The All-Star Game kicked off with an electric jump ball from the Gasol brothers, both starting as centers—an unprecedented sight since Pau's move to Chicago last year. But what started with promise quickly turned into the usual All-Star spectacle: a relentless offensive barrage. Curry and Thompson ignited the show with their signature Splash Brothers magic, followed by Wall's explosive drive for a dunk. Amid the chaos, Jake sat back, scanning the crowd, feeling oddly unnoticed. The owner and his wife were engrossed in the game, occasionally letting out excited cheers when a highlight played out. Perfect, no one's watching me, Jake thought, discreetly pulling out his phone to catch up on the latest news.
To a casual fan, the All-Star Game might seem thrilling. But to anyone who knew basketball, it was anything but. There were no real plays, no defensive strategies—sometimes not even the pretense of defense. It was all for show, and honestly, it was boring. Jake wasn't the only one feeling disconnected. The front-row seats filled with coaches and managers were buzzing, but not about the game. They were already thinking ahead. With the trade deadline only four days away, everyone knew that the real action was happening off the court.
As Jake scrolled through his phone, Vivek's voice snapped him back to reality. "Stop staring at your phone—DeMarcus and CJ are about to sub in." Jake looked up, realizing the first quarter was already half over. The starters, barely breaking a sweat, began to rotate out as DeMarcus Cousins and CJ McCollum took to the court. While waiting for a dead ball to enter, CJ leaned over to Cousins. "Let's run that pick-and-roll we talked about," he whispered with a sly grin. Cousins' eyes gleamed in understanding.
Moments later, CJ brought the ball up the court, while the other players, barely paying attention, stood listlessly in their defensive positions. Cousins set a loose screen, and CJ faked a shot. Lowry, on the other side, lazily stepped up, barely making an effort to contest. Meanwhile, Cousins slipped through the defense and sprinted toward the basket. With no one really paying attention, CJ lobbed the ball into the air, and Cousins slammed it home with a thunderous windmill dunk.
"Nice one!" Jake heard a voice behind him, and he turned to see Ajiali, the boss's daughter, springing to her feet, cheering. Jake smiled but remained focused. Ajiali was beautiful, but their relationship was strictly professional. She was more of a student to him, eager to learn about basketball operations, and he wasn't the type to get involved with his boss's daughter. No, Jake's mind was already elsewhere—on the deals that would unfold in the next four days.
The game ended earlier than usual, as exhibition games often do. With little fouling and few timeouts, the clock ran out swiftly. To no one's surprise, James Harden took home the MVP trophy, basking in the adoration of the crowd. But for Jake, the All-Star weekend was merely a prelude to the real work. His job as a general manager would leave him sleepless over the next few days, juggling calls, negotiations, and strategies.
As the crowd dispersed, Jake spotted a familiar face who interview CJ and Cousins before. "Teacher!" he called, making his way to the broadcasting booth. The seasoned commentator turned around, his face lighting up. "Jake! Come on over!" He quickly waved Jake into the camera's frame.
"Here to support Cousins and CJ?" He asked with a grin.
"Of course! Gotta back my guys," Jake replied, exchanging a few polite words before the live broadcast cut back to the studio. Afterward, he wiped his brow and lowered his voice. "There's a lot of interest in what you're doing, Jake. The folks back home want to talk with you. Thoughts on that?"
Jake knew this moment was coming. His position held influence, and when it came to shaping the future of basketball, his voice mattered. "I'd be happy to discuss things with them," Jake said with a smile, exchanging numbers with him. "But let's talk after the deadline. I've got my hands full for the next few days."
He chuckled knowingly. "Of course, no rush. We'll catch up later."
As Jake left the booth, a calm settled over him. The trades, the deals, the last-minute calls—this was the real game, and Jake was ready for the final push.