NBA: Back to 97, to be the Jagged Bishop

At the end of the finals, the Bobcats won the championship, Oban won the FMVP, and Combe won the seven consecutive championships. The 2003-2004 season was completely over.

Preparations for the new season have also started as scheduled.

The Bobcats hold the No. [-] pick from the Magic, and the news that they want to sell the No. [-] pick is well known.

Okafor is mature and stable. He looks like a natural team leader like Duncan. His top defensive potential makes all teams salivate.

Howard's physical test data during the joint trial training can be called against the sky, and it also gave many teams unlimited reverie.

Many teams have contacted Kongbu before, wanting to acquire the No. [-] pick in Kongbu's hands, but at that time Kongbu led the team to play in the playoffs, and there was no time to consider this matter.

Now that the finals are over and the draft is about to begin, Kumbu decided to start looking for a home for the No. [-] pick.

"Kong, you don't even know how many calls I have answered during this time, there must be at least a hundred of them, all of them wanting to buy this No. [-] lottery."

"You led the team to play the game, so I didn't tell you about it, so as not to distract you."

"Are you really sure you want to sell the No. Take Shaq's class."

"What do you think?"

Jordan was a bit reluctant to sell this No. [-] pick. He used the No. [-] pick to select Kwame Brown before, which was a great shame, and he wanted to take this opportunity to wash away his shame.

"Michael, you can't be wrong about your idea, but the pay-to-return ratio is too low."

"We keep this No. [-] pick, and at most we can reap a big book with stronger finishing ability at the basket."

"And if this No. [-] pick is traded, we can gain three All-Stars, including at least one All-Star-level insider."

"Don't you want to build a dynasty? It's a fluke for us to win this year."

"An extra young center will not improve our combat power much. You should be very clear about this."

Combe explained patiently to Jordan.

Jordan nodded. The Dynasty was very attractive to him, and what Kong Bu said was very reasonable. He really had no reason to sing against Kong Bu.

"Okay, then everything is up to you, anyway, this kind of thing is your strong point."

"But this draft, I have to participate, and can you give me more of your lucky charm?"

"You know, I have too many friends in this alliance."

Kong Bu was amused, and grabbed a handful of Yiwu small commodities from his office drawer.

"Here, they are all consecrated by eminent monks. Each of them costs [-] to [-] U.S. dollars. Don't just give it to anyone. This thing is very precious."

When Jordan saw that there were dozens of them, he was so moved that he wanted to cry.

One is twenty to thirty thousand dollars, but this one is not worth two million dollars?Kong Bu gave it to himself without saying a word, and asked himself to give it away. Is there anyone more generous than Kong Bu?
How did Jordan know that this thing can buy almost a ton for [-] to [-] US dollars.

"Okay, if you get another call about the No. [-] pick signing a deal, let them call me."

"I negotiate with them."

Kong Bu made tea for himself, and waited in the office holding the teacup.

Not long after, it was Magic who called first.

They want to repurchase this No. [-] pick and are willing to take out two first-round picks in the next five years plus three first-round swap rights.

Draft swap rights are also a bargaining chip.

For example, next year the Bobcats will have the No. 28 pick, and the Magic will have the No. 5 pick. If Kumbu uses the swap right, he can exchange the No. 28 pick for the Magic with the No. 5 pick in his hand.

In order to get this No. [-] pick, the Magic can be said to have spent a lot of money.

It's a pity that Kumbu is not satisfied. He doesn't want future draft picks at all, he only wants the 2004 draft pick.

If the Magic get the No. [-] pick, Howard will probably be chosen by [-]%. In addition, it is hard to say whether McGrady will leave the team now. If McGrady does not leave the team and recovers health, then the internal and external combination formed by him and Howard is still very lethal. Magic at least Can make the playoffs.

Whether it is the first-round pick promised by the Magic or the right to swap, the value is actually not high.

Now that Rivers has been fired by the Magic, and there is no grievance between Comb and the Magic, he politely rejected the Magic's trade application.

After the Magic, the Pacers' Larry Bird also called.

