Pick Westbrook

Chapter 191 Who to Choose
Wesley Edens walked into the office and closed the door behind him.

There were still many celebrations spontaneously organized by Bucks fans outside the hospital. The more he thought about it, the more angry he became. Finally, he took out a phone from the camera obscura on the table in front of him, dialed it and said.

"Mark Leslie!"

"You should know I'm angry when I call your name!"

"How long has it been? Mmm!!!"

"Two years!"

"The Bucks not only didn't go bankrupt, they got bigger and bigger, and now they even won the championship, but you told me not to worry, everything is under your control."

"How could I not be in a hurry!"

"Listen up! The Li Ning factory in Milwaukee is also owned by this crotch boy. I have investigated it. In just one year, that factory has brought him at least tens of millions of dollars in profits. Are you still telling me not to worry? "

"At that time, he really collected 2 million US dollars within three years and paid off his debts. How can we buy the Bucks?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone, until Wesley Edens's anger subsided a little, and there was a very gentle laughter.

"Haha, bro, are you in a hurry?"

"Don't worry, 2 million US dollars is not a small amount, and that kid only has one chance left in the last year. He may not even be able to get 1 million US dollars now."

"Besides, what if he got it all together?"

Hearing this, Wesley Edens frowned, and said inexplicably, "We can't buy the Bucks if we have all the pieces together, dude, are you kidding me?"

"We are two of the three richest people in Milwaukee. It's not like you don't understand the profit and reputation that winning a local team as a local company can bring us."

"Besides, I grew up watching the Bucks games. I can still vividly remember the scene of winning the championship in 1971, but this year the Bucks won the championship, but I feel like a thorn in my throat."

"It's just too hard."

On the other end of the phone, Mark Leslie still smiled and said: "Don't worry, brother, I know you are a die-hard Bucks fan, so we will definitely buy this team."

"No one can stop us, absolutely nothing."

Hearing this, Wesley Edens felt a little relieved, as long as he can own the Bucks, he can do anything.

Of course, Wesley Edens believed in Mark Leslie's words. The two grew up together and became the richest businessman in Milwaukee. They knew each other best.

"As long as Mark says there's no problem, there must be no problem."

6 month 24 day.

The order of the 2010 NBA Draft lottery is determined.

The Wizards got the No. 76 pick, the Philadelphia [-]ers got the No. [-] pick, the New Jersey Nets got the No. [-] pick, and the Kings' first-round pick was the fifth pick.

This pick is not low or even a bit high, and at the same time, it successfully avoided the protection of the top four picks agreed by Li Lai and Kings general manager Geoff Petrie.

The Bucks can use this pick to make a big fuss in this year's draft market.

Li Lai also made a preliminary plan to use this draft pick to select Paul George.

Hammond said at this time: "O'Neill, Francisco Elson, Austin Crohill, the contract of the three expires, we can free up a full $2800 million in salary space in the new season."

"At the same time, the team has chosen to implement Andre Ingram's contract option, and Yi Jianlian's new contract of 5 million for five years will also be officially implemented next season."

"However, Yi Jianlian found me when he was leaving, and hoped that I could keep Francisco Elson, because the other party was his coaching veteran."

"It's just that Francisco Elson is about to turn 35 years old. He was almost the water dispenser administrator in the team last season, so I didn't agree to Yi Jianlian. You have to decide this matter."

Li Lai nodded. When he arranged for Francisco Elson to be Yi Jianlian's mentor, he also took a fancy to his optimistic attitude towards life and familiar personality.

Francisco Elson has indeed completed the task assigned by Li Lai and helped Yi Jianlian successfully integrate into the Bucks, although the methods are a bit dirty.

"The team's trainers have always been vacant. At the beginning, the team kept these positions vacant because of financial problems. Now that the team is on the right track and has sufficient financial reserves, these vacancies should be filled again."

"So offer Francisco Elson a trainer contract. His optimistic attitude towards life and personality should also help more rookies and allow them to integrate into the team faster."

Hammond nodded and took note of this, and then continued: "If the salary cap of this season is raised normally, we should have 3000 million salary space, but the new contract of Yi Jianlian has to account for it. 1400 million, and some players have contracts with increases, which means that there is about 1200 million left for us to operate.”

"I can barely sign the quasi-All-Stars. It depends on whether I can attract them to join."

Immediately afterwards, Hammond listed a whole list of big fish in the free market this season. Even though Li Lai had expected it, he couldn't help but take a deep breath when he saw it for the first time.

In this year's trading market, big fish appear frequently.

