Presti tore open the seal, pulled out a stack of newspaper clippings and match video analysis sheets, and casually flipped to the first page of the technical statistics table.
" Wake Forest University's freshman point guard, Chris Paul," Presti pointed to the red-lettered record above, "On the 20th of last month, Wake Forest defeated University of North Carolina 119-114 in triple overtime on the road. Chris Paul played 45 minutes, scoring 18 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals, with only one turnover."
Presti shared a screenshot of the game. "Coach Skip Proser gave him all the ball possession, and North Carolina's Raymond Felton suffered greatly against him. The scout specifically mentioned in his notes that this kid likes to use a snake-like dribble to cut laterally to the free-throw line after a screen, using his hips to block the defender behind him, and then passing the ball when the interior defense shifts its weight. He plays with a maturity beyond his years, unlike a freshman."
Lin Qi picked up the report. The pages detailed every pick-and-roll decision Chris Paul made in the three overtime periods, and were accompanied by a feature article from the North Carolina local newspaper, the Winston Salem Daily News.
" Sam, there's no one else in the house." Lin Qi looked up and asked bluntly, "This year, is there any way we can get Chris Paul to run for office early?"
Presti's pen paused on the paper. He pondered for about ten seconds, his brows slowly furrowing.
"Boss, it's going to be difficult if we follow the normal procedures," Presti shook his head. "The scouts went to Winston Salem to get a feel for him. His dad, Charles Chris Paul, used to play football and now owns a Chevrolet gas station, and his mom, Robin, helps out at the local church. It's an old-fashioned, middle-class Southern black family, they care about appearances and don't lack for anything. He's different from Al Jefferson and Telfair, those kids whose families are struggling to make ends meet and desperately need to sign contracts to save their lives. His parents have been focused on him studying hard and getting a college degree since he was little."
Presti turned a page and pointed to an old news clipping from November 2002.
"Another reason is that he owes Wake Forest University a favor. Over a year ago, Chris Paul's 61-year-old grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, was murdered in his garage. Chris Paul then scored 61 points in a high school game, intentionally missing his last free throw, and walked off the court crying into his father's arms. At that time, Wake Forest's head coach, Skip Proser, led the entire team to the funeral and stayed with Chris Paul's family through that difficult time. This kid is very loyal; he has spoken on the local radio several times, saying that he would help his grandfather's hometown win an Atlantic Ocean Coast Conference championship."
Presti adjusted his glasses and continued, "And this year's draft stock isn't on his side either. He's only 6'0" (1.83 meters) barefoot and weighs 175 pounds. This year is a year of high school forwards and centers, and the top ten general managers are all eyeing those 6'9" (2.06 meters) and 6'10" (2.08 meters) high-jumping guys. Among college point guards, Devin Harris from Wisconsin and Jameer Nelson from St. Joseph's are on the rise."
"If Chris Paul rashly jumps out this year, the general manager holding a high draft pick might not dare to gamble his job on a 6-foot (1.83-meter) freshman. Once Nelson and Ben Gordon graduate next year and the point guard position becomes available, his market value will be much better than this year."
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
Presti was stating the current consensus in the scouting circle, but Lin Qi knew very well that if Chris Paul could successfully finish his sophomore year at Wake Forest, the kid would become the undisputed cornerstone of any team in the league next summer and be picked up early with the top four pick.
Even if the Boston Celtics package up their future draft picks for a trade, those tanking teams might not be able to give up their top five picks.
In June of this year, while team executives were still obsessed with tall high school players and hesitant about Chris Paul's height, it was the only opportunity to use a mid-lottery pick to snatch him up.
"Logically, running this year isn't in his best interest," Lin Qi, looking at Presti. "So we have to give him a push from the outside. Sam, what would be the consequences of breaking the rules if we... secretly gave his family some real incentives to get this kid running early this year?"
Presti wasn't surprised at all; clearly, the thought had already crossed his mind. He closed the folder and lowered his voice to calculate the gains and losses.
"It depends on how we do it, and what leverage David Stern has over us." Presti stroked his chin. "Rookie contracts are fixed by draft order in the collective bargaining agreement. As long as we don't sign any private agreements to cover the difference, we can't be severely penalized."
"What if they just privately contact college students who didn't register for the draft, or use a third party to deliver some commercial contracts to the players' families?" Lin Qi asked.
"According to the league's current rules, if it's confirmed that a team executive made unauthorized contact, the maximum penalty would be a fine of $250,000 to $500,000, maybe a second-round pick, or a three-month suspension," Presti said calmly. "Trading $500,000 and a second-round pick for a starting point guard is a deal that's a steal even with your eyes closed. But the real trouble isn't about the money; we'll alert them."
Presti pointed to the lottery projection chart on the table. "If our Celtics front office directly approaches Winston Salem to promise a draft position, and if old Charles goes to discuss it with Coach Prosser, and word gets out to the scouting circles in the Atlantic Ocean Coast Conference, those general managers holding the top eight picks will immediately realize what's going on. Even if they don't use them themselves, they'll still snatch them up on draft night and rip us off. At that point, we'll not only be punished by the league, but we'll also be at their mercy in trade negotiations."
"You've thought it through very well." Lin Qi nodded. "I can afford the $500,000 fine anytime, but we can't give other teams a warning, and we certainly can't give the league any leverage to catch us in the act."
Lin Qi took out an annual promotional report from Converse's basketball division from his drawer and pushed it in front of Presti.
"I looked it up. Chris Paul has an older brother named CJ Chris Paul, who plays at the University of Virginia's the Hamptons this year. The two brothers grew up together, and besides old Charles, the older brother is the one who makes the decisions in the family."
Lin Qi pointed to the briefing. "Next week, I'll have Converse's college equipment department sign a regional sneaker sponsorship deal with the Hamptons University, and while we're at it, offer CJ Chris Paul, who's about to graduate, a sports marketing consulting contract with an annual salary of $200,000. At the same time, I'll have Converse's North Carolina regional representative sign Old Charles's Chevrolet gas station as the designated logistics provider for Converse's youth basketball training camp for five years."
Presti perked up. "Non-professional players aren't subject to the ' Lin Qi Rule.' Converse is an independently operated commercial company, not covered by the NBA salary cap. Even if Stern knows the truth, there's nothing he can do."