After Jake hung up the phone, he cleared his scratchy throat. All this negotiating and strategizing, and I can barely speak, he thought with a smirk. I need a break. Imagining a sunlit beach somewhere in South America, he stood up to pour himself a glass of water. Just then, a knock sounded on his office door.
"Come in!"
The door opened, and Anjali walked in, holding a stack of documents. "Boss, here's the financial report for this month. Once you sign off, I'll forward it to the finance department."
Jake took the report and scanned it quickly. "Why did sales at the stadium stores spike so much?" he asked, spotting the unusual numbers immediately. As GM, Jake prided himself on knowing the ins and outs of team operations, from accounting to psychology.
"There's an explanation in section eight," Anjali replied, leaning over to point it out. "We analyzed it—jersey sales skyrocketed, mostly Booker and Jokic jerseys. Since the Cousins trade, many fans swapped their old jerseys for new ones, showing support for the team's new core."
"Interesting," Jake murmured, turning to the noted section. "Booker is really popular now." Jersey sales could indicate a player's fan appeal, and as a rookie, Booker had quickly won over a dedicated following. His sales were even approaching those of LaVine, who had been a star this past month. Satisfied, Jake signed the report with a quick flourish.
After Anjali left, Malone, who had been waiting quietly on the couch, stood up.
"Any news?" Malone asked, his expression keen.
Jake smirked. "You're more anxious than I am." Relaxed now that it was just the two of them, Jake waved for Malone to sit down, lit a cigarette, and took a leisurely drag. "Trades like this take time. Those old league foxes won't fold so easily."
"Got a target in mind?" Malone asked, eyeing him carefully.
"I only have one target," Jake replied, taking another drag. "Jimmy Butler. He's my top choice."
"Butler?" Malone frowned. "He's good, but his physical game isn't exactly elite. His ceiling might be limited."
"Don't just look at stats," Jake said, gesturing at him. "Look at his mental game."
"Mental game?"
Jake nodded. He opened a folder, pulling out a list of players. "Our biggest problem right now is that we don't have the grit of a real team." He ran through the roster, noting their strengths and weaknesses.
"Rudy's great for steadying the locker room, but he's too laid-back. He doesn't drive the young guys hard enough. CJ's solid as a secondary, but he can't take on the main load. Jokic, well…he's talented, but he's still a kid, not a leader."
"What we need," Jake said, "is someone who'll light a fire under them. Someone who won't settle, who's got that win-at-all-costs mentality. And Butler's that guy."
"Is he really that special?" Malone asked, looking unconvinced.
Jake nodded emphatically. "There's no one else like him. Jimmy Butler's going to be a cornerstone in this league. One day, people will talk about him as the epitome of toughness. He'll make his team a nightmare for their rivals and will become an inspiration for those fighting against the odds. I need a player like that. At any cost."
Malone didn't argue further, recognizing that when Jake was dead set on something, he wasn't easily swayed. After all, Jake's instincts had proven right more often than not. The promotions, trades, all of them had led to positive outcomes. Malone trusted that this decision would be another well-judged move.
"So, any word from the Bulls?" Malone asked.
"They're asking for the moon." Jake's expression soured. "Forman wanted three first-round picks."
"Three?" Malone's eyes widened. "That's absurd!"
"Exactly, which is why I didn't bite. I'm letting him wait," Jake said, gesturing for Malone to relax. "Besides, Phil called to discuss an offer, but they don't have the assets to make it worth my while."
"It's early in the season, anyway," Jake added, leaning back. "I'll keep putting feelers out and bring other teams into the conversation. That'll put the Bulls under pressure."
Malone sighed in relief. "Good call. I was worried you might go in too deep too soon. No need to rush."
Jake gave him a reassuring nod. "I know what I'm doing. Trust me." But he couldn't deny the urgency he felt. Malone didn't know about the championship-level "superteam" Jake envisioned—if he did, he'd probably be just as anxious.
For Jake, Butler wasn't just a player; he was the missing piece. He wanted to build a legacy, and he knew that someone with Butler's unique drive could be a catalyst for greatness.