Basketball: Starting from the Rodman template

Chapter 149 You don’t want to see Shaq and Woody team up, right?

McGrady, Nash, Shaquille O'Neal...

When it was reported that these players were getting into some rhythm with their teams, other general managers across the league couldn't help but gear up and look ready to make a move.

Steve Nash is probably the least anticipated of the three.

But the other two people, one is the "scoring champion" in the past two years, and the other is the "Shark" who led the team to three consecutive championships in the 00s, are both players who can change the league's structure.

If you get one, you will be able to occupy a place in the championship list of the new season!
These excited general managers also include Heat general manager Pat Riley.

He originally gave away this year's first-round pick, and he already attached great importance to summer transactions. Now that there are so many "big fish" about to enter the shelves, he even feels that the "road to championship" belongs to the Heat. Just give it a try this summer!

He looked carefully at the chips in his hand.

I feel more confident!

Except for Woody and Wade, who are "not for sale," in his opinion, several other players can be used as bargaining chips.

Odom and Caron Butler are all players who have performed brilliantly in the regular season or playoffs this past season.

Gerald Wallace is one of the candidates for the "Most Improved Player Award" this season.

In addition, Grant's expiring contract...

Although there are no true "All-Star players", the general managers of other teams may not necessarily offer "All-Star player" level chips.

Because the news that these three people are leaving has already come.

Under such circumstances, which general manager will make a loss-making transaction so that the general managers of these three companies can make profits?
Unless he is an "All-Star player" in the same position, and he is still the kind of "All-Star player" who has already seen his end, it is impossible for him to develop further.

Compared with these players, Odom and Caron Butler are actually very capable!
They all have "All-Star level" or "quasi-All-Star" strength...

Big deal, I'll lose another first-round pick!

Whether it's Woody plus Wade plus Tracy McGrady, or Woody plus Wade plus Steve Nash, especially the "Wood" combination plus Shaquille O'Neal...that picture is just in my head. Just thinking about it, Pat Riley was very excited.

He no longer hesitated, picked up the microphone on the corner of the table, and dialed the number. What followed was an hour or two of telephone "intelligence station".

The general manager's war never starts when the free market opens.

A general manager like that can't even keep up with the heat!
It can be said that the four or five days before the free market officially opens are the busiest time for these general managers. Whether they can gain something in the summer depends entirely on their efforts in these days.

Finally, when invisible gunpowder smoke filled the entire "battlefield", the free trading market officially opened on July 7.

The impending mountain rain has already proved that this will be an extraordinary summer.

On the morning of July 7st, the first shot of this summer officially started!
The Phoenix Suns took the lead, offering Steve Nash $5 million over five years.The Mavericks quickly gave the answer and would not follow up on this offer.Steve Nash did not hesitate and chose to sign this big contract.

In this way, Steve Nash, who was drafted by the Suns in 96 and then traded to the Mavericks for six years, returned to the place where his dream began.

ESPN’s evaluation of the deal is:

"The Suns got the player they wanted!"

In the second half of last season, they sent Marbury away and officially announced the end of the "Marbury Era", but they continued to use Stoudemire as the core, obviously wanting to find a new successor.

This year's free market is not quiet, but among them, Steve Nash should be said to be the most useful No. [-] position.

Plus knowing the basics, how could the Suns management be so decisive in their offer?

Not long after this news came out, explosive news came from Dallas:

"Old Nelson, who became the head coach of the Mavericks in 96, announced his voluntary resignation and has left Dallas!"

Soon a reporter who had a good relationship with Nelson confirmed the news and gave the answer: "Nelson chose to leave because he was disappointed with Cuban. When it came to dealing with Steve Nash's contract extension, he Gives old Nelson a chill!”

In this way, the head coach who had played for the Mavericks for 8 years left.

A head coach with a "living fossil" level like him naturally has no shortage of potential players.

Not only that, as soon as he left, the Warriors management immediately extended his contract.

