บท 96: Chapter 95: Christmas Eve
The days passed by in a flurry, and the Kings stumbled through a turbulent December. The team had recently switched to a double-shooter system, which made games more exciting but added unpredictability to their offense. If LaVine and Booker were off their game, opponents could quickly gain the upper hand.
"Wasn't there supposed to be a big shift in the league soon? Why is there no news, and it's almost Christmas?" Malone commented as the Kings prepared to face the Knicks on the road. With the Knicks relying solely on Anthony this season (thanks to Jake's earlier maneuvering, Porzingis was out of the picture), Malone was ready to relax, expecting to clock out after three quarters.
So, Malone settled next to Jake. "Got any updates? Any clue on what's going on?"
"Do you think I'm psychic?" Jake muttered, annoyed to be interrupted from his scrolling. He'd been unproductive lately, spending most of his time "waiting for the right moment." As for why he was in New York with the team? Naturally, it was for team support—not to catch a concert using the team's private jet, of course.
"What about the Bulls?" Malone asked, lowering his voice.
"Nothing yet. My contact told me the office politics there have everyone's minds scrambled. They're too tangled up to bother with us," Jake said, glancing around before snatching Tang Zhou's notebook to cover his mouth. One could never be too careful; the league was full of reporters who loved to lip-read.
Malone chuckled. "So who's this 'informant'? Just give me your senior's ID number."
Jake's source wasn't exactly a well-kept secret. Nearly everyone knew that Jim Boylen, first assistant coach of the Bulls, was Jake's senior and Popovich disciple. Malone's guess was right on target.
"Gotta admit, having all those connections pays off," Malone teased. "But are you sure you can get Butler?"
"If I can't pull this off, I'll quit and go back to being an assistant," Jake said, rolling his eyes.
Jake's confidence wasn't unfounded. The Bulls had a history of political infighting dating back to the era of the basketball legend himself. Their latest conflict ignited after Rose's injury, dividing the camp. Thibodeau supported Rose, believing the team should wait for his return. Forman's side, however, wanted to abandon Rose due to his injury risk and build around Butler. Thibodeau lost this struggle, but with Rose's comeback this season, friction reignited—this time between Rose and Butler.
Jake knew the Bulls' internal conflicts would ultimately result in losing both Rose and Butler. "It'll probably be in the next couple of days," he sighed, watching as the game slipped into garbage time. "We can't do anything yet. We'll have to wait until the dust settles before we can swoop in."
The next day, Jake was enjoying a concert from a VIP seat when Peja called.
"Boss, where are you? What's all that noise?"
"Don't worry about it. What's up?" Jake deflected with ease.
"Oh, you'll love this—Bulls just fired Fred Hoiberg! Jim Boylen is now head coach."
Already? Jake hadn't expected the Bulls to act until after Christmas. "Alright, I'll be back tomorrow. Don't make any moves until then."
"Got it. By the way, boss, is Taylor Swift putting on a good show?"
Jake let out a laugh. "Of course it's good. Now stay focused and wait for my call!" He ended the call, smirking.
Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, Peja was savoring the moment. "Boss, I have evidence now. Time to leverage this," he thought, humming a tune as he leaned back in his chair.
After the concert, Jake returned to the hotel, calmed himself, and made a call. The line barely rang before it was answered.
"Little Jake, I knew you'd call today," Jim's familiar laughter greeted him.
"Just heard about your promotion, so I had to congratulate you!" Jake joked, relaxing at the sound of his senior's cheerful tone.
"Now I know that nickname, 'Hyena,' suits you. I bet you're calling about Butler."
"Nothing gets past you." Jake didn't deny it. "I'm interested in Butler. Thought I'd reach out and test the waters."
"If you'd asked a month ago, I would've turned you down. But now, you might actually have a chance," Jim replied. "Management's committed to moving forward without Rose. And Butler… well, he's been pushing for a trade."
"Really?" Jake's excitement grew.
"Bring your team to Chicago in the next couple of days. If it's bound to happen, it'll happen. If Butler's determined to leave, nothing will stop him, and management will definitely be willing to make a deal while they can still get value."
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