"Let's team up one more time!"
As Paul finished speaking, Griffin, sitting across from him, struggled before finally responding.
"Bro, it's not that I don't want to work with you. I've only just gotten out for a year, and now you're asking us to go back already. No matter how you spin it, that doesn't sound great."
"Then do you want a championship or not?"
Paul didn't hold back.
"Before, the team situation couldn't satisfy what you wanted—that couldn't be helped. But now things are different!"
"The entire Western Conference is a complete mess. Some teams are sniping, others are loading up on reinforcements. Everyone's busy as hell."
"If the two of us don't join forces now, we're going to get eaten alive by those lunatics!"
"And you know my level. Harden is one of the best passers in the league. You saw Capela's numbers last season. If you come to Houston, we can definitely build something big!"
Paul scratched his head and continued.
"Chaotic times are coming. This next season is absolutely critical. The Kings are ambitious—they're trying to build a dynasty. And not some warped Spurs-style dynasty, but a real one. A true, undisputed dynasty."
As he spoke, an uncontrollable fighting spirit flickered in Paul's eyes.
"Ever since the OK duo crushed the entire league back then, there hasn't been a real dynasty. Now Sacramento wants to build one, and that means stepping on all of us—completely. If we can't pull them off their throne, you and I will just be meaningless background characters in history!"
Paul suddenly stood up.
"Everyone else has already started making moves. If we don't act now, there really won't be another chance!"
"Bro, let's do it! Let's be the king-slayers!"
"Put your dream in my hands! We'll make it happen together!"
...
...
"Total chaos. Absolute chaos!"
Buford strode quickly into his office.
Faced with the current turmoil in the Western Conference, the Spurs' chief decision-maker showed little outward reaction.
As a veteran who had been with the organization since the Robinson era, Buford had long since seen it all.
Heroes rose and fell like schools of fish crossing a river, endless and unceasing.
After so many years of ups and downs, Buford had mastered the art of keeping his emotions hidden.
Beep, beep, beep!
Not long after sitting down, Buford's phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, broke into a grin, and answered.
"What brings you to call me today, Chairman Chen?"
"Come on, don't tease me like that, Teacher,"
Chen Yilun said with a laugh, cutting him off before he could continue.
"Alright, then. What is it?"
Seeing there was no more room for banter, Buford shifted straight to business.
"Nothing special. Can't I just call to chat?"
"Impossible. You definitely have something on your mind. Say it—what happened?"
Having his thoughts exposed, Chen Yilun hesitated before speaking.
"Teacher, do you think my team still needs major adjustments?"
"What?! Major adjustments?"
Buford, who was in the middle of drinking a Coke, nearly sprayed it out.
"Are you crazy, or am I? The Kings are at full power right now. They're at the level of killing whoever they face. And you want to overhaul the lineup?"
By "major adjustments," Chen Yilun meant what fans often call shaking up the starting lineup—specifically, changes at key starter positions.
On the current Kings roster, only four players even qualified for that discussion: Durant, Butler, Jokić, and Booker.
Even another starter like Richardson wasn't worthy of being mentioned.
"Why would you even think like this?"
From Chen Yilun's words, Buford immediately sensed that something was wrong with his protégé.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be asking about something so obvious that even a kid could understand it.
"Isn't it because of what's happened these past few days?"
Chen Yilun's tired voice came through the phone.
"The Lakers made their move, and now the Rockets are making theirs too."
Just that morning, the Rockets had traded for Blake Griffin from the Thunder, using Capela as the main piece along with additional assets and future picks.
Not long after, Morey struck again, grabbing Robert Covington from free agency after he left the Kings.
The Griffin trade alone had already surprised Chen Yilun, but losing Covington hit him hard.
Griffin's current contract came from the original sign-and-trade with the Clippers.
That meant the Thunder–Rockets deal also transferred Griffin's Bird rights, giving Morey the flexibility to strike on the free-agent market.
Although Covington barely saw playing time with the Kings this season, he had always been part of Chen Yilun's long-term plan.
At the very least, once Gay gradually faded out, that role had been reserved for Covington.
But the kid didn't want to wait anymore. After getting his ring, he jumped straight into free agency.
Chen Yilun had wanted to hold onto him, but a desperate Morey went straight for an overpay just to pry him away.
"You're getting anxious."
After hearing everything, Buford immediately understood the core of Chen Yilun's problem.
But instead of addressing it directly, he brought up the past.
"Yilun, do you remember the game I taught you when you first came to San Antonio?"
"Of course. Texas Hold'em."
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Chen Yilun was momentarily confused.
"Right. I really like playing Texas Hold'em."
Buford spoke slowly.
"Texas Hold'em is about calculation and psychology. To a certain extent, those two things are exactly what a general manager needs as well."
"Do you remember what the first lesson was when I taught you?"
Ignoring Chen Yilun's confusion, Buford continued.
"The first lesson in Texas Hold'em is this: if you want to win, you have to learn how to lose first. Only when you understand losing can you understand winning. Otherwise, you'll always just be a gambler."
After Buford finished speaking, the line fell into a long silence.
"I understand, Teacher,"
After a long while, Chen Yilun's voice finally came through.
"I know what I need to do now."
"That's good,"
Buford laughed heartily.
"I knew you had great instincts. One point and you get it."
"Of course,"
Chen Yilun's voice was completely different now, the earlier fatigue gone.
"So they want to stop us? I'm building a dynasty here anyway. I was always going to step on all of them."
"I'll fight them to the end!"