NBA: Back to 97, to be the Jagged Bishop

Chapter 126 Vince Carter Got It
Kumbu thought he would be able to take it easy in the week leading up to the draft.

Unexpectedly, the phone never stopped, and I was busier than during the season.

Some people say that the regular season and playoffs are the stage for players, and the offseason is the stage for team executives and head coaches. Comb has a deep understanding of this now.

Dumars of the Pistons called and confirmed the details of the transaction between the two parties.

The two teams are also verbal transactions, because of the relationship with the old Thomas, Dumars was not very worried about the Raptors changing their minds before, but he received a call from the old Thomas yesterday, saying that he ran to the Knicks.

Of course Dumars was frightened, for fear that the Raptors would go back on their word.

"Kong, is our previous agreement still valid?"

"Of course it works. Give us your No. 10 pick, give you our No. 29 pick, and give you an All-Star-level combo forward with shooting ability, the kind that can open up space for Hill."

"If it doesn't work, give Jermaine to you for nothing."

Combe recounted the agreement between the two parties.

The All-Star combo forward agreed upon by the two parties does not mean that he has to be selected as an All-Star, but refers to the ability to average 20 points and seven or eight rebounds per game. This is the standard All-Star combo forward. .

Dumas is relieved, as long as there is no change of mind.

If Comb can fulfill his promise and send an All-Star combo forward, then Dumars will be able to take the position of general manager as soon as possible next season.

After hanging up on the Pistons, Grizzlies general manager Stu Jackson called again.

He didn't call to make a deal with the Raptors, but to ask how Comb felt about Mike Bibby.

Stu is sure that the Clippers, who hold the No. [-] pick, will select center Olowokandi.

They hold the No. [-] pick, and only Mike Bibby can be selected.

Although there are different rookies in the draft conference every year, the players that each team selects are generally regular.

There are outstanding big centers in the same class, so the center must be the priority.

If you don't have a good center, choose a good point guard.

As Elgin Baylor said, the most important positions on a team are center and point guard.

However, this kind of statement has limitations of the age. When the small ball era starts, this kind of draft law will not be applicable.

This year, the best center recognized by the outside world is Olowokandi, and the best point guard is University of Arizona's Bibby.

"Kong, do you think it's possible for Bibby to become a parallel importer?"

"I don't want to use the second pick to pick a parallel importer and become a joke of the entire league."

The Grizzlies had high draft picks in the first three seasons. The three players selected by Stu were the big redneck, Raheem and Antonio Daniels.

The strength of these three players is not bad, but the strongest Raheem is still far from the first-tier stars, and the weakest Daniels is just a blue-collar outsider.

"Old man, choose with confidence."

"Bibby's style is a bit like Chauncey in our team. He is a very good point guard."

"But after you get it, you have to train his pick-and-roll mid-range shooting and three-point ability."

Kumbu still likes Bibby the White Devil. If the Clippers gave him the No. [-] pick, he even considered using the No. [-] pick to sign Bibby.

Like Billups, Bibby has no absolute strengths, and his defense may be slightly worse than Billups.

The two are at the same level in three-point shooting, and Bibi is stronger in mid-range shooting.

Billups is better than Lupus in passing control ability and overall situation view, but Bibby has a big heart, and he can always play a decisive role at critical moments.

"I can rest assured that."

Stu smiled with satisfaction. To get a point guard of Billups' level, a second pick is definitely worth it.

You must know that when Billups was in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he played at the MVP level.

Even against the Bulls, he also staged lore.

……

Tang Shuai also called in the past few days, asking when Kong Bu brought McGrady, Xiao Ao and Duncan to the training camp.

Kumbu casually said the time, anyway, after the draft is over, the labor negotiation will be deadlocked, and there will be no training camp.

The domestic basketball management center called again to inquire about Da Zhi's situation, and asked about Da Zhi's contract renewal for next season.

Kumbu did not give an answer, because after the wage negotiations, Da Zhi's contract extension will become a very difficult issue.

He doesn't know now whether the Raptors can successfully renew Da Zhi.

Yao Zhiyuan also called to congratulate Kong Bu on leading the team to win the championship, but the congratulations were just an excuse. The old Yao probably wanted to ask Kong Bu about Yao Ming's plan to participate in the draft.

Kong Bu can only say that the time has not come, and let Dayao continue to wait.

In the week leading up to the draft, Comb received at least ten calls a day.

Except for answering the phone, because the old Thomas ran away, many of the jobs that belonged to him now fell into the hands of Combe.

Kong Bu was too busy to touch the ground, so he had no choice but to assign some work to the general manager Glenn.

Glenn was very happy. He finally got rid of the ticket manager's hat and began to formally get in touch with the core work of the team.

……

On June 6, Canada Canada Vancouver.

This year's draft is home to the Grizzlies.

Comb took general manager Glenn half an hour early to enter.

When Konbu appeared in the draft venue, the scene immediately fell silent, and everyone cast all kinds of eyes on Konbu.

There is envy, there is curiosity, there is jealousy, and there is hatred.

Think about the draft a year ago. At that time, Combe was just a little guy who didn't care about him, and no one cared about him at all.

One year later, tonight, he has become the focus of attention.

The host, Stu, led the head coach, Brian Hill, and walked quickly towards Combe.

"Kong, long time no see."

"You have so many draft picks this time, you will definitely get a lot of new stars."

Stu held Kongbu's hand affectionately, like an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.

"Kong, you're sure to have a great harvest in this draft, why don't you give us the money back to the Wizards?"

Unseld, the old bone crusher, was not far away, and he greeted Kong Bu.

"Kong, if you can't run out of outstanding newcomers you have selected, remember to contact us and we will help you digest it."

Old Nelson also laughed and joked.

Kong Bu was speechless, and could only nod and smile in greeting one by one.

Next, at almost every step that Kumbu took, he would stop to chat with some good acquaintances.

Wilkens, George Karl, Silver Fox Harris and Jerry West, Hornets general manager Buss Sr., Timberwolves' McHale and Sr. Sanders, Nuggets' D'Antoni and Sr. Fitch... …

Even Popovich of the Spurs, after seeing Konbu, smiled and got up and shook hands with Konbu.

As long as you are not a fool, you can see how amazing Konbu's influence is at this time, and the top management of most teams in the league are selling him face.

Glenn felt very uncomfortable behind Combe.

Is there any mistake, I am the general manager of the Raptors, the real leader of the team, but I don't even have anyone to say hello to me?

"Hey, my dear Kong, my dear boy."

"Did you bring me any present?"

Old Thomas and Knicks general manager Ernie came to participate in the draft this time. After seeing Kumbu, he yelled loudly.

When Kongbu came to his side, he immediately stopped Kongbu and whispered in his ear.

"Kong, quickly give me a reliable rookie player."

"Isn't your first-round pick already sold? Even if it was given to you, you wouldn't be able to get it?"

Combe asked curiously.

"Don't we still have a second-round pick with the 44th pick? You can find an undrafted pick like Daben. Isn't our second-round pick okay?"

Old Thomas had eyes full of hope.

Kumbu was speechless, this old Deng really regarded a player like Daben as Chinese cabbage.

"Don't think too much about it. You can choose whatever you like for this second-round pick. You won't be able to pick decent players anyway."

"After the game starts, I will give you a good player depending on the situation, but you also have to come up with something to trade."

It's not that Comb doesn't want to help the old Thomas, but that the 44th pick is too late.

There is really a good undrafted pick this year, Brad Miller, who is known as a point center or the tallest point guard in history.

The perfect five in the Princeton system.

He was selected as an NBA All-Star, and became the most successful undrafted trio in history with Big Ben and Starks.

Such a player is extremely valuable, and of course it is impossible for Kumbu to give it to the Knicks for nothing.

And it is useful for him to keep Miller. Last season, he got the benefit of the pick-and-roll tactics. This season, Comb also wants to try some tactics, such as Adelman's housekeeping tactics Princeton system.

To play Princeton, the first condition is to have a big man who can pass the ball inside. Webber, who is currently playing for the Wizards, is considered one. After he joined the Kings and played under Adelman, he played Princeton.

As for the perfect passing big man, Webber's passing ability is far worse than Miller's.

Besides Miller, the most valuable player with the lowest pick is the old cat Mobley who was selected at No. 41.

If the Knicks' pick is higher than No. 41, Combe may also recommend Mobley to Thomas Sr. After all, it is useless for Comb to ask for the cat.

Many players are combo guards, capable of one and two.

The old cat is very special, he is a unique defender, his pass control ability is very poor, he can't play the first position at all, and the second position is a bit short.

But the ability must be very good, at least one grade better than Stackhouse.

The key point is that the Raptors now have Tracy McGrady and Billups in the backcourt, and then they can get several first-class outsiders in this draft. It is really useless to ask the old cats.

Ernie had a satisfied smile on his face when he heard what Combe said.

It seems that signing the old Thomas as the coach was the right move. Combe really missed the old feelings and did not treat the old Thomas badly.

After Combe led Glenn to a seat, he began to close his eyes and meditate.

In the last draft, Kong Bu received a system task, and it was precisely because of that task that he took off directly on the spot.

It's a pity that in this draft, the system played dead again, and there was no movement at all.

A quarter of an hour later, Stern stepped onto the stage and announced the official start of the draft.

The Los Angeles Clippers, holding the No. [-] pick, started to get busy.

Kumbu looked in the direction of the Clippers with a playful smile, and happened to meet Elgin Baylor.

Lord Belle saw Kong Bu's strange expression, and thought that Kong Bu was upset, after all, he went back on the verbal deal he had agreed.

Kumbu didn't feel any resentment at the moment, he just wanted to wait to see the Clippers' joke.

Five minutes later, Stern walked out from the backstage, holding a small note in his hand and reading out.

"I announce that the Los Angeles Clippers have selected with the first pick in the first round..."

"Michael Olowokandi, center, University of the Pacific."

The scene was very calm. There was no suspense about this choice, so no one would be surprised.

In the calm, there was a slight chuckle from Kong Bu.

The sound was very small, but it still reached Lord Baylor's ears.

Lord Belle was also a tyrannical man. Hearing Kong Bu's sneer, he was a little upset, and walked towards the Raptors' representative office in two or three steps.

"Kong, your verbal deal with Bill is your own business."

"You don't have to complain about me or the Clippers."

"I know you're desperate for the No. [-] pick and for Michael, but he's ours now."

Of course, Lord Baylor is not just upset with Kumbu's sneer, as the general manager of the Clippers, he also wants to take this opportunity to clean up the Clippers' stigma.

It's a shameful thing to go back on a verbal agreement. Who would dare to make a verbal deal with the Clippers in the future.

Lord Baylor wanted to justify the name of the Clippers and get rid of the relationship with that verbal deal.

Old Fitch was also present tonight, and after hearing Lord Baylor's words, his whole body was trembling with popularity.

After he made a verbal agreement with Kumbu, he must have told his boss Sterling and Lord Baylor, and they both nodded and agreed.

Seeing that he had won the No. [-] lottery, he immediately regretted it.

Run out now to clear the relationship?Is this what people do?
Comb didn't take it seriously, "Elkin, you're right, I'm really eager for Michael Olowokandi."

"He will become the greatest center in history. I failed to win him, which may be the biggest regret in my life."

"The Clippers are really lucky. With Michael, I think you can win the championship next season."

Kong Bu said in a strange way.

Lord Baylor's mind is relatively simple. He can hear Kong Bu's eccentricity, but he only thinks it is Kong Bu's incompetence and rage when he failed to get the lottery.

Not everyone among the team executives at the scene knew about the tricky relationship between Konbu and the Clippers. Some people really took it seriously when they heard what Konbu said.

For a while, they were extremely envious of the Clippers, and he was definitely not bad to be evaluated by Konbu as the greatest center in history.

Even if the dominance is not as good as O'Neal, at least he must be a general-level center.

Some people heard the clues from Combo's words, and began to look at Lord Belle with sympathetic eyes.

……

After another 5 minutes, Stern took the stage again.

The Grizzlies selected White Devil Mike Bibby with the second pick in their hands, which is also an unsuspecting draft result.

After the No. [-] and No. [-] picks have been selected, it's time for the flower lottery.

Because the trade between Wu Sheng and Camby has not been reported by the league, the No. [-] pick is still for the Nuggets, and the two parties have to make a trade after the draft.

Combe wrote a note and handed it over.

Many people cheered up, they knew that it was time for Kumbu to make a move.

"I announce that the Denver Nuggets have selected Vince Carter from the University of North Carolina with the third pick in the first round!"

In fact, the Raptors normally chose Carter in 98. Even if they won the championship now, Carter still failed to escape the fate of becoming a Raptors player.

Kumbu breathed a sigh of relief, Carter got it, and now two of the top four shooting guards have got it.

Many fans have always regretted that the cousins ​​McGrady and Carter in their peak period failed to join forces, and Combe was no exception.

Now that there is such an opportunity to make up for regrets, Kumbu will certainly not miss it.

(End of this chapter)