Chapter 46: The Agent Is Finalized! The Draft Lottery Is Out!
As Chen Yan and Durant strolled back to the dorms, a tall white man walked up with a confident stride and extended his hand.
"Chen! I'm Bill Duffy, from BDA Sports Management. We spoke on the phone yesterday."
Although Chen had fielded a flood of calls from agents recently, Bill Duffy stood out. He was part of Team Yao and represented Yao Ming in the U.S.—that alone made him memorable.
Bill Duffy was a heavyweight in the NBA agent world. Beyond Yao, his client roster included All-Stars and rising talents like Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Peja Stojaković, Mike Conley, and Greg Oden.
Chen was genuinely surprised to see him waiting outside the dorm. Talk about dedication.
The early bird gets the worm—and when it came to signing a potential NBA star, even a few hours could make the difference. Chen Yan's name was red-hot, and Duffy clearly didn't want to lose him to a rival agency.
"Hey, great to finally meet you in person," Chen said as they shook hands.
"Kevin, good to see you too! How've you been?" Duffy added, turning to Durant.
Durant nodded politely. The tension in his smile gave away a bit of awkwardness—clearly, he and Duffy weren't tight.
A few months back, Duffy's team had tried to recruit Durant, but Goodwin got to him first.
"It's around dinnertime. How about we sit down and talk over a meal?" Duffy suggested with a friendly grin.
Chen wasn't about to turn that down. At the very least, Duffy deserved a dinner on his tab for the effort.
---
Inside a private dining room…
Duffy didn't waste time.
"Chen, I see massive potential in you—not just your skills and talent, but the market you represent. The Chinese fanbase? It's huge. And unlike Yao, you're a perimeter player. Flashier, more exciting. That gives you an edge when it comes to marketing and appeal."
He leaned forward.
"I can help you unlock that potential. Maximize your value—on the court and off. I want to build you into a global brand, a phenomenon."
Chen nodded as he listened. He had already done his homework on Bill Duffy.
The guy had a strong rep for being professional and ethical. One particular story stood out: in 2003, Duffy's mistake cost Anthony Carter a $4.1 million deal with the Heat. Carter had to sign for just over $1 million with the Spurs. Duffy didn't dodge responsibility—he personally paid Carter the $3 million difference.
That kind of integrity? Rare in the agent world.
Still, Chen didn't plan to rush into anything. Choosing an agent was a major decision. A good one could open doors—and a bad one could ruin careers.
Look at Juwan Howard and Rashard Lewis. Their agents helped them lock down $100+ million deals. Howard even landed the first-ever $100 million contract in NBA history.
On the flip side, there were disasters. Like Duncan's ex-agent, Banks, who scammed him out of over $20 million by funneling investments into companies he secretly controlled.
Chen looked Duffy in the eye.
"So what exactly can you bring to the table?"
Duffy didn't flinch. He reached into his briefcase, pulled out a neatly organized folder, and slid it across the table.
"This here is your blueprint," he said. "Draft preparation, team tryouts, endorsement strategies—it's all laid out. I'll handle your off-court affairs, manage the noise, and free you up to focus 100% on basketball."
He paused.
"I'll also help you with finances. Budget planning, tax strategy, investment advice—everything you need for long-term stability, even after you retire."
Chen blinked. He hadn't even entered the league, and this guy was already talking about retirement planning?
Now that was thorough.
But what impressed Chen the most wasn't the content—it was the timing. They'd only spoken yesterday, and Duffy had already prepared a full proposal. The guy wasn't just interested—he was all in.
Character, sincerity, business acumen—Bill Duffy checked every box.
By the end of the night, Chen didn't sign any papers, but a verbal agreement was locked in.
Bill Duffy typically charges his clients 4% for agent commissions and 15% for endorsement deals. But for Chen Yan, he slashed those numbers in half—just 2% for agent commission and 7% for endorsements.
That's how hot Chen Yan's stock was right now. Too many agents were chasing him like sharks circling blood in the water. For the long game, Bill Duffy was willing to take a short-term hit. Locking down a generational talent like Chen Yan was worth the sacrifice.
"Chen, are you thinking of taking a vacation before the draft, or do you want to jump straight into some elite-level training?" Bill asked, his tone professional but eager. "Let me know—whatever you need, I'll take care of it."
He wasn't bluffing. Bill Duffy was ready to cover all of Chen Yan's expenses during this stretch. To him, it was an investment—and he was betting big on this kid. With a player like Chen, the return was going to be tenfold.
"No problem," Chen smiled, standing up. "Let's stay in touch."
They shook hands once more, and Bill Duffy left the restaurant, his confidence radiating with every step.
As soon as the door shut, Durant turned to Chen with a deadpan expression. "Man... why does your agent feel more legit than mine?"
When Durant signed with Goodwin, all he got was a handshake and some smooth-talking. Not even a one-page plan, let alone the detailed proposal Bill Duffy had just laid out for Chen.
It was all smoke, no substance.
Durant felt like he'd just been hustled.
Chen smirked. "KD, wanna jump ship and join Bill Duffy too?"
"Chen, if you're tryna see me go broke from the breach penalty, just say it." Durant rolled his eyes. "You want me to lose my draws too?"
That sent Chen into a laughing fit. "Hahahaha—man, sometimes you sound like a foreman on a job site!"
---
Over the next month, Chen Yan didn't let up.
With Bill Duffy's help, he hired two NBA-level trainers to drill him hard—focusing entirely on ironing out his weaknesses. Every session was calculated. Every sweat drop was progress.
Chen knew that hard work translated to growth—even if the system only gave him tiny stat boosts, he wasn't wasting the grind.
To prep for the physicality of the league, he bulked up too—going from 88 kg (194 lbs) to 93 kg (205 lbs). He wasn't exactly jacked yet, but it was lean muscle, and enough to handle NBA contact. Any more weight, and he risked losing that elite flexibility.
Off the court, he started getting closer to Taylor Swift.
It wasn't anything dramatic—no flashy public appearances. Both of them were swamped. Chen was focused on the draft; Taylor was locked in on a new album.
Their "relationship" was mostly digital—texts, calls, and the occasional playful exchange on social media. Basically, online pen pals with mutual respect and rising fame.
---
May 23rd — Draft Lottery Day.
The moment had finally arrived.
Chen Yan didn't care much about the teams beyond the top five. No ego—just confidence. There was no shot the NBA execs would let him fall past that.
The fifth pick was revealed first—Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies owner looked like someone had just snatched his lunch. That meant their dreams of landing Chen were basically dead on arrival.
Fourth pick—Seattle SuperSonics.
Third—Boston Celtics.
Second—Portland Trail Blazers.
And then…
The first pick went to the Atlanta Hawks!
Boom. Draft order completely reshuffled.
Chen Yan's rise had flipped everything. The butterfly effect was real.
His March Madness heroics had pushed several teams into full-on tank mode, screwing with the expected standings. The entire draft board had been flipped on its head.
And that meant destinies had shifted—not just for rookies, but for veterans and franchises alike.
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