"Morant went to the Jazz."
Chen Yilun tilted his head, thinking it over.
If he remembered correctly, the Jazz already had Gobert and Jalen Brunson—and now they'd added Morant on top of that.
"Hiss!"
The realization made Chen Yilun draw in a sharp breath.
"You don't say… you really don't."
It had only been two years since Divac left, and they'd already managed to piece together a core capable of pushing the team back into contention.
Before Chen Yilun could sort out the implications, Adam Silver appeared at the podium once again.
"With the third overall pick in the first round, the Phoenix Suns select RJ Barrett from Duke University."
"So they're finally starting to draft ball-handlers."
Watching the screen, McNair couldn't help but comment.
"The Suns are already loaded inside. This is exactly the time to shore up their on-ball creation."
Last season, the Suns' frontcourt pairing of Ayton and Isaac had played exceptionally well together.
It really was true—put the right person in the right place, and everything changes.
Isaac, who in another timeline would have been plagued by injuries from the moment he entered the league, had miraculously regained his health under the care of the Suns' miracle-working medical staff. Minor knocks still popped up from time to time, but those season-ending injuries were truly gone.
Over the past two seasons, Isaac's availability had been consistently reliable.
"Especially Isaac."
Malone spoke up from the side. "I'm honestly jealous. That kid is incredible."
In the original timeline, Isaac had been known as the "DPOY in 2K."
His physical tools and defensive ceiling were absurd, but constant injuries meant he could never cash in on that potential in real life—only dominating in video games instead.
Now, thanks to the Suns' medical team, what once existed only in fantasy was slowly becoming reality.
"Those two on the Suns—one offense, one defense—they really do make some noise."
Malone watched Barrett smiling on the screen, a trace of caution in his eyes.
That wasn't wrong at all.
Chen Yilun thought about it. The Suns' situation really did have something to it.
Ayton and Isaac went without saying, and Barrett himself wasn't lacking either.
After being traded to the Raptors, Barrett had stepped up once Barnes' form dipped, taking on the team's burden and even giving off the sense that he might replace him outright.
Put those three together, and it was hard to say what kind of strange chemistry might emerge.
Not long after Barrett left the stage, Adam Silver returned yet again.
"With the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Darius Garland from Vanderbilt University!"
After all the twists and turns, the Cavaliers at fourth overall finally welcomed their long-awaited violinist.
"Boss, we're almost up."
Prince leaned in close and whispered, "The league's already sent people over twice. They're asking us to submit our draft card."
"What's the rush?"
Chen Yilun replied without even lifting his head, though the rapid shaking of his right leg betrayed how calm he really wasn't.
"Ring ring ring!"
At that moment, his phone rang abruptly.
It's here.
Chen Yilun glanced at the caller ID and immediately broke into a smile.
"You've got some nerve—waiting until now to call me."
His tone was relaxed as he answered.
"That's because you wouldn't give me any room to negotiate."
A helpless laugh came from the other end. "Fine. We'll go with what you said."
"Good."
As he spoke, Chen Yilun passed an envelope he'd prepared long ago across the table to Prince.
"Submit it."
"Got it!"
Envelope in hand, Prince bolted out of the room.
"Just made it."
Watching him leave, Chen Yilun stretched, his whole body finally relaxing.
In truth, he'd been thinking about how to handle his two lottery picks even before the draft began.
Outsiders saw this draft as one last grand celebration, but Chen Yilun knew better. Among the top prospects this year, there was no true franchise cornerstone.
"Fat Tiger" Zion was riddled with injuries.
"Big Sniper" Barrett was wildly inconsistent.
The last of Duke's trio, Reddish, had turned into an ice-cold shooter the moment he entered the league—and never climbed out of it.
The only one who had truly proven his worth, Morant, was ultimately undone by off-court issues—going from a generational star to a cautionary tale.
So these two high picks in his hands? Chen Yilun genuinely didn't want them.
Honestly, if team-building necessities didn't force his hand, he would've loved to trade away every pick he had this year and wait for future opportunities.
At that moment, Adam Silver stepped onto the stage once more.
"With the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select De'Andre Hunter from the University of Virginia, and trade him to the Charlotte Hornets. In return, the Kings receive the Hornets' 11th overall pick and a 2023 unprotected first-round pick."
As Silver finished speaking, Hunter's expression in the green room shifted—from pure elation, to confusion, and finally to frustration.
It felt like getting into a top-tier university, only to be told moments later that there'd been a mistake and your acceptance was being revoked.
Going from the league's famous rookie academy straight to Charlotte, the graveyard of prospects, would leave anyone feeling awful.
But as the one being selected, Hunter had no choice. He swallowed his disappointment, walked onto the stage, and put on his cap.
"So we're heading back to scratch lottery tickets again?"
Malone asked curiously as he watched Chen Yilun's series of moves.
By now, Malone was long used to this. No need to overthink it—just close your eyes and trust.
"More or less."
Chen Yilun was trimming his nails with a pair of clippers as he spoke.
"We already have plenty of young players. There's no need to bring in another high pick and dilute the ball for guys who are halfway through their development. At this stage, we should be looking further down the board—players who don't need much polishing, or who are already usable right away."
Everyone in the room nodded along.
"So who are we picking, then?"
"We…"
Chen Yilun stood up and pointed the nail clippers at a name on the player list spread across the table.
"We pick him."
The draft continued smoothly.
At seventh overall, the Bulls selected Coby White, just as history remembered. At ninth, the Heat scooped up Cam Reddish.
Under Coach Spoelstra's guidance, maybe this ice-cold shooter would finally get a chance to realize his potential.
Soon enough, it was the Kings' turn again.
Adam Silver stepped forward once more.
"With the 11th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select PJ Washington from the University of Kentucky. Due to a prior trade with the Kings, Washington is automatically traded to Sacramento."