Chapter 46: The Great Bird's Heart Stirs

The next day, sports news.

[Player to Watch—He]
With He on the court, there's never a dull moment; he always brings surprises. A goal just 1.8 seconds after tip-off—I swear, this will be a record that can't be broken...

[35 Points: The Rookie Who Outshone McGrady]
Seven appearances, two games with 30+ points, averaging 21.2 per game—is this really a rookie?

Can Joe Dumars still say he has no regrets? Their leading scorer, Hamilton, is only averaging 20.1 points right now...

[Reebok: “I Have Money, but I’m Not a Fool”]
Is anyone still laughing at Reebok for being “dumb and rich”? Don’t underestimate the executives of a major corporation; they’re not as foolish as you think. Signing He Xinghui was an absolute bargain...

[Monster Block on McGrady—He’s Finger Wag, A Tribute to Mutombo]

[Chinese Viewership Soars: Over Ten Million Watching Simultaneously]

[A New Star Is Rising]

...

“Elgin.”

Bird dialed Elgin Baylor’s number.

In fact, Bird had already taken note of He Xinghui right after his game against the Heat. After all, in his first two games, He Xinghui’s stats weren’t dazzling, and all the talk centered on his trash talking. As the godfather of trash talk himself, Bird naturally took a special interest in He Xinghui.

But as He’s performances grew more explosive, Bird began considering the possibility of bringing him to the Pacers. It wasn’t until today, after watching the Clippers face the Rockets, that Bird made up his mind—he was determined to acquire He Xinghui at any cost.

It wasn’t just He’s trash talking that Bird admired; more importantly, he saw superstar potential in him.

If He Xinghui were on any other team, Bird might not have bothered—no other general manager would trade away a future superstar. But this was Elgin Baylor, and with him, anything was possible.

“What’s up, Big Bird?”

Baylor’s tone was filled with unrestrained delight. Who could blame him? The Clippers’ performance was stellar, and they were the talk of the league.

Last year, the Clippers were a sorry team with just 37 wins. But only 25 games into this season, they’d already racked up 15 victories. At this pace, they could reach 50 wins by season’s end.

The players deserved most of the credit, but Elgin Baylor’s maneuvers couldn’t be ignored. It was he who brought in Mobley, Cassell, and He Xinghui over the summer, leading to this turnaround.

At this point, the media considered him a top candidate for 2006’s Executive of the Year. After enduring years of criticism, Baylor finally had his day to shine.

Right now, Elgin Baylor was about ready to shout, “The tides have turned!” Riding high on success—Bird couldn’t help but think he was getting a little too pleased with himself.

“Of course, I’m calling to congratulate you on unearthing such a talent as He,” Bird said.

“Hahaha, Big Bird, you’re not here to make an offer too, are you? I’ll tell you straight—the Grizzlies, Raptors, Jazz, Blazers, and Hawks have all called to ask about him,” Baylor laughed.

Each of these teams had their own reasons. The Grizzlies were doing well, but lacked a star to attract fans. Pau Gasol had the skills but not the charisma of a true star—if he hadn’t later joined the Lakers and benefited from a big market and Kobe’s glow, his fame would have been much less.

To fans, wins and losses matter most. But for the team, it’s all about the money. Pursuing a championship is just a means to profit.

So He Xinghui’s buzz made the Grizzlies covet him. Whether or not he could help their record, he could at least sell tickets.

The Raptors and Hawks had similar plans.

The Blazers and Jazz, on the other hand, saw He Xinghui’s potential and wanted to make him a franchise cornerstone. With time, perhaps they’d challenge for a title.

In short, He Xinghui was the league’s hottest commodity.

“Oh? What have they offered?” Bird asked.

He wasn’t surprised that teams were bidding for He Xinghui. After all, he wasn’t the only one who understood Elgin Baylor—everyone wanted to benefit from his generosity.

“The Grizzlies offered Gasol and would even take on one of our bad contracts. The Hawks said I could pick any player I wanted. The Raptors and Jazz are ready to give up a slew of draft picks. But I’ve turned them all down, because He is not for sale,” Baylor replied with a laugh.

The chance to pick anyone from the Hawks—that was a huge temptation. Too bad none of their players caught his eye, or he might have given in. The Raptors’ and Jazz’s draft picks were appealing too, but Baylor had lost confidence in his drafting skills; if this had happened ten years ago, he would have jumped at the chance.

“No, there’s no such thing as ‘not for sale’ in this league. Elgin, name your price—pick any player from our roster,” Bird said.

Pick anyone?

Elgin Baylor was stunned, even leaping out of his chair.

The Pacers weren’t a pushover like the Hawks; they had a roster full of top-tier talent. After all, in the 2003-04 season, the Pacers were Eastern Conference champions. Even with Artest banned for most of last season, they still won 44 games.

Artest was a complete two-way player, averaging 24.6 last season—on par with Elton Brand, though he only played seven games. This season, Jermaine O’Neal had blossomed, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds, making him one of the league’s top five centers.

As for He Xinghui, considering his defense, he was at best a top-fifteen shooting guard in the league.

In terms of pure ability, Jermaine O’Neal and Artest were much more reliable than the still-untested He Xinghui. No one could guarantee He wouldn’t be a flash in the pan.

“No, no, no—He really isn’t for sale,” Baylor said regretfully, sighing inwardly.

Jermaine O’Neal and Brand pairing up in the frontcourt—they’d dominate the boards. If not for the owner’s refusal, he might have accepted on the spot. But he knew He Xinghui was the owner’s favorite.

“All right, but if you change your mind, you know how to reach me. Believe me, no one will make a more sincere offer,” Bird said, a little surprised by Baylor’s resolve.

He wasn’t sure if Baylor was sincere, bluffing, or wavering. In any case, this first round of probing had ended.

As he hung up, Elgin Baylor was nearly in tears—passing up Jermaine O’Neal and Artest! Missing out on them would cost him sleep tonight.

Maybe he could convince the owner, he thought, unwilling to give up. If he could bring in Jermaine O’Neal and Artest, a championship would be within reach.