Chapter 188 Back to New Orleans

Back in New Orleans, while spending time with his two sons, Tang Tian continued his second-child pregnancy plan.

Ever since Kobe recently announced the birth of his fourth daughter, Tang Tian had started taking the pregnancy preparation seriously.

He usually reminded Olsen to eat acidic foods like beef, chicken, oranges, grapes, and loach, and to stop trying to conceive three days after ovulation, along with other indescribable things that could be found on Baidu.

One day, while he was picking grapes, an unexpected guest arrived at the manor: Popovich.

Knowing that Tang Tian was preparing for pregnancy at home recently, Popovich brought a basket of fresh Texas beef.

"My cousin has a cattle farm in the countryside, absolutely organic."

The old man was quite particular.

Tang Tian invited Popovich into the living room, asked the servant to freeze the beef, and then poured Popovich a cup of coffee.

"Did something happen with Kawhi again?"

He asked while handing the coffee to Popovich.

He wouldn't visit without a reason. Tang Tian knew that Popovich had been troubled recently, mostly because of Leonard.

"Yes, I've lost contact with Kawhi again."

Popovich nodded and put down the coffee after speaking.

"Didn't you do what I told you before?"

Tang Tian asked.

"No, I did what you said."

"Then how could it become like this?"

Tang Tian was full of doubts.

Even though he had transmigrated, he only knew the general process of many things; he didn't know the details.

If Popovich had done what he said, given Leonard enough respect, and Leonard still chose to have a falling out with the management, then it was Leonard's own problem.

If that was the case, he didn't need to give any more advice.

"I gave him super giant treatment as you said and let him go to New York to find a doctor.

Kawhi contacted me later, but he stayed in New York ever since.

Peter wasn't happy, he thought Kawhi was going too far, and he was very angry."

Popovich continued.

Tang Tian was stunned for a moment.

Peter Holt.

He almost forgot about this Spurs owner.

He was the one who didn't want to keep him back then.

Now it seemed he didn't want Leonard either.

Everyone said that Popovich had the most say in the Spurs, but there was still someone above him.

No matter how much power the head coach had, he was still just an employee. No matter how low Holt's status was among the owners, he was still the employer.

There was an insurmountable gap between the employer and the employee.

"And then?"

Tang Tian asked.

"Peter said that Leonard must return to San Antonio for treatment.

He doesn't trust the medical team that Leonard found himself, just like the Rockets didn't trust T-Mac's own doctor back then."

Popovich's words let Tang Tian know the general reason for the matter.

And this example was also very vivid.

In 2009, McGrady's back injury worsened, and he didn't communicate well with the team, running off to find a doctor himself.

As a result, the well-known "7-minute limit order" appeared later, eventually leading to his trade to New York.

This matter was actually giving Holt a reference.

He felt that he could use this method to threaten or force Leonard to return to San Antonio.

But unfortunately, just as Tang Tian said, Leonard was not a good boy like GDP. He had his own plans and was not afraid of this kind of threat.

So, the two sides lost contact again.

Things seemed to have suddenly become very complicated.

Holt's tough attitude formed a strong conflict with Leonard's personality.

It seemed that Leonard was going to end up in a falling out with the Spurs like he did in history, and eventually be traded.

At the moment he realized this, a plan flashed through Tang Tian's mind: the Pelicans use Siakam as the main body to trade for Leonard.

The Hard-Working Brothers plus former little brother Leonard, this would really make opponents kneel down and call them daddy before the game even started.

But this idea was quickly passed over by him.

On the one hand, the Pelicans couldn't afford the salaries of five people, and on the other hand, he didn't want to fall out with Popovich because of Leonard.

Of course, the most important thing was that it wasn't necessary. The current Pelicans were already invincible enough.

Things didn't seem to be solvable.

Perhaps all Tang Tian could do was help Popovich contact Leonard.

Although that would basically not have much effect.

However, just as he picked up his phone, ready to call Leonard, he suddenly remembered something.

It wasn't whether Leonard would answer his call, but the San Antonio Spurs medical organization incident.

He was a little misled by Popovich's words, thinking that Holt simply wanted Leonard to come back.

"Old man, what do you think of Holt as a person?"

He suddenly changed the subject and asked.

"Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Popovich was very puzzled.

Tang Tian signaled him to continue.

"Peter is a very good businessman, he handles people very well, but he's a bit stingy when it comes to investing in the team.

Of course, it's not just up to him, the Spurs have many small owners.

Other than that, he's sometimes a bit stubborn, but there's nothing else."

Popovich had a good relationship with Tang Tian, and Tang Tian had already left the Spurs, so he spoke the truth.

"I know you've known each other for many years, but I think you may need to make a choice."

Tang Tian nodded and continued.

Popovich looked at Tang Tian, even more puzzled.

"I think Holt insists on Kawhi returning to San Antonio not just because he's angry, it may be related to Methodist Healthcare."

Methodist Healthcare was the Spurs' new medical partner, and Spurs players now went there for diagnosis when they were injured.

"Are you saying that the people at Methodist Healthcare want him to come back?"

Popovich asked.

"Very likely, you know that medical diagnostic reports are very important.

If the local test report and the report given by the doctor in New York are very different, do you think this is a big deal?"

Tang Tian continued.

Popovich was silent.

This was a big deal.

For Methodist Healthcare, if the hospital had a deviation in the diagnostic report, its reputation would suffer and its level would be questioned.

And there was a reason why Tang Tian would say this.

Tang Tian had returned to San Antonio these past few years, and he knew very well what level of hospital Methodist Healthcare, which was now partnering with the Spurs, was.

It was a hospital that San Antonians only gave 3.5 points (out of 5), and was ranked outside the top 200 in the United States.

Especially in sports medicine, the level was even more average.

So there was a real possibility of misdiagnosis in Leonard's injury diagnosis.

"But there's no direct evidence of this."

Popovich said after a long silence.

"That's why I said you may need to make a choice."

Tang Tian looked directly at Popovich, his former mentor.

"Either let things continue to deteriorate, let Kawhi become the next me, and maybe even leave before the contract ends.

Or, pick a new owner for the Spurs."