Chapter 132 The Draft

At the draft event, after Giannis Antetokounmpo scared the reporters half to death with his "Ariake" questions, Rudy Gobert, another "treasure" player of the 2013 draft, was also selected earlier than Su Feng remembered.

In Su Feng's previous life, not long after Su Feng's rebirth, this French long-armed ape, who single-handedly caused the NBA to suspend play as the "Defensive Player of the Year," had a wingspan of 235 centimeters, and his model was clearly a French "little Zhou Qi."

The Knicks selected Gobert with the fifteenth pick in the first round.

Because it was no longer a secret that the Knicks intended to trade Stoudemire and start rebuilding this summer, it was better to say that the Knicks' management had "keen eyes" at this draft than to say they had no other choice at this spot.

And live...

After putting on the Knicks hat, Gobert immediately raised his hands to express to the New York fans his desire to wear the Knicks jersey since childhood.

Having said that, as a top-notch shot-blocker who is quite good at controlling foul trouble...

It's really hard not to associate Gobert's defensive talent with his country.

After all, raising both hands is a classic move deeply ingrained in the French DNA, isn't it?

Of course, jokes aside.

In the remaining trash fish of the 2013 draft pool, the Knicks management did find a treasure this time.

However, just as Gobert was showing his loyalty to the New York fans...

An amusing trade occurred at the draft event.

As everyone knows.

In the past two years, the Nuggets management's patience with Anthony had almost reached its limit.

In addition, JR Smith, Anthony's staunch younger brother, recently stated in an interview that if the Nuggets chose to trade Anthony, he would apply for a trade...

Therefore, faced with this "double happiness," the Nuggets management began looking for new homes for these two immortals almost without thinking.

However, because Anthony had personally slashed his value in half in the past two years...

So for a while, the Nuggets management also found it difficult to find a taker for Anthony.

Fortunately, the Knicks, their old friends from New York, gave the Denver brothers a timely helping hand.

Faced with the Knicks' offer of Stoudemire plus Gobert and a first-round pick next year.

The Nuggets management agreed to the deal without even needing to think about it.

Although on paper, the Nuggets only got back a potential center, a nearly 32-year-old former All-Star forward, and a first-round pick (2014, unprotected) in this trade.

But considering that Stoudemire's contract only had two years left, and the last year was a team option...

The Nuggets undoubtedly exceeded the goal they had originally set for themselves in this trade.

And the Knicks?

Because his poor performance last season had turned him from the savior of New York into the number one sinner, when Jackson learned that the Knicks management had traded for Anthony and JR Smith from the Nuggets for him, Jackson immediately expressed through the media in high spirits, "Now, we finally have the superstar who can execute the triangle offense!"

Uh!

Okay!

From the perspective of the principles of the triangle offense, it is indeed a one-on-one tactic specially designed for superstars.

But when Su Feng learned that Jackson had chosen to bet his chips on Anthony...

Su Feng felt that...

Jackson was not far from "death."

Because in Su Feng's previous life, the reason why Anthony had broken up with Fisher and Jackson one after another...

Was precisely because Anthony extremely disliked the triangle offense.

Although in Su Feng's original timeline, Anthony's dislike of the triangle offense was related to the "Zen Master's" sly operations to control the team at the time...

But as a tactic that requires players to have a certain level of basketball IQ and reading ability...

To quote Fan Zhiyi's evaluation of the national football team:

You say this Knicks team, how many players have they changed? Has the performance improved? It's just a change of soup but not the medicine! Jackson also has his reasons, what kind of people are the players who can play the triangle offense on the market? They are Jordan, Su Feng, and Kobe! And look at what you have here? You Anthony and others are playing the triangle offense, can he play it? He can't! He doesn't have the ability, you know? If this continues, we're going to lose to the Spurs, after losing to the Spurs, we'll lose to the Timberwolves, after losing to the Timberwolves, we'll lose to the Rockets, there won't be any teams left to lose!

It is no exaggeration to say that the Nuggets were simply the big winners in this trade.

Because as the team that started preparing for the 14/15 season the earliest...

Only God knows how valuable the Knicks' first-round pick will be next year.

And next, after the 2013 rookies were selected by their respective favorite teams, the NBA officially announced that the Finals format for next season would be changed to 2-2-1-1-1.

For teams with better regular-season records, this was undoubtedly good news.

But you might not believe it...

The main reason why the NBA officials were determined to change the Finals format was to take care of teams like the Hawks this year, who were beaten without any chance of fighting back in the Finals.

Because with a 3-0 lead in the series, the stronger team could choose to lose a game on purpose and return to their home court to lift the trophy.

So under the new format, when the strength of the two sides in the Finals is too disparate, in theory, the probability of playing one more game in this series will also increase relatively.

In addition, not long after the draft, the NBA officially announced another exciting piece of news for the players.

