After losing to the Lakers, the Phoenix Suns lost again in a back-to-back game, this time to the King.
It was understandable.
The King were really strong this season, leading many in the media to exclaim that they had the look of a championship team.
Most importantly, it was a back-to-back, and a home-and-away one at that.
The constant travel was especially hard on veterans like Olajuwon.
Secondly, they were missing their assist king, after all.
J Kidd might look like he couldn’t shoot, but he still averaged over ten points a game. He was also incredibly well-rounded, capable of playmaking and defending, which was a huge help to the team.
These two losses dropped the Phoenix Suns back to fifth in the West.
It was a testament to just how fierce the competition was in the West.
And Brian’s earlier talk about seeking a trade to try and get the number one draft pick was clearly not just a joke.
During practice the next day, Brian came to the court and stood watching with Chen Yu.
"By the way, Chen," Brian asked out of the blue, "has Clifford been using that stuff again?"
Chen Yu paused for a moment, then shook his head and turned to look at Brian.
Chen Yu had just noticed that Brian’s gaze seemed to be fixed on Robinson.
And for him to suddenly ask a question like that at this moment... ’Could it be...?’
"You’re not planning to trade him, are you?" Chen Yu asked in a low voice after glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
First-round picks from that era weren’t so easy to trade for. This was especially true for weaker teams that were counting on the draft to turn their fortunes around. Who would be willing to give one up without getting a quality player in return?
Brian crossed his arms, his cold gaze sweeping over all the players on the practice court.
Within the team, Chen Yu’s position was a bit special.
The two had always had a great relationship, and Brian was willing to talk to Chen Yu about many things—not necessarily for consultation, but just to chat.
"I’ve thought it over carefully. We don’t have good trade assets," Brian said in a low voice.
J Kidd and Hardaway were the team’s cornerstones; they certainly couldn’t be traded.
Marion’s talent was astounding, the biggest gain from the draft in recent years. He definitely couldn’t be traded away either.
As for Olajuwon and Ewing, they didn’t have much trade value.
And then there was Gugliotta. With a contract that big, who would dare take him?
When all was said and done, the only one left was Robinson, Uncle Cliff.
A former Sixth Man of the Year, an All-Star, and a member of the All-Defensive Second Team.
Although he was a bit older, he was incredibly healthy, had never suffered a major injury in his career, and had never missed a game. Last season, he could still put up well-rounded stats of 16.4 points and 4.1 rebounds.
He was a stretch as a second option, but he was a more than qualified third option.
"Besides, his salary of 8.4 million for next year is too high," Brian said gravely.
Paying luxury tax, having salaries held in the three-party escrow, players complaining, team expenses rising—Brian really wanted to lower the payroll.
And the most important reason was one Brian had actually already mentioned.
Robinson had smoked weed. Although he had quit now, that kind of thing is never a one-time issue. It was a hidden risk.
After hearing Brian’s analysis, Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Then wouldn’t we be left with no one to play the four spot?"
"We still have Tom, don’t we?" Brian said with a smile.
Gugliotta’s playstyle was similar to Robinson’s; he also liked to shoot from the outside, so their positions already overlapped somewhat.
At this point, Brian smiled again. "Chen, honestly, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even considered trading Clifford."
Last season, they were truly stuck with Gugliotta.
But after Chen Yu operated on him over the summer, Gugliotta’s form had returned. He could run and jump again, played well with the second unit, and was putting up 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in an average of 17 minutes per game.
If he were a starter, his stats might not double, but getting 10 and 7 should be no problem.
In that case, his contract would have value again, and he could replace Robinson as a competent starter.
He had originally been out of Brian’s plans, a negative asset, but thanks to Chen Yu’s magic touch, he had become a positive asset again. This was the fundamental reason Brian dared to trade Robinson.
A trade is a trade, but you can’t make one that just tears the team apart.
This season, the main goal was still to contend for the championship; everything else had to take a backseat.
Chen Yu understood. He patted Brian’s shoulder and said, "Brian, have you ever noticed that you have a strong gambling streak in your personality? Have you ever thought about why you developed this trait?"
There really weren’t many general managers who would dare to trade a starting player when the team was doing well.
And looking at Brian’s moves during his years as GM—giving Gugliotta that huge contract, going all out to acquire Hardaway—it was just as he’d been told: he had a strong gambling nature.
Analyzing it from a psychological perspective, this was a man with strong execution ability who desperately craved success.
So, what had forged a personality like Brian’s?
Chen Yu thought it might have something to do with his overbearing father.
Brian rolled his eyes. "Chen, you’re doing psychoanalysis, and now you’re analyzing me? Don’t talk nonsense, I’m perfectly mentally healthy."
Chen Yu smiled and didn’t press the matter.
"Anyway, you’re the general manager. You should discuss it with Scott. As long as he doesn’t have any objections, it’s fine." ’It’s not like he needs to consult me on this.’
"Oh, right."
Chen Yu remembered something else. "About Yao, I asked around for you. He already has an agent, Bill Duffy. Do you know him? If you want to sign him, you should talk to his agent."
