"You want my 2016 first-round pick?" Jake chuckled as he glanced at the name on the caller ID. "Billy, I get your situation, but with the way things are on your end, what do you even have left to trade?"
The caller was none other than Nets GM Billy King, who had a rough hand to play. Under his leadership, the Nets had once been a well-run team, but everything changed when a demanding owner forced the infamous trade with the Celtics. Now, with Brooklyn's "superteam" crumbled, Billy was left to manage the fallout. The only players with any consistent impact were Lopez, averaging 20 points per game, and Thaddeus Young, averaging 14. The rest of the roster was tied up, especially with Joe Johnson's $20 million contract limiting flexibility. Most painfully, the team's future picks were in the Celtics' hands.
Billy sighed, accepting his grim situation. "Look, just tell me who interests you. I'm open to negotiation."
Jake thought for a moment. "What about Thaddeus Young?"
"You have good taste! Thaddeus is the perfect piece for your team. For him, I'll need a few first-round picks," Billy responded eagerly.
"How many?" Jake laughed. "I've only got the Cavs' 2016 pick available. That's all you're getting."
"The Cavs' pick? That won't cut it," Billy grumbled. Cleveland, with its Big Three, was poised for another playoff run, making that pick close to a second-rounder.
"Don't jump to conclusions," Jake continued smoothly. "We've got plenty of young talent. Tell me who catches your eye."
Billy paused, realizing this could work. Without a pick this year, developing a new player would at least provide some momentum. "Then… Devin Booker? LaVine would work, too."
"Wow, straight to the big names, huh?" Jake chuckled. "No chance. Best I can offer is Oubre."
After a moment's thought, Billy nodded. "Alright, throw in a late-season first-rounder to help me pitch it to ownership."
"Fine. Consider it done," Jake replied with a grin.
A few days later, news of the trade hit the league: the Nets sent Thaddeus Young to the Kings, receiving Kelly Oubre, the Cavs' 2016 first-round pick, and a highly protected 2019 second-rounder in return.
Upon hearing the news, Coach Malone couldn't hide his excitement. "Finally, we have some reliable firepower!" he cheered. Though he valued Jake's knack for talent, he was relieved to see a seasoned player coming in. A solid defender and shooter who could play multiple positions was just what a playoff-bound team needed.
"Your form is off!" A voice rang out across the training court, catching Malone's attention. On one side, Chip, the new shooting coach, was working with LaVine.
"You see that slight dip after you catch the ball?" Chip was explaining. "Sure, elite shooters like Ray Allen have that, but he's in a league of his own. You're taking extra time to set your balance, shift your weight, then shoot. By then, the defender's covered those two or three extra steps, and you've lost your open shot."
Chip continued, pointing at LaVine's stance. "Strengthen your hips. This way, you'll be ready to shoot the second you catch the ball, whether you have time to dip or not."
Elsewhere on the court, Chris Finch was running defensive drills with Porter and Richardson. Watching from afar, Malone grinned, realizing just how effective his new assistants were. Chip's reputation as a shooting coach was well known, but Finch was a pleasant surprise—an absolute defensive expert.
Looking around at the hard work on display, Malone had a newfound confidence in Jake's vision. This team, even without Cousins, was ready to compete.