That is, starting from the 14/15 season, the NBA's sky-high television broadcast agreement will officially take effect.

Because according to the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, players' income will increase significantly due to the increase in broadcast revenue, so for the free agent market that is about to open...

This news will undoubtedly be a bombshell.

In addition to the fact that many players who wanted to ask their parent teams for big contracts will rethink their career plans, some players whose value was originally less than ten million will also take the opportunity to put pressure on the teams that are interested in them.

After all...

The current ten million annual salary.

In another two years, that will be a bargain.

However...

Even if the outside world is making a fuss...

What does this have to do with Kevin Garnett?

Portland.

Garnett, who had been idle at home since the Trail Blazers went home to fish, had not been in a good mood recently.

Because after the loudly touted "Portland Uprising" ended in failure, Pierce, who was no longer willing to waste his youth with Garnett, took the lead in leaving the Trail Blazers' sinking ship shortly after the free agent market opened on July 1.

In order to retire with a championship ring before the end of his career, Pierce joined the Golden State Avengers with a two-year veteran minimum contract.

And originally...

Garnett did think about joining the Warriors with Pierce.

Because looking at the entire league...

Who wouldn't want to turn enemies into friends with the Warriors?

However, another signing by the Warriors on the 1st disrupted Garnett's entire plan.

Oakland was boiling.

The entire Bay Area was boiling.

As the coveted target of many teams in the summer of 2013.

Former Jazz general Yi Jianlian took the lead in becoming the thunder that detonated the 2013 free agent market.

"Minimum salary?

Are you kidding me?

The Warriors signed Yi Jianlian with a minimum salary?" In Los Angeles, Su Feng was shocked.

Are you...

Are you f*cking kidding me!

You must know...

This is Yi Jianlian, who has grown into a top-notch NBA role player!

And what's more...

He has always played with Yao Ming in the national team, and he has an incredibly outstanding understanding with Yao Ming?

I'm not kidding.

As long as Yi Jianlian is willing.

Even if there aren't twenty teams willing to give him a ten million annual salary this summer, there are at least ten or more.

Because with Yi Jianlian's ability to space the floor, his willingness to do dirty work, and his extremely high tactical execution under the cultivation of Sloan and Hornacek...

Where are you going to find him?

However...

Minimum salary!

The Warriors only used a minimum salary!

And they got a player who can make their lineup depth rise to another level for free!

If Pierce's joining was just so-so in Su Feng's opinion.

Then at this moment...

Su Feng really wanted to call Yi Jianlian and ask him.

How much do you want your Feng-ge to die?

"Feng-ge, didn't you tell me before not to rush to sign a long-term contract before the salary cap increases greatly?

So I thought, let's find a team that can win the championship and play for a year first."

As a result, after Su Feng called Yi Jianlian in the name of caring about him...

Su Feng realized that...

The blame for Yi Jianlian choosing to join the Warriors on a minimum salary this summer...

Has to be put on...

Benzema!

Don't ask!

Asking means that all the blame in this world can be put on Benzema.

Okay...

Now, the Warriors next season are not just a question of whether their second lineup can form a championship team.

But their third lineup...

Seems to be able to make the playoffs.

Although that little Jewish old man in New York doesn't want to see these Chinese star players with extremely high commercial value on the same team...

But considering Yao Ming's age of nearly 34...

Plus, Yi Jianlian's appeal to Chinese fans as a middle-generation player in the Chinese men's basketball team...

And the Warriors' rapidly rising popularity in China in the past two years...

And Yi Jianlian's original intention to sign a short-term contract this year in order to get a sky-high contract in the summer of 2014...

Don't say it...

Stern really wants to see if these Warriors can make Su Feng and his Lakers suffer a loss before he retires.

And just as Su Feng was feeling a pain in his chest because of Yi Jianlian joining the Warriors...

In Portland, Garnett also felt a great pain in his chest!

Because after the Warriors signed Yi Jianlian, even a defensive stopper like Chandler has to compete for a spot on this luxurious cosmic battleship...

So you can't let him, the dignified Wolf King, go to Oakland to watch the water dispenser, right?

You have to know, Garnett hasn't reached the point where he can't play ball like Barkley did back then.

And in terms of seniority, Yi Jianlian is just an outstanding disciple of the retreat-while-fighting sect.

Therefore...

As the leader of the retreat-while-fighting sect...

How could Garnett lower his face to be Yi Jianlian's substitute?

Careless, Kevin!

No cap.

If Garnett knew that the Warriors could have this kind of sly operation...

Then he wouldn't have hesitated at all when Pierce asked him if he wanted to go to the Warriors together earlier.

As one of the highest-paid players in NBA history.

For Garnett, who has not tasted the championship yet.

The big contract he wanted wholeheartedly back then is no longer his pursuit.