Chen Yu didn’t have many friends in China. After thinking it over, the only one was Xia Song, with whom he had exchanged contact information before.
Besides, Chen Yu had first heard about Yao Ming from Xia Song, so the two of them should know each other.
He contacted him and asked, and it turned out they did know each other—and were old friends, at that.
"Who?"
Brian frowned and thought hard for a moment before remembering. "The ’98 draft... I think he was the agent for that number one pick, Olowokandi, but he’s not very famous. So, he already has an agent."
In NBA circles, Bill Duffy was clearly a Little Calami.
Chen Yu nodded. Xia Song obviously knew more about the situation.
It turned out that as early as last summer, Yao Ming had planned to enter the draft, but his team wouldn’t let him go.
The reason was that last year, David Falcao had also taken an interest in Yao Ming and wanted to sign him.
But Bill Duffy had already beaten him to the punch, so Yao Ming issued a public statement turning Falcao down.
This was Falcao, a man who called the shots in the NBA and even dared to challenge Stern.
So, because of that announcement, Falcao was very unhappy and just gave up on him.
It wasn’t a big deal that he gave up. The trouble was, Falcao had been introduced to Yao Ming by Li Yaoming, the owner of Yao Ming’s team at the time.
With Yao Ming rejecting Falcao so directly, Li Yaoming was also displeased and blocked Yao Ming with the "three appropriate conditions."
Otherwise, Yao Ming might have entered the draft last summer.
Brian interjected, "So if he had chosen Falcao as his agent and entered the draft last year, wouldn’t he have been picked number one?"
If he had picked Falcao, the team would have released him, and he would have smoothly entered the draft.
Most importantly, the Wizards had the number one pick last year. With the relationship between Falcao and Jordan, he would have definitely urged Jordan to choose Yao Ming.
"And the fact that Falcao took an interest in him says even more about his talent," Brian added.
Brian didn’t like Falcao as a person either.
Nobody liked him. Who could like a guy who dared to push aside all the teams to create his own little league?
But Brian had to admit, Falcao’s abilities were truly formidable.
When he wanted to get something done, he really could get it done.
"He picked the wrong agent."
Compared to Falcao, Bill Duffy was a nobody.
"Alright, I’ll have someone get in touch with him." Brian nodded, then looked at Chen Yu. "Chen, once we make contact, will you have time? You could come with me to China to meet him. You’re of Chinese descent, after all, so you should be able to talk with him, and you can also help me evaluate his physical condition."
Chen Yu nodded.
To be honest, Chen Yu also quite wanted to visit China.
He wanted to exchange ideas with doctors in China; after all, Traditional Chinese Medicine originated there.
The matter of trading Robinson hadn’t been made public yet.
However, Chen Yu could sense that things were already in motion.
Because Robinson’s playing time was increasing, and his tactical importance to the team was growing.
Skiles would deliberately arrange some plays to get him the ball and create shooting opportunities for him.
Even Nelson had noticed. Once, while they were watching a game and chatting, he quietly asked Chen Yu if Brian was planning to trade Robinson.
Chen Yu didn’t hide it.
It was obvious. They were padding Robinson’s stats as much as possible without affecting the team’s record, so they could sell him for a good price.
He just didn’t know which team would be the buyer.
Moreover, teams that were purposefully tanking, like the Bulls and the Warriors, would definitely not trade their first-round picks.
It was also the middle of the season, with more than half of it still to go. There was no way to tell which teams would end up in the lottery.
All they could do was analyze as best they could, and then gamble.
That’s why Chen Yu had said Brian had a huge gambling streak. It really was a gamble on a few percentage points, like the odds of winning the lottery.
Even Robinson himself had figured it out.
He had been in the league for so many years; he was a truly wily veteran who had seen it all.
During one of their mental counseling sessions, Robinson brought up the topic himself.
"So what are your own thoughts on it?" Chen Yu asked in return.
"I don’t care," Robinson said with a seemingly indifferent shrug, but Chen Yu noticed a hint of sadness in his eyes.
With a wry smile, Robinson said, "I just think it’s a bit of a shame. I feel like we have a real shot at the championship this year. If we actually win it, it would feel like a regret not being able to go through the playoffs with the team."
He had been an All-Star, after all. If he had the chance to win a championship, who wouldn’t want to take it?
So the trade itself wasn’t a big deal—he’d be playing ball wherever he went. It was the championship that made Robinson feel regretful.
Chen Yu nodded silently. It seemed that, psychologically, Robinson was able to accept this with composure.
That was good enough.
After a moment of thought, Chen Yu smiled and said, "Don’t worry. If we really do win the championship this year, you’ll still get a Championship Ring."
Players who are traded mid-season are still eligible to receive a Championship Ring.
"Unless you don’t want one," Chen Yu added.
Robinson laughed. "Don’t worry. As long as Brian offers it, I’ll definitely take it."
The trade didn’t take too long to materialize.
With the trade deadline approaching, there were still some teams looking to strengthen their rosters mid-season.
On January 28th, while Chen Yu was at the clinic, he received a text from Brian.
The trade was done.
Robinson would be sent to the Knight.

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