the rest, only noise

Chapter 590 My Baylor Never Talks About Foreplay
On June 6, the Charlotte Hornets won the coin toss and, as a result, earned first-choice eligibility for the expansion draft.

After hearing the news, Louis immediately found out the contact information of the general manager of the Miami Heat.

The Heat's current general manager, Lewis Schaffel, isn't new to professional sports operations.

Louie got Elgin Baylor access to his operating records.

He studied it in Baylor's office.

"I see, this person is not very interesting, he only wants to do small business, and it won't last long." Baylor actually looked down on him.

Louis asked with a smile, "Why did you say that?"

"You can tell by looking at it. These are his operating records, and none of them can be called a big deal."

Louis felt the same way after watching it.

Shafier served as general manager of three teams before taking the Miami job.

They are the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks and New Jersey Nets.

It may be related to the strength of his team. The draft picks he is responsible for do not have the top five picks.Therefore, it is impossible to see what his vision is.

The transactions he made were basically small fights.

Use your own leftovers to exchange other people's leftovers.

There are no bright spots in the signing, and the signings are all small roles that can't affect the overall situation.

Remember how I mentioned a long time ago that there are three types of managers in this business.

Stupid, mediocre, smart.

Shafier is a typical mediocre manager. He doesn't make mistakes, but he doesn't have the guts to make big deals.The advantage of this is that you don't have to worry about his brain overdrafting the future of the team.But the disadvantages are also obvious. If he is in charge of a team that is not good or bad, it is difficult to expect the team to improve under his rule.

So he frequently changed jobs. Although he has repeatedly proved that he cannot bring the team back to life, there are still bosses who are willing to give him a chance.

"Elgin, come and make this call."

Louis decided not to call Shafier himself.

"I'm fine, but... where is our bottom line?"

Louis laughed: "As long as they don't draft John Selley, the Knicks' 26th pick in the first round will be theirs."

"No. 26 in the first round? Kind of. Kind of that?"

"Which one?"

"That's it, you insist on me explaining it, right? It's too petty, how could they agree?"

Louis looked at him helplessly: "So, you're going to call them directly, send us our best chips, and ask them not to choose Sely?"

"Isn't that nice?"

"What a hammer! It's a good thing that the adult film industry doesn't have a director like you, otherwise, we fans who love romanticism wouldn't have watched the movie!"

Baylor said helplessly: "Where are you following?"

Louie always has no temper for this kind of brainless pusher who emphasizes "strengthening miracles".

Louis would be very happy if he was his negotiating partner.

Communicating with this kind of person is simple, direct and effortless.

"Let me make an analogy." Louis said obscenely, "Before you do that, don't you want to talk about romance and polish the guns first, so that you can fight a beautiful battle?"

"Is it necessary?"

"Rough, you didn't have any foreplay before you did that?"

"That's right!" Baylor said heartily, "A pure man doesn't need so many routines, just take it off, and you will definitely win a big victory. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have been blackmailed!"

Well, Louis has not heard the story of Baylor being tricked into marrying by the immortal Tiaoxi as his father when he was young for several days.

Louie really can't stand this kind of guy who doesn't pay much attention to foreplay in everything - which is why he has never watched the "Meet and Start in 39 Seconds" series.

"Anyway, just follow the price I said, don't be so direct, understand, control yourself!"

"Fine."

Baylor called, "Hey, Lewis, I'm Elkin, we met a few days ago, do you still have an impression... That's it, I want to talk to you about a business, about the expansion draft in a few days. Oh, yes, yes."

Not to mention, people don't look smart, and they sound like a liar chatting on the phone.

"If you can, can you please tell me, who will you choose from our team on the day of the expansion draft?"

"Dale Ellis? Dude, you can't pick him. Second choice?"

"John Selley. Good choice!"

"What a fart!" Louis almost spat out.

Baylor quickly interrupted: "Uh, Lewis, we are willing to give you some benefits in order to keep John."

"How about the 26th pick in the first round?"

"Uh uh...that's it, that's fine, let's talk."

