The invincible kryptonite of basketball

And like Johnson before, being selected by the Pelicans is the happiest thing for a rookie.

After taking a group photo on stage, he also accepted reporters' interviews on the sidelines.

"We all know you were considered a lottery pick, but now you didn't get picked until 44th. How do you feel?"

Regarding the second-round show, the attitude of the reporters is obviously more direct than before, especially the question she asked is what the fans want to know.

"It was a difficult night, the result was different from what I expected, but I am grateful to be able to stand here. I have to thank the Pelicans for their trust in me. I will go all out to prove myself and prove their choice. correct."

Boll has recovered from his emotional collapse, and his words also show that he is a player with a high spirit.

The draft for the Pelicans has ended, and Tang Tian and Stevens went down to the field to say hello to the two rookies.

Both Johnson and Ball were thrilled.

Although he is not a fan of Tang Tian like Barrett, it is an honor for young people like them to see the No.1 in NBA history.

Not to mention greeting Tang Tian, ​​and even being patted on the head by Tang Tian.

The draft ended with a bang, and Tang Tian also completed the first major event in his management career.

With Summer League in July, Johnson signed with the Pelicans shortly after the draft.

The contract and number of years for the first-round picks are fixed, and it is the same for the Pelicans to sign early or late.

As for Ball, the team still needs to conduct further medical examinations on him, and determine the contract that the team will sign with him based on his injury.

This is why Tang Tian and the management of the Pelicans are willing to gamble with the second round. The loss in the first round is a guaranteed contract, but the second round is only a draft pick.

In the draft, selection is the key, and the subsequent signing is a process.

The rest of the work was left to Dempsey's assistant.

Tang Tian and Dempsey set their sights on the upcoming free agent market.

With Tang Tian retiring, the Pelicans will definitely look for a replacement in the free market.

Although this year's free market is not as lively as last year, there are also many superstars.

Middleton, Tobias Harris, Millsap, Horford, Russell...

These are only the second echelon.

Durant, Irving, Thompson, Towns, Porzingis, Booker, these are the protagonists of the summer.

Tang Tian has an innate advantage in that among these big-name players are his hard-working brothers.

This is also the reason why Benson was willing to believe that Tang Tian could bring back superstars.

Of course, everything is still unknown before the free market door is officially opened.

There are still a few days before the door opens, Tang Tian and Dempsey are actively preparing.

At this moment, a guest came to Tang Tian's manor.

Li Chunjiang, the head coach of the Chinese men's basketball team.

There is only one and a half months before the opening of the World Cup, and the training of the national team has reached the final stage.

Li Chunjiang came this time to inquire about the team's roster.

The roster is generally decided by the coaching staff, but Tang Tian is the foundation of the men's basketball team, and his opinion is the most important.

In other words, Tang Tian had the final say on this matter.

After all, no matter who goes, the others are fighting around Tang Tian.

There are 17 people on the list brought by Li Chunjiang this time, and they have experienced several layoffs before.

Defenders: Ding Yanyuhang, Guo Ailun, Zhao Jiwei, Fang Shuo, Wu Qian, Sun Minghui

Forwards: Tang Tian, ​​Zhou Peng, Zhai Xiaochuan, Kolan Bek, Abdul Saramu, Ren Junfei

Insiders: Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhelin, Shen Zijie, Hu Jinqiu, Zhang Zhenlin

Tang Tian took a look at the list and crossed out the names of himself, Ding Yanyuhang and Yi Jianlian.

This is definitely on the big list.

He didn't move in the next step, but looked up at Li Chunjiang.

"Are there any videos of the national team's recent warm-up matches?"

he continued.

As a time traveler, he is aware of the abilities of these people.

But to be honest, this time the World Cup opponents are very strong, in addition to strength, it also depends on the state.

Li Chunjiang didn't expect Tang Tian to ask such a question, but he responded quickly. After asking Tang Tian to wait for a while, he called the country.

Chapter 2019 [-] NBA Free Agent Market

After a while after calling, he said he would come back in a few days.

For things like video recording, even remote transmission is not something that can be done all at once.

And it's better to have a video tape, it looks convenient.

Tang Tian was not in a hurry either.

Watching the video is only one aspect. When the free agent matters here are settled, he will go back to China to participate in the warm-up match with the players.

