NBA: Back to 97, to be the Jagged Bishop

Chapter 357
After Pippen's sign-and-trade was finalized, current Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak called Comb to discuss the details of the deal.

The Bobcats do not implement the team option, and then sign a 2-year $900 million contract with Pippen, and then trade with the Lakers, get cannon fodder players from the Lakers for salary balance, plus a 24th pick in the first round .

What's interesting is that the 24th overall pick in the first round is actually the Bobcats' own, and Kumbu used it to trade O'Fat before.

Kupchak is a natural professional manager. He won three championships with the Lakers as a player. After retiring in 1986, he worked as an assistant under Lakers general manager Jerry West.

Said to be an assistant, in fact, Jerry West's work is done by him.

After more than ten years of experience in the assistant position, after West left the Lakers for the Grizzlies, Kupchak finally took the position.

Under normal circumstances, he took the position in 2000 and worked as the general manager of the Lakers for a full 17 years. This is also the longest-lived general manager in the history of the Lakers.

However, due to the impact of Kumbu's crossing, Kupchak took the position three years late.

The Lakers' F4 lineup, O'Fat's trade, refusing to use Bynum to trade Kidd, using Kwame Brown and others and draft picks to rob Gasol from the Grizzlies, trade Ariza and sign Artest, The single replacement of Howard with the weakened Bynum and the signing of Nash were all written by Kupchak.

Some operations don't seem to make much money, such as the operation of introducing Howard. After Howard arrived in the Lakers, he didn't play anything.

However, this does not mean that this operation is not wonderful. The general manager's responsibility is to introduce the most valuable players at the smallest cost. Howard was extremely valuable at the time. When the Lakers failed to play, that was the coach's problem, and it had nothing to do with him as the general manager. .

All kinds of wonderful operations allowed Kupchak to win the title of "NBA's greatest team general manager" in later generations.

This name is very big and famous, and Auerbach has never received such an honor.

"Kong, happy cooperation, we are young people, we can contact more in the future."

"It's a pity that the Lakers didn't win the No. [-] pick when you traded this time. I hope that if you have such an opportunity next time, you can give us priority."

Kupchak's attitude is very good, and he is full of enthusiasm for friendship with Combra.

Kong Bu smiled secretly, you are almost 50 years old, how young are you?As for the No. [-] lottery, it’s something you can’t come across. Kumbu has only had the No. [-] lottery twice in his seven years of coaching. The first time he went to Philadelphia on his own initiative.

This time the Lakers are willing to add a first-round pick to the deal, which can be regarded as a gesture of favor to Kumbu. Everyone carried the sedan chair, and Kupchak also caught Kupchak and praised him, saying that he can become a member of this league in the future. The best general manager ever.

In late June, Combe and Jordan took Jordan's private plane to New York.

"Kong, have you ever thought about buying a private jet?"

"Even if you don't buy a private jet, can you trade in your broken Chevrolet?"

"Why do you keep so much money? Why don't you know how to enjoy it?"

Every time Jordan travels with Kongbu, he will habitually complain about Kongbu's stinginess.

"Enjoy? I'm sitting on a private jet now, don't you know how to enjoy it?"

"I seldom drive a car. Why buy such a good car? With that money, why don't I build a few schools and accumulate some virtue?"

"A luxury car costing $100 million is enough for me to build ten schools in my hometown."

Kong Bu waved his hands and smiled.

Jordan was stunned, "Building a school? Good guy, you're the money-making celestial flower of the United States, and you don't keep a cent and take it home?"

"But you said that ten schools can be built with 100 million US dollars, isn't it a bit exaggerated? We can't even build a decent teaching building with this amount of money."

Kongbu laughed loudly, "Or you have a high GDP."

The two talked nonsense and arrived in New York.

After resting at the hotel for an afternoon, head to Madison Square Garden in the evening.

When Combe and Jordan arrived at the arena, there was only half an hour left before the official start of the draft. As a result, representatives from all the teams in the league were standing at the entrance, and no team was waiting for the draft in the arena. start.

After seeing Kongbu coming, a group of people swarmed up.

"Kong, the journey has been hard."

D'Antoni's face is not a person who can sycophant, in front of so many colleagues, he can only say this at most.

"Mike, why don't you go in and sit? It's damn hot in this damn weather."

