"Please take a seat, Mr. Lin, and Miss Amanda Grey. Would you like something to drink?"
In a small booth in the restaurant, sitting opposite Lin Yu and Amanda Gray, was James Dolan. Next to Dolan, there was a middle-aged white man wearing glasses who seemed to be shrewd.
Amanda Gray seemed to know him, Lin Yu was thoughtful.
James Dolan was very enthusiastic and called the waiter. Amanda Gray ordered a cup of coffee and Lin Yu ordered a cup of boiled water.
Then, Dolan laughed and introduced the seemingly shrewd middle-aged white man to Lin Yu.
"This is Downey, Miss Gray should recognize him."
Amanda Gray nodded: "Of course, Mr. Donny Walsh is a well-known NBA manager, but as far as I know, Mr. Walsh is still the general manager of the Pacers at this moment, right?"
This means questioning why the Pacers appeared in the meeting between the two parties.
"Because the season is over, he will leave the Pacers and join us to become the president of operations of the Knicks."
Amanda Gray nodded and stopped talking.
Lin Yu knew that it was his turn to express his opinion.
"What I want to ask is, Mr. Dolan, whether the promise you made previously is still valid."
Lin Yu directly changed the topic back. This question was also the main purpose of his meeting with James Dolan.
"Of course!" James Dolan nodded very firmly. "If you want to replace Isiah now, I will do it immediately."
But he did not mention any other commitments. Lin Yu asked tentatively: "Do you still have the right to participate in rebuilding the team?"
James Dolan shrugged: "Lin, as far as I know, this is the right of the team management. If you want to get involved, you need to ask Downey now. That's why I called him here."
Suddenly, Lin Yu sighed secretly. He knew that the Cavaliers and Isiah Thomas breaking their promise and reaching a direct deal would definitely cause him some trouble.
Now, trouble has appeared.
Donnie Walsh was smiling and seemed easy to talk to, but his shrewd appearance made Lin Yu realize that this guy was not an easy person to deal with.
"I believe in Lin's strength. If he is willing to participate in the team's reconstruction, I am willing to listen to his suggestions."
Downey Walsh's speech at this time sounded like he was supporting Lin Yu, but the degree of reservation in it was still quite heavy.
Just listening to suggestions means that Lin Yu only has the right to speak but not the right to decide.
Lin Yu was helpless. Now that the transaction had become a fait accompli, it would be difficult for him to wrest more power from Donnie Walsh.
There was some silence in the cubicle, he couldn't find help on his own, and he couldn't fight one against five. This meant that if Donnie Walsh's operation was not successful, he would have a failed Knicks career.
But after thinking about it again, Lin Yu thought of an opportunity, that is, in the second half of the season, Donnie Walsh has not yet arrived!
He can take advantage of this time difference to make some things he can decide into facts first, such as replacing Isiah Thomas and replacing the head coach with someone he likes.
"Okay, Mr. Dolan, it is enough to have the right to make suggestions, but before officially joining the Knicks, I hope the team can replace Isiah Thomas."
James Dolan smiled: "Can you give me a reason to replace him now?"
"What?"
Lin Yu felt that he heard wrongly. Do you need a reason to replace Isaiah Thomas? Isn't this what Dolan promised?
"That's it, Lin. I will replace Isiah as promised, but I need a reason, a reasonable and justifiable reason. I can't just throw away the trouble and kill the donkey immediately after Isiah completes a successful transaction."
Bar?"
After Dolan explained this, Lin Yu understood.
"If this is the case, I think Isiah Thomas can step down as head coach first, on the grounds that he is more suitable to serve as the team's general manager full-time."
"A good reason. Then, when we officially announce your joining, we will announce that Isiah will step down as head coach. However, do you have any candidates you can recommend as a successor to the head coach position?"
James Dolan turned to Donnie Walsh: "Donny, can you recommend anyone?"
Donnie Walsh smiled and didn't speak for the time being.
As for the selection of the new head coach, Lin Yu has already thought about it. If he wants to form combat effectiveness as quickly as possible, he must first rectify the discipline issues of the entire Knicks.
The so-called discipline here does not refer to the discipline in the team's locker room, but the discipline on the court.
Therefore, the Knicks need a strong coach.
Next, it is a matter of offense or defense. Lin Yu prefers defense, because if the team can participate in defense as a whole, he only needs to do well in offense.
But if the team cannot defend well, he will have to master both offense and defense. Although he has the ability to integrate offense and defense and lead the team alone, he cannot yet integrate offense and defense.
