The Whip of the God of Basketball

Beginning in mid-June, with New York as the center, the basketball public opinion in the United States began a big melee. The participating parties included the New York Times, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, The New York Post, and Washington Post, Chicago Tribune. All kinds of news are flying all over the sky in a week. Major newspapers not only have their own commentary articles, but also constantly quote and repost other sources. All kinds of rumors are flying all over the sky.

　　 This is the opposite of the dull and boring before last year's draft. The only surprising thing about the 00 draft is the exchange of Celtics and Mavericks. However, before the official opening of the Madison Garden Plaza conference on June 27 this year, there were no fewer than a hundred trade rumors related to this draft. Like the Wizards holding the No. 1 pick, rumors about them trading this best pick have been endless; or the Clippers with the second overall option, it is rumored that Klaus is interested in genius high school student Tyson Chandler. , I hope the Clippers can win this player and are willing to come back at a great price.

Even if the high draft is like this, let alone the mid-low draft. From the tenth to the twenty-fifth pick, almost every draft pick has trading rumors, which makes the young people who participate in the draft panic. I don't know how long I can wear that team's hat after being selected by a certain team before I will be sent to other cities.

　　 Of course, this is related to the poor draft market last year. The level of newcomers in 2000 was really disappointing, and this year there are undoubtedly some more outstanding young talents to join, which undoubtedly gave a lot of stimulation to the player market. But another important reason is that Leon and his team worked tirelessly to carry out information dissemination and intelligence work during the week in New York. He, Wallace and Morey opened a small hotel in Brooklyn, New York. A room, using this as a base to start activities every day, either having a meal with various scouts gathered in New York, exchanging information about the draft, and taking some news "unintentionally" out; or just staying in the room It spreads various news through the Internet.

Leon is a good player in both aspects. One year of work in the Development League scout team has allowed him to get to know many unknown basketball workers, especially a large number of scouts, who may be insignificant figures in the NBA. It will never appear in the news, but it is an important part of the alliance ecosystem. They create and provide all kinds of news about the players. They have inextricable connections with many reporters, agents and team managers. One of them may not have much energy, but when connected together Will play a big role. Leon told them what he knew and what he hoped others to know. They didn't deliberately distinguish, but only spread these things layer by layer, so the originally chaotic market rumors suddenly became more confused.

On the Internet, Leon also has a sense of advancement. This is where he differs from the old managers of other teams. In Jerry West, Auerbach or Pat Riley, he is still communicating on the phone. At the time, Leon had already started to contact more basketball sources through ICQ software. Maybe the opponent is just a New York high school basketball coach, but Leon can still get a little bit of useful information from him, or spread the news that he needs to spread. He is like a large network processor with a brain in his mind. Zhang's intricate news network covered all aspects of this draft under his methodical control.

Of course, compared with those old foxes who have been in business for many years, Leon’s news network is still a bit too low-level. He has not been able to obtain the information that is truly accurate and quick enough. He has been stirring the muddy water more this week. To cover up the Celtics' intentions in this draft to prevent the possibility of being sniped in the draft in the previous few seasons.

"Now I don’t know what you want to do in the draft? Nearly half of the news that appeared in the New York newspapers recently was probably spread by you. You know how much work it takes me to filter out. Some useful information to write a review article? After a while you said that you want to be interested in Radmanovic, and then there is news that you want Diop, I said, buddy, you don’t need to cover it like that to me, what is your Just tell me.” With more than five hours before the start of the draft, in Washington Square Park near Madison Square Garden, Wojnarowski pushed his glasses while sitting next to him. Leon complained.

After coming to New York, Leon didn’t have much time to meet Wojnarowski. Both of them were very busy. They didn’t meet in the park until the beginning of the draft, listening to their friends complaining about Leon’s hands. The pigeon food bought from here was spilled out, and the gluttonous pigeons around came around to peck the corn kernels one by one. Leon clapped his hands and said to Wojnarowski: "In fact, I didn't get any very useful news. You know we have been stirring the muddy water. Our draft position is not very good. If you can't choose The person we like, or what we want, our overall plan will be hit. You know, this time we put a lot of energy into it. Andre, I hope you can do me a favor and spread one more to us News, I will definitely return you with a big news in the future."

It was the first time Wojnarowski saw Leon like this. He knew that Leon rarely asked for help. He was a kind but proud man. It was more difficult for him to ask for help than to help others, so Wojnarowski nodded without even thinking about it and said, "No problem, maybe this will overdraw some of my credit, but it doesn't matter, I believe you will pay me back."

