Chapter 1322 Five Forwards Tactics

Back at the hotel, Li Ba found David Griffin and talked to him about Drummond.

Griffin also agreed, and it was indeed more important to strengthen the third position.

Next, Larry Bird and David Griffin negotiated a deal overnight, a single trade, but the Pacers had to take the unprotected first-round pick in 2013.

On the 28th, Larry Bird called Stern directly.

His idea was to complain and express that forcing Paul George to stay in the Pacers was actually a harm to the Pacers, so that Stern would withdraw the freeze order.

After listening to Larry Bird's complaints, Stern also said that he could consider it and asked: "Who are you going to trade with?"

"Sir, it's the Phoenix Suns." Larry Bird said happily.

"Suns?" Stern was stunned.

He thought about the Suns' lineup, and then traded Paul George to them. Would there be any suspense about the championship this season?

He never wanted to see the Suns sweep the finals opponents again. What he wanted was for the Suns to fight hard for seven games. As for who wins or loses, that was not his consideration. Anyway, he didn't want to see the Suns strengthen.

This is not that he doesn't support Li Ba. One is for balance considerations, and the other is for interests.

Larry Bird was stunned by Stern's rejection. He didn't react until the other party hung up the phone.

"Why?" He was very puzzled.

But soon, he found the reason and understood the reason for Stern's rejection. In desperation, he could only look for the next trading team.

That night, the Suns defeated the Pacers and rushed to Minnesota overnight. They will have a back-to-back game tomorrow, away to challenge the Timberwolves.

Li Ba has received the news that the transaction was rejected, and it doesn't matter. He doesn't have such high requirements for the lineup. The current lineup is already competitive enough.

At noon on the 29th, Kevin Love invited Li Ba to dinner.

"Boss, the Suns have a chance to win the championship again this season, but I haven't played in the playoffs yet." Love looked like he had no desire to live.

Li Ba laughed. Being selected by a weak team is not good. The Timberwolves have not made the playoffs for 8 consecutive seasons.

"This year is your contract year. Let Gao help you. This season, you should perform well, get good data, and strive to get a big contract." He said.

"OK!" Love laughed excitedly.

"The Lakers should be looking to trade Howard. I want to see if I can get you to the Lakers." Li Ba laughed.

"Lakers?" Love nodded excitedly.

After defeating the Timberwolves, the Suns continued their road trip and came to Oklahoma. They will challenge the Thunder on the last day of 2012.

Li Ba has talked to Gao Yuanyuan about arranging Love to the Lakers. Gao Yuanyuan certainly will not object, but she is currently in China and has been pregnant for almost three months. She cannot come to the United States, so she can only leave it to the subordinate agent of the agency to do it.

After settling in the hotel, Li Ba called Kobe and said, "Kobe, how is your relationship with Howard? Some media reported that you had a conflict?"

"..."

Kobe was silent for a while, then said angrily, "I won't hide it from you, Hammer, I do have some conflicts with him, since last season."

"Oh, are you looking for a trade?" Li Ba asked.

"What do you want to say?"

Kobe didn't think the Suns would trade Howard, so he didn't know what he meant.

"I want to know if you will complete the deal this season? If not, I recommend a player to you." Li Ba smiled.

"Who?"

Kobe asked.

"Kevin Love, your teammate in the Olympics." Li Ba said.

"But he...is not tall enough, and his finishing ability in the interior is not good." Kobe was very hesitant.

Li Ba certainly knew Love's weaknesses, because he was not tall enough, only 208 cm, and because he didn't bounce enough, he rarely dunked, had poor finishing ability, and had low air control ability.

Li Ba advised: "Kobe, Love has developed long-range shooting ability. His current three-point shooting rate is five percentage points higher than yours, which reduces his activities in the paint area, so it's okay if his finishing ability is a little worse. Moreover, he has low-post back-to-the-basket skills, strong rebounding ability, and can pull the basket empty, which is good for breakthrough masters like you."

"Can he beat you?" Kobe asked back.

Li Ba was stunned and said in surprise: "Kobe, do you think you can trade for a guy who can compete with me?"

Kobe almost died of anger after hearing this. This damn bastard really wants to pretend to be 13 all the time!

"If you don't want it, I will sell it to James. The Heat traded Gasol and are now in need of an inside player like Kevin Love who can be pulled out." Li Ba smiled.

Kobe frowned. That's right. Although the Heat has traded Millsap, the height of the inside line is not enough.

Don't mention it. When Li Ba and Kobe talked on the phone, Pat Riley was already in contact with the Timberwolves, and he also targeted Kevin Love.

He still wanted to play a five-forward tactic, with James controlling the ball and controlling the ball rights. The other four forwards needed to be able to shoot, break through, pass, make fast breaks, and fight positional battles.

He proposed a trade of Deron Williams for Kevin Love to the Timberwolves, but was rejected.

The Timberwolves knew Love's strength. Now the league still prefers inside players. Although Deron is good, he is not the cornerstone of the team, and Love is the cornerstone of the team.

"Where's Wade?"

Pat Riley gritted his teeth and changed his chips.

"Wade? NO."

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn hesitated but declined.

"David, you have to know that this season is Love's contract year. He won't be willing to stay in a few months because you can't provide him with the playoff opportunities he wants."

Pat Riley started to apply pressure.

"We will match his invitation contract." David Kahn said unmoved.

"If he wants to leave, can you keep him? Look at Paul George now. The Pacers force him to stay, and what will be the result? They are at odds with each other, and sooner or later he will have to leave."

Pat Riley kept up the pressure.

"this?"

This made David Kahn hesitate.

If Kevin Love is traded, the Timberwolves' reconstruction will fail again, and from the Heat's transaction, the Heat cannot provide the Timberwolves with the first-round lottery picks they need, even if Wade and Deron Williams are traded to the Timberwolves. , that's useless, because they have no potential and will become veterans in a few years, when the Timberwolves will have to rebuild again.

He posed this question to Pat Riley and told the other party that if he wanted Kevin Love, he would exchange it for an unprotected first-round pick from a weak team, at least two lottery picks, and not one from next year.