As the Olympic champion, the Chinese team's opponents in the last few warm-up matches of the World Cup are very important.

Especially in the final match between France and Canada, these are potential competitors.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, June 6th has entered the countdown to the opening of the free agent market.

Tang Tian's informal contact with several free agents has also become closer.

The NBA's rule is that the two sides cannot formally communicate before the gate starts, but everyone is playing sidelines.

And Tang Tian's contacts are there, including the reporters of Woj, as well as the general managers of other team management.

From the information collected so far, Tang Tian also knows some information on the free market.

Porzingis wanted to leave the Suns very much. After four consecutive years of poor play, especially last year's failure to hit the playoffs, he was already tired.

But the Suns certainly won't let him go.

Towns will basically sign a maximum salary contract with the Timberwolves.

Everyone has a different personality. Although the Timberwolves have been rotten like the Suns, he, like Wiggins in the team, prefers stability.

Booker will basically renew his contract with the Bulls. The combination of him and LaVine played well last season, especially last year when the two worked together to bring the team into the playoffs.

In this way, there are actually only three real big fish in the free market, Durant, Irving, and Thompson.

And the second-tier players like Middleton and Harris.

If the Pelicans want to remain competitive, the goal can only be the three big fish.

At 0 o'clock in the evening, the gate of the free market opens.

Tang Tian and Dempsey were already in a coffee shop outside Oakland.

"Do you think Clay will agree to you?"

Thompson hadn't come yet, and Dempsey couldn't help asking Tang Tian.

Tang Tian shook his head.

Thompson and Curry are collectively known as the Splash Brothers, and their partners on and off the court have a tacit understanding.

And more importantly, the Warriors have Thompson's bird rights.

Because Thompson was selected for three teams this year, he can get a five-year 5 million contract from the Warriors, which is much more than the four-year 2.2 million he can sign with the Pelicans.

Dempsey looked at Tang Tian in surprise.

"But I have to come."

Tang Tian continued.

Dempsey froze for a moment, then nodded.

After waiting for more than half an hour, Thompson hurried over.

"Don, there's a traffic jam."

After Thompson came in, he said to Tang Tian.

"It's okay, sit down, the coffee is ready for you."

Tang Tian motioned for Thompson to sit down.

After sitting down, the two chatted about something.

For them, it is still more suitable for the previous brotherhood, rather than the current management and players.

"How about you come to the Pelicans for five straight titles?"

Tang Tian finally said what he wanted to say.

Thompson was silent for a while after listening.

"If you still play, I'd definitely like to go."

Thompson finally spoke.

Half of his words are from his heart, just like Walker and Butler last year, if he was a free agent at the time, he would also go to the Pelicans.

The other half is actually expressing his position and giving steps, bird rights, and the relationship with Curry. In fact, both of them know it.

"Then if I come back, I will definitely pull you over."

Tang Tian also said jokingly.

When recruiting, the two didn't talk too much, they were just chatting.

After the chat was over, Tang Tian sent Thompson back to the car.

"Should we stay first, or go on to Milwaukee?"

Dempsey watched Thompson's car drive away and asked.

This is a bad start for them.

"I'll make a call first."

Tang Tian picked up his phone and walked aside.

Compared with China, the information security of the United States is very low.

Much of the communication on the phone is monitored in real time.

If there was a phone conversation before the free market door opened, it would be easy to be discovered by the league.

All some calls can still only be made after the gate of the free market.

Dempsey didn't know what Tang Tian was going to do. After waiting for about ten minutes, Tang Tian came back with his mobile phone.

"Go to Los Angeles, you can contact Durant and make an appointment to meet tomorrow."

What Tang Tian said when he came back surprised Dempsey.

However, he also deduced that Tang Tian should have called Owen just now.

Needless to say, Irving's situation should be similar to Thompson's.

It seems that the relationship between brothers is not so reliable in the face of huge money!

But Durant is Tang Tian's old enemy, which sounds even more unreliable!

Tang Tian had a private jet, and they went straight to Los Angeles after boarding the plane.

On the plane, Tang Tian looked out the window, thinking about what he had just called Owen on the phone.

Unlike Thompson, because Irving was not selected to the best team, there is not much difference in the money he can get when he comes to the Pelicans and stays in the Bucks.

He is also inclined to come.