Old Bird also wanted the No. [-] pick. Howard's performance in the joint trial training kept him awake for several nights, and he has been haunted by dreams.

The Pacers' lineup is actually very good, with four powerful players, Jermaine O'Neill, Artest, Reggie Miller, and Harrington. It stands to reason that the five kings of the Eastern Conference should have their place.

It's a pity that this lineup is bad because it doesn't have a decent center.

The inside lineup of the Pacers right now is Jeff Foster and Jermaine O'Neill.

Foster is a white power forward who looks exactly like Tesla Musk, but his strength is not bad, especially his rebounding ability.

It's a pity that they have a peculiar smell when playing the center position, and they don't have the finishing ability that the center position should have.

Xiao Ao can't play center again.

Harrington is a swingman in the third and fourth positions, and he can't play a center.

If he wanted to compete with those five giants in the Eastern Conference, he would definitely not be able to do without a center. In the season that just ended, Old Bird suffered a loss in this regard. He was shattered in the first round of the playoffs and was swept out.

After learning from the pain, Old Bird decided to get a strong center this time no matter what.

As long as a strong center arrives, Old Bird is confident that his lineup can definitely compete with the Eastern Diablo Five.

"What? Harrington, Tinsley plus the 04 first-round pick and the 06 first-round pick?"

"Old man, I know you are very sincere, but unfortunately I am not very interested in these two players."

Kong Bu smiled helplessly at Old Bird.

Harrington was trained by Comb back then. Although he is currently playing as a substitute for the Pacers, it is only because the Pacers have Artest at the [-]rd position and Jermaine O'Neill at the [-]th position.

If he is not in the Pacers, Harrington can casually average 20 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Tinsley is also one of the core players of the Pacers. He is the Pacers' master and has a good three-point ability.

Judging from the two chips that Old Bird took out, he is really sincere.

It's a pity that Kumbu can't use these two players, and Konbu can't use the two draft picks given by the Pacers.

Old Bird saw that Kong Bu declined him politely, and he could only sigh in his heart. It seems that the Pacers want to rise, and there is a long way to go.

Team after team called Kumbu.

Kumbu's request is very simple, that is, a lottery pick plus two first-round picks can be exchanged for this precious No. [-] pick from him.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Kong Bu received a call from the United Arab Emirates.

"Huh? Angie asked you to come forward again this time. This old guy is too thick-skinned."

Kong Bu joked with Ah Lian.

"Coach, Mr. Angie has left the Suns. Our current head coach is D'Antoni, the former general manager of the Nuggets."

"But what you said is not completely wrong. D'Antoni asked me to call."

Allen said shyly.

"Tell me, what's the matter? Do you want to strengthen the second position?"

"You don't need to open your mouth about this matter. I still owe you the Suns a first-round pick. This draft will definitely let you get a decent shooting guard."

Kumbu thought that Ah Lian called to ask about the shooting guard.

Unexpectedly, Ah Lian shook his head, "No, coach, Mr. D'Antoni just wanted to ask if we have any hope of getting the No. [-] lottery."

"He heard from others that you want draft picks. If we get together, we can probably get them together."

"If Dampier can get a lottery pick, then we can trade for two first-round picks. It's not too difficult."

Comb was taken aback. He suspected that the D'Antoni he encountered was a fake.

Doesn't D'Antoni like to play fast break?Why is he also interested in this year's center forward?

You must know that this year's two centers, whether it is Okafor or Howard, are traditional insiders and have nothing to do with the fast break.

And it would be too risky to sell Dampier for a lottery pick.

As the saying goes, there are no tigers in the mountains, and monkeys are called kings. Now Dampier is the king of the western centers.

Under normal circumstances, there are two players in the West, O'Pang and Yao Ming. Dampier calls himself the second center in the West.

Well now, O'Pang and Yao Ming have both gone to the East, and Dampier has become the No. [-] center in the West.

With Dampier's performance, it's really not a problem for him to change a lottery pick.

Just a little too risky.

Dampier is good anyway, what if the center forward selected with the No. [-] pick is not as strong as Dampier?The Suns are at a loss.

"A Lian, are you kidding? D'Antoni really has this plan?"