Rudy Gay, Joe Johnson, Pierce who has announced his withdrawal from the contract, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Wade, Bosh, LeBron James, Boozer, Ray Allen, O'Neal, Yao Ming, Tyson Chandler.
Li Lai said: "I asked you to try to contact James in advance, what happened?"

Hammond spread his hands helplessly and said: "Now the whole world can't contact James, he seems to have evaporated, he doesn't know where he is, and he doesn't know what he's doing."

"Some people who have access to James' agent have spread some gossip. This guy seems to have secretly made up his mind to hone his singles skills after the Eastern Conference finals."

"So, now he is very likely to be visiting a famous NBA offensive leader, and he is working hard to hone his singles ability."

Li Lai frowned upon hearing this result.

He did not hesitate to accept Yi Jianlian's salary cut because he is James in the free market this year. If he can be matched with Curry, the two will become a combination that has dominated the entire league for decades.

But now Li Lai couldn't even see James' face, so why talk about taking him down?

More importantly, what James is doing now makes Li Lai very worried that he has already negotiated with other teams about joining, and Li Lai has been paying attention to the actions of the Heat's management!
Hammond still couldn't help expressing his thoughts at this time.

"A guy like LeBron probably wouldn't join a team that just beat him in the Eastern Conference Finals anyway, so it's kind of crazy for us to sign him."

"James may still be thinking of ways to wait until he beats us next season, so why would he think about joining?"

Li Lai was startled, but soon figured it out. Hammond was right on this issue, but he got stuck in a quagmire in order to get James.

James is never going to join a team that just beat him, never.

Since James at the small forward position cannot be obtained, Li Lai also recognized the reality at this time and said: "My idea is to use the No. [-] pick of the Kings to select Paul George, and then go to the free market to select the next powerful player." Center."

"O'Neal will be 39 years old next season. It is impossible for us to expect him to help the Bucks play at the level of the finals. Moreover, he is a free agent now, and it is still unclear whether he will return to the team."

This is the first time that Li Lai revealed to Hammond his selection ideas and future trading direction, which moved the big fat Hammond to tears.

It's worthy of being a close friend who went whoring together and robbed them together.

But Hammond said with a bit of embarrassment at this time: "I haven't had time to tell you something. When I went to implement the player and team options for the new season, Rasheed Wallace's agent had notified me in advance. , they will jump out of the contract option and pursue a new contract."

"what!"

Li Lai was shocked when he heard the news.

In this year's playoffs, it was precisely because Rasheed Wallace took the center position and provided an extremely strong defense that the Bucks dared to play the dead five on the stage of the finals.

Li Lai even thought about continuing this lineup next season, but he didn't expect that something went wrong at this time.

Hammond explained: "After all, we are the championship, and other teams are watching us eagerly."

"The best way to weaken the strength of a championship team is to dismantle their lineup, so in this year's free market, I don't know how many teams will come to our free agents."

"Especially those big players in the league who have a lot of salary space in their hands. It is difficult for us to match them at this point."

Li Lai understood what Hammond meant.

In other words, when Rasheed Wallace jumps out of the contract, many teams will chase him.

Especially on the stage of this year's championship, Rasheed Wallace shined brilliantly, even able to withstand Gasol and Bynum in the interior. His value and role have been valued by the general managers of all teams. in the eyes.

In addition, Rasheed Wallace is now a two-time championship player with extremely rich experience. Those teams that want to make a breakthrough in the playoffs must also want him very much.

"So if nothing else happens, Rasheed Wallace will easily get a big contract in this year's trading market." Li said.

Hammond nodded affirmatively and said: "If other teams hadn't contacted Rasheed Wallace, his agent would not have jumped out of the contract so resolutely, and he didn't even ask if we could be matched. "

"It seems that Rasheed Wallace's team is very clear that our salary space is really difficult to sign him again."

The draft has not yet started, and the problems within the Bucks are already in a mess. This also made Li Lai deeply understand a sentence that has been circulating in the NBA for a long time.

It is not easy to win the championship, and it is even more difficult to defend the championship. The team with three consecutive championships can be called a dynasty.

O'Neal became a free agent, Rasheed Wallace jumped out of the contract, Yi Jianlian stubbornly went to participate in the Men's Basketball World Cup, and the successive problems of the Bucks' inside players also made Li Lai make up his mind at this time.

He said: "The Bucks are not going to draft Paul George anymore, we have to have a new plan."

6 month 25 day.

The draft will be held as scheduled.

