Jones was a little skeptical of Tang Tian's excitement, and he couldn't help but remind Tang Tian of the risk of George leaving the team next year.

If George goes to the Lakers after playing for a year, the Nets will really lose all their money.

Tang Tian disagreed, the Thunder could keep George in the previous life, and there was no reason why the Nets couldn't do it.

In other words, even if George stayed with the Thunder not for money but for Westbrook in the previous life, the Nets have Irving, Butler, Booker and Jokic, and then add a George, which is a lineup that can toughen the Warriors, regardless of whether they win the championship or not, George has no reason to leave.

Jones knew that Tang Tian had made up his mind, so he didn't say anything more, and turned around to contact the management of the Pacers.

There have been quite a few offers from the Thunder, with Thunder Oladipo and Sabonis being the most aggressive.

And Jones got what the Pacers wanted: Yi Jianlian and Donovan Mitchell, or PJ Tucker and Markkanen.

The Pacers management is thinking about the same, they don't want to get into a rebuild because of George's departure, but they want to trade in a player with immediate power and potential to continue to be competitive in the East.

Jones is a little angry at the Pacers' asking price, Yi Jianlian is now a high-performance contract in the league, and he even wants Mitchell or Markkanen, which is really too high when there is a high probability that he will leave the team next season.

"We need a face-to-face negotiation." Tang Tian seemed very interested, and directly gave Jones instructions for further negotiations.

After making an appointment, Tang Tian took Jones and Joseph to a meeting with the management of the Pacers in New York.

Quite similar to the Cavaliers, the team's decorated general manager "Big Bird" Bird resigned, and now the team's new general manager, Richard Buchanan, is also a young general manager, and he is joined by the team's president of basketball operations, Pritchard, in addition to his assistants.

After the two sides met each other, Buchanan looked directly at Jones: "The meaning of our meeting this time is that you are ready to accept the plan we proposed earlier?" ”

Yi Jianlian plus Mitchell and Tucker plus Markkanen, in terms of trade value, are worth more than Oladipo and Sabonis on the Thunder's side.

Last season's Thunder were Westbrook's one-man show, with Oladipo and Sabonis playing poorly and risky.

The Nets, by contrast, have much less leverage.

Jones looked at Tang Tian.

Tang Tianlai had greeted Jones before, so he didn't hide it at this time, and said directly: "The previous chips were not the most suitable for both of us, I hope to change my thinking." ”

Pritchard and Buchanan both looked at Tang Tian suspiciously, obviously they didn't expect Tang Tian to say such a thing.

"We hope you will accept JR Smith's contract ......"

"It can't be." Before Tang Tian could finish speaking, Buchanan interrupted Tang Tian.

JR Smith is probably worth seven or eight million a year now, and the extra money in the contract means that he is a garbage contract.

The Nets won't be stupid enough to take over such a garbage contract for Irving, even if the Nets are willing to sell Mitchell or Markkanen.

Tang Tian frowned slightly.

Pritchard knew that it was rude for Buchanan to interrupt others, so he coughed twice and gave Buchanan a look, and then looked at Tang Tian.

"Mr. Tang, theoretically we don't really want to keep George in the East, you know we still want to be competitive in the East and we don't want our opponents to be stronger."

"Just say it." Tang Tian knew that Pritchard wanted to increase the size, and stretched out his hand to signal that he didn't need to go around in circles.

Pritchard nodded and said directly: "If you want us to take over JR Smith's contract, I think you will trade Mitchell and Markkanen to us at the same time." ”

Jones wanted to speak and stopped, and Pritchard really opened his mouth.

"We won't send Mitchell and Markkanen ......" Tang Tian's words made Buchanan a little impulsive again, but Pritchard's look just now made him suppress himself.

"But we'll send Booker."

After Tang Tian finished speaking, Jones's expression was slightly helpless, Tang Tian had already said this before, and his persuasion did not work.

Buchanan's eyes widened suddenly, and Pritchard also thought that he had misheard, and confirmed it to Tang Tian: "Devin Booker? ”

After seeing Tang Tian's affirmative nod, his excited expression couldn't be hidden.

Booker, the scoring guard that the Nets have been cultivating for the past two years, has had a qualitative change in strength last season, with a copy of Thompson at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, and more organizational attributes than Thompson.

Such a player is the kind that can be the cornerstone!

Can the Nets give up Booker for a year of access to George?

Could it be that something is wrong with Booker? Or do the Nets have the confidence to absolutely renew George's contract?

"Nothing else strings attached?" Pritchard couldn't help but confirm it.

Tang Tian shook his head, he also guessed Pritchard's worries, and said directly: "You don't have to worry, Booker doesn't have any problems." ”

Booker is good enough, but if he can get George, then Butler will have to play the No. 2 position, and keeping Booker will mean that Mitchell will not have many opportunities to play.

No matter how talented a player is, he also needs playing time, and if George still keeps Booker, then Mitchell will be selected for nothing.

So it's a trade-off.

Booker or Mitchell, Tang Tian still prefers the competitive Mitchell.

And Booker's contract expires in 2 years, and when the time comes to renew George and Jokic, you have to prepare Butler, Booker and Irving immediately, and the Nets' salary will become very explosive.

Pritchard could see that Tang Tian really wanted to do this, and he also seemed a little excited.

George is now at rock bottom in trade value, and if he can get Booker, it will definitely be a safe profit, even if he has to eat J.R. Smith's contract.

However, he was an old man after all, so he still didn't let this emotion be expressed, and after pondering for a while, he said: "JR Smith's contract is indeed a bit big, and we will have a lot of trouble dealing with it later." ”

"If the deal goes through now, I can add next year's first-round."

Tang Tian's next words directly blocked Pritchard's mouth.

That's all for that, and he has no reason to refuse.

"Well, it's a pleasure to work with."

Pritchard stretched out his hand directly, and Tang Tian also shook hands with him.

This represents the official conclusion of the deal between the two parties.

The Nets' first round next year is likely to be the end of the first round, and what he said so decisively is to avoid the Thunder team adding weight, and there are many nights and dreams, and if something happens, it will be worth the loss.

After the conclusion of the negotiations between the two sides, OJ also reported on it as soon as possible.

The Nets sent Devin Booker and J.R. Smith, as well as a 2018 first-round pick, in a trade for Paul George from the Pacers.