Chapter Summaries

After watching Wake Forest lose, Presti witnessed Chris Paul's family confront Coach Prosser and reported their growing rift to Lin Qi. Lin Qi planned to publicize the conflict and expected Old Charles to push Chris to declare for the draft after Wake Forest's tournament exit.

• Presti watched Old Charles and C.J. Paul accuse Prosser of limiting Chris Paul's role and preparing to replace him with Rajon Rondo.
• Chris Paul emerged from the locker room and left with his father and brother, while Prosser punched a concrete wall.
• Presti told Lin Qi that Chris had shown strong professional skills but also had a short stature, a volatile temperament, and a habit of playing dirty.
• Presti reported that the Paul family distrusted Prosser and was unlikely to let Chris stay at Wake Forest for another year.
• Lin Qi instructed Presti to leak news of the rift to ESPN and predicted Old Charles would have Chris declare for the draft after Wake Forest was eliminated.

Lin Qi and Sam Presti evaluated Tony Allen as a potential draft pick, recognizing his defensive talent despite concerns about his shooting and temper. Lin Qi ordered Presti to track Allen’s workouts and ensure Boston acquired him.

• Presti showed Lin Qi Tony Allen’s scouting reports and explained his troubled college career and reputation.
• Presti replayed footage of Allen shutting down Brandon Mouton and described his intense behavior on the court.
• Lin Qi recognized Allen’s strength, quickness, and defensive potential as a matchup for Dwyane Wade.
• Lin Qi told Presti to follow Allen’s workouts and bring him to Boston, even if the team had to spend a first-round pick.

Lin Qi and Presti discussed Andre Iguodala’s draft prospects and concluded that his defense, passing, and athleticism made him an ideal fit for Boston. Lin Qi planned to acquire several mid-to-late lottery picks through Charlotte and ordered the scouts to stop tracking players so the team would not reveal its interest.

• Presti showed Lin Qi footage and scouting reports on Iguodala, whose all-around numbers contrasted with his unreliable jump shot.
• Lin Qi reviewed scouting assessments and judged Iguodala’s defense, passing, and intelligence valuable alongside Boston’s established scorers.
• Presti reported that Chris Mullin and Rob Babcock had watched Iguodala practice, and Babcock had criticized his shooting while favoring Rafael Araújo.
• Lin Qi and Presti identified several teams likely to hold mid-to-late lottery picks, while Lin Qi recalled Michael Jordan’s talks to obtain picks in salary-dump deals.
• Lin Qi ordered the scouts in Arizona to withdraw and stop following players until the June draft.

With All-Stars withdrawing from the Athens Olympics after the Madrid bombings, David Stern asked Lin Qi to help USA Basketball field marketable players. Lin agreed to release Dwyane Wade and proposed inviting Kobe Bryant, backed by a $20 million advertising deal, leaving Stern ready to complete their call-ups while Boston's starters stayed home.

• Sam Presti told Lin Qi that nearly all the players from the FIBA Americas Championship roster had withdrawn from the Olympic team, and USA Basketball was demanding Boston release key players.
• David Stern offered to protect Boston's core players from being called up but asked Lin Qi to let Dwyane Wade play so NBC could attract viewers.
• Lin Qi agreed to release Wade and proposed inviting Kobe Bryant, arguing that the Olympics could help rebuild Kobe's public image.
• Lin Qi offered a $20 million Converse and Monster Energy advertising package for NBC if USA Basketball formally invited Kobe and Wade.
• David Stern agreed to arrange Kobe and Wade's call-ups and told Lin Qi to send Boston's starters' injury reports so they could remain in Boston.

Lin Qi arranged for Boston’s injured starters to withdraw from the Athens Olympics while Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade accepted call-ups, turning Kobe’s participation into a chance to revive his endorsements. The announcement drew immediate praise for Kobe and criticism of Boston, while Lin Qi expected Wade to exceed the low expectations around him in Athens.

• Sam Presti prepared medical reports claiming Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace could not play in Athens, while Lin Qi approved Dwyane Wade’s medical clearance.
• Lin Qi told Presti to contact Rob Pelinka and arrange Kobe Bryant’s press conference, then summoned Wade and David Blatt for a briefing.
• Lin Qi reflected that Kobe’s Olympic call-up could restore his appeal to sponsors and disrupt Nike’s plans for the Athens Games.
• USA Basketball announced that four Celtics frontcourt players would miss the Olympics and that Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade had accepted call-ups.
• Kobe pledged at Staples Center to help the United States win gold, while television hosts praised him and criticized Boston; Lin Qi watched the coverage and anticipated Wade proving himself in Athens.