After tripartite negotiations, all three teams added some draft picks, and the deal finally took shape.

The Pelicans sent out Gordon and a future second-round pick, receiving Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Harris, and a $10 million trade exception from the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers sent out Joe Harris, a 2016 first-round pick, and a $10 million trade exception, receiving Thaddeus Young and the Nets' 2016 second-round pick.

The Nets sent out Thaddeus Young and Bogdanovic, receiving Gordon, the Cavaliers' 2016 first-round pick, and the Pelicans' future second-round pick.

Because Young's renewal contract with the Nets couldn't be signed until after July 1st, this three-way trade was still just verbal.

But this kind of deal is basically a formality, and there won't be any variables.

Originally, there wasn't much room for change in the Pelicans' roster, but this deal has improved their roster quite a bit.

After the trade, Lausha went downstairs to greet Harrell. When he came back, they could leave the Barclays Center.

Dempsey wasn't idle in the cabin either. He asked Tang Tian about the Summer League again.

This approach made Tang Tian a little helpless. Was Dempsey the general manager, or was he?

However, Tang Tian couldn't let Dempsey down considering his trust.

This year was a standard weak draft year. Even Towns wasn't very solid; his position was only finalized right before the draft.

The remaining players were mostly just Okafor with a big name. Russell and Porzingis weren't highly rated in pre-draft evaluations.

Not to mention the other rookies, those undrafted players basically had no chance to play in the NBA.

But, from among the dwarfs, a general is chosen. Every year, the Summer League is basically for this purpose.

Among these players, Tang Tian was immediately drawn to one name.

Guo Ailun.

NBA drafts include those who sign up to participate, as well as some who are automatically entered when they reach a certain age.

Guo Ailun was in this situation.

Twenty-two years old is the maximum age for players to participate in the draft. Guo Ailun had never actively signed up before, and was automatically entered this season.

Select Guo Ailun to play in the Summer League?

This idea seemed good.

The Pelicans currently have the highest popularity in China. If Guo Ailun could play in the Summer League, it would be a very good business idea.

Moreover, Guo Ailun being able to play in the Summer League in the United States would improve his personal strength, which would also be good for the national team in the future.

But soon, he moved his gaze away from Guo Ailun.

If he did that, it would be selfish, and he would be no different from James.

He finally locked his eyes on another person's name.

Bryn Forbes.

Forbes didn't participate in the Chicago Combine, so many teams didn't have detailed data on him.

But the Pelicans noticed him.

The reason was simple: Forbes holds the Big Ten Conference single-game three-point record (11-16).

Ever since Tang Tian arrived, the Pelicans had been trying to find three-point shooters. It was becoming part of the team's culture.

Besides his excellent shooting, Forbes also has some ball-handling and organizational skills. If he's cultivated as a potential stock, he might be useful in the future.

Tang Tian recommended Forbes to Dempsey, and it was at this moment that Lausha returned.

They packed up and left the Barclays Center.

This draft trip made Tang Tian even more confident about the next season.

With the draft over, the free market was about to open.

However, Tang Tian basically didn't participate. The Pelicans' roster was stable, and the trade had been completed. The rest were just minor adjustments, which Dempsey could handle completely on his own.

He was preparing to take Olsen to the hospital to check the baby's gender.

Because the draft had been delayed for a few days, he was somewhat impatient and nervous.

He agreed with Olsen to go to the hospital the next day.

But that night, he was woken up by a call from Dempsey.

He was in a bad mood. Dempsey was really harassing him regardless of time or place.

However, after Dempsey told him what happened, he didn't have time to be angry.

Because D'Antoni, who was already in hand, had flown away.

D'Antoni and the Pelicans had already reached a signing intention, but the subsequent signing didn't go so smoothly. The two sides had a major disagreement on salary issues.

D'Antoni wanted a 5-year, $25 million contract, but the Pelicans could only offer a 4-year, $16 million contract.

There was disagreement not only on annual salary but also on the length of the contract.

Just as the two sides were in deep negotiations and about to reach 5 years and $20 million, D'Antoni suddenly withdrew.

The reason was simple: the Rockets offered him a 5-year, $25 million contract.

Originally, D'Antoni's market prospects should have been very average after his failed coaching stint with the Lakers last season.

But thanks to Kerr's success next door, team owners all wanted to adopt an offensive coach + defensive assistant coach model, and he suddenly became a hot commodity again.

This time, the cooked duck flew away.

Tang Tian didn't expect this to happen. He had already envisioned how to play the moreyball system, and even the draft trade was for this purpose.

In fact, Dempsey had been preparing that way as well.

No wonder he was so anxious, after all, it happened so suddenly.

"How is Stevens doing with the Celtics?"

Tang Tian asked directly.

Among the remaining coaches, Karl's personality was too strong, Avery Johnson's level was limited, and the most suitable one was Stevens.

Although Stevens didn't have a system like D'Antoni, he understood how to teach according to aptitude like Popovich and Carlisle. He was another suitable candidate.

"They haven't reached an agreement yet either. The two sides also have disagreements on contract renewal salaries."

Dempsey told him about Stevens' situation.

"Okay, I'll go to Boston tomorrow. Tell Mr. Benson about it."

Dempsey quickly nodded in agreement. D'Antoni had already flown away, and Benson would definitely be unhappy tomorrow. He could only bring out Tang Tian to save himself now.

Benson's love for Tang Tian had reached an extreme.

The next day, Tang Tian told Olsen about the situation and postponed the trip to the hospital for a few days.

After making an appointment with Stevens, he boarded a plane to Boston.

"I want to invite you to New Orleans to be the head coach."

Tang Tian went straight to the point when he met Stevens.

Stevens was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

He didn't expect Tang Tian to suddenly run over and say this, after all, he already knew that the Pelicans and D'Antoni had basically reached an agreement.

This was tantamount to him stepping up as a backup.

But after chatting with Tang Tian for two hours, he finally agreed.

Originally, the two had a sense of mutual appreciation, and now that the opportunity was in front of him, he really had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, the Celtics' hesitation on the renewal issue had gradually cooled his heart.

On one side was a cooling heart, and on the other side was an opportunity. For him, the choice wasn't difficult.