Kings general manager Geoff Petrie took the initiative to find Li Lai in the Bucks box.

As soon as Geoff Petrie saw Li Lai, he rushed over with snot and tears.

"You cost a thousand bucks, last year's NBA draft cheated Curry, that three-point guy played so well in the playoffs, and now he cheated a No. 5 pick from me, and let no one live Ah, tell me, who are you going to vote for this year?"

Hammond looked at Geoff Petrie who came to question him. Although the Kings' record last season was still at the bottom of the league, Harden's performance was amazing.

If Curry hadn't broken Ray Allen's record for three-pointers made in a single season in his rookie season, maybe even the best rookie would be Harden's.

So this team has found a rebuilding core, and it's time for results this season.

If nothing else, the Kings will re-select the next potential rookie in this year's draft, and then build a team with two people to start the playoff mode.

Li Lai saw through Geoff Petrie's trick at a glance. He didn't come here to inquire about crimes. He obviously came with ulterior motives.

So Li Lai said directly: "If you think Harden is not good, I will return the No. 5 pick to you, and you will give him to me?"

Hearing this, Geoff Petrie stood up directly, wiped away his tears and snot in a serious manner and said, "I'm afraid you are dreaming."

"Harden is now the core of the Kings team, let alone a No. 5 pick, even if you get the No. [-] pick, I won't change it."

Li Lai spread his hands, that's all.

Geoff Petrie stopped pretending, and said straight to the point: "Brother, tell me, who will the Bucks choose later?"

Li Lai folded his arms and said, "Qiao Fu, you shouldn't understand this rule. If I leak the list to you now, I will suffer a big loss if it gets out."

Already guessing that Li Lai would be so vigilant, Geoff Petrie directly showed his cards and said, "Brother, I treat you as my own family, so I will tell you directly."

"I've made a trade, got the No. 8 pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now I'm struggling with which rookie to choose."

"You see, we can be regarded as very good partners in trading. The Bucks and the Kings also belong to the East and West. We want to meet you at least with the strength of a championship team, but now it is obvious. It’s far from that level.”

Li Lai finally got a little impatient when he heard Geoff Petrie muttering a lot in front of him.

He stopped directly and said, "Stop, stop, Geoff, what do you want to do?"

Geoff Petrie spread his hands and said: "Which one of this year's rookies can become a superstar, like James and Kobe?"

puff!
Hammond, who was on the side, spat out the overnight meal, and scolded in his heart: Made, are all the superstars having diarrhea and going to the toilet now?Spray all over the place.

"There are so many superstars." Li Lai also said speechlessly.

Geoff Petrie was a little cheating, "I don't care!"

"You Bucks can choose whoever you want to choose, but besides the one you want to choose, hurry up and give me a list of the rest of the potential stars."

Seeing that Li Lai and Hammond were indifferent after speaking, Geoff Petrie sat directly in front of them and said, "If you don't tell me, I won't leave."

Li Lai looked at Hammond at this moment and said, "Why didn't I realize that this guy is such a rascal before?"

Hammond agreed and said: "If I know someone has a very reliable vision for rookies, I can be so rogue."

Li Lai:
At this time, Li Lai clearly remembered that the Kings got the No. 8 pick from the Thunder, and he couldn't help smiling.

What a coincidence, Sam Presti, the general manager of the Thunder, let's do the math when you calculated me back then. How about letting you watch the rookie you traded become an occasional god?

"Paul George!"

Upon hearing this name, Geoff Petrie jumped up from the ground, looked at Li Lai and said seriously, "Just this one rookie?"

Li Lai nodded and said, "Just this one."

Geoff Petrie knew very well that if Li Lai gave you 4.5 names at the same time, he would be suspected of deceiving him. In the future, it can even be said that you chose the worst one when you were given 4.5 names.

But now Li Lai only gave the name of a rookie player, which means that this player is really good!How dare he say that!

"Brother, this matter is done by my brother. I will remember your kindness. When I need help in the future, I will definitely go through fire and water."

Looking at Geoff Petrie, who had returned to his normal expression, Hammond cursed secretly behind him, this guy is simply more shameless than him.

The draft meeting went smoothly.

The Washington Wizards selected Kentucky's John Wall with the No. [-] pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Ohio State's Evan Turner with the second overall pick.

The New Jersey Nets selected Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech with the third overall pick.

The Sacramento Kings selected California State University's Paul George with the eighth pick at Lee's suggestion.

The Bucks themselves selected DeMarcus Cousins ​​from the University of Kentucky with the No. 5 pick.

(End of this chapter)