in2ebook Chapter 132 Cai Congxin: I Only Want Wang Xiucheng
Chapter 132 Cai Congxin: I Only Want Wang Xiucheng
Upon seeing Patrick's action, Stone immediately said on the phone, "Mr. Pelinka, Wang Xiucheng is not for sale. This is the boss's decision. Although I would very much like to make a deal with you, I'm sorry, but if you are interested in Porter Jr. and Wood, we can continue our discussion..."
Snapped!
Pelinka rudely hung up the phone.
Just before the call was disconnected, Stone heard Pelinka muttering something like, "Wasting my time."
Stone was completely baffled. What did that mean? Did the Lakers have no interest in anyone other than Wang Xiucheng?
Are you sure you don't want to ask Porter Jr., this potential player?
Patrick then picked up his phone and continued playing.
Patrick's mission here today is not to make a deal.
It's not about avoiding transactions!
Patrick believes that Stone's precious daughter wouldn't be wanted even if you gave her away for free, let alone a first-round pick.
Wood and Gordon are likely worth less than a first-round pick.
To put it bluntly, the Rockets are very likely to miss out on a single trade today.
Unfortunately, Stone is probably the manager with the fewest connections in the entire league, yet he doesn't even realize it.
Besides Wang Xiucheng, the Rockets don't have any other notable players, so Patrick thinks nothing will happen today.
Just then, the phone rang again.
"Manager, Line 3, Buford of the Spurs."
Stone was still reeling from Pelinka's call, so he instinctively answered the phone.
“Hello, Manager Stone,” Buford’s voice came through. “Popovich wants Wang Xiucheng. Name your price.”
Stone suddenly snapped back to reality. Was it Wang Xiucheng again?
Didn't they already say it's not for sale? Why are you still asking?
Even if you ask me again, I can't sell it, otherwise Patrick will tear me apart!
"I'm sorry, Mr. Buford, but please tell Mr. Popovich that Wang Xiucheng is not for sale by the Rockets," Stone said mechanically, taking a breath.
“Here’s my offer,” Buford said without any anger. “The Spurs will give the Rockets four protected first-round picks, plus Dejounte Murray. What do you think?”
Stone was stunned again.
The Spurs' first-round pick is far more valuable than the Lakers'.
All the general managers in the league know that the Spurs have decided to tank, so for the next few years, the Spurs' first-round picks will likely be lottery picks.
As for the matter of "being protected," that is certainly something that can be discussed.
And then there's Dejounte Murray, who's a newly minted All-Star this year.
Averaging a near triple-double is something not everyone can achieve.
From this perspective, the Spurs essentially believe that Wang Xiucheng is worth at least six first-round picks!
It's worth noting that when the Rockets traded Harden, they received four first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps from the Nets.
Looking at it this way, Wang Xiucheng's value doesn't seem to be much lower than Harden's!
Isn't this utter nonsense?
Stone thinks these guys are all crazy!
Wang Xiucheng is very strong, young, has a huge market behind him, a good image, and seems to be in good physical condition.
But to say that 19-year-old Wang Xiucheng is worth about the same as Harden is just utter nonsense!
Stone even wondered if Buford had been bewitched.
Taking a deep breath, and seeing Patrick's intentional or unintentional warning look again, Stone could only say in a polite tone once more, "I'm sorry, Wang Xiucheng really cannot be traded."
Snapped!
The call was rudely ended again by the other party.
Stone's eyebrows were almost furrowed together.
He felt this matter was too big.
If the Rockets could trade Wang Xiucheng for Dejounte Murray, who has performed exceptionally well this year, as well as the Spurs' four first-round picks, then it would definitely be a win for them.
“Why don’t you call your father and ask him?” Stone said to Patrick.
“Sure,” Patrick replied without looking up.
Stone was overjoyed and was about to pick up his phone to call and report Wang Xiucheng's matter when Patrick continued, "But you need to make it clear to him that this is your own idea, and I have already advised you against it."
Upon hearing this, Stone put his phone down again.
Forget it.
Fertitta has said that he listens to Patrick on team matters, and if he were to report to someone else at this point, it would be tantamount to disobeying the boss.
Patrick never looked up; he was constantly scrolling through his phone.
The phone rang again very quickly.
"Manager Line 1, Warriors Miles."
Stone shook his head.
He had already heard from Silas that Cole had been secretly recruiting Wang Xiucheng at the game.
So at this point, Miles's intention in calling was quite clear.
“Mr. Miles, if it’s Wang Xiucheng, then let’s not talk about it. If it’s someone else, then we can talk,” Stone said.
For the first time, Stone felt mentally exhausted.
He's the manager, yet he can't trade the players he wants to trade.
“Dear Mr. Stone, the Warriors are very interested in trading for Wang Xiucheng. We have Kuminga and Wiseman…”
Upon hearing the name Wang Xiucheng, Stone impolitely hung up the phone for the first time.
He gets really annoyed just hearing that name!
He wondered if he was going through menopause.
I had just hung up the phone when it rang again.
And this time it wasn't the team's official landline, but Stone's cell phone that rang.
Stone looked at the phone number, somewhat surprised.
Stone showed the phone number to Patrick, who was sitting next to him, and then answered the call on speakerphone.
"Hello Mr. Stone, I am Tsai Tsung-hsin, the owner of the Nets. You should know me, right?"
Stone's eyes widened when he heard the voice on the phone.
"Hello Mr. Cai, I don't know why you're calling me?"
Stone saw that the phone number belonged to Nets general manager Sean Marks, but he didn't expect it to be Nets owner Tsai Tsung-hsin.
Patrick was also surprised. He put down his phone and listened attentively to their conversation.
Because of the Harden trade, the Rockets and Nets actually have a good relationship.
When Harden was being pressured by Morey to seek a trade, Philadelphia was one of the teams Harden specifically mentioned.
Fertitta could never make a deal with Morey's new owner, regardless of the quality of the offer.
"You know that Harden is seeking a trade, right?" Cai Congxin said with a somewhat helpless voice.
Stone and Patrick exchanged a glance.
Woj and other reporters have already reported on this matter, but it has nothing to do with the Rockets, so everyone in the Rockets organization is just watching with a sense of schadenfreude and waiting for the outcome.
“Yes, Mr. Cai, I know about Harden,” Stone replied, though he didn’t know what this had to do with the Rockets.
Cai Congxin's voice continued to come from the phone: "I know Fertitta doesn't want to trade with the 76ers, but what if I invite the Rockets to join a three-way trade, or even a four-way trade?"
Stone and Patrick exchanged another glance.
"You want Wang Xiucheng?" Stone saw Patrick's eyes and knew what he wanted to ask.
"Yes, I only want Wang Xiucheng. All other first-round picks belong to the Rockets. You can also choose the players who can match salaries."
Without Patrick giving him a look, Stone said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cai, I know you and Wang Xiucheng are from the same hometown in China, but Wang Xiucheng is not for sale by Mr. Fertitta."