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"How? Let's hear it," Liam's eyes lit up as he put the coffee cup down and looked at Larry Riley.
"After Jerry Sloan's resignation, the Jazz are planning to trade Deron Williams. Based on my research over the past few days, it can be preliminarily determined that the trade will be with the Nets. Given the current situation, the Nets are going to benefit greatly. After all, the Jazz are in a hurry to send their star away, and they'll definitely suffer," Larry Riley exclaimed.
Liam was a bit surprised and said, "Your information is very well-informed, how did you find out about this?"
Unlike auctions, NBA trades are usually done in secret. Even before the deal is concluded, both parties will deny it, because NBA trades are driven by players, people with emotions and thoughts, and management must consider the feelings of the players they manage.
Except for teams in a rebuilding phase, few management teams make public trades, which could easily lead to panic and lack of desire to play, in turn affecting the team's record.
This is also why, after the trade deadline, there will be many clashes in management and regrets about the trades of other teams. These people may be traded to players they like, but there are no rumors before the trade, so they have no chance to participate in it. They can only shake their heads and sigh afterward.
Larry Riley smiled, "Don't you know? Oh, yes, you were still in Indiana back then... It was the summer of 2008, I was just an assistant coach on the team, and Pitt traded the protected first-round pick for this year for Marcus Williams. Though he only played one season before being cut, our good relationship with the Nets continued, and I met some friends working for the Nets."
His voice was flat, as if narrating a trivial matter, but Liam thought for a moment and then nodded suddenly, not mentioning the matter again.
At that time, Liam was focused on acquiring the Warriors, and though he didn't pay much attention to the specific minor deals, he was clear about the internal management struggles within the team.
The reason why the Warriors had been stagnant for so many years was due to internal struggles and management friction, which was a significant factor. There was a major disagreement between the team president, Rowell, who answered to Chris Cohan, and Chris Mullin, the team's hero who was the vice president at that time. The two parties were competing for power, and many decisions seemed like childish games. Eventually, Larry Riley was able to take the position and went to Rowell, from whom he had the opportunity to replace Pete Dali Sandro, who was in charge of team operations and was aligned with Chris Mullin.
However, after Liam acquired the Warriors, the situation changed. The team now had only Liam's voice from top to bottom, and Rowell left with Chris Cohan. The management of the Warriors has been unified ever since, marking the beginning of an ascent for the team.
Naturally, Liam wouldn't mention these past events. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Go talk to them and see if we can get in on this deal. We can send Wesley and a first-round pick from the Cavaliers next year, with the goal of securing the Nets' first-round pick this year, and a big defensive forward or a guard who can handle the ball."
Larry Riley was a bit stunned upon hearing this, then nodded.
"Alright, but Liam, I'm still a bit confused, why do we have to trade Wesley? He still has potential, and his contract is quite valuable. Should I have him reviewed again? And judging by the Cavaliers' performance this season, their first-round pick next year will be very valuable, likely higher than the Nets' pick this year."
Larry Riley's wording was cautious, and his tone was discreet. It wasn't that he was worried about Liam's dissatisfaction, as Liam "monopolized the power" but never acted "arbitrarily." He was attentive to listening to others' opinions.
But Liam's past decisions had never been wrong, especially in trades. Even if they weren't favored at the time, they marked the beginning of a reversal later on.
Larry Riley knew that Liam must have had his reasons, and though he might not see things clearly, he had to present what he thought was the correct opinion due to the GM's pressure. So, it seemed like he was "scolding a tyrant" and spoke with extreme caution.
Liam smiled and listened to Larry Riley's words, showing no impatience at all, and finally responded, "It's about the team's future plans. Of course, I know Wesley is very good. Don't forget, I'm the one who recruited him to play in the summer league... But times have changed, and the situation has changed. The future Warriors don't have room for Wesley, and cashing in while his value is high is the best option."
Liam made it very clear, but Larry Riley was confused because he didn't know what the future of the Warriors looked like, or rather, no one in the Warriors knew Liam's long-term plans for the team.
Over the years, Larry Riley had come to understand one thing: he had a unique boss.
Other teams' management and coaching staff, including the Warriors, want to build an ideal roster on paper, then maximize the potential of the existing roster, and deal with issues when they arise. This is a normal way of team-building.
But Liam was different. He never solved problems after they arose. He seemed to have an unusual, long-term, and comprehensive team-building plan in his mind, making adjustments according to this planning at the moment.
After acquiring the Warriors, Liam launched a purge. Last season, he traded Biedrins for Chandler, who was not favored by outsiders. He expelled Azubuik, who had performed well last season, and this summer, he placed Matthews on the trade block while directly putting Green and Klay in starting positions. It was clear that he had always prepared for a rainy day and acted decisively. Even when the team was thriving and the record was improving, he never stopped seeking changes and new steps.
Larry Riley became more and more convinced that Liam wasn't just talking big. He was truly aiming for the championship, and there was no other reason for frequent trades. As long as the Warriors maintained their current lineup and developed step by step, they could become a top team, but Liam must have seen that the team still had issues, so he took advantage of every opportunity to make trades.
"I know what I have to do," Larry Riley replied solemnly.
He had done his job. Since Liam insisted on his opinion, his job now was to execute it. Although he couldn't see any flaws in the team's current lineup, if Liam said there was a problem, there must be one. Larry Riley suppressed the confusion and doubts in his heart, quickly changed his thinking, and focused on how to participate in this major deal.
"Since the Jazz are sending Deron for a rebuild, what they need are draft picks and rookies. The Nets are definitely going to make a difference, and Wesley is exactly what they need, so we can do that..."
