NBA: Built to Dominate

Boston, North Shore Garden Arena

Red Auerbach leaned back in his chair, puffing on his signature cigar, his mind racing through scenarios. Georgetown's Alex Mo had become the talk of the basketball world, and the legendary Celtics patriarch was determined to ensure the young "Celestial Giant" donned green and white.

A New Strategy

Watching footage of Mo Ran was enough to convince Auerbach of his potential.

"Mo Ran is no ordinary prospect," Auerbach said to M.L. Carr, the Celtics' head coach. "His athleticism, combined with his defensive versatility, makes him a generational talent."

Carr nodded. "He's different, no doubt. But with the Lakers sniffing around, how do we outmaneuver them?"

Auerbach exhaled another cloud of smoke, his eyes narrowing. "We don't need to play their game. The Lakers will overplay their hand, trying to trade their All-Stars for higher picks. We'll take a quieter approach."

"Quieter?" Carr asked, intrigued.

"Think about it," Auerbach continued. "The Lakers are a playoff team—they don't have the draft position to get Mo. They'll make noise, trying to trade up. Meanwhile, we're already in position with a lottery pick. All we need to do is solidify that pick and stay out of the headlines."

Rot Without a Scandal

Carr raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting… we tank?"

Auerbach smirked. "Not tanking—strategic roster management. Rest our key players. Develop our younger guys. Focus on next season."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Semantics, my friend," Auerbach said with a chuckle. "The point is, we don't make it obvious. Let Jerry West and the Lakers trade half their roster chasing Mo. We'll quietly position ourselves for the best possible pick. When the draft comes, we'll have the leverage."

The Bigger Picture

Carr leaned in, eager to hear more. "And what about the draft itself? Iverson's projected to go No. 1. We'll need a plan if we don't land the top pick."

Auerbach nodded. "If we don't get the first pick, we leverage our assets to trade down. The key is making other teams think we're targeting Iverson or someone else. Mo will slip further than he should because people don't understand his ceiling yet."

"But why not go for the top pick outright?" Carr asked.

"Simple," Auerbach replied. "Mo fits our system perfectly. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to dominate. He's the cornerstone we need to rebuild. Iverson's a spectacular player, but our team is built around structure. Mo gives us that edge."

"And if Jerry figures out what we're doing?"

"Let him," Auerbach said, flicking ash into an ashtray. "By the time the Lakers realize they've been outmaneuvered, we'll have Mo in green and white—and maybe even set ourselves up for Duncan the following year."

Carr's eyes widened. "Mo Ran and Tim Duncan on the same team?"

"Exactly," Auerbach said, grinning. "Twin towers. We win the '90s, maybe even the early 2000s."

Staying Under the Radar

Auerbach leaned forward, his tone serious. "From this point on, no public discussions about Mo Ran. Let the media think we're focused on Iverson or other prospects. The Lakers will keep chasing headlines, while we secure our future quietly."

Carr nodded, taking mental notes. "And what about scouting?"

"Keep it minimal and discreet," Auerbach instructed. "No visits to his games, no flashy moves. We need to make this look like a happy accident."

As Carr stood to leave, Auerbach added one last thought: "Remember, the biggest victories aren't won in the spotlight. They're won in the shadows."

The Quiet Race Begins

As M.L. Carr left the office, Auerbach took another long drag from his cigar, staring at the smoke curling in the air.

The Lakers were loud, trading assets and making noise. The Celtics would be quiet, methodical, and ruthless.

"I'm not just building a team," Auerbach thought. "I'm building another dynasty."