Baylor hung up the phone and said dissatisfiedly to Louis: "You have been influencing me all the time. If it weren't for you, I would definitely be able to play better!"

"Come on, you, even if we ask for something, you are too humble, we are the defending champions!" Louis said unhappily.

"Isn't I being so humble to give the other party a good impression?"

"Well, you managed to make him feel that our management is a bully. I guess he will talk loudly next time he calls!"

Baylor's face changed, and there was a bit of brilliance in his eyes that made Louis uneasy.

"What did he say at the end?"

Baylor said: "He didn't say anything, he didn't reject me, but he didn't agree, but mentioned you."

"Remember me?"

"Yeah, he said that your performance at the annual meeting a few days ago impressed him deeply, and he wanted to talk to you. Anyway, you are our official general manager. It is indeed suitable for you to discuss this matter. I don't like this kind of passive negotiation. I always take the initiative, just like XX!" Baylor said more and more outrageous, "My favorite is the missionary, let me tell you about this position."

"roll roll roll!"

"Coach Lu, this is my office."

Louie grinned and took a bottle of Coke from Baylor's refrigerator—the vending machines in his office required coins.

"Then I'll get out, you keep sitting, I'll wipe your ass."

"Keep the Coke, Hundan!!"

Louis turned a deaf ear and returned to his office with Shafier's contact information.

Zhao Yuanzheng is working in his office.

In fact, he has his own office, but a lot of his work has to report directly to Louis, so he spends much more time in Louis' office than in his own.

"Coach, this year is the first ever summer with total free agency."

Zhao Yuanzheng said a situation.

Twelve years after the Oscar Robertson case, the NBA entered the era of unrestricted free agency.

Starting from this year, expired players who sign with other teams do not need to compensate the other party.

"So, what's free agency this year?" Louie asked.

"It's true that there are no heavyweight free agents, but some role players are strong, such as Danny Ainge of the Celtics."

Due to the contracts of Bird, Sampson, Thomas, and Lambiel, the Celtics could not keep Angie.

Of course, if they are willing to use the bird rights for Angie, they can force them to stay.

But with Angie's strength, it's not worth it.

Louis smiled: "If we sign Angie, some people in the team may not be happy."

"If Anji was our opponent, all of us would hate him. Once he becomes our teammate, the situation may be different." Zhao Yuanzheng said, "His style of play is very suitable for us, and his style on the court can also be 'seamlessly connected' with us."

Louie is seriously considering the possibility of signing Ainge.

He rarely signs in free agency because the Knicks have had too many draft picks over the past few years.With the advantages of the traverser and the excellent scouting team, Louis rarely wastes draft picks. Therefore, it is enough for him to choose the person he chooses, and he does not care about who appears in the free market.

This year's situation is special. When they have no power to fight back, they have to be cut off two pieces of flesh. Two players who have adapted to the team system. For Louis, who likes to play long rotations, adding a veteran who has played under him and has been tested in the playoffs will be more cost-effective than choosing a rookie to practice slowly.

"You're right." Louie nodded, "I'll seriously consider it."

Zhao Yuanzheng left after reporting his work. Louis jumped on the table and lay down regardless of his image, and called the office of the general manager of the Miami Heat.

"Hello, Lewis, I'm Lu from New York." Louis smiled, "We met at the annual meeting not long ago."

"It appears that Elgin has relayed our conversation to you."

"Yes, he said that you didn't explicitly reject him, nor did you explicitly promise him." Louis asked, "Can you give me an answer?"

Shafier was silent for a few seconds, "Coach Lu, if you want us to give up selecting John Selley in the expansion draft, it's not enough to send the 26th pick in the first round."

"Oh, so what do you want?"

"The 26th pick in the first round plus the 11th pick in your hands. Or, give us the seventh pick in the first round alone."

"I like your directness, Lewis, but your request is a bit too much." Louis said with a peaceful mind, "John Sely is just a substitute in our team who averaged less than 15 minutes per game. How could I pay so much for him? If you insist on choosing him, I have no choice but to wish you good luck."

(End of this chapter)