Cuban didn't know if he was deliberately disgusting Nelson, or if he really took a liking to Dampier of the Warriors. An 8 million contract brought the Warriors' starting big man, who expired this summer, to Dallas.

Dampier was very excited to sign the contract. When interviewed by reporters, he said bluntly: "I am the second center in the Western Conference! After Shaq O'Neal, that's me!"

These remarks successfully caused quite a stir in public opinion.

Because the Rockets are in the West!

Does Dampier think he is better than Yao Ming?

Some reporters also specifically mentioned "Yao Ming", but Dampier had no intention of changing his words. He repeated: "I am the second center in the Western Conference!"

This made the Houston media very angry, and began to urge the Rockets management to strengthen this summer.

They are waiting for the new season to come, and Yao Ming will dunk a few on Dampier's head!

I don’t know if their supervision was effective.

Soon, the Rockets took action.

And this move really scared the Houston media, including all the media reporters who were watching.

Is this too generous?

On July 7, the Houston media and the Orlando media published articles almost at the same time:
The Magic sent Tracy McGrady + Juwan Howard + Tyronn Lue + Gaines in exchange for Francis + Mobley + Cato from Houston...

That is to say...

Tracy McGrady is coming to Houston to join forces with Yao Ming!
When the news of this transaction came out, it directly detonated all social media.

80.00% of the media used similar titles:

"Houston's 'OK Group', here he comes!"

"The next 'OK' combination in the NBA? The Western Conference is going to change in the new season!"

"Tracy McGrady joins forces with Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets are about to launch!"

……

Yes!

The gang came up with the "OK" combination at the same time.

The same "Big Mac" at No. [-], the same "Scoring Maniac" at No. [-]!
It’s only been two years since Kobe and O’Neal won the “three consecutive championships” with the Lakers, and now McGrady and Yao Ming are showing signs of another “OK” combination.And it’s not an exaggeration or mechanical application at all, both of them have such strength!You know, Tracy McGrady, who entered the league at the age of 2, is now only 17 years old, and Yao Ming, who entered the league at the age of 24, is now only 22 years old...

In terms of age, they are even younger than the "OK" group.

This means they have more time for trial and error!

This means they are more likely to succeed!
Not to mention the American side, the domestic media and fans were also completely blown away.

Tracy McGrady came to Houston to partner with Yao Ming. Even if this happened, most domestic fans would feel like they were dreaming.

Especially after learning that he was the league's "scoring leader" in the past two years, I was even more excited!

McGrady was obviously very satisfied with the deal. During his first interview in Houston, his listless eyes were still as sleepy as usual, but they were filled with an irresistible smile.

He also didn't expect that after clamoring to leave the Magic, he ended up joining the Rockets.

The new season will be Yao Ming's third season. Based on his data growth trajectory in the first two seasons, his data in the new season will definitely increase a lot!

He can lead the team to the playoffs, and McGrady himself also has the ability to lead the team to the playoffs.

With these two cores together, it's unlikely that they'll make it to the Western Conference finals, right?
If this running-in was better...

Finals, here I am, Tracy!

In this way, two of the two "big fish" in the free market have been eliminated.

The last "big fish" is left, which is a "shark"!
The first two "big fish" Pat Riley did not get involved in the end.

The first one was Steve Nash. He prepared an offer, but the offer list was not as good as the Suns' offer. To be honest, he couldn't see Steve Nash's potential of 5 million in five years; the second one was Steve Nash. Tracy McGrady, he actually wants to fight for it.But McGrady's position is partial to the second and third positions. In fact, the Heat have the most manpower in these two positions!
Wade, Woody, Gerald Wallace, including Odom, are all qualified for this position.

With Shaquille O'Neal still undecided, he didn't necessarily want Tracy McGrady. Especially after hearing that the Rockets had taken out Francis, he gave up the idea of ​​getting involved.

This bargaining chip is indeed not low. If the competition continues, Odom and Caron Butler may not be able to win it. If there is another one, Pat Riley will feel at a loss.

how to say!

