"Stop! I get it, thank you, Collins, you're the best general manager in the league!"
Collins' professionalism was admirable, but for a team, especially a championship team, more trades weren't always better. Maintaining roster stability was also extremely important.
Even if some players possessed individual strengths superior to the young players currently on the Celtics' roster, they might not necessarily fit the Celtics' existing core lineup and tactics.
If the chemistry didn't work out, it could backfire and be a thankless effort.
Collins understood these drawbacks, but at this moment, he was more eager to bring about change for the Celtics through trades and his own efforts. Therefore, upon hearing that He Xi Meng was not interested in other teams' players, Collins couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Fortunately, Collins still had at least two cards to play in Diop and Ariza. Although lowering salaries would necessitate including some expiring contracts, reducing their trade value, it should still be enough to make some noise in the league... 138read.com
So, after the meeting, Collins eagerly started calling his contacts, dining, drinking, and discussing trades.
Through Collins' persistent efforts, the Celtics successfully sold Diop and Ariza for a good price.
Diop was successfully snatched up by the Suns. Collins sweetened the deal with the Celtics' 30th pick in the second round, receiving in return the Suns' 21st pick in the first round and the 3rd pick in the second round.
The Suns' 21st pick in the first round was their own, and the 3rd pick in the second round was one they had just acquired from the Hawks.
In addition, the Celtics received two expiring contracts from the Suns intended for waivers, successfully clearing Diop's salary.
With that exchange, they had virtually acquired two draft picks from the Suns for free… the efficiency of this trade was truly remarkable!
Ariza was sent to the Magic by Collins.
In addition to an expiring contract sufficient to offset Ariza's salary, and the Magic's 11th pick in the second round this year, Collins also completed a first-round pick swap with the Magic, exchanging the Celtics' 30th pick in the first round for the Magic's 23rd pick in the first round…
"Damn! Who said Collins became a general manager by sucking up to Jordan? This guy is also a trading genius!"
He Xi Meng couldn't help but applaud Collins' moves.
Collins truly adhered to the principle of leaving no stone unturned when it came to leveraging his advantage, squeezing every bit of value he could!
For other teams, such minor adjustments in pick order might not mean much, but for He Xi Meng, these small changes in order were entirely different!
For example, the Celtics now possessed the 21st and 23rd picks in the first round, which meant: the Celtics could select both Rondo and Lowry…
Although the Celtics didn't need two point guards, with He Xi Meng and Monta Ellis on the team, even "Center Rondo" would likely have to play in the third string if he joined the Celtics.
But on the principle of "why not draft if it's free," it was better for the Celtics to select Lowry and keep him as a sparring partner in the third string, rather than letting him go to another team.
Following that, He Xi Meng's communication with Carter went very smoothly. Far smoother than the Celtics' management had anticipated.
He Xi Meng simply made one phone call to Carter.
"Are you in for a three-peat?"
"Of course!"
"Could you first exercise your player option, and we'll strive for a three-peat together, and then discuss contract renewal? As the league's salary cap increases year by year, delaying your contract by one year, I guarantee your contract amount will only increase, not decrease!"
"I believe you!"
"Thank you, Vince, I wish our cooperation continues to be pleasant in the new season!"
"It's I who should thank you, Xi Meng! Honestly, you didn't need to say all that. If you had just said you needed me to stay, I would have stayed without hesitation to help you! Some things are more important than money…"
After happily concluding his conversation with Carter, He Xi Meng then relayed the good news to Collins, and at the same time, suggested that Collins bring in the following four rookies during this year's draft.
Of course, while it was a suggestion, it was no different from an order.
When it came to selecting rookies, He Xi Meng held the most sway. This had been approved by Jordan and Bird. It was also an additional privilege He Xi Meng had secured when he joined the Celtics.
With the 21st pick in the first round, He Xi Meng instructed Collins to select Rajon Rondo from the University of Kentucky.
With the 23rd pick in the first round, He Xi Meng had Collins snatch Kyle Lowry from Villanova University, preventing the Grizzlies from getting him.
With the 3rd pick in the second round, He Xi Meng had Collins intercept P.J. Tucker from the University of Texas, ahead of the Raptors.
With the 11th pick in the second round, He Xi Meng had Collins snag Paul Millsap from Louisiana Tech University, beating out the Jazz.
Rondo, Lowry, P.J. Tucker, and Millsap – He Xi Meng had essentially secured the four best potential players from the mid to low-round picks of the 2006 draft class for Boston.
If Jordan and Collins didn't create any further complications, regardless of whether He Xi Meng chose to stay in Boston for his next contract, this batch of rookies would ensure that the Celtics had succession for at least the next three years!
The Celtics' 15-man roster was tentatively finalized.
First tier: He Xi Meng, Yao Ming, Carter.
Second tier: Perkins, Tony Allen, Hu Weidong, David Lee, Gerald Green, Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Marcin Gortat.
Third tier: Rondo, Lowry, P.J. Tucker, Millsap.
However, Collins was still not satisfied! He reviewed the Celtics' existing roster repeatedly and identified two areas that were not perfect.
First, the team currently had four point guards, was that too many? Should one be traded?
Second, the team seemed to be lacking a starting small forward. Should they look around the league for a stronger player? Perkins and Monta Ellis still had significant trade value, so finding a new team wouldn't be a problem.
He Xi Meng quickly stopped Collins from further utilizing his trading skills.
After Diop and Ariza departed, the Celtics indeed lacked a good small forward option. He Xi Meng had already reviewed the draft classes of recent years and found no 3-and-D wing players better than Ariza and Diop.
Therefore, what Collins was suggesting, finding a better player through trade, was practically impossible…