"He is sure that the selected center can be better than Dampier?"

"If it's not as good as Dampier, you will be at a loss."

Combe asked curiously.

Ah Lian laughed, "Coach, that's why Mr. D'Antoni asked me to call you."

"Although he didn't say it clearly, he definitely wanted me to confirm whether the two young center forwards are stronger or weaker than Dampier."

Kong Bu understood that this was the case.

"We are not outsiders, I will tell you clearly."

"Okafor is a little bit high and low. His rookie season was very good, but unfortunately there is no room for improvement. His value may not be higher than Dampier."

"Howard's value is very high, much higher than Dampier anyway, but his immediate combat power is not as good as Okafor. I predict that the best rookie in the coming year will be Okafor, not Howard."

"In addition, Howard can't play the fast break system at all, he can only play positional warfare, and Okafor is a bit capable of playing fast break."

"You tell D'Antoni the exact words I said, and let him decide for himself."

"If you really want the No. [-] pick, I'll leave it to you."

Comb is not worried at all that if the Suns get Howard, they will raise a monster opponent.

Not to mention the immature Howard, even if Howard entered the peak period this year, he is still a bad brother in front of O'Pang.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Ao Pang cleaned up Howard, maybe one hand is enough.

In addition, it is hard to say whether the Suns want Howard or not. Comb thought of D'Antoni, the creator of the seven-second offensive system, coaching Howard in his mind, and felt very discordant.

Ah Lian hung up the phone and went to report to D'Antoni.

In less than 10 minutes, Combe received a call from D'Antoni.

He has always had a relatively close relationship with Kumbu. Before the old Fitch retired, Kumbu asked him to coach the Nuggets in order to let the old Fitch have a decent later life, and gave them away for free. Many good players, D'Antoni was the general manager of the Nuggets at the time.

"Kong, I really don't know how to thank you."

"Why don't you sell this No. [-] lottery to us."

"Don't laugh at us when you say it, our goal has never been the West, but the championship."

"If you want to win the championship, the facts have proved that you can't do it without a strong center forward."

"Although Dampier is good, he really has no chance of winning against those centers in the East."

"In this case, it's better to gamble on Howard, his body is really amazing."

D'Antoni told Comb his thoughts honestly.

Kong Bu smiled wryly, counting on Howard to win O'Pang and Yao Ming, it's really a pity that D'Antoni can think of it.

But Kumbu didn't pour cold water on him. Although Howard is vulnerable to O'Pang and Yao Ming, at least he can let the Suns dominate the West, which is not bad, at least better than not being able to enter the finals now.

The two discussed some details of the transaction, and the Suns gathered the draft picks that Kumbu needed before the start of the draft.

As the news spread that the No. [-] lottery was traded out, Kong Bu became a lot cleaner.

A week later, Pippen burst into Comb's office excitedly.

"Kong, I have found my next home."

"Oh? What team? Congratulations, Scottie, what kind of contract did they offer you?"

Combe asked curiously.

"Both the Knicks and the Lakers have contacted me, and their promised salary is $2 million for two years."

"Although it's a bit different from my psychological expectations, I can accept it."

Pippen smiled proudly, it is gratifying to be able to get such a contract at the age of nearly forty.

"Then what do you think, go to the Knicks or the Lakers?" Comb asked.

"Go to the Lakers, the Knicks are the Eastern Conference team after all, and the Lakers are willing to trade me with a first-round pick."

"Leaving the Bobcats, I also want to leave a little bit more benefits for the Bobcats."

Pippen is very grateful to Comb. If Comb keeps Pippen in the Bobcats for a year, he will lose $300 million.

Therefore, the Lakers offered more bargaining chips after signing first, and Pippen simply chose the Lakers as a repayment to Comb.

Kong Bu looked startled, and Pippen did it openly.

The Lakers got a lot of first-round picks in the previous O'Fat trade, and they were all low-ranked first-round picks.

Pippen's performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals was impressive enough, and the Lakers still did not give up hope of winning the championship. Pippen's salary was not high, so they simply took a small gamble. (end of this chapter)