NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 433 Jia Fei's Operational Strategy

The NBA Finals are in full swing, and the Clippers are also making intensive moves.

After signing the Logo Man, Ballmer immediately arranged for Jia Fei to meet with him, essentially confirming that the two would be key figures in the team's offseason operations.

This meeting was more like an authorization ceremony, where Jia Fei and the man with the logo were officially authorized by the boss to make decisions regarding the team's personnel and other aspects.

Logo Man was very respectful and kind to Jia Fei. He explained his own direction for improvement and then listened to Jia Fei's opinion.

Logo Man's reinforcement plan is to upgrade Harris, adding a second ball-handler, or a second star. Additionally, it involves strengthening the wing positions, adding 3-and-D players and a stretch big man, transforming the Clippers into a modern NBA team.

Jia Fei agreed with Logo Man's reinforcement strategy. Considering both the current league situation and his perspective as a time traveler, 3-and-D players and stretch big men are standard features for strong teams. However, winning a championship with a single star is practically impossible these days; against teams with three or even four superstars, one person alone cannot defeat them. Adding a second star is essential.

The Clippers currently have these trade assets: As for players, aside from Jia Fei and Art Mayok, everyone else is available for trade. However, it's clear that low-salary, high-performing players like Beverley and Harrell won't be easily traded unless there's a player they really want to acquire.

The most likely players to be traded are DeAndre Jordan, Tobias Harris, JJ Redick, and rookie Bryce Johnson. All four are role players; two earn over ten million dollars annually, Redick is on the mid-level exception, and Johnson is a rookie. Whether used to balance the trade or for a larger sum, they would be suitable. Furthermore, none of these four have bad contracts and they still have some appeal on the trade market. Combined with draft picks, they could definitely be used to pursue an All-Star player. Especially Bryce Johnson, who hasn't had many opportunities this season; he's a gambler worth a first-round pick.

The Clippers' current draft pick assets consist of all their own first-round picks, the 2018 and 2019 Rockets' first-round picks (from the 58 trade), the 2018 and 2019 Pistons' first-round picks (from the Griffin trade), and several of their own second-round picks.

In comparison, neither the Clippers' nor the Rockets' first-round picks are particularly valuable. Considering their current and future records, their first-round picks are likely to be mid-to-late season picks, and almost certainly not lottery picks. The valuable pick is the Pistons' first-round pick. While the Pistons' record isn't the worst in the Eastern Conference, it's not much better, and they've been hovering on the edge of the playoffs, making it highly likely to be a lottery pick.

Because of an NBA rule that a team cannot go two consecutive seasons without its own first-round pick, the Clippers cannot give up all of their first-round picks. However, the Rockets and Pistons are not subject to this rule, meaning they can use at least five first-round picks this offseason.

With five first-round picks, all unprotected, the Clippers could easily go all-in on the league's biggest names. Of course, many big names don't need that many first-round picks; for example, if a big name is willing to come to Los Angeles and team up with him, the trade cost wouldn't be so high.

Although it was still early June, Jia Fei had already gotten involved in team operations. He, along with Logo Man, Art Mayork, and the team's scouts, went to try out rookies and watch game videos of popular rookies, etc.

2017 was not a strong draft year, but Jia Fei did not plan to trade the team's first-round pick for this season. If a trade were to be made, it would be the 2019 first-round picks from the Rockets and Pistons, because 2018 was a strong draft year.

Jia Fei doesn't plan to trade all his first-round picks because developing his own rookies is crucial for a team's long-term, sustainable development. Four-year rookie contracts for first-round picks are an important way to balance team salaries. Some rookies develop quickly, becoming a clear rookie bonus. Ballmer has money, but nobody's money grows on trees. He feels it's necessary to consider salary issues while maintaining the team's competitiveness. Paying the league's highest luxury tax and getting nothing in return would be too embarrassing.

This year's free agent market features many big-name free agents, such as Curry, 58, Durant, Middleton, Lowry, Gobert, Blake Griffin, and Hayward, but it's clear that most of them won't actually leave their original teams and will re-sign with their current teams.

Jia Fei and the man with the logo shared a similar opinion: teams shouldn't invest too many resources in the center position. Functional centers should be the team's primary choice—either a physically imposing, rim-protecting center who can rebound, or a stretch center. In reality, a center who can meet all the demands of the small-ball era simply doesn't exist.

On the evening of June 6, after a whole day of team matters, Jia Fei ate steak cooked by Art Mayor at Art Mayor's house.

After years of living the life of a recluse, Art Mayork's culinary skills have improved dramatically. He's not like his former teammate Lamb, who only knows how to watch porn. Following Jia Fei, he's now an elite gentleman. Handsome aside, he's definitely rich and powerful. He doesn't have many expenses; he saves his salary and endorsement fees, and his pockets are bulging.

“Art, you don’t know the cost of firewood and rice until you’re in charge. Running a team is really tiring. I think I need to simplify things. I’ll stop doing this basic work and just become a consultant.” Jia Fei lay back on the sofa, looking utterly hopeless.

Art Mayork didn't expect Jia Fei to be so tired. He hadn't seen him this exhausted since the playoffs, which shows that doing something you're not good at is really not an easy thing.

“Jia, let them do some things, you just need to talk!” Art Mayork said, placing the seared steak on the table.

“Yes, that’s right, that’s how it should be.” Jia Fei stood up and walked to the dining table. Art Mayork had already poured the decanted red wine into his glass. Who said Art Mayork was only good at fighting? He just looks like a rough guy on the surface, but he’s a sophisticated single man who knows how to enjoy life.

Just as the two began their dinner, Jia Fei's phone rang. It was his old friend Kemba Walker making a video call.

The call connected, and Kemba Walker, who was watching TV at the time, saw Jia Fei eating steak with Art Mayork and said with a smile, "Art, you're cooking steak for Jia, what about mine?"

Art Mayork shrugged and said, "You have a girlfriend, so have her cook for you!"

Kemba Walker shook his head helplessly: "You're really not a good friend, you're too biased. I'm your good friend too! Everyone here knows my girlfriend can't cook."