Larry Riley thought for a moment and presented his thoughts. Liam nodded occasionally, and then the two discussed it carefully, having dinner prepared by Tina in between, before Larry Riley left.
"Liam, before the trade deadline, I'm going to make this deal happen," Larry Riley said calmly, his voice firm and powerful.
Although he didn't have the foresight and boldness of Liam in decision-making, he was also bold and daring, and trade manipulation was his strength. The Warriors were able to recruit Curry last summer, and Larry Riley played a major role in that.
What people didn't know was that in Liam's previous life, the core team of the Warriors at their peak was selected by the team under Larry Riley, but it was the acclaimed Bob Myers, aside from Looney, that the Warriors never developed a second rookie worthy of use.
"I'm waiting for good news from you. This deal is important for the team, and I want a result before the All-Star Weekend ends," Liam said with a smile.
Larry Riley responded solemnly, and Liam saw him out, watching him leave. He looked up slightly, gazing at the sparse stars in the distance, his eyes deep.
He didn't know what was going through Larry Riley's mind, just as he couldn't explain his plans to his GM.
He couldn't tell Larry Riley how he managed to be an unpredictable prophet.
This year's draft and next year's draft are both recognized as great draft years, and in contrast, next year's draft is even more favored due to the unmatched talent of Anthony Davis. Although he's not in college yet, his outstanding performance in last year's Nike Global Challenge has attracted the attention of the United States.
But aside from Liam, no one would know that the Cavaliers' draft pick in the hands of the Warriors would develop according to the normal trajectory—only the fourth pick. Now, with Monta Ellis, and the Cavaliers likely getting the first pick to recruit Irving, the Cavaliers' combat power is much stronger than before, and the pick might be lower. In next year's draft, aside from Anthony Davis, there are only a few stars like Beal, Lillard, and Middleton, but they aren't the players the Warriors need.
This year's draft is different. Naturally, Liam won't have thoughts about Irving, who is almost guaranteed to be the first pick, but the most accomplished player in the 2011 draft isn't Irving. The greatest pearl of this draft is Leonard, and Liam is determined to get him!
It was with the goal of selecting Leonard that Liam had to trade draft picks and send Matthews away to make room.
As Larry Riley said, Matthews is a very high-quality starter and even shows little hope of becoming a star, but he is incomparable to Leonard.
And Matthews is not part of Liam's future plan for the team. He's only 6'5", and while he can play small forward, he's more suited to play point guard. Facing the best forwards, Matthews would be very difficult both offensively and defensively.
And the Warriors already have Klay and Tony Allen at the position. There's no need for Matthews. He can attack and defend, but he can't reach the top level. If Liam only wanted to build a strong team, Matthews' strength would be enough. But Liam's goal is to compete for the championship, and Matthews' importance to the Warriors is only as a piece to trade for Leonard. Liam gave Matthews a big contract in the summer, paving the way for this step.
In the next ten years, it's the peak of point guards, but the first-line players are king. All championship winners, except the Warriors in 2015, have a top-tier forward on the team. All future FMVPs will be won by small forwards, which is highly controversial, but the role of a top forward in high-intensity games is irreplaceable.
Under high-intensity confrontation, talent is everything.
It can be said that Curry's offensive influence is the best in the world, and he's the only player in NBA history who has offensive threat when he's on the court, being a top player without the ball.
As he moves, he attracts most of the defensive attention from the opponent, always being the center of attention on the court. The Cavaliers would even prefer Durant to run inside for a dunk to avoid his fast-break three-pointer.
But Curry isn't perfect. His height, wingspan, and athleticism make it hard for him to find space to force shots against tight defense. He's the most powerful engine driving the Warriors, but he's not a sharp spear ideal for attacking.
This doesn't mean Curry lacks the ability to play in clutch moments. On the contrary, Curry has performed well repeatedly in critical times. After Kerr took over, the response was a disaster, and Curry couldn't get the ball in the last moments multiple times. He could only swallow the defeat and leave the court sadly.
But it's undeniable that Curry's natural disadvantage makes it difficult for him to produce consistently from start to finish in a high-intensity series, and his three-point shooting is naturally unstable. Even someone as strong as Curry can miss in the Finals, which leads people to believe that shooting alone can't win championships.
Only top-tier forwards with size, confrontation, athleticism, and shooting can challenge the environment. They may not be able to elevate the team to a high level like a point guard, but they can provide a difficult solution in a high-intensity series when simple offensive methods fail.
Then, when Durant joined, the Warriors were invincible on offense, and if Durant hadn't gotten injured in 2019, a three-game championship would have been within reach for the Warriors.
With Liam's presence, Curry will never sign a rookie contract, Durant will never rejoin the Warriors, and Leonard will be the strongest forward with comprehensive offensive and defensive strength over the next ten years. He is the one Liam is determined to win.
Once he develops, the Warriors will have Curry as the core, Leonard as the spear, Klay as the arrow, Green as the shield, complemented by a group of high-quality role players. That's the foundation of the dynasty!
Of course, this doesn't mean Liam will give up Butler. But there is a better option like Leonard at the forward position. As head coach, Liam can't give up the excellent opportunity to improve the roster out of consideration for human feelings. And when Leonard truly develops, the Warriors' rookie contracts will also expire, and Butler's contract renewal may face problems. Having a backup option in advance is in the Warriors' best interest.
The NBA is essentially a cruel business field, an arena for gladiators. Thirty teams are willing to give everything for the championship, but as soon as there's a bit of interest, there's an inevitable need to sacrifice human emotions for interests.
No one should doubt Liam's decisions. Every step is carefully planned, with a clear goal in mind!
All this for the championship
End of this chapter
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