"Don't worry, I'll text you later."

Combe patted D'Antoni on the shoulder and smiled.

"Kong, when I think back to when I was in the Suns a year ago, it really seems like yesterday."

Danny Ainge also came over. He said this, of course, not because of feeling that time has passed too fast, but to remind Comb that the Suns gave Comb a first-round pick when he was traded with Oban. It was Danny Angie's favor.

Kumbu couldn't laugh or cry, the pick of the Suns was indeed given by Angie, but the pick belonged to the Suns, not Angie's personal property.

Besides, Angie is now coaching Lukai, and Kong Bu and Lukai have already agreed to send three All-Stars, so there is no need for Kongbu to return Angie's favor.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Dunleavy Sr. originally wanted to inquire from Comb about who the Suns should pick for the No. [-] pick.

Even if he asked the sun, he would never be told, so he could only ask Kumbu.

But seeing so many people at the scene, and the Suns owner D'Antoni has been standing next to Combe, he really didn't have a chance to ask.

The new Bulls coach Scott Skiles managed to squeeze through the crowd and took Comb's arm like an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

In fact, Combe didn't have much friendship with Skiles, but they were both the coaches of the Eastern Conference, so Combe just let him go.

"Kong, what do you think of that young English man?"

"We are the No. [-] pick. The two insiders definitely don't need to think about it. Now we are thinking about picking the next player who can not lose to Hinrich."

Skiles once set a record of assists in a single game when he was a player, which is considered a miracle among small people. After he took up the coaching position, he only took less than four years to become a coach from an assistant.

What he said to Kumbu was actually to let Kumbu look at the fact that the Bulls traded Hinrich to the Bobcats and helped the Bulls.

Comb didn't realize for a while who the young British man Skiles was talking about, presumably it was Ruhr Deng?After all, he has the nickname of Deng Yingqiao.

"Very good, serious all-star level, feel free to choose."

Combe said with a smile that he still didn't understand why Skiles would compare Hinrich even though Luer Deng was a striker.

After getting Comb's reply, Skiles looked overjoyed.

"With your words, I am relieved."

"Kong, the Bulls and Bobcats have countless connections. If you need our help in the future, please call me at any time. I will never refuse."

……

With less than 10 minutes left before the start of the draft, everyone rushed into the venue.

Stern took a look at the venue in the background just now, wondering if he had come to the wrong place, the entire venue was empty.

It wasn't until the team representatives entered the field that he breathed a sigh of relief.

The draft has officially started, and there is no suspense about the top pick and the second pick.

The Suns selected Howard, and the Clippers selected Okafor.

Although the Clippers have Brand, Okafor is extremely valuable after all, and he can trade it later even if he doesn't need it.

And the old Dunleavy feels that Okafor's potential is much higher than that of Brand. Maybe it will be more cost-effective to trade Brand and keep Okafor for training.

It was the turn of the Bulls' third overall pick.

"I announce that the Chicago Bulls have selected the third pick in the first round from London, England..."

"Ben Gordon!"

Stern read it on the stage, and Kong Bu in the audience was stunned. How dare Skiles ask himself not Ruhr Deng, but Ben Gordon?
This guy is also British?

There was a big oolong, which made Kong Bu blush, and he knew that he should ask more questions.

No wonder Skiles compared this young Englishman with Hinrich, because Ben Gordon is 191 cm tall, but he can't play the first position, he can only play the second position, and he is also a unique player.

Fortunately, Ben Gordon's strength is not weak. Although he has not been selected as an All-Star like Deng Yingqiao, he was also a guard who averaged 20+ per game at his peak.

After thinking about it carefully, Kong Bu suddenly remembered that Deng Yingqiao was not a pure British at all, and his ancestral home was South Sudan.

Later, I joined the British nationality, which is a kind of naturalization.

Naturalization has something to do with Ben Gordon, because Ben Gordon has been a teammate of Deng Yingqiao for many years and has a close relationship. Later, he was naturalized on the recommendation of Ben Gordon.

It is worth mentioning that Deng Yingqiao was also selected by the Bulls in this draft. He has been teammates with Ben Gordon since his rookie season.

Sean Livingston at No. [-] and Devin Harris at No. [-] were selected next.

The Hawks then took Stanford's Josh Childers with the sixth pick.

