned serious. As the head of the organization most adept at building star-driven economies, the health of star players is the league's core cash cow, a point that directly struck a nerve with Stern.
"How do you want to change it?" Stern asked.
"We will introduce specific landing point protection rules," Lin Qi said, emphasizing each word. "Starting next season, any violation of a shooter's normal landing space on the defensive end, regardless of whether the opponent stepped on it or was injured, will be upgraded to a flagrant foul if the referee determines that the defensive player made an unnatural intrusive move. If it results in injury to the opponent, the player will be ejected from the game and suspended for an extended period."
Lin Qi paused, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "More importantly, there's the penalty mechanism. For repeat offenders with a clear history of egregious misconduct, proven through video review to be intentionally tripping and injuring others, a progressive system of severe penalties will be implemented. If the same player commits multiple malicious tripping and injury acts within two seasons, the league must launch the highest-level disciplinary investigation... In the most serious cases, a lifetime ban will be imposed, completely stripping them of their eligibility to participate in the NBA!"
"A lifetime ban?" Stern gasped.
In NBA history, only cases involving match-fixing or extreme violent crimes have resulted in lifetime bans. Raising the penalty for defensive fouls on the court to this level is absolutely unprecedented.
"It has to be this way, David." Lin Qi's expression was calm, yet carried an overwhelming sense of pressure. "If the rules leave room for flexibility, those blue-collar defenders on minimum contracts will take risks out of a sense of complacency. Only by raising the cost to a level they can't afford can we completely eradicate this bad habit. To protect the league's most valuable asset—talent—this is also entirely in line with the bottom line of the 'overall interests of the league.'"
A deep thought fell over the office.
Stern had to admit that Lin Qi's proposal, while seemingly radical, was very precise in its business logic. What the league feared most right now was its new generation of star players ending up on the injury list. Making foot-planting an absolute no-go line would not only establish a positive public image of the league protecting its stars, but also make the game more open and exciting, perfectly aligning with the offensive trend Stern wanted to promote.
The lifting of restrictions on overseas shareholdings, the restructuring of the G League, and the protection of space for star players to land in the league.
Lin Qi's three "constructive suggestions" not only paved the way for compliance for his Europe EBA empire and built a talent pool for Boston, but also eliminated the most fatal threat to core players such as Wade and Pierce in advance (of course, this was entirely aimed at the Spurs ' Bowen clause).
The entire set of demands stands squarely on the moral high ground of "maintaining the overall interests of the alliance," and there is nothing wrong with it.
"These three points perfectly align with the competitive realities and developmental bottlenecks currently facing the league." Stern let out a long sigh of relief and closed all the files in front of him. "Regarding overseas club shareholding and the restructuring of the G League, the Competition Committee and the Legal Department will present specific draft amendments at the upcoming preparatory meeting. As for the rule adjustments regarding defensive fouling, I will have the Referees Committee issue enforcement guidelines during the preseason, making it a key focus for the new season."
Stern looked at Lin Qi and gave the final verdict. "Within a reasonable framework, the Union Office will reserve sufficient policy flexibility for Boston's exploration."
Stern let out a breath and casually closed the notebook in front of him, seemingly feeling that the negotiations could finally come to an end.
However, Lin Qi simply picked up his water glass, took a sip, and calmly added, "Furthermore, there's a fourth point."
Stern stopped tidying up the documents, looked up, and stared at Lin Qi through his glasses. The weariness and wariness in his eyes were obvious. He took off his glasses, casually placed his pen on the desk, pinched his tight nose, and spoke with a hint of helplessness.
"Lin, the first three points are enough to keep the legal department and the competition committee working overtime for two weeks. You actually have a fourth point? Stop beating around the bush. What else do you want?"
Seeing Stern's serious expression, Lin Qi smiled and softened his tone, "Don't be nervous, David. This fourth point doesn't involve league affairs; it's a personal matter, but it also concerns the league's future brand promotion."
Stern put his glasses back on, scrutinized him, and waited for him to continue.
" David Fincher's ' Kingmaker '," Lin Qi began calmly, "The first part has just finished rough-cut in Venice and is scheduled for release at the end of the year. But the real highlight is the second half."
Lin Qi looked at Stern and said methodically, "According to the script's timeline, the core climax of the second half is the showdown between the Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the century. Kidd, O'Neal, and the returning Jordan. To ensure a truly epic feel on the big screen, the Los Angeles Lakers ' official logo, the actual Staples Center, and the high-quality game footage from the league all require full commercial licenses."
Lin Qi paused, then cut to the heart of the matter. " The Lakers are an indispensable and crucial element in the entire film. But as far as I know, Jerry Buss was one of the most resistant parties to this movie, fearing that Los Angeles would be relegated to a mere supporting role to Boston. If Los Angeles refuses to cooperate, or if the legal department gets in the way of the licensing agreement, the quality of the entire film and its overseas distribution will be affected."
Upon hearing that Lin Qi's long-winded scheme was actually about film licensing, Stern's tense expression visibly relaxed, and a slightly sarcastic smirk even appeared on his lips.
Under normal circumstances, Jerry Buss might have relied on his connections in California and his status as an old-school boss to negotiate with Lin Qi over copyright licensing. But now?
" Jerry Buss?" Stern picked up his water glass, his tone regaining its usual calm. "He can't even clean up the mess he's made of right now, how could he possibly have the energy to fuss over this movie?"
Stern put down his cup and gave a concise explanation. "As long as this film has positive value for the NBA's global promotion and helps the league reach audiences in Hollywood and overseas, I will personally approve the full official license for ' Kingmaker.' As for Los Angeles, don't worry about it. I'll have the legal department prepare the documents, and Jerry Buss will obediently sign them."
"That would be perfect." Lin Qi stood up, smiling as he extended his right hand. " David, since everyone's goal is the overall benefit of the league, Boston will naturally demonstrate a stance that aligns with the big picture at the upcoming board meeting and expansion preparation meeting."
Stern reached out and shook hands with Lin Qi.
Two hands met above the large desk, and a consensus was finally reached after a multi-party negotiation.
Stepping out of the Olympic Tower, a dry, hot Manhattan afternoon breeze hit me.
Lin Qi got into the black sedan waiting by the roadside, took out his phone, and sent a brief instruction to his assistant Margaret, who was in Milan.
"Notify David Fincher to get the pre-production work done. After he returns home, introduce him to Michael Jordan."