"Hey Michael, remember the advice I gave you a year ago?"
"What advice?"
A year ago, the master of the house was dreaming of becoming the second boss of the Wizards team a year later, and had no memory of what He Xi Meng had said about cooperating with him to bid for a team.
He Xi Meng had no choice but to repeat the proposal from a year ago.
"You step forward, my big financier pays the money, and we cooperate to take over a team! The big financier doesn't manage the team, only collects money from the final profit sharing. All matters concerning the team will be decided by you!"
"Is there really such a big financier?"
Last year, the master of the house thought He Xi Meng was joking. But this year, He Xi Meng brought up the old matter again, and the master of the house was betrayed by Bolin. Even if He Xi Meng wanted to joke, he wouldn't do it at this time.
"Of course! It's absolutely true! Their money is ready, but they can't show up due to their identity! In the entire league, he only fancies you! Not only because of your influence in this league, but also because he believes in your character..."
Although he knew that He Xi Meng's words contained flattery, the master of the house still enjoyed it very much.
"Then arrange for him to see me... Oh, no, I'll go visit him myself..."
"No need to visit! Let me explain in advance, it's not disrespect to you, but the big financier is inconvenient to show up now. When there is a chance in the future, he will definitely invite you to meet him, but not now! Now, as long as you agree to cooperate, the big financier will arrange for someone to discuss the specific details with you! Money is not a problem!"
The master of the house was displeased when he heard that they would not meet.
"A deal of hundreds of millions, and we don't meet. Is it reliable? Is his money clean?" The master of the house always felt a sense of unreality.
"Reliable!" He Xi Meng patted his chest on the phone, "I guarantee it with my reputation! The source of the funds fully complies with the provisions of U.S. law and will absolutely not bring you any unnecessary trouble!"
The master of the house was silent for a few seconds and then asked slowly, "Which team is the big financier targeting?"
He Xi Meng heard this: the master of the house was moved!
"Boston Celtics!
"Phoenix Suns!"
"Cleveland Cavaliers!"
He Xi Meng slowly uttered the names of the three teams.
"According to the intelligence of the big financier, in the recent period, the major owners behind these three teams all have a tendency to consider selling their teams!"
"Of course, if you really don't want to participate in the bidding, we can also consider establishing a new team and joining the league!"
After listening to He Xi Meng's plan, even the master of the house, who had seen many storms, was surprised and said, "Wow! It seems that the big financier behind you was well prepared! Even the owners' intention to sell their teams, such core commercial secrets, are known..."
"Believe me! The big financier never fights a battle unprepared!"
"By the way, what is your relationship with this big financier? It seems you are very close?" The master of the house couldn't help but gossip.
He Xi Meng laughed and replied to the master of the house: "We are indeed very close! So close that we can wear the same pants..."
"Then, after acquiring the team, will you defect and play for this team?"
"Of course! I will do my best to help this team win the championship trophy!"
"You should have said so earlier! Then what's there to discuss! I agree to this cooperation plan! Let your big financier bring the money and the plan, and send someone to connect with me!"
After successfully luring the master of the house onto his pirate ship, He Xi Meng dispatched Cui Tianci as the full representative of the mysterious big financier to Washington to connect with the master of the house.
Cui Tianci had been by He Xi Meng's side since the 1998 World Championship in Greece, serving as He Xi Meng's assistant to help him manage some work and life matters.
However, because He Xi Meng's personal style of doing things was relatively low-key, Cui Tianci, as He Xi Meng's assistant, had no sense of presence.
Only sports reporters who specifically staked out He Xi Meng knew that there was a chubby assistant by He Xi Meng's side to help with miscellaneous matters.
But given the Westerners' tendency to be face-blind to East Asians, they couldn't distinguish that Cui Tianci, the representative of the big financier, was He Xi Meng's assistant Cui Tianci.
In addition, the surname, given name, and physique of Cui Pangzi... easily led American reporters to believe that the mysterious big financier cooperating with the master of the house was from Korea...
He Xi Meng did not expect that Cui Pangzi's name had a misleading function, which was good! Let these reporters continue to misunderstand!
As for the source of funds, at He Xi Meng's reminder, Mickey disguised it through layers of offshore companies, making it completely unrelated to He Xi Meng.
On the surface, these funds came from a private fund registered in the Caribbean Islands called "Basketball Family."
Upon hearing this name, most American media outlets targeted a basketball magazine with the same name!
But after layers of in-depth investigation, it was found that this fund and that magazine were purely coincidentally named, with no relationship whatsoever...
As for the bidding plan and proposal, He Xi Meng was already very skilled after his experiences in his previous life.
Funds in place, plan in place, team in place!
Next, it would depend on the master of the house's adept diplomacy and efforts to help He Xi Meng win one of the three teams: Celtics, Suns, or Cavaliers!
Of course, even if all three teams failed to win the bid, He Xi Meng still had the Bobcats as a backup!
The master of the house should not disappoint He Xi Meng, right?
After handling the off-court arrangements, He Xi Meng shifted his attention back to the game itself.
The arrival of the golden generation in the league in 2003 brought about significant changes in the Eastern and Western Conference structures.
The most obvious was the rapid rise of the Cavaliers, Nuggets, and Heat!
Of course, James, Anthony, and Wade were temporarily unable to interfere with the overall situation.
The power of the league was still controlled by the older generation of stars.
In the West, the Spurs and Lakers formed a dual-superpower pattern!
In the East, the Pistons' Big Four began to challenge the Nets, who had dominated the East for two seasons!
Popovich, in order to pursue the team's first three-peat in history, did not hesitate to persuade the major owner to pay the luxury tax to retain the core lineup from the previous two seasons.
But everyone knew that this was the last season of the strongest Spurs!
Popovich also began to make some preparations for the future of the Spurs.
For example, appropriately reducing He Xi Meng's and Duncan's playing time and shot attempts, giving rookies more training time and opportunities.
For example, Yao Ming took over some of Duncan's vacated playing time and shot attempts, Ginobili took over He Xi Meng's vacated shot attempts, and Parker took over He Xi Meng's vacated playing time...
Popovich began to prepare for the post-He Xi Meng era of the Spurs...