The two-time "scoring champion" is really awesome.

But it is an indisputable fact that McGrady has not passed the first round yet!

Let Pat Riley use so many chips to compete for such a thing, and his reason will keep issuing warnings:

What a loss, what a loss!
Most importantly, Pat Riley has new news about Shaquille O'Neal.

This news has nothing to do with Shaquille O'Neal...

This news is related to Kobe!
Kobe is actually a contract year this year, regardless of whether he is in the penultimate year of his contract with a player option.It is equivalent to saying that as long as he chooses to execute the last year of the contract, no matter whether he renews the new contract this summer, it will not take effect until next year.The new season is still the last year of the old contract.

For the Lakers, if Kobe chooses to execute the last year of his contract, that is definitely good news...

But Kobe finally chose to jump out of the contract!
As a result, the Lakers management was extremely embarrassed:

If Kobe Bryant, a restricted free agent, wants to renew his contract, he must come up with a maximum salary contract!
Gave him a maximum salary contract...

Even if the other "master" has the idea of ​​​​cutting his salary and renewing the contract, I am afraid he will be stubborn and ask for the "maximum salary", right?

Can he still let his former younger brother surpass him in salary?

It is said that on the afternoon of the day Kobe quit his contract, Kupchak immediately prescribed a can of anti-hypertensive medication.

My head is "buzzing"!

The Los Angeles media interpreted Kobe's actions: "This is a showdown with the Lakers. I've had enough of being the second best!"

Because as long as he signs a maximum salary, then even if Shaquille O'Neal signs a maximum salary, the two of them will be equal.

If Shaquille O'Neal doesn't sign the maximum salary, then he will overwhelm Shaquille O'Neal in salary!
When he learned that Kobe Bryant announced his intention to opt out of his contract, Pat Riley was in high spirits waiting for the "ultimate battle" to begin.

He knew that the "big shark" had to go!

Sure enough, on July 7, Pat Riley received the news:
Kupchak ready to trade Shaquille O'Neal!

He quickly prepared his quotation contract:
Odom, Grant, plus a 06 first-round pick, were sent to Kupchak's mailbox.

Then I called Shaquille O'Neal: "Dude, do you want to talk?"

According to league regulations, general managers cannot privately contact players who are under contract with the other party, otherwise they will be fined according to the rules.

This is also done to avoid malicious competition!
However, for restricted free agents, general managers of other teams can make offers.

And Shaquille O'Neal is actually a free agent!
So he didn't feel burdened at all by making this call.

O'Neal didn't mind causing Kupchak some trouble and chatted with Pat Riley for more than half an hour.

Later, he specifically asked his agent to spread the news to Kupchak's ears.

"fxxk!"

This news successfully made Kupchak curse hard.

But he quickly thought of something, picked up the phone and dialed a certain number. When the other end was connected, his tone unconsciously slowed down and said: "Man, are you familiar with Woody!? Can you impress him? Come to the Lakers?”

The voice over there was very cold: "I'm not very familiar with him..."

md!

Can't you have a good relationship with the juniors in the alliance?

Kupchak cursed in his mind.

The person on the phone with him was none other than Kobe Bryant!

"Man, it's like this. The Heat sent an offer, which should be the best among them, but I definitely need him to add some chips... Kobe, you should know, if Woody can be replaced If I assist you, it will definitely be a profitable business!" Kupchak said at the end, adding, "After all, you don't want to see Shaquille O'Neal and him and Wade, two talented people. Will the newcomers join forces?"

These words probably mentioned Kobe's "sore feet." He was silent for several seconds and then said: "I know, let me make a call and try!"

yes!

The incitement was successful, and Kupchak hung up the phone with satisfaction.

He didn't thank Kobe either...

Originally, if he hadn't jumped out of the contract, wouldn't the "OK" group even have the possibility of trying for another year?

(End of this chapter)