Therefore, Lin Yu feels that the team needs a defensive head coach with an iron-blooded style who can quickly rectify the team.
Then, there aren't many choices.
"I have four candidates."
Lin Yu had already thought of four candidates. The reason why he thought of so many candidates was because he didn't know whether the other party would be willing to come to the backwater of the Knicks.
"The first is Celtics assistant coach, Tom Thibodeau."
Thibodeau's chain defense is obviously one of the strongest defensive systems in this era. The Bulls' ability to continuously suppress the Heat and achieve the league's first record under the leadership of Derrick Rose relies on Thibodeau's tactical system.
Therefore, the first thing Lin Yu thought of was Xibodu.
"The second is Grizzlies assistant coach Lionel Hollins."
The reason why Lin Yu thought of Hollins was because the Knicks had Zach Randolph. When the two met, maybe Hollins could activate Randolph again like he did in his previous life.
"Then Mark Jackson."
Mark Jackson is now a commentator for ESPN. Lin Yu values him because he later joined the Warriors and brought a terrible Warriors team back to the playoffs. At the same time, he helped the Warriors that later won 73 games to lay down their defense.
Foundation.
It can be said that Mark Jackson is a master at rebuilding a team.
"Finally, 76ers Vice President Larry Brown."
Larry Brown, a veteran coach with the same status as Phil Jackson, is good at coaching defense.
Of the four candidates, James Dolan turned to Donnie Walsh.
"Tom Thibodeau, as far as I know, he doesn't want to coach now. Lionel Hollins can consider joining the team as a transitional head coach. As for Mark Jackson, he is just a commentator.
, and has not proven himself as a head coach."
"In the end, Larry Brown is a great choice. My suggestion is to go with Larry Brown. The only drawback may be: it will be very expensive."
James Dolan shook his head: "There is another drawback. Larry has had a falling out with the team. I'm afraid he won't consider entering the palace for a second time."
"Then let's take Lionel Hollins. Give him a two-and-a-half-year contract. If he's successful, he can renew. If he's not, we don't need to worry."
There’s no need to worry if you don’t carry it well?
Lin Yu suddenly became thoughtful. It seemed that Donnie Walsh had some plan.
He thought about the two-and-a-half-year contract again. After careful calculation, wouldn't it be 10 years after two and a half years?
10 years of free market, big names gathered!
Obviously, even if Lin Yu does not join the Knicks, Donnie Walsh has already formulated a plan to revive the Knicks.
However, the memory of the previous life confirmed that Donnie Walsh's plan, although it was to poach Stoudemire and Anthony, ultimately failed.
In this way, with a few words, Donnie Walsh helped Dolan determine the main candidate for the new coach: Lionel Hollins.
Lin Yu then proposed: "In addition to changing coaches, I also need some transactions to get the teammates I want."
"I don't think there is a need to make a trade at this moment. When the season is over, we will have enough time to rebuild the team."
Donny Walsh stepped in very freely at this time, as if he was no longer the general manager of the Pacers.
But it is completely understandable that he resists the Knicks making a trade at this time, because if the Knicks make a trade at this time, it is likely to affect some of his plans for next season.
James Dolan, however, was not too resistant to the transaction. He waved his hand and asked: "Same, Lin, give me a reason for the transaction."
"I hope to use the second half of the season to hit the playoffs."
"Strike for the playoffs?" It was Donnie Walsh again. "Are you kidding me? Lin, the Knicks are currently at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Going from the bottom to eighth is almost impossible!"
Lin Yu looked at Donnie Walsh with a firm gaze: "Give me the right teammates, and even if we don't make the playoffs, I will ensure that we bring the team to the edge of the playoffs."
"On the edge of the playoffs? What's the use?"
"At least the value of the first-round piece that Isiah Thomas traded to the Cavaliers is not as high, and, in the summer, we will be more attractive to free agents."
"But our plan is just to return to the playoffs next season and in three years to form a fighting force to compete for the championship."
"..."
Lin Yu and Donnie Walsh were arguing, but James Dolan was silent and thinking.
After a moment, he decided.
"Okay, Lin, I will allow you to make some transactions, but I will refuse any large transactions other than yours. We must spend the second half of the season smoothly."
After receiving this promise, Lin Yu smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as there is a chance to trade, get rid of the teammates he doesn't want, and get the teammates he wants, there is always hope for the Knicks in the second half of the season.