After Chen Yilun dialed the number, the low, slightly hoarse voice of Old Colangelo came through the line.
"Mr. Chen, are you looking to move that first-round pick?"
"If the price is right, of course we're willing to talk."
Hearing Chen Yilun's reply, Old Colangelo let out a dry chuckle. "I'm sure you already have an idea of what my offer looks like."
"Naturally."
Chen Yilun nodded.
"My asking price is the Magic's offer—plus an additional first-round pick."
Colangelo gave a cold laugh. "You know that's not realistic. Two firsts and a second for your mid-first-round pick? I don't make losing trades."
"Then how much are you actually willing to offer?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Yilun glanced at the large screen in the room. Adam Silver was already announcing the final lottery selections.
Time was running dangerously short.
The real pressure, however, was on Philadelphia. For Chen Yilun, sealing the deal would be great—but if it fell through, he could just keep the pick himself.
"The 2020 first-round pick, the 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 second-round pick."
Old Colangelo stated his offer without hesitation.
"Hmph."
Chen Yilun snorted.
"You're trying to move up seven spots with just an extra second-rounder? That's a bit wishful, don't you think?"
Without waiting for a response, Chen Yilun made his counter.
"Keep the first two the same. Add a protected 2022 first-round pick, and I'll allow a lottery protection clause."
"That's not realistic, Yilun."
Old Colangelo didn't sound the least bit rushed, even as the clock ticked down. His tone remained calm and steady.
"I can't do two firsts. At most, I'll throw in one more second."
As the two men haggled back and forth, Adam Silver had already stepped back to the podium to announce the 15th pick.
With time slipping away, Old Colangelo's resistance finally began to waver.
"What am I supposed to do with three second-rounders? I couldn't use all that scrap even if I tried."
Chen Yilun gave a faint smile.
"All right, let's meet halfway. You can keep the 2020 second-rounder. I'll take the 2020 and 2022 firsts. The 2022 pick gets top-20 protection in the first year, lottery protection the next, and top-10 protection the third. Deal?"
When Chen Yilun finished, Old Colangelo went quiet, deep in thought.
The deal still looked a little lopsided—but he couldn't deny he was tempted.
The 2020 first-rounder was one he had already planned to move. As for the 2022 pick?
Old Colangelo was confident that by then, he'd have a championship-caliber roster. Once that happened, the pick's trade value would drop anyway. Better to cash it in now.
As an old man with an accounting background, Colangelo had always lived by one rule:
Better one bird in the hand than two in the bush.
And besides—by 2022, he'd be retired. If the deal went south, it wouldn't be his problem anymore.
He finally nodded.
"I can agree to those terms in principle—but I'll need something extra. Throw in that 46th pick, and I'll send over some cash compensation."
Old fox—still squeezing for value even now.
Chen Yilun chuckled coldly.
"Deal."
Just as both sides submitted the trade paperwork, Adam Silver finished announcing the seventeenth pick and stepped off the stage.
A few minutes later, he was back under the lights.
"Before I announce the next name, I have a trade to report."
"The Sacramento Kings have traded their 18th and 46th picks to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Philadelphia's unprotected 2020 first-round pick, a protected 2022 first-round pick, and cash considerations!"
The moment Silver finished, a wave of groans rippled through the arena.
Many of the remaining prospects couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.
The Kings' rookies had been shining so brightly these past two years that Sacramento had become a dream destination for countless college players.
Now, that dream had just vanished.
Ignoring the frustrated hopefuls who had slipped out of the lottery range, Silver continued reading from his card.
"With the 18th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select John Collins from Wake Forest University!"
Collins, who had been fidgeting nervously in his seat, jumped up and waved to the crowd.
"No more Atlanta guillotine."
Chen Yilun crossed his arms, muttering under his breath as he watched the big screen.
Collins was a big man tailor-made for the small-ball era—quick, mobile, and capable of finishing plays and stretching the floor.
The problem was that he later ended up under the shadow of the rising star, the "Mayor of New York," Trae Young.
Young's playstyle demanded that Collins sacrifice his own role, and their eventual friction sealed his fate in Atlanta.
Now, paired with Philadelphia's current lineup, Chen Yilun couldn't quite predict what kind of chemistry they might create.
...
The rest of the picks mostly followed the historical script.
The Raptors took OG Anunoby.
The Nets drafted Utah's Kyle Kuzma, who was later traded to the Lakers.
The Spurs grabbed senior guard Derrick White from Colorado at No. 27.
And the Bulls—who owned the Kings' first-rounder this year via the Butler trade—selected Villanova senior Josh Hart at No. 30.
When Hart's name was called, he let out a long sigh of relief as he watched the live broadcast from home.
He'd been a key starter in college, but he knew his physical profile and age would scare off teams from picking him high.
Landing in the first round at all was already a win.
After reading the final name, Adam Silver bowed and stepped off the stage.
The second round would now be announced by the league's vice president.
Mark Tatum took the podium. He had barely read the first name when he looked up again.
"We have another trade to announce."
Glancing at the submitted paperwork, he read in his steady, composed tone:
"The Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement. The Kings trade this year's 32nd pick in exchange for the Hawks' 41st pick, a future second-round pick, and cash considerations."
Another trade?
As soon as Tatum finished, murmurs spread through the arena.
Originally, the Kings had held a mid–first-rounder, the second pick of the second round, and another mid-second.
But after all of Chen Yilun's wheeling and dealing, Sacramento was now left with just the 41st pick.
What exactly was Chen Yilun planning?
That was the question on everyone's mind.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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