Pick Westbrook

Chapter 424 This is the rookie selected by the Pelicans
Hearing this, Li Lai frowned and felt that something was wrong, and said, "Have you already reached a verbal agreement with other teams?"

JR Smith nodded without concealing it.

If someone else asks this question or even the management of the Pelicans, JR Smith will choose to keep silent, because this is designed to recruit illegally.

But Lee came to ask this question, and JR Smith will never hide it.

"What kind of chips did they open?"

After getting the affirmation from JR Smith, Li Lai asked worriedly.

JR Smith said: "3 million in three years."

hiss~
Hearing this, Li Lai couldn't help but gasp, 3 million in 3000 years, how dare they!
This is already a sub-maximum salary contract!
And even if JR Smith has won the league's best sixth man for two consecutive years, and his three-point shooting ability is very adaptable to the times, but after all, his style of play has been fixed, his talent has been developed, and he is not worth such a high contract.

For example, Jamal Crawford, the sixth man of the Clippers, who is very close to JR Smith, only signed a four-year 4 million contract last season.

Louis Williams of the Hawks also signed a contract with the team for only 3 years and 2000 million.

According to the market value, JR Smith won a contract of 3 million for three years at most, and now this contract is obviously at a premium.

"Which team did it!?"

Li Lai said out of anger.

JR Smith still didn't hide on the matter: "It's the Rockets."

"Their general manager has contacted my agent to confirm that Kevin Martin will be traded away this offseason. At that time, I will be their team's starting shooting guard."

"Coach, of course I would like to stay with the Pelicans and stay with you, but I need this job and I need this salary."

Hearing this, Li Lai was so angry that he swears, "It's that dog again!"

JR Smith's total career salary so far is only 3000 million. Strictly speaking, this contract can be regarded as the first big contract in his career.

So JR Smith has no reason to refuse at all. More importantly, the salary in the Pelicans is close to the luxury tax trigger line, and there is simply no such a salary to sign him.

Moreover, the Pelicans still have many players who will renew their contracts this offseason, and Li Lai has to reserve salary space in advance for Leonard and Jimmy Butler who will renew their contracts early next season.

Seeing JR Smith in a dilemma, Li Lai patted him on the shoulder and said, "This is a good salary. Congratulations, brat. Go and get your big contract."

JR Smith looked at Li Lai with some self-reproach and said, "Coach, I would rather not go anywhere if I can, and if I can, I would like to contribute my last share of value to the team when I leave."

Li Lai patted JR Smith on the shoulder, signaling that the other party should not blame himself so much.

"Each of us has a life and you made the decision that was best for your family and yourself, and you should."

"However, maybe I really need your help."

JR Smith was startled and said, "Coach, what can I do for you?"

Li Lai still remembers Dog Mo's disgusting desire to trade Curry from the Bucks, and this time he deliberately robbed him and offered a premium contract.

JR Smith's ability is there. This season he was also gold-plated on the stage of the finals. He is now a championship player anyway. Where is he not popular? Why don't you go to your Rockets?
Li said: "As long as you don't join the Rockets, this is the best help for me."

After bidding farewell to JR Smith, Li Lai immediately found Beverly.

The bad news came one after another, and Beverly won a three-year 3 million contract from the Los Angeles Clippers, which is another severely premium contract.

Based on Beverly's performance this season, 3 million in 2000 years is already a very high salary. This 3 million in 2500 years is once again a premium.

Li Lai suddenly realized that the entire league seemed to be against him, especially the teams in the Western Division.

The Clippers and Rockets, which are direct competitors, do not intend to give the Pelicans any chance to strengthen. They also offer players slightly premium contracts, depending on whether your Pelicans match.

If it matches, one premium contract is fine, but the superposition of multiple premium contracts is not a small number.

For example, for Beverly and JR Smith, if Li Lai forcibly eats up the contracts of the two, it is equivalent to causing 1000 million unreasonable assets in the team's salary.

This will have a great impact on the team's future signings and team building.

Faced with this contract, Li Lai felt helpless again. He was even more worried about how to find equivalent players to fill the vacancies of the two if the Pelicans lost both JR Smith and Beverly.

Li Lai then met with Oden, whose contract also expired during the off-season.

In the past two years with the Pelicans, Oden has maintained 95% of his appearances. This is the first time in his career that he has not suffered major injuries for two consecutive years.

And in the regular season and playoffs, Oden also played well. Although the regular data is only 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block per game, his efficiency on the court is amazing.

So there are still many teams contacting Oden, willing to offer him a contract with an annual salary of close to 500 million.

But Auden directly declined.

"I'm not going anywhere except the Pelicans, except to play for the coach."

The big boy Oden said to Li with certainty.

