the rest, only noise

Chapter 435 The character design has collapsed
"Artis Gilmore?"

"Are you serious?"

Louis asked back:

"Do I not look serious?"

If it was Gilmore a few years ago, Ball would never be replaced, but now, he has come to the twilight of his career.

In the previous life, Louis knew almost nothing about him. In this life, in order to make a name for himself in the professional basketball circle, he has already made up for NBA history. He knows everything he needs to know.

In his view, Gilmore in the NBA period was a lost person.

He is one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in NBA history, just like the 216-cm Dwight Howard, who played a dominant role in the ABA.

Just compare Howard with him and you will know. Give him a suitable team, and he can lead the team to a very strong combat power.

But for a group of teammates who are so mediocre that they can't even shoot, he can't do much.

When the NBA dominates history, the ABA stars always suffer.

Gilmour peaked in the ABA, entered the NBA and wasted the last few elite seasons on a super bad team like the Chicago Bulls.

This season, Gilmour can still start in the Spurs, averaging 11 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, which is not bad, but this is not the data that a player with an annual salary of 80 US dollars should play.

The Spurs wanted to sell him, but there was no way.

Bob Bass' breathing was heightened with excitement at hearing Louie ask for Gilmore.

Soon, a cold reality hit him.

"No, Artis can't join the deal. His salary is too high, and you can't match it. Unless, you want to add a few more young players." Bass didn't believe that Louis was so stupid that he would send Ball and other players for Gilmore in his old age.

Louis smiled, "Of course I won't give any more young players, Bob, you should know that if this deal is reached, your financial pressure will be reduced a lot."

After all, Gilmour's contract didn't end until the summer of 1988.

"But how is the deal done?" Bass asked.

Louis turned over his cards.

"In addition to Manute, I will also send Bernard King. In this way, the salary will match. Although the sum of the salaries of Ball and Jin exceeds that of Artis, your current salary space is completely acceptable." Louis asked, "How is it, are you interested?"

Bernard King's name has long disappeared in professional basketball circles.

Like a retired player.

This is normal, any player disappears in professional sports for two years, everyone will feel that he is no longer playing.

"Bernard King. Is he recovered?" Bass asked.

"He's recovered, but we don't have room for him, and his agent asked me to trade him, so I added him to the deal."

"If you need his medical report, we can also provide it. He is completely healthy."

Bob Bass thought about it seriously. Although the Knicks had just renewed their contract with King for three years, they had a team option for the first year.If he doesn't perform well after his return, they can also get rid of him this summer.

Moreover, Gilmore's contract can also be dealt with. What reason is there to refuse?

"Coach Lu, I think we can make a deal."

"Deal?" Louis opened a bottle of Coke without ice, "Bob, are you too anxious? We haven't reached the point of closing yet."

Bass was confused: "Any more questions?"

"Of course, of course we have problems." Louis took a sip of Coke, not sure if acting so treacherous in front of Lorraine would hurt his image in her heart. "Do you think Artis Gilmour plus a future first-rounder can get Manute Ball and Bernard King? Are you serious? King averaged 32 points per game before his injury."

Bass didn't expect that Louis didn't plan to make a quick deal.

"Coach Lu, what else do you want?"

"Of course there are more draft picks." Louis Lion said loudly, "In addition to the first-round pick in 1990, I also want the first-round pick in 1988 and the first-round pick in 1992."

"That's impossible!" Bass yelled.

Bass thought Louie would call out an outrageous offer, but he didn't expect it to be this outrageous.

This is an offer that is far from the world!
"How is it impossible? Don't you know the value of Manute? He averaged 18 blocks in 3.6 minutes per game, is the best defensive center in the league, and Bernard is a dominant scorer."

"That was before he was injured!"

"Yes, before he was injured, but he recovered very well. Even if he can't dominate the offensive end as he wanted before the injury, if he needs to average about 20 points per game, I think there is no problem." Louie said affirmatively, "If you disagree with my point of view, there is no need for us to talk again. My quotation is based on the evaluation of Bernard."

While King suffers from an ACL that affects longevity in sports, Bass agrees with Louie.

After his comeback, King is still an offensive player averaging 20 points per game.

"I agree."

