Pick Westbrook

Chapter 308

The reporter was not satisfied with Li Lai's answer, because no matter what he heard, he felt that Li Lai was covering up his players.

At this time another reporter suddenly said another thing.

"After 7 games in the regular season this season, the Kings fired the team's original head coach Paul Westphal and hired a new head coach Keith Smart."

"With Coach Keith Smart advocating Harden's unlimited control of the ball and setting the tone for the Kings' main offense, the Kings have now come to the sixth place in the Western Conference record."

"So Coach Li Lai, what's your evaluation of Coach Keith Smart's coaching tonight?"

Li Lai was startled.

He has no feelings for Keith Smart, and he doesn't know what kind of coach the opponent is. In this match, he didn't realize how outstanding the opponent's coaching ability is at all, so Li Lai said directly.

"I don't know Keith Smart, and I'm not qualified to comment on other coaches. You have to ask Popovich about this."

The reporter was a little disappointed and said: "You are the two-time champion bishop and a master of offensive tactics recognized by the entire league. Are you not qualified enough?"

Li Lai nodded, he really thought so.

From Li Lan's point of view, before he became the coach of Qiansheng, he had no qualifications to evaluate other coaches.

What Li Lai didn't know was that as early as the end of last season, many people who were engaged in basketball coaching regarded him as the object of pursuit, and carried forward the Bucks' small ball tactics.

He already has such qualifications in the hearts of most people.

In the channel behind the press conference.

Coach Keith Smart felt extremely sorry after hearing Li Lai's interview. He wanted Li Lai's approval so much, but now it seems that he still didn't make a good impression on the other party.

Li Lai quickly ended the interview on his own initiative, and he shortened the 30-minute post-match press conference to only 10 minutes.

Because he has very important things to do.

The garage of the Sleeping Train arena.

Peja Stojakovic walked in one direction in a bad mood.

Kings general manager Geoff Petrie took the initiative to find Peja just now, hoping that the other party can give some valuable advice to the Kings game tonight, or give some suggestions on the direction of future construction.

Peja wants to be the management of a team.

That's why he's preparing to announce his retirement this month.

Peja still hasn't forgotten the supreme glory he lacks. He hopes to become the management of a team to chase the championship again.

But watching the Kings game tonight, Peja has absolutely no idea of ​​becoming the team's management.

Regardless of the pace of play or the defensive enthusiasm on the court, the Kings are not yet a strong team, especially the way Harden plays, which makes Peja feel very uncomfortable.

He doesn't think he can win a championship that way.

As strong as last season's Mavericks team, they have such high attainments on the offensive end, and they also value defense on the inside and outside, but this Kings team almost doesn't care about defense at all.

"Keith Smart doesn't seem to be able to tune a team's defense yet."

"On the contrary, the Hornets looked more like a strong team, and they also showed more vitality."

"Paul, Beverly, Jimmy Butler, almost every player in the Hornets wants to win the game on the court, even JR, who is notorious in the league."

Peja is very surprised how the Hornets can achieve such a new look in a short period of time. They are not at all like the Hornets last season in terms of mental outlook and competition.

"So would you like to come to this team?"

Li Lai suddenly appeared in the garage and said to Peja.

Peja turned around and saw Li Lai. He smiled and stretched out his hands to hug him.

As opponents in the finals of last season, the two are no strangers.

"Stop joking, I'm ready to announce my retirement this month."

"Look at what I look like now. I am 15kg heavier than I was in the finals last season. I can no longer run on the court, and this stage no longer belongs to me."

Li Lai patted Peja on the shoulder and said, "To be honest, I didn't come to invite you to become a player of the Hornets."

Peja raised his right hand, showing a very puzzled mood. Li Lai didn't invite him to become a player of the Hornets, so what else could it be?

Li Lai said seriously, "It's a shooting trainer."

"The players on our team are not stable in three-point shooting, and there is a player named Jimmy Butler, whose three-point shooting makes me extremely annoyed."

"So I hope you can join the coaching staff of the Hornets, become our shooting trainer, and improve their three-pointers."

Seeing Li Lai's serious expression, Peja knew that the other party was not joking.

He is very aware of his abilities. If he really becomes the shooting trainer of the Hornets, even if he can't bring significant shooting improvements to those players, he can at least pass on a lot of shooting experience.

Especially fixed-point shooting, which is Peja's strength.

"But Coach Li Lai, I don't have the idea of ​​joining a team's coaching staff."

Peja shook his head and refused at this time: "To be honest, my basketball IQ is not high. I know my abilities very well."

"So the path of the coaching staff is not suitable for me, and I don't have a job as an ESPN commentary like Reggie Miller. I can share interesting stories during shooting training with all fans."

"And I have things I want to do, too."

Li Lai understood Peja's meaning. He was worried that his future arrangements and plans would be delayed after becoming the Hornets' shooting trainer.

So at this time Li Lai asked directly: "Peja, you are already planning to retire, so what do you want to do?"

"Should I go back to your hometown of Serbia to set up a basketball training camp to help young players grow quickly, or stay in the NBA and continue to work on your career?"

"Or do you want to leave the field entirely and go into business?"

Peja was amused by Li Lai's last words. He didn't have business intelligence, so he said frankly.

