My absurd experiences in North America over the years

Li Fu's San Francisco office window overlooks the Bay Bridge, a landmark on the West Coast, but he has no interest in appreciating the view.

Several key pieces of information in the team report gave him a headache.

2010年7月8日他购买球队的前夕，管理层通过先签后换从尼克斯交易来了两双机器大卫·李，合同年限为6年8000万美元。

Li Fu couldn't help but rub his temples.

He knew David Lee was an All-Star, but the problem was David Lee's playing style... frankly, it wasn't a good fit for a team that wanted to play fast-paced offense and defense and was centered around the perimeter.

To put it bluntly, it's impossible to build a championship team with David Lee as one of the core players, and he can't be traded before December 15, 2010, meaning Lee Fu had to accept this fact.

Even more troublesome was that in the 2010 NBA Draft, the management selected Ekpe Udoh from Baylor University with the 6th overall pick in the first round.

Li Fu stared at the name for a long time.

Yudu? Who is this guy?

Although his memories of the NBA draft in his previous life weren't exhaustive, he could at least remember some of the first-round picks' names.

Paul George, Gordon Hayward, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins… he remembered them all.

Yudu? He had absolutely no recollection of him.

If a player who was the 6th overall pick in the first round has no presence in his memories of his previous life, then it means he was a complete flop.

Li Fuhe reported the team's current core assets by picking up a pen and writing them down on a blank sheet of paper.

Stephen Curry is definitely not for sale.

David Lee's trading is restricted (untradeable until December 15), but his value needs to be reassessed.

Monta Ellis is confirmed to be a bargaining chip.

Ekpe Udoh must be traded as soon as possible while he can still masquerade as a "promising rookie".

……

He put down his pen and dialed Thompson's number.

"Notify management that there will be a meeting at 10:00 AM tomorrow. This includes General Manager Larry Riley, Head Coach Don Nelson… never mind, he's not feeling well and doesn't need to come; just send his assistant coach."

If things proceed as planned, the Warriors will still reach their peak and win the NBA championship in 2015, but that would be too long ago.

He has to make changes immediately.

The mess left by the team that had been a bottom-feeder for sixteen years was far more troublesome than he had imagined. He had a bunch of overpaid contracts that were difficult to handle, and the only true core player for the future was Curry.

But he remained calm. This is the advantage of having a God's-eye view: he knew who could stay and who had to be sent away.

The next morning at 10 a.m., a group of people sat in the team's meeting room.

General Manager Larry Riley sat on the right side of the conference table, looking somewhat reserved.

This veteran, who has worked for the Warriors for over a decade, is clearly not yet used to the new boss.

Assistant coach Mike Malone sat next to him, in place of the aging Don Nelson, who had strained relations with management.

"I called everyone here today to hear your thoughts on the team's current situation. The free agency market is almost over, and the draft is over too. What assets do we have that we can use, and what adjustments do we need to make?"

Li Fu got straight to the point.

Riley cleared his throat. "We just acquired David Lee through a sign-and-trade, which is a huge boost..."

"I know," Li Fu immediately interrupted him, "David Lee is an excellent player, but have you considered his compatibility with Curry?"

Riley paused for a moment; he clearly hadn't considered this question.

During the Cohan era, the management always prioritized acquiring stars, regardless of compatibility. Otherwise, how could the team's record be so bad?

Mike Malone analyzed from a professional perspective, "Mr. Lee, Curry is a point guard, skilled in pick-and-rolls and outside shooting, while Lee has low-post scoring ability and a mid-range shot. Theoretically, the two could run a pick-and-roll..."

Strictly speaking, Li Fu wasn't trying to discuss David Lee's tactics. He put it more bluntly: "If we build the team around Curry, how should we position Ellis?"

The meeting room fell silent instantly; they realized the new owner wanted to trade their key player.

Riley hesitated before saying, "Ellis is our leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points per game..."

"I know he can score a lot, but he's not a championship player. We need to promote Stephen Curry," Li Fu said calmly but firmly. "Try to build a team around Curry and trade Ellis for suitable assets."

