The Godfather of Basketball

Jones was a little skeptical of Tang Tian's excitement, and he couldn't help reminding Tang Tian of the risk of George leaving the team next year.

If George goes to the Lakers after one year, the Nets will really lose everything.

Tang Tian didn't take it seriously. In his previous life, the Thunder could keep George. There was no reason why the Nets couldn't do it.

In other words, even if George stayed in the Thunder not for money but for Westbrook in the previous life, but the Nets have Irving, Butler, Booker and Jokic, and add George, this is a lineup that can toughen the Warriors , Regardless of whether he wins the championship or not, George has no reason to leave.

Knowing that Tang Tian had made up his mind, Jones didn't say anything, and turned around to contact the Pacers' management.

Many teams have made offers, among which the Thunder's Oladipo and Sabonis' offers are the most aggressive.

And Jones also got what the other side wanted from the Pacers: Yi Jianlian and Donovan Mitchell, or PJ Tucker and Markkanen.

The Pacers management's thinking is actually similar. They don't want to fall into reconstruction because of George's departure, but hope to get back a player with immediate combat power and potential to continue to maintain their competitiveness in the East.

Jones is a little angry at the Pacers' asking price. Yi Jianlian is now a sign of the league's basic salary and high-energy contract. If he wants him, he still wants Mitchell or Markkanen. With a high probability of leaving the team next season, this offer is really too much. Taller.

"We need a face-to-face negotiation." Tang Tian seemed very interested, and directly gave Jones instructions for further negotiations.

After making an appointment, Tang Tian took Jones and Joseph to a meeting with the Pacers' management in New York.

Quite similar to the Cavaliers, the team's meritorious general manager "Big Bird" Larry Bird resigned, and now the new general manager of the team that replaced him, Chad Buchanan, is also a young man. The general manager, besides his assistant, also came with him, Pritchard, the team's President of Basketball Operations.

After the two sides met, Buchanan looked directly at Jones: "The meaning of our meeting this time is that you are ready to accept our previous plan?"

Yi Jianlian plus Mitchell, Tucker and Markkanen, in terms of transaction value, are more valuable than Oladipo and Sabonis on the Thunder.

The Thunder last season was a team that Westbrook performed alone. Both Oladipo and Sabonis played badly, and the risks were great.

In contrast, the Nets' chips are much less risky.

Jones looked at Tang Tian.

Tang Tian had greeted Jones before coming, so he didn't hide it now, and said directly: "The bargaining chip before is not the most suitable for both of us, I hope to change my thinking."

Both Pritchard and Buchanan looked at Tang Tian suspiciously, apparently they did not expect Tang Tian to say such a thing.

"We hope you will accept JR Smith's contract..."

"It's impossible." Before Tang Tian finished speaking, Buchanan interrupted Tang Tian.

JR Smith's current value may only be worth an annual salary of seven to eight million, and the extra money in the contract means that he is a rubbish contract.

The Nets will take over such a rubbish contract for Irving, so they will not take it stupidly, even if the Nets are willing to offer Mitchell or Markkanen.

Tang Tian frowned slightly.

Knowing that it was impolite for Buchanan to interrupt others, Pritchard coughed twice to wink at Buchanan, then looked at Tang Tian.

"Mr. Tang, in theory we don't really want to keep George in the East. You know we still want to remain competitive in the East and don't want to make our opponents stronger."

"Just say it directly." Tang Tian knew that Pritchard wanted to increase the size, and stretched out his hand to signal him not to go around in circles.

Pritchard nodded and said directly: "If you want us to take over the JR Smith contract, I think you have to trade both Mitchell and Markkanen to us at the same time."

Jones hesitated to speak, but Pritchard really opened his mouth like a lion.

"We won't send Mitchell and Markkanen..." Tang Tian's words made Buchanan a little impulsive again, but Pritchard's eyes just now made him suppress himself.

"But we're going to send Booker."

After Tang Tian finished speaking, Jones looked helpless. Tang Tian had already said this before, and his persuasion had no effect.

Buchanan's eyes widened suddenly, and Pritchard thought he had heard wrong, so he confirmed it to Tang Tian: "Devin Booker?"

After seeing Tang Tian's affirmative nod, he couldn't hide his excited expression.

Booker is the shooting guard that the Nets have been cultivating in the past two years. His strength has changed qualitatively last season. Both offensive and defensive ends have the taste of a replica of Thompson, and he has more organizational attributes than Thompson.

Such a player is the kind that can become a cornerstone!

Can the Nets give up Booker for George's one-year right to use?

Could something be wrong with Booker? Or that the Nets have the absolute confidence to renew George?

"Aren't there any other additional conditions?" Pritchard couldn't help but confirm again.

Tang Tian shook his head, he also guessed Pritchard's worry, and said directly: "You don't have to worry, Booker has no problem."

Booker is indeed good enough, but if George can be obtained, then Butler will play the second position, and keeping Booker means that Mitchell will not have many opportunities to play.

No matter how talented a player is, he needs playing time. If he gets George and keeps Booker, then Mitchell will be selected for nothing.

So it's a trade-off.

Booker or Mitchell, Tang Tian still prefers the competitive Mitchell.

Moreover, Booker's contract will expire in 2 years. When George and Jokic are renewed, Butler, Booker and Irving will have to be prepared immediately. The salary of the Nets will become very explosive.

Pritchard saw that Tang Tian really wanted to do this, and he also seemed a little excited.

George's current transaction value is at the bottom. If he can really get Booker, he will definitely make a profit, even if he has to eat JR Smith's contract.

However, he is an old Jianghu after all, so he still didn't let this kind of emotion express. He pondered for a while and said: "JR Smith's contract is indeed a bit big, and we will have a lot of trouble to deal with it later."

"If the deal is done now, I can add the first round next year."

Tang Tian's next words directly blocked Pritchard's mouth.

This is all said for this sake, and he has no reason to refuse at all.

"Then, happy cooperation."

Pritchard reached out his hand directly, and Tang Tian also got up to shake hands.

This represents the formal conclusion of the transaction between the two parties.

The probability of the Nets' first round next year will also be at the end of the first round. What he said so decisively is to prevent the Thunder from overweighting. Night Changmeng has such things, and if something happens, it will not be worth the loss.

After the negotiations between the two sides ended, Woj also reported the news immediately.

The Nets traded Devin Booker and JR Smith, as well as a 2018 first-round pick, for Paul George from the Pacers.