Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 51 The Last Stop

Xu Ling's second training session was in Seattle.

This time, Leon Rose personally accompanied him.

Rose valued this workout because, with the Trail Blazers having clearly stated their intention to select Oden, Xu Ling's draft position was not difficult to predict. It would be either the second or third pick.

However, among the teams with top-five picks this year, only the Celtics, holding the fifth pick, have a real need for either the shooting guard or small forward position. Xu Ling's playing style wouldn't clash with Paul Pierce's. The Trail Blazers already have Brandon Roy, the SuperSonics have Ray Allen, and the Hawks, with the fourth pick, have Joe Johnson and Josh Smith—their forward positions are already saturated. The Grizzlies acquired Rudy Gay last year in exchange for Shane Battier and are actively developing him. Therefore, Xu Ling doesn't seem like a must-have player for any of them.

But here's the problem. There's a reason these teams fell into the lottery. The SuperSonics are facing internal and external troubles; the owner is preparing to move the team. Ray Allen, despite his loyalty, what use is an All-Star shooting guard who's over 30 and has had surgery on both legs to a rebuilding team that's always ready to leave Seattle?
The Grizzlies' situation is completely different. They won the third overall pick, putting them in a unique position. A few years ago, they were a consistently strong 50-win team in the West, but they struggled to win a single playoff game. Pau Gasol's leadership was questioned, and veteran coach Hubie Brown returned to being a commentator after his coaching stint. While the team retained its core players, its performance plummeted, essentially indicating a complete rebuild. Therefore, with the third pick, they have the resources to select what they believe to be the most talented player, whether to compete with Rudy Gay or to develop him as a future core player. Xu Ling is one of their primary targets.

This is why Leon Rose believes the Seattle workout is crucial, because if the SuperSonics don't select Xu Ling, it's almost certain the Memphis Grizzlies will pick him third overall.

Sam Presti was very friendly. Xu Ling's first impression of him was that he was young, perhaps too young. However, as a recognized genius GM, Presti was highly valued by Popovich during his time with the Spurs. They always told Presti that after a few years, when RC Buford retired, the GM position would be his for the taking. But like countless players poached by the Spurs, once Presti got the chance to be the leader elsewhere, he left San Antonio without hesitation.

The SuperSonics have now reached a crossroads in their history. Where they go from here is not Presti's concern; his only task is to make the most of this crucial draft. This year, there are three super talents, and the SuperSonics hold the second pick. With Oden already locked in the first pick, they are essentially choosing between Durant and Xu Ling.

Durant had an exceptional workout here yesterday, and he largely lived up to expectations—a Kevin Garnett-like physique and Tracy McGrady's skill set.

Xu Ling underwent a workout program similar to the one he had in Portland. His dynamic abilities were astonishing. The biggest difference was that his technical demonstration today was even better. He was absolutely accurate from beyond the NBA three-point line.

“Sam, I really don’t think KD is better than Eli,” Rose said from the side. “Have you ever seen anyone shoot with that kind of accuracy during a tryout?”

Presti truthfully replied, "No."

"Where's KD from yesterday?"

“He’s good, but still not as good as Eli today,” Presti said. “Eli is just as good as I saw him play.”

Ray Allen became a clear distraction. Xu Ling seemed extremely mature, technically versatile, and almost a plug-and-play super rookie. But the talent Durant displayed hinted at a possibility—he might develop into one of the greatest players of all time. Although Durant's current immediate impact is inferior to Xu Ling's, his future potential is unimaginable.

However, Durant's potential is largely built on the natural advantages of his height and wingspan; similarly, Xu Ling's potential makes one believe he has the ability to become the next Kobe. If you're optimistic enough, you might even expect him to surpass Kobe.

However, in the world of talent shows, talent remains the only currency that matters.

Xu Ling completed her second tryout with great success, but still did not receive any clear draft commitment.

“I guess,” Xu Ling said on the way back to the hotel, “they still prefer Kevin Durant?”

Leon Rose said helplessly, "Maybe, but I think Ray Allen's presence is a more crucial factor."

No, there's actually an even more obvious reason: Durant clearly has a bigger following. Xu Ling's glorious NCAA championship aura is gradually fading, and everyone seems to have calmed down. They've started doing the math based on pure talent. The SuperSonics want Durant because his talent is greater—it's that simple.

Despite two consecutive outstanding performances, Xu Ling has yet to receive recognition, and her emotions have begun to be affected.

"Is Memphis the next stop?"

"Correct."

“Very good,” Xu Ling said. “It seems that’s where I should be.”

