Bishop of the Devil

As soon as the finals ended, Richard started his trading plan without stopping.

The first thing Richard put on the shelf was not the big horse monkey, but little Thomas.

Richard had to admit that he was not as good at using Thomas as he thought.

Although he knew that Thomas was very strong, in his own hands, Thomas just couldn't exert his due power.

Damascus's rookie contract still has two years left, and it can be used for one more season for the time being. It won't be too late to trade him then.

Damascus is still quite useful. In this playoffs, Damascus performed well and was very efficient on the offensive end. On the defensive end, it is not particularly good, but it is not as bad as a defensive black hole.

…

But when Richard put Thomas on the shelf, there were only a few takers, and not many teams came forward with offers. This was the first time Richard encountered this situation when trading players.

When Richard traded the players he picked in the draft before, there were definitely a lot of responders. How many teams wanted to compete for them.

But this time is obviously an exception.

The reason is that the teams are not fools. Thomas is too short and is naturally a defensive black hole...

With such a natural drawback, each team would weigh the pros and cons and naturally not be too interested.

Think about it under normal circumstances, Thomas Jr. has performed at the MVP level, but in the end he still has to package it with Crowder and the 18-year Nets signing in order to exchange for Irving...

In fact, under normal circumstances, Thomas's start is quite smooth. After joining the Kings in his rookie season, he averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 assists per game in his rookie season. In his second season, he averaged 13.9 points and 4 assists. In his third season, he averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. It’s an astonishing 20.3 points and 6.3 assists!

Counting the entire NBA history, how many players can play 20+6 in the third season? The transaction value will definitely be extremely amazing...

But sorry, the Kings simply sold Thomas at a sky-high price.

With just a $7.2 million trade exception plus the signing rights for the No. 57 pick in 2013, the Suns got Thomas from the Kings, which was almost like giving it away.

You must know that Thomas is 20+6, and he is only worth so much. Thomas, who is currently playing for the Clippers, plays as a substitute and averages 11 points and 5 assists per game. It is surprising that he can be sold at a good price.

It's not that no one came to consult Thomas, but the price they gave made Richard quite dissatisfied.

They only give one second-round pick, and some teams even want the Clippers to use their own 27th-round second-round pick to match Thomas in exchange for their better second-round pick.

Naturally, Richard couldn't agree. This was simply too deceptive.

If it were to be traded like this, Richard wouldn't have made much money by using the second-round pick to select Thomas.

…

In desperation, Richard thought of a team.

This team is naturally the Green Kai team that Stevens is currently coaching...

Others can't use Thomas, so doesn't Stevens also know how to use it? I believe Stevens can see the potential value in Thomas.

After contacting Stevens, Stevens couldn't make up his mind. After all, he still had Danny Ainge on his head.

Anji is the person in charge of this Green Kai team apart from the boss. Any deal must have his nod to have a chance to be concluded.

Richard felt a little pained. Once this matter passed Anji, it would definitely not be that simple.

Originally, Richard didn't need much. He just needed to give him a late first-round pick. Even if the Clippers got a second-round pick, it wouldn't be impossible to consider.

But it is obvious that Anji, the old fox, cannot agree to this matter, and there will definitely be twists and turns in this matter.

Sure enough, Stevens called back and said that Anji was going to come to Los Angeles to have a good chat with Richard about the deal.

Angie is going to come to Los Angeles in person? Richard frowned. This old fox must have no good intentions. He probably has other goals, and most likely he is interested in other players on the Clippers team.

Since it is a transaction, as long as Anji can afford Richard's desired price, then Richard will not be unable to consider making a deal with Anji.

Two days later, Angie took Stevens with him and the two appeared in Richard's office.

The reason why Stevens was brought along was because Anji thought it would be easier to do things with an acquaintance. Richard could not give him face, but could he not give Stevens face?

Everyone knows that Richard and Stevens have been friends for more than ten years.

"Okay, Danny, let's not beat around the bush, let's talk about your purpose? I don't believe you would be kind enough to come see me, an old buddy." Richard said to Danny Ainge with a wry smile.

Anji coughed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. Richard just didn't follow the routine and didn't even go through the greetings.

"I came here this time naturally hoping to finalize the deal for Thomas, but there is a problem right now."

"We are more inclined to buy Al Horford and Thomas at the same time." Ainge said calmly.

Richard was startled. Ainge actually wanted Horford in addition to Thomas? How could he have the confidence to say this?

Under normal circumstances, Horford joining Greencaps was actually Angie's handiwork. It can be seen that Angie really likes a selfless player like Horford.

"Angie, my old buddy, I want Thomas to be easy to talk to, but Al? Are you sure you can afford the price?!" Richard chuckled.

Horford's value is still quite high, even if he is not a newcomer. Now that he has a maximum salary, Green Kai will definitely pay a high price if he wants to get Horford.

Horford, as the regular center of the Western Conference finals team Clippers, is not something that Green Kai can get so easily.

"Listen to our quotation first, Lee." Angie said with a smile.

"We are willing to offer Rajon Rondo, Terry and a first-round pick from the Nets in exchange for Horford and Thomas."

When Richard heard the quotation, he immediately became happy.

"Angie, my old friend, your heart is completely opposite to your name. Everyone says that I am a devil, a devil. I feel that you are more suitable for the nickname of devil..."

"There's nothing wrong with the offer you made. The salaries are equal. If I agree, the deal can proceed smoothly."

"But do you think I might agree?"

"If I guess correctly, Rondo must be having a conflict with your management, right?"

"Terry? How old is he now, fifty?"

"Want to trade a thorny player in your eyes and an old and shameless 188-foot-tall shooting guard for Horford and Thomas?"

"Anji, you are really dark-hearted..." Richard said speechlessly.

Anji's offer was so black-hearted that Richard was speechless. If Anji's offer hadn't included a first-round pick from the Nets, Richard would have kicked Anji out with a broom.

The Nets have successfully won the lottery this season. The previous turbulent transactions did not give the Nets any signs of rising. If Yi Jianlian had not been supporting the team now, the Nets would not have been able to escape the bottom spot in the Eastern Conference even if they did not mess up. Top three positions.

In the lottery that ended before, the pick the Nets drew was the seventh overall pick, which was not high, but it was just enough for Richard.

In this year's draft, except for Oladipo, the other four picks in the top five picks have not become talented. Among them, Bennett, the top pick, is known as the best pick in history.

Therefore, even if the Nets pick is a top-five pick, it doesn't make much difference to Richard.

Unless this Nets pick can reach the top two picks, Richard can select Oladipo...

…

After hearing what Richard said, Stevens felt a little embarrassed sitting next to Angie.

Right now, Green Kai really has no choice. They really didn't think much about introducing Rondo before, thinking that Rondo would fully revitalize the team's offensive and defensive system.

After Rondo joined, there were all kinds of thorns, and he looked like he was the best in the world, and he didn't buy anyone's fault.

Not only was he at loggerheads with the team management, but his teammates were also quite unharmonious.

If no one knows about this, the Greencaps can secretly sell Rondo and let other teams worry about Rondo's thorny problem.

But the problem now is that almost the entire league knows about Rondo's thorns, and with Rondo's current big contract, few teams are willing to take the risk of trading Rondo with Green Kai.

Rondo certainly has the strength, but he has to be able to play a role. Seeing Tian'er's troubles can only be counterproductive.

With no other choice, Anji could only focus on Richard.

If anyone in this league can still control Rondo, it is probably Richard.

Rondo's thorny problem will no longer be a problem here with Richard.