The early morning in Las Vegas is dry and cool. It's located in a desert, but thanks to the construction of the Pacific Railway and the Hoover Dam 37 miles away, this once-pioneer settlement has developed into today's World Gambling City, Entertainment City, and the Sin City.
After landing the position of General Manager for the Las Vegas Radiance Team, Danny Ainge didn't receive too much of a grand inauguration. The afternoon after signing the contract, he started working in his office.
In the evening, Wang Fuxi hosted a banquet at the MGM Hotel, organizing a small welcome reception for Ainge to announce to all employees that he was becoming the General Manager of the Radiance Team.
The reception was also simple and low-key. Besides drinking, everyone mainly discussed work content and progress.
After the reception ended, everyone, still carrying the tipsiness, immediately went back to the office to continue working overtime. Ainge liked this work atmosphere.
Of course, as compensation, everyone received triple their salaries during this period until the new season officially started—including the cleaning staff on these two floors.
At the same time, Ainge also got what might be the highest-paid General Manager contract in the entire League. Wang Fuxi spared no expense in writing that check, firmly believing her husband's judgment was spot on.
Spend more now to earn more later.
After obtaining the player list from Gan Guoyang, Ainge immediately started making contacts because just because you want these players, it doesn't mean the other side will definitely let them go, or the players will certainly be willing to come.
This process involves negotiation, mediation, trade, and a bit of persuasion and deception—this was Danny Ainge's job, to implement the circles drawn by the boss.
The first person Gan Guoyang wanted was Terry Porter, so naturally, Ainge contacted Porter first, as he was already familiar with him.
As soon as the call connected, he said, "Hey Terry, this is Danny Ainge."
"...Sorry, I'm dead."
"You're dead? Since when?"
"An impending matter, my friend."
From Porter's words, Ainge sensed some resentment. This guy definitely got wind of the news.
The team had already sent a fax of the preliminary list to the League office yesterday, and surely, the office had communicated it with the teams.
Terry Porter is already 37 this year and will be 38 next year. After the 2000 season, he considered retirement.
However, since his form was still good, the Spurs were willing to offer a two-year contract to have him come to San Antonio to guide Billups.
The contract terms were decent, and with league salaries rising rapidly, for NBA players whose careers depend on youth, earning an extra year of income is certainly beneficial.
So, Porter accepted the Spurs' offer, signed the contract, and completed the 2000-2001 season.
He played 80 games in a single season, averaging 7 points and 3 assists. For a 37-year-old veteran substitute, this performance was quite impressive.
He was planning to complete another season, retire with honor, return to Portland to rest well, admire his 10 championship rings, give some talks, participate in some activities, perhaps run a basketball camp—the days would surely be good.
But then, after the 9/11 events, he heard the bad news that Ah Gan was establishing a new team and planning to return.
Porter felt uneasy when he saw the news on TV and immediately contacted his agent to say he wanted to retire.
But the agent told him, don't retire; you still have a year on your contract. Keep playing and contribute some more.
Porter's agent was Gan Guohui, now the Executive Vice President of the Las Vegas Radiance Team.
Upon hearing this from Gan Guohui, Porter realized he was in trouble. He quickly contacted the Spurs' Manager, Popovich, hoping to leave him in the eight-man roster.
But for a 37-year-old veteran with one year left on his contract, how could the Spurs possibly spare a precious spot?
Popovich also advised Porter, "Playing is playing anywhere. You and Ah Gan are close comrades; he always says he's the greatest leader on the court."
Porter's already bitter expression became even bitterer, and he sighed deeply, "Just because he's the greatest leader on the court, I don't want to keep playing with him."
Actually, if Porter was determined not to go to Las Vegas, no one could force him, not even Gan Guoyang.
The issue was that Porter himself was very conflicted—he didn't want to go, but he wanted to go.
He wanted to peacefully end his career but also wanted to accept another challenge and fight one last time with Lao Gan.
When Gan Guoyang first returned, Porter had this mindset, enduring four seasons and earning three rings.
When Ainge's call came through, Porter knew he couldn't avoid it anymore—either he went, or he'd retire altogether.
Moreover, retiring probably wouldn't be so easy. Now it was Ainge making the call; if he refused, surely Lao Gan would come over himself.
Porter had no confidence or assurance in refusing Gan Guoyang. Ever since entering the League in 1985, he has always played and competed under Gan Guoyang's wing. Over the years, his reverence for Gan Guoyang was etched into his bones, impossible to shake off.
Now, communicating with Ainge over the phone allowed him to vent, discuss, complain a bit, and maybe ask for more perks.
If it were Lao Gan personally making the call, Porter knew he wouldn't be able to say no and would be packing to head over to Las Vegas to look for a place to live by tomorrow.
This is also why Gan Guoyang let Ainge make contact, to give the players some room for negotiation and maneuver. If Gan Guoyang were involved, the room would be much smaller.
Over the phone, Porter and Ainge vented for a while, discussing how exhausting it was to play with Ah Gan, how long the time was, and as soon as the training camp opened in October, it would last at least until May, more than half a year locked in for sure.