Leon Ross drove silently, his gaze sweeping across the slightly gloomy Seattle sky outside the window. His fingers tapped unconsciously on the steering wheel, pondering the dissatisfaction in Xu Ling's words. He had driven many young people and knew the sensitivity of such moments. A protective instinct, or rather, a more pragmatic professional intuition, prevailed within him.

“You know what, Eli?” Ross began slowly, his tone no longer that of a smooth agent, but more like that of an ally, “Perhaps we’ve been working in the wrong direction all along.”

Xu Ling turned her head and looked at him with some surprise.

Rose continued, “We tried to prove to them how ‘good’, how ‘mature’, how ‘plug-and-play’ we were, hoping to impress Portland and Seattle, but we overlooked the most important point—in their eyes, ‘good’ is cheap, but ‘ceiling’ is priceless. Kevin Pritchard and Sam Presti don’t want the best players; they need a ‘god’ who can save the team.”

"so what?"

Xu Ling asked.

"Although it's not the best place, I believe that as long as you perform normally in tomorrow's tryout, we won't have to go to Atlanta for the tryout." Compared to the Grizzlies, Rose thinks the Hawks are a worse place. Putting aside the low probability of Xu Ling falling to the fourth pick, just look at the Hawks' roster. Xu Ling's position is occupied by young All-Star player Joe Johnson, and on the wing there is Josh Smith, as well as last year's second overall pick, Marvin Williams.

This team's forwards are too hunched, which is not conducive to the development of rookies.

Rose made a temporary decision to reassure Xu Ling: "We won't go to Atlanta for a tryout. The place we're going to has to be one that truly needs you and is willing to give you the ball and a future. Like Memphis."

The following day, news quickly spread that Xu Ling's camp had unilaterally canceled the Hawks' tryout plan.

"Did Eli get a draft promise from the SuperSonics?"

"Be bold, why can't we be pioneers?"

Someone called Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard about this, but Pritchard politely stated, "Our favorite kid right now is still Greg Oden."

Sam Presti declined to comment on the matter.

But when Xu Ling's camp announced that the Memphis Grizzlies' tryouts would proceed as planned, the truth came out.

Well, so Eli Xu doesn't like Atlanta. But if you didn't like it, why did you even schedule this tryout? Disgruntled Hawks fans flooded Xu Ling's Twitter with profanities. But Xu Ling has already departed for Memphis.

Xu Ling had very limited knowledge of Memphis, and even less about the Grizzlies. Before his time travel, he didn't like Ja Morant, and for Chinese fans like himself, the only widely known achievement of the Grizzlies in the basketball world was drafting the then-sleeping Wang Zhelin in the second round of 2016.

As a result, this became the only connection between the Grizzlies and Wang Zhelin. Wang Zhelin had no interest in playing in the NBA, and the Grizzlies didn't want to waste time on him. Therefore, Wang Zhelin's draft rights were traded time and again. Even after the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup debacle, Wang Zhelin still maintained numerous NBA team legend statuses. So, ultimately, this draft pick served no purpose; its only function was selecting a player.

Xu Ling and his group arrived in Memphis by plane, and then took a car ride for a while before arriving at the Grizzlies' training center.

The car had just come to a stop, and Xu Ling and Ross hadn't even fully entered the gate when a figure emerged from inside. The man was dressed casually, tall and imposing, with a serious expression; it was none other than Jerry West, the Grizzlies' general manager, the man featured in the logo.

However, West's face showed none of the enthusiasm one would expect when welcoming a promising rookie. His arrival was less of a welcome and more of a cool-headed inspection.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” West said with a forced smile. “Welcome to Memphis.”

He extended his hand and shook hands with the two people in turn, his movements swift and decisive, the touch brief and the hand apart as if he were simply completing a set procedure.

"Was your trip smooth?"

Xu Ling had experienced countless greetings upon meeting, but never before had she felt so clearly that the other person was just going through the motions.

"It's alright," Xu Ling replied.

"That's good," West said. "Get ready, our tryouts will begin soon."

This lukewarm welcome creates an invisible pressure. It's not hostile, but it feels more alienating than outright indifference.

Then, West suddenly stopped, turned around and asked, "Eli, you should be very familiar with the tryout process."

"This is my last tryout," Xu Ling said. "It's hard not to be familiar with it."

"So, would you mind if we added some special items?"

It depends on what it is.

“We happen to have one of our players here today.” West’s eyes were sharp as an eagle’s, quickly sweeping over Xu Ling. His gaze wasn’t that of someone looking at a promising young man, but rather like someone assessing the quality and flaws of an item. “If you don’t object, I’d like to arrange a scrimmage after the technical session.”

"do not mind."

Xu Ling smiled. "I'm tired of giving a perfect answer to thin air."

(End of this chapter)