"Thank you for your frankness." Louis asked rhetorically, "Now, you only need to send Artis Gilmore, who has been unable to play, and you can get the best defensive center in the league and an offensive star who averages 20 points per game. Aren't they worth three first-round picks?"

"No, Lu, that's not how we do business!" Bass yelled. "We can't send three first rounds to these two!"

"So there's nothing to talk about?" Louis adopted a high-pressure tactic, "Bob, I know that your financial problems are very tight, so resolving Artis' contract should be of great significance to your boss. Jin is in the contract year. If you don't use it smoothly, you can use the team option to give him up and start playing lightly next year. Instead, we, after taking Artis' contract, do you know how much our total salary exceeds the salary cap?"

"I hope to find a good place for Manute, and I hope Bernard is happy at his next stop, but if you are not sincere, we will definitely not be able to reach an agreement."

Even if Louie broke the sky, it is impossible for Bass to send three first rounds.

"Two first rounds."

"Goodbye."

"Wait!" Bass yelled, "Lu! You should know that there will be an expansion draft in June next year. If you don't complete this deal, you will give Manute to the expansion team for nothing!"

Bass was eager to use the reality of the situation to redeem himself a little bit.

"Do you want to give him away for nothing?"

"Hahaha~~~"

Louie laughed out loud.

"Bob, thank you for your concern. It may be that we have never talked face to face, or it may be that we have not done transactions before, so you don't know me well."

Louis put the phone to his mouth and said sternly: "If I can't feed me, I'd rather send Manute away for nothing than you guys."

"you!!!"

Louis calmly took a sip of Coke.

Louie's image cracked a little in Lorraine's eyes.

Is this still her boyfriend?
The Louis in Lorraine's impression has always been a refined, easy-going, polite, and knowledgeable person. How could this be the case?

The face of a profiteer?
"How about it, Bob, have you thought it through?" Louis asked.

Bass said weakly, "I can't give you three first-round picks."

"Really not?"

"No."

"Have you thought about it? This deal allows you to get rid of Artis' contract and get two good players." Louis pressed again, "I'm going to bed, and I'll give you another 30 seconds, your last chance."

"The first-round pick in 1990 and the first-round pick in 1992 plus the second-round pick in 1991, this is our bottom line!" Bass was pushed to the end, "give me a good word!"

Louis deliberately remained silent for ten seconds.

During this period, Bass called him many times.

"Well, I'm not an unreasonable person. Although the result is not good enough, but this is the first time we have discussed business, I hope there will be a good result. I can accept two first-round picks and a second-round pick, but I want a first-round pick in 1989 and a first-round pick in 1991. You can choose the year of the second round pick."

Louie looked like he was watching prey in a pit.

"This is also my bottom line, Bob, I won't accept any counteroffer." Louis' eyes frightened Lorraine.

A few seconds later, Bob Bass' tone sounded like a deflated ball.

"I agree."

"Happy cooperation, Bob." Louie smiled, "I'll call Elgin right away, and you and him will do the rest."

Bass said weakly, "No, it's not pleasant at all. I hope there will be no next time."

"Don't be like this, Bob, I like to discuss business with you very much. In fact, I am also a loyal person. It is absolutely reliable to do business with me."

"Ha ha."

Louis put down the phone with satisfaction, and saw Lorraine hiding under the quilt tremblingly.

"Are you guarding against wolves?" Louis asked.

Lorraine said: "You just looked terrible. Are the news written by those reporters true?"

"Of course it's fake. I walk around in front of you every day. Don't you know who I am?"

Louis had a reputation as a loyal man, but not many people were willing to believe it.

Before tonight, there were letters from 76ers general manager Pat Williams and Lorraine.

After tonight, Pat Williams is probably the only one left.

Louis was completely destroyed in front of Lorraine, and he didn't know if it was worth ruining his image for such a deal.

"You lied, you looked so scary just now, as if you were going to eat people."

"Yes."

While undressing, Louis said like a whore ready to commit murder, "I'm about to eat people."

The next day, officials announced the deal between the Knicks and the Spurs.

No one expected that before the trade deadline, the Knicks would make a big news.

The Knicks traded Manute Ball and Bernard King to the Spurs for Artis Gilmore, two future first-round picks and a future second-round pick (1992).

(End of this chapter)