Jake discussed the details with Riley and hung up the phone. "These two picks are enough," Jake thought, feeling satisfied with the deal. Not only did he secure the 10th pick, ensuring a spot in the lottery, but he also obtained the 40th pick, giving him a chance to scout for under-the-radar talent. On top of that, he managed to snag a future first-round pick, even though it was a few years away. With this extra pick, Jake now had a valuable asset for future trade negotiations.
As Jake was about to head back inside, his phone rang again, catching him off guard. "You guys are relentless!" he muttered, answering the call with mild frustration. "Hello? Who is this?"
To his surprise, a somewhat nervous young voice came from the other end, and even more unexpectedly. "Uh... is this Jake? Manager Jake?"
"It's me, who are you?" Jake frowned, a little taken aback.
"My name is Miller. Mr. Harris gave me your number."
Harris? Jake thought for a moment, and then it clicked. "Oh, right! You're the guy Harris mentioned—the one looking for a job in the league, right?"
"Yes, yes! That's me." Miller sounded relieved that Jake recognized him. "I was doing some scouting in Italy, which is why I didn't call sooner. When are you free for an interview? I'm already in Sacramento."
"Wait a second," Jake replied, checking his schedule. "This weekend looks good. I'll give you a time then."
"Okay, I'm already in Sacramento. Just let me know when you're free!" Miller said eagerly.
"You're already here?" Jake was surprised. Glancing at the clock, he changed his mind. "In that case, don't wait until the weekend. How about meeting tomorrow? There's a bar on Fifth Avenue. Be there in an hour."
"Great! I'll head over now!" Miller replied enthusiastically.
Jake grabbed a coat from his bedroom and headed out. As he walked back into the living room, he saw Malone, Divac, and Peja still sitting on the sofa. "Why are you guys still here? If you've got nothing else going on, feel free to hang out. We'll discuss the draft picks at tomorrow's meeting. I've got to head out."
As Jake left the house, Malone raised an eyebrow. "Where's he rushing off to?"
Peja stood up, brushing off his pants. "Who cares? I'm going home to my wife."
At a classic American bar in Sacramento, Jake spotted Miller sitting at the bar, looking bored. It wasn't hard to pick him out—after all, he was the only Asian face in the room.
"Miller, right?" Jake said, taking a seat beside him. The bartender recognized Jake and quickly poured him a glass of beer.
"The first one's on the house," the bartender said with a nod.
Jake raised the glass in acknowledgment and took a sip before turning back to Miller. "Harris told me about your background. You were a free scout before, right?"
"Yeah," Miller nodded. Being a free scout meant he was unpaid by any team, constantly traveling in search of hidden talent. It was a tough and often unrewarding gig.
"Why not work for a sports company? With your education, you could easily land a job as an analyst," Jake suggested.
"I don't want to be stuck behind a desk, crunching data all day. I love basketball and being close to team operations," Miller explained with conviction. "I want to be part of the game, not just analyze it."
Jake nodded in understanding and took another sip of beer. "I promised Harris I'd give you a shot. You seem to have a solid background in tactical analysis. You can start next week, working with Coach Malone as an analyst."
"Thank you, Jake!" Miller exclaimed, hopping off the barstool and bowing in gratitude. "I won't let you down."
"Stop calling me 'you.' I'm not that much older than you," Jake waved him off, smiling. "Just call me Allen, like the rest of the team."
"Got it, Master!" Miller said with wide, innocent eyes.
"Wait—what did you just call me?" Jake stared at him, half-amused.
"Master," Miller said earnestly. "My goal is to be a team leader like you one day. Since you're willing to take me on, doesn't that make you my master?"
Jake chuckled. "With your ability to turn a situation in your favor, maybe you really will make it in this league."
Finishing his beer, Jake left a tip for the bartender and got up to leave. "Alright, I'm swamped for the next few days. Don't call me unless it's urgent."
Miller watched Jake leave, still sitting at the bar, his mind buzzing with excitement about his future. The bartender, curious, leaned in. "So, what's your connection to Jake? He doesn't usually stay out this late just to chat."
Miller grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've got a job! I'm on Jake's team now. My chance has finally come!"