Stanford University is a famous school, but not a famous basketball school. Childe has become the player with the highest draft pick in school history.

The seventh pick was originally the Heat's draft pick, but unfortunately they gave this draft pick to the Bulls in the previous transaction.

Then the Bulls took advantage of the situation and selected Luer Deng.

Comb's spy, Skiles has a really good vision, and neither of the two high-ranking picks missed.

After the No. [-] pick was selected, Kumbu became nervous.

The Suns provided Comb with three first-round picks, namely No. 10, No. 18 and No. 29 in the first round.

In addition to these three draft picks, Comb also has No. 24 from the Lakers and No. 22 from the previous Spurs trade for Korver.

The No. 10 pick is about to come, and Iguodala is what Kumbu wants most, but Iguodala is normally selected at No. 9, and Kumbu is also worried that he will not be able to get the No. 10 pick. .

The Jazz with the No. 8 pick selected Brazilian center Rafael Aruyo. The name is quite abstract, and the strength is extremely weak and vulnerable.

It can be said that the Jazz has suffered bad luck in recent years. In the league, they are the roles that grandparents do not love and uncles do not love.

And even if they have draft picks, they can't get decent rookies.

The No. [-] pick belongs to the Cavaliers, and Combe prayed in his heart that the Cavaliers would never choose Iguodala.

"I announce that the Cleveland Cavaliers have selected Luke Jackson of the University of Oregon with the ninth overall pick in the first round!"

Kongbu looked overjoyed. He was ready to use this draft pick to select Al Jefferson, but he didn't expect that Iguodala was not wanted.

He quickly sent a message to D'Antoni, asking him to select Iguodala.

With Iguodala's entry into the team, the Bobcats' starting lineup is a bit powerful.

Originally, the second position was the short board of the Bobcats. Even with Slee as Jordan for 5 minutes, it was not enough to suppress the opponent.

Now that Iguodala is here, he can be played at the second position, partnered with Hinrich's defense, and the defensive strength of the two in the backcourt is suffocating.

It is no exaggeration to say that with Iguodala, Kumbu is at least [-]% more sure of defending the title.

When he got the 14th pick, the last lottery pick, Combe quickly sent a message to Danny Ainge.

The content of the information is very simple, only the name of Al Jefferson.

Originally promised to send Lukai three All-Stars, Kong Bu has already completed one-third.

Angie looked ecstatic. He knew that Kong Bu had made an agreement with Lukai. He thought that Kong Bu would definitely send three outside All-Stars. After all, compared to inside All-Stars, the value of outside lines is lower.

If there are good things, who will give them to others?

As a result, what Kong Bu sent over was really an inside line, and what Lu Kai lacked right now was an inside line.

Danny Ainge quickly selected Al Jefferson with the 14th overall pick in his hand, then stood up and gave Comb a grateful smile.

After waiting for a while, Combe arrived at the 18th pick, which happened to be the pick that could select Josh Smith. Of course, Combe had no reason to let it go.

Then with the 22nd pick, Combe selected Tony Allen.

With the 24th overall pick, Kevin Martin was selected.

With the 29th pick sent by the Suns, Comb has no other options. He can only choose the actor Varejao. He is also an insider, and he can play as a substitute in the new season to prevent Ao Pang or Bosh from getting injured. .

Kumbu used all the five first-round picks just right, and all the players he liked were selected.

But out of these five players, Combe can only keep four, because he also scored one for the Suns.

Regarding the No. [-] pick deal a few days ago, the Suns did gather three first-round picks, but in this way they would have no draft picks in their hands.

The night before the draft, Comb called D'Antoni and agreed to help him pick a perimeter defender, and the Suns would use next year's first round to compensate the Bobcats.

This transaction is completely a gift of favor and warmth.

The Suns got Howard and strengthened the defense at the second position. Their record next season may be the top three in the league, and the draft pick is around 27th.

Comb selected Tony Allen with the 22nd overall pick, which was obviously a loss.

Fortunately, the Suns are a team of the United Arab Emirates, and Kumbu feels that it doesn't matter if they lose a little bit. Anyway, the fat and water have not flowed to outsiders.

After sending out Tony Allen, Combe has four players left, which can be regarded as a rewarding return.

(End of this chapter)