"See anything yet?"
Chen Yilun stood on the second-floor bleachers, watching Villanova's game below.
"Not much. Just an ordinary game."
Tang Zhou had been watching for a while but couldn't find anything special. "That red-haired white kid—what's his name again? DiVincenzo, right? Looks decent, but I'm not sure if he can handle NBA-level physicality."
"And that Bridges guy you've got your eye on—his build's solid, speed's good, and his defensive instincts look fine too. Feels like he's got the potential to be a quality defensive ace."
"That's all?"
Chen Yilun looked at him, clearly unimpressed.
"If that's all we're judging by, we might as well just grab the tape. Remember this—focusing only on physical tools and potential? That's what third-rate scouts do."
He motioned for Tang Zhou to keep watching the court.
"Do you know why we came here in person? Not just to connect with Jay Wright, but to feel Villanova's unique spirit for ourselves."
"Can you sense what makes this team special?"
Under Chen Yilun's guidance, Tang Zhou began to think it over.
"Their tactics seem simple, but they just keep scoring."
"Do you know why?"
Seeing that the young man still hadn't caught on, Chen Yilun prompted him again.
"Watch how they generate power from their legs—it's faster than most players. A quick first step gives you half the advantage. As long as they keep that mobility, even simple plays have a high success rate!"
"That good?!"
Tang Zhou's eyes went wide, like he'd just stumbled on a secret martial arts technique.
"Can we learn it?"
"Learn what?!"
Chen Yilun chuckled. "You've been reading too many novels. There's no hidden technique. Most players can use that kind of leg drive, but it eats up too much energy, so few people stick with it. It's not efficient."
"These little tricks only work in college ball. Any NBA team could blow them out without breaking a sweat."
"Then what's the point of watching this?"
"You stubborn mule," Chen Yilun sighed, trying to be patient. "This shows that Villanova players—whatever their other strengths—start out with better conditioning than most."
"This school produces iron men."
Hearing that, Tang Zhou finally got it.
"So that's it! Meaning, during the draft, if a team values durability, Villanova players should be a priority!"
"Exactly. Now you're talking sense."
Chen Yilun nodded, satisfied.
His not-so-bright apprentice was the kind who might miss small things but grasp the big picture. That was why Chen Yilun bothered to mentor him.
"Honestly, coming for Bridges was just an excuse."
Chen Yilun said it casually.
"The real reason we're here is to build a relationship with that legendary coach. Making friends with these old scholars can pay off in ways you can't imagine."
"So that's how it is!"
Tang Zhou nodded earnestly, feeling moved. No wonder Chen Yilun had brought only him this time—it wasn't just a trip, it was a quiet way of helping him build connections and step into the inner circle.
"Keep an eye on Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo too."
Chen Yilun gestured for Tang Zhou to write their names down.
"These guys probably won't cost much. If we plan ahead, we might grab a few solid, affordable players."
"What about Bridges?"
"Forget him for now."
Chen Yilun straightened his jacket.
"If even you can see his potential, the rest of the league definitely can. Bridges is just our smokescreen—let them fight over him while we scoop up the bargains."
"Got it!"
Tang Zhou quickly noted everything down. "So, Sir, where to next?"
"Next stop... maybe home first. How's Oden's extension going?"
Chen Yilun paused, suddenly remembering he still had a few pending contracts.
It wasn't laziness—since becoming team president, he'd been intentionally leaving the small stuff to Divac, while focusing on the team's long-term strategy.
"Oden's talks are going smoothly," Tang Zhou replied after a moment's thought. "We had a meeting a couple of days ago. It's basically settled. Next year, we'll pick up his team option, use one more cheap year to chase the title, then re-sign him."
"I heard the new deal's four years, thirty-five million."
"That cheap?!"
Chen Yilun's eyes widened.
After a summer filled with bloated multi-million deals, Oden's contract sounded like pocket change.
"He's probably doing it to repay our faith in him. He knows without us, he wouldn't be back in the NBA."
At that, Tang Zhou leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.
"Sir, come on, tell me the truth—did you do it?"
"Do what?"
Chen Yilun looked genuinely puzzled.
"Don't play dumb. Everyone's saying you pulled some kind of miracle to get Oden healthy again! During negotiations, he was dead set on staying, even slashing his salary. If the league wouldn't have investigated, he'd have signed for the minimum!"
It wasn't even an exaggeration—Oden was now terrified of leaving the Kings. Without whatever miracle he believed in, he feared he'd go right back to his bad legs.
"Miracle, my ass! And you believe that nonsense? My family's been proper and grounded for generations—you're trying to make me sound like some kind of sorcerer?"
Of course, Chen Yilun would never admit Oden's recovery had anything to do with him.
Just then, his phone rang, interrupting the conversation.
"He's calling me?"
Chen Yilun glanced at the screen, surprised, then smiled and answered.
"Yilun, that's not very nice of you," came a voice in a thick Pennsylvania accent.
"You came all the way out here and skipped my place for Villanova, huh? Get over here—I've found some great prospects this year. Call me when you're close, dinner's on me."
"Yes, yes, I'll be right there."
Chen Yilun smiled as he hung up, though his tone carried clear respect.
"Who was that, Sir?" Tang Zhou asked curiously.
"John Calipari."
Chen Yilun stood up. "Pack up—we're flying to Kentucky. Be polite when we get there.
This man's a big deal. Technically, I owe him the respect of a teacher.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser