August 1996, Houston Rockets General Manager's Office.
The strong smell of tobacco mixed with the heat from the fax machine had been lingering for three whole days.
Playoff videotapes were scattered all over the table.
The words "Seattle SuperSonics, 4-0, Sweep" were boldly stamped in red ink above.
That series was like a bloody fishbone stuck in the throat of everyone in Houston.
Gary Payton was tearing through the Rockets ' backcourt like a mad dog. 33-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon Olajuwon was frantically spreading his hands in the low post, but the ball just wouldn't come in; 34-year-old Klay Clyde Drexler had to repeatedly drop back to receive the ball, hunching over and dribbling it across half-court like a temporary worker.
Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich stared at the tactical board, his face ashen.
He remembered a player... Sam Cassell.
Two years ago, the Rockets thought Lin Qi was a sucker.
Lin Qi traded versatile forward Rick Fox and two second-round picks for the oddly-looking young point guard Sam Cassell. At the time, Houston felt they had gotten a great deal.
It wasn't until this summer, when Gary Payton completely tore the Rockets ' point guard position to shreds, that the Rockets' management finally woke up to reality.
Fox is good at running and defending; he's a qualified bodyguard.
But he can't be the offensive playmaker! There's a vacuum at point guard; no matter how strong the Dream, he can't dribble the ball from the backcourt to the low post on his own!
The Rockets have no time to fix things. On the East, Michael Jordan, who just won 72 games, is coldly looking down on the entire league.
General Manager Carroll Dawson stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and said hoarsely, "We need to figure something out. The Dream's championship window is almost over."
Just then, Phoenix Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo called.
This phone call pushed both of the Western Conference powerhouses to the brink of elimination.
Phoenix is also experiencing an earthquake.
At 33, Charles Barkley had completely lost his patience and publicly demanded. "Send me to a championship-winning team, immediately!"
Meanwhile, the Suns ' other key player Kevin Johnson (KJ), is battered and bruised and is seriously considering retirement.
The Suns aren't afraid of letting Barkley go; what they're afraid of is Barkley leaving and KJ retiring, causing the entire team to collapse overnight.
Colangelo's tone on the phone was as firm as a rock. " The Rockets want Barkley? Fine. Trade him your young forwards and point guards! I want a future I can be proud of to the Phoenix fans!"
The Rockets ' management remained completely silent.
A young point guard? Just two years ago, they sent their best young point guard, Sam Cassell, to Boston!
The negotiations were deadlocked for half a month, with both sides extremely anxious, but they were stuck on the gap of "young assets".
Dawson stared at the huge question mark on the whiteboard, a flash of madness, driven by a bloodlust, in his eyes. He grabbed the phone, his voice hushed.
" Jerry, since your KJ is also considering retirement, why not package Barkley and Kevin Johnson together and send them to Houston!"
"I'm giving you all of the Rockets's mobile assets, except for the Dream and the Glide!"
There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.
This isn't a deal; this is a complete financial drain on Houston!
Kevin Willie, Mark Brian, Chuck Brown, Robert Horry, plus future draft picks and cash! Dawson was like a crazy gambler, betting everything he could.
Colangelo was still not satisfied. " Robert Horry is a good player, but he's 26 years old and not the cornerstone we need for rebuilding. I need a young player who can tell a story!"
The Rockets ' pockets are completely empty.
Just as the deal was about to fall through, a phone call from someone with Boston accent forcefully cut into Phoenix's line.
Lin Qi had been watching this storm for a long time.
From the moment Houston was swept aside, he knew that the " Sam Cassell pit" he had dug himself two years ago was finally ready to be closed.
Lin Qi dialed Colangelo's number and cut to the chase. " Jerry, Houston can't give you the future you want, but I can."
Colangelo scoffed, " Boston? Don't expect me to trade Barkley for Nash."
" Nash is not for sale by the Celtics." Lin Qi said calmly and confidently. "What I'm giving you is Jalen Rose."
Jalen Rose.
A 2.03-meter tall, high-draft-selection wing player, he has a reputation, ball-handling skills, and immense potential. Boston's wing position is already overflowing, so keeping him wouldn't be of much use. However, for Phoenix, who desperately need to deliver results to their fans, this is the perfect "starting point" for their rebuild.
Colangelo's breathing became noticeably heavier. "What do you want?"
" Robert Horry has moved to Boston," Lin Qi said. "He's a good player, not a good fit for a rebuilding team, but a good fit for the Celtics."
"Make a deal."
Immediately afterwards, Lin Qi called Houston.
Lin Qi didn't waste any more words on Dawson, who was blinded by defeat. "You're missing a young asset the Suns are willing to take, and I'll make that happen for you. The price is, give me Horry."
Dawson asked hoarsely, "Can't we switch to someone else?"
"You have no bargaining chips, Carroll," Lin Qi said icyly. "Either give it to Horry, or watch the Dream and the Glide be eliminated in the first round in the final years of their careers."
Dawson closed his eyes and practically spat out the two words through clenched teeth. "Deal!"
When the documents for the three-way trade reached the league office, the entire NBA was shaken to its core.
The Houston Rockets acquired: Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson.
The Phoenix Suns received: Jalen Rose, Kevin Willie, Mark Brian, Chucky Brown, and several future draft picks.
The Boston Celtics acquired Robert Horry.
The entire American media went absolutely crazy!
Overnight, Houston assembled an extraordinary fortress that was terrifying on paper.
Point guard Kevin Johnson, shooting Klay Clyde Drexler, small forward Rick Fox, power forward Charles Barkley, and center Hakeem Olajuwon Olajuwon!
Writing this first set of rules down on paper is practically cheating.
However, after seeing the roster, Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich was overjoyed, but a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
Their starting lineup is invincible, but their bench is a complete mess. This elite team, with an average age of over 33, has absolutely no room for error.
They had no choice but to floor the accelerator and race towards the finish line before the engine blew out.
Boston, General Manager's Office.
The fax machine produced the final confirmation. Lin Qi stared at the paper and let out a long sigh.
Two years ago, trading Fox for Sam Cassell hollowed out the Rockets ' backcourt future, which was like a sweet poison.
Two years later, the Rockets were forced to take a gamble due to a collapse in their backcourt. They used Jalen Rose, whom they acquired from the Nuggets, as a bargaining chip to complete the final piece of their trade, and snatched away Horry.
Lin Qi remained calm, picked up his pen, and wrote Robert Horry's name heavily on the list.
Point guard, Sam Cassell.
Shooting guard, Eddie Jones.
Small forward, Robert Horry.
Power forward, Kevin Garnett.
Center forward, Dikembe Mutombo.
The Celtics ' championship-contending roster is now completely clear.