My absurd experiences in North America over the years

The swap of the 6th and 10th picks is relatively rare at the start of a new season.

This is one of the very few cases in NBA history.

George's position overlaps with that of Granger, the team's leader, so theoretically he won't get much playing time in the future. In addition, the Pacers have been misled by a series of moves, making a trade for him a possibility.

Ekpe Udoh is 2.08cm tall with a wingspan of 2.23cm and a standing reach of 2.73cm. These are top-tier defensive talents among power forwards, as evidenced by his average of 2.9 blocks per game in college. Defense is also one of his selling points.

At the same time, his position does not overlap with Granger's, and is even perfectly compatible with him.

Bird invited Udoh to Indiana twice before the draft. If the Warriors hadn't drafted Udoh early, he would most likely have been a 10th pick.

Yes, in the mock draft, Ekpe Udoh being the tenth pick was considered a steal.

Bird's current desire to acquire Udoh through a trade is undoubtedly reasonable, whether viewed from the perspective of the original draft or from the perspective of overall team fit.

He believes that doing so would be more beneficial for the Pacers' future development.

Without a God's-eye view, no one can question Bird's actions; his behavior was extremely professional and logical.

The time Li Fu had been waiting for had finally arrived, but he felt he couldn't agree too readily, otherwise he might give himself away.

He asked Riley to ask for additional chips.

That evening, Riley called the Pacers' general manager's office, his words mild but clear.

"Ekpe Udoh is the Warriors' future core in the paint, and the team's management has high expectations for his long-term development. If the Pacers want this trade, they must include two second-round picks to compensate for the draft position difference between the two rookies."

In early August, Indianapolis was so hot and humid that it felt like the entire Midwest was inside a giant steamer.

Larry Bird sat in his office on the second floor of the Pacers' headquarters, the air conditioning blasting, but his brow remained furrowed.

Two scouting reports were laid out in front of him; the one on the left was for Ekpe Udoh, and the one on the right was for Paul George.

Between the two reports was a sticky note filled with the framework of the transaction, the writing on which he had crossed out and rewritten three or four times.

The assistant had just hung up the phone when the Warriors replied, demanding that the Pacers add two second-round draft picks to compensate for the four-picture gap between Udoh and George.

"Two second rounds?" Bird tapped his hand twice on the table.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the gray-blue skyline outside the window, his mind racing as he calculated the gains and losses of the deal.

He admitted that Udoh had indeed won him over.

这年轻新秀有着2米08的身高，2米23的臂展，站立摸高2米73……这份体测数据摆在任何一个总经理面前都不会无动于衷，尤其是伯德这种强调防守的人。

Before the draft, he had Udoh come to Indiana for two workouts. Each time, Bird became more certain of one thing: the kid might be rough on offense, but he could immediately contribute on defense.

What the Pacers lack in the paint is precisely a young big man who can protect the rim and switch on defense.

As for George, Bird saw George's scouting report on the table in the reflection of the window. He flipped through it, recalling George's performance during the tryout.

That kid's talent is indeed obvious, with excellent height and wingspan, but the problem is that he has a major flaw in ball handling. Whether he can succeed is still unknown, and he may end up being just a quality 3-and-D player (three-point shooting and defense).

More importantly, George and Granger's positions completely overlap and their playing styles are highly similar. Granger is an All-Star small forward who averages nearly 25 points per game and is the core of the Pacers' team.

Whether George can outlast Granger is still an open question.

Between a 10th overall pick whose future is uncertain and who will have to wait three years, and a 6th overall pick who can immediately step in and strengthen the defense, the latter's future is clearly more certain and more in line with the team's long-term future.

Bird looked at the trading framework again.

Although Biedrins has a premium contract, that young man was a double-double center two years ago. Coming to Indiana, a change of environment, and shedding some burdens, he might be able to regain his form.

Meanwhile, the Warriors taking over Dunleavy's expiring contract will free up more than ten million dollars in salary cap space next summer, which is crucial for rebuilding the team.

Therefore, his demand for two additional second-round picks made him feel that the Warriors were pushing their luck.

"I won't accept two rounds," Bird instructed his assistant in a reply to the email. "Tell them that if they don't accept this offer within three days, the trading window will close."

He needs to be firmer and tell the other party that this is the most suitable deal.

For the next three days, Bird appeared to be fine, but he slept much worse than usual.

He told himself that if the Warriors didn't agree, he didn't necessarily have to have the trade. George staying to play as Granger's backup was also an option.

But the image of Udoh wearing a Pacers jersey still kept flashing through his mind.

Ekpe Udoh is the only rookie in this draft class to have two tryouts in Indiana.

To ensure the deal went smoothly, he even had his assistant check on Biedrins' training progress to see if the 24-year-old really had "untapped potential" as the report suggested.

He didn't want to be seen as a fool, but he also didn't want to miss an opportunity to strengthen his interior defense.

The result was that Biedrins was in good condition, but might have some psychological issues.

A day later, the Warriors lowered their trade offer to seek a second-round pick.

A second-round lottery ticket can be purchased with cash.

Bird began to re-evaluate the trade. If the Warriors really wanted George, they should compromise further; if the Warriors didn't want him that much, then he would keep George.

However, another voice was in his mind at the same time: Udoh's defense could immediately affect the Pacers' system. He already had Granger as his ace, so why did he need a young man who was obviously more "rookie"?

Bird, caught between the two, flipped through the two reports on the table again and again.

On the evening of the third day, with less than three hours left before the deadline, the Warriors refused to back down. Perhaps in the eyes of the Warriors' new owner, George was simply not as good as Udoh.

He dialed the phone number in the general manager's office.

"Give the Warriors a reply," he said calmly, "I've agreed to the terms of a second-round pick, but the trade must be officially announced tomorrow."

He needs to finalize this deal as soon as possible, otherwise he'll be consumed by internal strife.

Bird hung up the phone. The daylight outside the window was dimming, and the whole city turned into a blurry gray shadow in the twilight.

A new image flashed through his mind: Hibbert anchoring the paint, Udoh sweeping through the restricted area, Stephenson guarding the perimeter, and Granger also an excellent defender.

The Pacers' defensive system may see a significant improvement next season.

……

Thousands of miles away, the sea breeze in Malibu caresses the smiling face of an Asian man.

When the deal was finalized, Li Fu was lying on a lounge chair by the pool with a half-empty glass of iced lemonade beside him. Taylor Swift was lying under a parasol not far away, wearing a light blue bikini that showed off her long legs.

General Manager Pat Riley promptly sent a text message: "The Pacers have agreed to the trade. An official announcement will be made tomorrow."

He stared at the words for three seconds, then suddenly stood up and threw his phone onto the recliner.

Taylor Swift was humming a melody when she suddenly felt the sun overhead being blocked. She looked up and saw Li Fuzheng walking towards her with a smile, his eyes filled with a rare look of joy.

"What's wrong?" she asked, turning her head to the side.

Li Fu smiled but didn't answer. He bent down, put one arm around her waist and the other under her knees, and picked her up, spinning her around several times.

Taylor Swift instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, first letting out a startled cry, then laughing and patting his shoulder, "Are you crazy?"

"My dynasty team has a crucial piece in its puzzle," Li Fu said, gently kissing her forehead. "The deal is done. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll cook it for you myself."

He was in a great mood. With Curry and Paul George on the roster, and Thompson next year, their dominance was assured.