He knew Ellis's playing style all too well: high shot attempts, low efficiency, unreliable in crucial moments, and lacking the qualities to win.

No one responded; it was all too sudden.

"Let me put it this way, the backcourt duo of Ellis and Curry is destined to go nowhere. Both of them are small guards who need the ball in their hands, and their backcourt defense is simply disastrous. If we want to win, we have to choose between the two, and my choice is Stephen Curry."

Li Fu used basketball-related rhetoric to try to persuade the management present.

"So you mean...trade Ellis?" Riley's voice was a little tense.

During the Cohan era, Ellis was the face of the team and the Warriors' most beloved player. Trading him meant a complete rebuild.

"Yes, if we want to win the championship, a trade is imperative," Li Fu answered crisply. "While Ellis's value is still high, we can use him to acquire a player who is truly a good fit for this team."

He then listed the types of trade targets: defensive wing players, preferably playmakers and defenders who don't need a lot of ball possession.

At this point, the transaction was indeed at the peak of Ellis's value, and theoretically, it was feasible to exchange for the targets he listed.

No one objected, or rather, they knew that objections would be futile.

Li Fu then raised a question about rookie Ekpe Udoh: "How was Udoh's performance in the Summer League?"

Malone shook his head. "He injured his wrist at training camp and missed the Summer League. He's still recovering."

Li Fu remained expressionless. It was great that he hadn't played in the Summer League, which meant he hadn't been exposed yet.

"Put Ekpe Udoh on the trade list too, while he still has the 'promising rookie' label, and see what you can get in return. I heard that the Pacers' 10th overall pick, Paul George, played well in the Summer League, so he might be a target worth watching."

Riley paused for a moment, "Trade Udoh for George? George was just drafted 10th overall by the Pacers..."

"So we have to give it a try. Ekpe Udoh is the No. 6 pick," Li Fu said firmly.

Ekpe Udoh was drafted higher than Paul George. In the league's evaluation system, a higher draft position often means greater talent and a higher ceiling.

As for whether it can be fulfilled, who knows without having a third eye?

He now has to seize upon this cognitive bias.

Of course, he only listed Paul George as one of his targets; he would also consider trading Udoh for other valuable young assets.

The meeting lasted for nearly two hours.

He made it clear that Curry was the absolute core player and not for sale, while Ellis was a trade asset, waiting for the best opportunity to make a move to acquire an all-around defensive forward.

Ekpe Udoh must make a trade as soon as possible while he can still be seen as a potential No. 6 pick.

David Lee is temporarily untouchable, but we can observe him. If his playing style is incompatible with the system, we will wait until after December 15th to evaluate whether to trade him.

The management was somewhat resistant to his demands, believing that he, as the owner, was interfering too much in the team's affairs.

Li Fu made it clear that this was a joint decision between him and Cohan, who was the minor boss and president of basketball operations, albeit in a nominal capacity.

He doesn't care about the management's thoughts. If his will cannot be implemented, then what's the point of buying the team?

After finishing his team affairs, he went to the underground parking lot.

Those trivial matters made him feel a little irritable, so he casually ripped off his tie and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt.

"My Li seems to be in a bad mood!"

He had just stepped out of the elevator when a familiar voice came from inside.

Li Fu turned his head and saw Taylor Swift looking at him with a smile.

"When did you arrive?"

He quickly stepped forward, picked up Taylor Swift, and spun her around several times. The feeling of holding her soft, fragrant body in his arms was truly delightful.

The unexpected surprise doubled the joy.

"I just finished recording an album the day before yesterday and wanted to come to California for a beach vacation. Aren't you happy to welcome me?" Taylor Swift wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Of course you're welcome..." Li Fu looked at Thompson.

But that guy disappeared without a trace.

Only Thompson knew his exact location and entire itinerary.

Taylor Swift's sudden appearance here gave him such a big surprise, so theoretically Thompson must have relayed the message.

This guy actually "betrayed" him.

"It was my idea to keep him from telling you," Taylor Swift said, pressing her forehead against his, her breath sweet as orchids. "Haven't seen you for months, have you missed me?"

Li Fu immediately kissed her lips, expressing his feelings through his actions.