Chapter 8: Start the draft

The streetlights of Madison Square Garden blazed brightly, illuminating a small green room teeming with energy. Team management and reporters buzzed about, the atmosphere charged with excitement and anticipation. In the center of it all, the chosen ones sat nervously in their colorful suits, flanked by anxious family members. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, impeccably dressed in a custom suit, stepped onto the podium, his smile radiant. "Ladies and gentlemen, the 2014 Rookie Conference is now officially underway!"

Jake sat in the Kings' exclusive conference room, two cameras trained on him, the pressure palpable. Having watched countless draft conferences in his previous life, he was now living the reality of the behind-the-scenes chaos. Each team had its own room to strategize, but Coach Malone appeared lost in thought. With a roster already brimming with talent, he was confident, feeling the sting of last year's struggles fade.

Jake, however, was a bundle of nerves. His shirt was soaked with sweat, a testament to the weight of his responsibilities. This was his first draft, and he couldn't afford any missteps. Feeling uncomfortable under the watchful gaze of the cameras, he excused himself, desperately seeking a moment to breathe. He made his way to the restroom, his mind racing.

As he trudged toward the toilet, all the rehearsed simulations he'd run in his head seemed to evaporate. Just then, he bumped into Buford at the restroom door. "Jake! Haven't seen you in a while," Buford greeted with a warm smile, and they entered the restroom together in comfortable silence.

"You must be feeling the heat from all this, huh?" Buford teased, a twinkle in his eye.

"Old fox, don't mock me. I'm about to implode," Jake replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

"Relax, kid. When I got drafted, I was so anxious I went to the bathroom three times in ten minutes! Popovich was furious, asking if I was planning to draft a toilet," Buford chuckled, his laughter breaking through Jake's tension.

Jake felt the dark clouds of anxiety start to lift. "Thanks for that. I guess we all have our moments, right?"

"Exactly! You're only 27—there's a long career ahead. Remember, no one hits it out of the park every time, and nobody's always unlucky. Just stick to your plan," Buford said, giving Jake an encouraging pat on the shoulder before humming a tune and stepping out.

With renewed confidence, Jake returned to the Kings' room, mentally ready to face the draft. After a brief discussion with the management team, he made a crucial phone call. Meanwhile, Adam Silver's assistant handed him a small note, and with a deep breath, he prepared to announce the first pick.

"In the 2014 draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Andrew Wiggins from the University of Kansas with the first pick!" The small green room erupted in applause, Wiggins flashing a dazzling smile as he donned the Cavaliers cap and shook hands with Silver.

The excitement continued to build. "In the 2014 draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Jabari Parker from Duke University with the second pick!"

"In the 2014 draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Joel Embiid from the University of Kansas with the third pick!" Silver continued, each name sparking cheers from the assembled crowd.

The allure of the draft transformed college athletes into instant stars, and as Silver read through the picks, Jake tracked each name mentally. All the selections so far were just as he had predicted. Malone looked at Jake in surprise, impressed by his accurate analysis. This young man truly had a knack for talent evaluation.

The draft progressed to the eighth pick, and as Silver read aloud, "In the 2014 draft, the Nuggets select Noah Vonleh from Indiana University," Jake's heart raced.

"Just as I thought!" he thought, his hands clenching in anticipation. The ripple effect from his earlier trade had just materialized. With Stauskas, originally projected to go eighth, now off the board, Jake's plans had changed drastically. If LaVine had been chosen before this, it would have thrown his strategy into chaos, forcing him to pick up TJ Warren, originally projected at 14, or risk losing LaVine in a trade.

Jake knew that the Nuggets had an eye on Stauskas, the pride of Michigan. He had his doubts about the player, but that didn't matter; others still believed in him. After acquiring Mozgov, the Nuggets now needed a forward, and they had opted for Vonleh after the Lakers snagged Randle at seven.

Jake leaned back in his chair, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling within him. The draft was only just beginning, and with it came countless possibilities—each selection a step closer to reshaping the Kings' future.

As the draft continued, the excitement in the small green room was palpable. With the ninth pick, the Hornets surprised everyone by selecting Nurkic. Initially met with scorn from fans who deemed the choice reckless, the decision would later prove wise, illustrating the old adage about hindsight being 20/20.

When the Philadelphia 76ers announced Stauskas as their tenth pick, Jake couldn't contain himself. He clenched his fist and punched the air, a wave of exhilaration washing over him. He had made the right bet. With confidence coursing through him, he called for Zach LaVine.

"In the 2014 draft, the Sacramento Kings select Zach LaVine from UCLA with the eleventh pick!" Adam Silver's voice rang out, and the room erupted in celebration. Slam Dunk King LaVine was now a King! Jake's heart raced with the thrill of victory as he realized his vision was coming to fruition.

The draft flowed smoothly from there. By the time the Spurs claimed Kyle Anderson with the 30th pick, every first-round choice had been made. Jake leaned back in his chair, the weight of anticipation lifting from his shoulders. Silva wiped the sweat from his brow, stepping down from the podium with a satisfied smile.

However, the atmosphere shifted when the NBA vice president stepped up to announce a trade. "Now I'm announcing a trade. Just now, the Sacramento Kings traded Marcus Thornton and the No. 41 pick to the Cavaliers in exchange for the 2016 unprotected first-round pick and this year's No. 33 pick."

In the aftermath of the announcement, the small green room buzzed with chatter, but a chorus of curses echoed from fans of Eastern Conference teams. "The Kings are just helping the enemy!" shouted a frustrated Knicks fan. The Cavaliers were quickly becoming a powerhouse, bolstered by the addition of Thornton at little cost, further diminishing the competitive edge of their conference rivals.

Jake took in the discussions around him but focused on the vice president as he continued. "In the 2014 draft, the Sacramento Kings use the 33rd pick to select the center from Serbia: Nikola Jokic!"

In the Kings' meeting room, Vlade Divac cast a quizzical look at Jake. Sensing Divac's scrutiny, Jake addressed him, "Vlade, I believe Jokic has incredible potential, but there are areas that need nurturing. I hope you can give him some guidance in the future."

Divac nodded slowly. He and Jokic shared a homeland and a basketball heritage, so he understood Jake's sentiment. "Of course. Serbian basketball has always been strong," he replied, his expression softening.

Little did Divac know, he was about to misinterpret Jake's intentions. He thought the choice of Jokic was an olive branch, a way to soothe his regrets about passing on Stauskas. But as time would tell, Jokic would evolve into a star in his own right—one that would someday tower over Divac's expectations.

Meanwhile, Mike Malone, seated across from Jake and fiddling with his fingers, had a different perspective. He recognized Jokic's potential as a player who would be molded into a crucial part of the Kings' future, but the real training ground would soon be in Denver, under Malone's watchful eye. Jake couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. With each pick, they were laying the groundwork for something special.

As the night wore on and the second round commenced, Jake reflected on the choices made and the future ahead. He knew that in the unpredictable world of basketball, each decision carried weight, but tonight, they had started to carve out a path to success.