"I want to be the management of a team, and in this capacity continue to pursue the highest glory of the NBA championship."

Hearing this, Li Lai breathed a sigh of relief.

He is not afraid that Peja's requirements are too high, but that Peja has no requirements at all, so it will be really difficult for the Hornets to win the opponent.

Li said: "How about the management of the Hornets?"

what! ?

Because Li Lai's invitation came too fast and too suddenly, Peja was not even ready at all, and he never thought that Li Lai would invite him to join the management of the Hornets.

When most teams recruit management, the superiors will choose to join in with people who are friendly or confidant.

On the one hand, it is to consolidate his right to speak in the team, and on the other hand, such a confidant will spare no effort to help himself.

The second is to select some capable people to fill the entire management.

This kind of approach is also what most team general managers often do, because sometimes the right to speak and the control of rights are really more important than the future of a team.

The Lakers are the best example.

"But I have no worries about that."

Li Lai said sincerely.

Peja naturally knew that the Hornets had only one owner, Li Lai in front of them, so this team didn't have those silly intrigues.

The Hornets are fighting for it!
"Then what kind of position are you going to give me?"

Peja said directly at this time.

He is an ambitious person. If the management positions that Li Lai arranges for him are only insignificant or even completely away from the team's decision-making positions, then Peja would rather lose this opportunity.

Of course, Peja also has a reputation for self-knowledge. It is naturally impossible for him to be a high-ranking manager at the manager level. As long as he is in the middle of the management, he is enough to be satisfied.

Li Lai thought for a while and said, "The Hornets are short of an executive vice president, COO of the operations department, and general manager of the administration department."

"By the way, there is also the team's personnel work, to be responsible for discovering potential talents."

"Which one do you want?"

"These positions are currently held by Hammond alone. He often complains to me that he is doing the work of several people like a donkey in a production team with one salary."

"With you joining, he will be very grateful to you."

Of course, Li Lai still has a position that the Hornets lacked, and he didn't mention it. That position originally belonged to Xiao Nizi, but so far she still has no news.

Peja's face was full of shock. These are not middle-level positions, they are all high-level management positions. Even those who have worked in the team for many years can hardly obtain such positions directly.

Peja glanced at Li Lai in disbelief, and tentatively said after making sure that the other party was not joking, "I want to be the executive vice president."

Li Lai acted vigorously and directly pulled Peja into his car.

Peja asked nervously, "Where are you taking me?"

Li Lai turned around in surprise and said, "New Orleans."

The next day.

Hammond and Peja held a Hornets press conference, announcing that Peja Stojakovic would be the team's new executive vice president.

12 month 30 day.

New Orleans, inside the training facility.

All the players are listening carefully to a potbellied man explaining the keys and tricks of spot-up shooting.

Beverly, who had almost no independent offensive ability, listened very seriously, and Leonard has always been eager to absorb any experience and knowledge on the court.

Butler was treated specially by Peja. He guided a lot of shooting training for the opponent, and at the same time suggested that he change his shooting style as soon as possible.

In order not to affect the team's next regular season games, Peja originally suggested that Butler start adjusting his hand shape at the end of the season, but the latter refused very seriously.

"With my current three-point shooting percentage, I don't think it is necessary to wait until next season to adjust."

From the very beginning, Butler showed his determination to completely change his outside shooting ability, and Peja also saw Butler's attitude of transforming his determination into crazy devil training.

"The shooting problem of the Hornets has been solved. I hope that the arrival of Peja can bring our three-point shooting rate to a new level."

Hammond said full of longing.

Li Lai has confidence in Peja's ability. If he can't improve the shooting ability of the Hornets players, it may be difficult for others to do the same.

At this time, Peja, who had been training with the players all morning, came over, and he reported to Li Lai the training situation of the players and the future training direction.

At the same time, Li Lai gave him a mission to find a good center player to help the Hornets still have a good combat effectiveness after Jordan's rotation.

Peja originally thought that Li Lai was just giving him a shell position as an executive vice president, but in fact he still wanted him to be the team's shooting trainer, but now he has completely dispelled this idea.

The Hornets team really has too many things that people need to do, and Hammond is already exhausted for this.

It's just that Peja is working as the team's executive vice president at the same time, and also wants to become the team's shooting trainer. The key is that Li Lai only paid one salary.
Peja glanced at Hammond at this time, and the two scolded Li Laichou in their hearts for being shameless.

"Coach, the next game is against that team"

Peja suddenly thought of something, and subconsciously reminded Li to speak.

Hammond secretly waved his hands again and again, preparing to stop Peja from saying this, but it was still a step too late.

Hammond clearly knew Li Lai's feelings for that team, and also knew how much the other party had paid for that team in the past three years.

It has finally been built into a strong team that can become a dynasty, but it has encountered such bad luck. In Hammond's view, it is not easy for Li Lai to withstand such a blow so calmly.

Peja saw the emotion on Hammond's face, knew that he had made a big mistake, and quickly explained: "Coach."

Li Lai raised his hand to indicate that the other party was fine.

"I wanted to go to Milwaukee to see how the guys were doing."

"So it's a good thing to go back this time."

"Hammond, we haven't been to Milwaukee for a long time."

Hammond was startled, then smiled and said, "According to the calculation, it seems to be almost half a year."

(End of this chapter)