But, given that he can't go to the Warriors...

Currently on the market, the other teams that can win the championship all have reasons why Garnett can't go.

For example, the Hawks and Celtics in the East.

The former has Gasol, who has always been regarded as "soft" by Garnett.

The latter is led by Duncan, who is still regarded as a "lifelong enemy" by Garnett.

Not to mention whether there is really a grudge between Garnett and Gasol and Duncan...

Judging from their current state...

Even if Garnett is unwilling to admit it, he must admit it.

If he goes to the Hawks and Celtics, he will also be a substitute for these two people.

And this...

Is also something that Garnett cannot accept.

As for the Heat and Bulls...

No...

Since he, Garnett, is unwilling to be a substitute for Gasol and Duncan.

Then how could he be willing to be a substitute for young people like Milicic, Horford, and Noah?

In Su Feng's previous life, throughout Garnett's career, even during his time leading the team in Minnesota, Garnett was also the nominal starter on that Timberwolves team.

Therefore...

For a time, Garnett found in chagrin.

This huge NBA...

Has no place for him!

Eh, no...

Who said that Kevin Garnett has no place to stand!

Yes!

I'm unwilling to be a substitute for Duncan and Gasol!

But...

In the twilight of my career...

Who said that being a substitute for Su Feng is a shameful thing?

As the saying goes, God often opens a window for you while closing a door.

In Portland, after looking around the lineups of these teams with championship strength...

Garnett found that...

The Lakers, who have always used Su Feng as the starting power forward in recent years...

Seem to really be lacking a backup power forward!

Garnett, who was quite resistant to the idea of being a substitute, almost instantly dispelled all his worries after thinking it through.

After all, with this Su Feng...

Even if Jordan came, wouldn't he have to be his substitute?

So...

What's wrong with going to the Lakers to be a substitute and get a championship?

Is it embarrassing?

It's not embarrassing!

So, just like that.

Garnett called Su Feng overnight.

And expressed his beautiful wish to serve Emperor Feng in the phone.

Although in the early years, Garnett, who was still young, did fantasize about launching a rebellion called "Anti-Feng Jian" in the NBA.

But as the saying goes, times have changed.

For Garnett, who is now 37 years old.

At the moment, after experiencing the vicissitudes of life, his only thought is to slap himself when he was young!

Because if he had read the book *Attitude* more when he was young...

Who else would be the strongest second-in-command in NBA history?

"Huh? You said you want to come to the Lakers?

But we don't lack big men on our team!

How about this, first tell me how much salary you need, and I'll contact Mitch later to help you mediate.

After all, we're all brothers, and I can't just watch you have nowhere to play, can I?"

However...

What Garnett never expected was.

On this night when he chose to surrender to Emperor Feng...

Not only did Emperor Feng express his "dislike" for him in his words, but he also bluntly told him...

The fact that the Lakers didn't really need him.

However...

When Garnett heard that Emperor Feng was willing to help him mediate...

Tears still fell from the corners of Garnett's eyes uncontrollably.

Look, what is a true brother!

"Okay. I only need a minimum salary...

As long as I can join the Lakers, it's okay to be a substitute!" On the phone, Garnett, who didn't dare to make any demands, hurriedly replied to Su Feng.

And in Los Angeles, after Su Feng hung up the phone, Kobe asked Su Feng in confusion: "Didn't you say before that if possible, we should try to recruit Kevin into the team this summer?

Why are you unwilling now that he has taken the initiative to come to us?"

Hearing this, Su Feng smiled and said to Kobe: "Because after the Warriors signed Yi, Kevin has no team to go to now."

Kobe shook his head and said, "I don't understand what the connection is..."

Su Feng sighed and said: "No matter how much strength Kevin has left now, he is one of the most outstanding power forwards in NBA history.

So if we show too much enthusiasm for his initiative to join us, then after he joins the team, he will inevitably put on airs in front of the young players.

And for a team aiming for a championship...

If there are too many voices in the locker room...

It's easy for something to go wrong."

"I see!

No wonder...

Shaq said before that you have your own principles for managing the team's locker room." Kobe nodded, touching his chin and thinking clearly about the pros and cons.

"In short, it's a good thing that Kevin is willing to join us.

But...

He must understand.

Right now, it's not that we need him.

But...

He needs us." After patting Kobe on the shoulder, Su Feng continued with a smile.

Portland.

About three days later.

Garnett, who had been waiting at home for Kupchak's call, finally received the call from Los Angeles.

July 4th.

Former NBA All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett officially joined the Los Angeles Lakers with a two-year minimum salary contract.

And so far...

The once famous Portland F4...

Also only had Carter left as a "lonely man."

……

ps: Qiao seems to have become a little longer today! How amazing! As expected of the longest A-Qiao in the universe!