　　 "Okay, then I hope you can convince all teams that the main goal of the Boston Celtics in the draft is to choose a good inside player, especially the center!"

　　……………………

Five hours later, the 2001 NBA Draft kicked off in Madison Square Garden. Just like last year’s draft, rookies, reporters, scouts, and fans gathered. Dozens of cameras will be the symbol of this year. The endless major events of the NBA are spread across the United States and even the world through television signals, showing people the metabolism of basketball.

Those young people sitting in the audience are excited, expectant and nervous. Many of them will change their destiny tonight. The team managers and scouts sitting in the stands are equally nervous but anxious. The fate of many teams will also change tonight. Although this draft seems to lack a superstar who can change the direction of the league, there are still some talented young people who are full of expectations.

　　 At 7:30 ET, Stern walked up to the center of the Garden Square on time to announce the start of the draft and leave the Washington Wizards five minutes to make their choice.

Leon sat on it and looked down like last year. The difference is that this time he personally contacted Angie in Boston by phone. If there is any change on the scene or news from the headquarters, he will use the phone in front of him. communication.

　　 "Hey, make a bet, who will the Wizards choose?" Morey participated in such a conference for the first time, no doubt he was a little nervous, and he dared to bet with Leon.

　　 "Kwame Brown. I bet on three hamburgers." Leon replied, but his eyes were always fixed on the venue.

Five minutes later, Stern came back on stage and announced the selection results of the Washington Wizards. They really used this precious No. 1 pick to win Kwame Brown from Georgia Green High School. The scene was full of joy. Brown will have history. The first high school student ever, this big man who averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks per game in high school, walked onto the stands with a smile and cheers. This may be the peak of his life. .

"Well, I lose you three burgers. How do you know they are going to choose Kwame-Brown?" Morey asked. Although Kwame-Brown seems to be the most talented among the popular No. 1 candidates, he is a high school student. His identity also makes many people distrust him. Of course, Garnett in 1995 and Kobe Bryant in 1996 minimized this distrust and paved the way for Brown to be elected as the No. 1 pick.

　　 Leon pointed his finger to the audience and replied: "Look carefully, don't you think Brown looks like Jordan? If I were Jordan, I would choose someone who looks like me."

　　 This is perhaps the most nonsensical explanation Morey has ever heard, although if you look closely, Brown does look like a young Jordan. Morey knew that Leon said this for only one reason, and that was that he was not in the mood to care about the high-ranking talents, so he closed his mouth obediently and stopped asking questions.

Just like the news that was flying around before the draft, these news are not all unfounded. The first big deal is coming soon, and the Clippers won Tyson from Domingos High School in second place- After Chandler, the Bulls immediately offered a deal. They sent the 1999 No. 1 pick Elton Brand to the Clippers ~www.NovelMTL.com~ in exchange for the freshly released second place Chandler.

　　 "Stupid transaction." Leon commented that he had heard of the signs of this transaction, but he didn't expect the Bull Prime Minister to make such a decision.

Then the Atlanta Hawks, who had the third overall pick, picked Paul Gasol from Spain. He was also quickly traded by the team. The Hawks sent him to the Grizzlies and got Abdul Rahim. The Spaniard handed over to Memphis. The transaction was so fast that Gasol held the grizzly hat in one hand and the eagle hat in the other when taking pictures.

　　The trades can be described as one after another. The Nets with the No. 7 pick even traded three at a time with the Rockets.

　　 Of course, Leon is most concerned about whether the candidate he wants in his heart can wear the Celtic green hat.

Finally came to the tenth overall pick, Orlando Magic, ranked ahead of the Celtics, their choice is extremely critical for the Celtics, because the people they want to pick are still waiting anxiously in the audience, as long as Orlando If people don't get in the way, the Celtics' first step can be realized.

　　 At this time, Stern stepped onto the stage with a smile on his face, holding a note with the result in his hand, Leon pressed his lips and waited nervously, and some of his fists even turned white.

"The Orlando Magic chose Oak Mountain College... Desaguena-Diop with the tenth overall pick!" Stern finally announced the Orlando man's choice without delay, and Leon finally let go. He sighed, and let go of his fists. He knew that he and Auerbach’s vision for the Celtics for the next two years would start from this step~www.NovelMTL.com~Welcome to visit and read, the latest, The fastest and hottest serial works are all at ~www.NovelMTL.com~ mobile phone users, please go to read.