In fact, Li Lai also hopes that Oden can stay with him, because the other party's glass man attributes, leaving him is really very likely to retire early.

"But I can still afford your salary, and the Pelicans will not let you suffer at this point."

Li Lai was finally relieved by Auden's promise, and he was ready to get up immediately to find his last contract extension target.

But when Li Lai was about to leave, the other party had already called.

Vince Carter finally got his wish and won the championship, and the four all-powerful shooting guards back then have no regrets.

After the finals, the management of the Raptors hopes to welcome back the hero who allowed Toronto in the North to stay in the NBA, and the chips offered are also very attractive.

Their current youngsters, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, also very much need this meritorious veteran to impart their playoff experience.

And Vince Carter didn't rush to make a decision immediately after learning the news, but called Li Lai on his own initiative.

"Coach, does the team still need me?"

"If the team still wants me, I can accept any salary as long as I can stay with the Pelicans."

Li Lai said without hesitation: "Of course, the UFO still has oil."

Back to New Orleans.

Li Lai looked at the names of Oden and Vince Carter in front of him, and then at the crossed-out names of JR Smith and Beverly, and said suddenly.

"We need a deal."

Hammond already knows that JR Smith and Beverly will most likely not stay on the team, so this has been expected.

"What deal?"

After thinking about it, Li Lai asked back, "Is there still no team willing to trade their top fifteen picks?"

Hammond nodded and said: "Except for the Cavaliers, those teams are not willing to trade with us. They even said that even if they sell their draft picks cheaply to dogs, they are not willing to give them to us."

Li Lai said with a long sigh: "That's a big deal for Dog Mo."

"In this case, let's make a trade with the Cavaliers. The No. [-] pick is the No. [-] pick, and he is also worthy of a No. [-] pick!"

6 month 27 number.

Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

The much-anticipated 2013 NBA Draft has officially begun.

Because this year is recognized as a small draft year, the trading night before the draft night seemed to be extremely calm, and no shocking trading rumors were heard.

Except that the Cavaliers have been yelling and selling their No. [-] pick.

Adam Silver's performance as the league president last season made everyone extremely satisfied, and David Stern also officially resigned from his position and returned home.

This will be Adam Silver officially becoming the new helm of the NBA. He was also listed as one of the most influential business people in the world by Time Magazine and CNN for the first time.

At the same time, Adam Silver was also selected as one of the 50 most outstanding leaders in the world.

On this list, Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders of the Gates Foundation, Kenneth Furweze, CEO of Merck & Co., Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, and CEO of General Motors, were also included in the list. Mary Barra, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, etc.

Among them, Ma Huateng, chairman and CEO of Penguin, was successfully selected as the only Chinese business leader, ranking No.19.

Li Lai and Cuban are the only two bosses selected in the NBA, and they are also the co-founders of Kulai Express. Li Lai ranks No. 20 on this list.

"In the 2013 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Giannis Sina Hugo Antetokounmpo from Athens, Greece with the No. [-] pick."

Adam Silver, who presided over the NBA Draft for the first time, almost made a big joke when he remembered the player's name for the first time.

What the hell, this player's name is too long, I almost couldn't read it in one breath.

It's just that Adam Silver frowned obviously after reading the player's name.

Because the hot players in this year's draft are Anthony Bennett, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter Jr., when will it be the turn of this little-known Giannis Sina Hugo Antetokounmpo? Bo?
Adam Silver didn't even know if there was such a person.

In the small green room, the young Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo looked around and pointed at himself in disbelief.

"Is he calling my name?"

"I'm the champion?"

"how can that be!"

After being reminded by people around him, Giannis Sina Hugo Antetokounmpo finally confirmed that the other party did read his name, and he was indeed elected as the No. [-] pick in the NBA.

He didn't cry or laugh excitedly before walking up to the draft stage like other young players. He just walked up calmly and shook hands with Adam Silver for a photo.

Giannis Cina Hugo Antetokounmpo was greeted ahead of time by a fat man with a big belly before he stepped onto the draft board.

"Don't wear the red hat of the Cavaliers. The team's green hat is ready, and after the trade is confirmed, it will be worn by you."

Giannis Sina Hugo Antetokounmpo was skeptical until he saw his agent nod to confirm it, then did as he was told.

He knew he must have been traded, but he didn't know which team he was traded to, but he hoped it would be a team that could take care of him.

Day two.

The Pelicans and Cavaliers jointly attended a news conference where they jointly announced the trade for No. [-] pick Giannis Sina-Hugo Antetokounmpo.

The specific transaction is that the Pelicans signed first and exchanged it with a four-year salary of 4 million to win JR Smith and immediately traded it to the Cavaliers. , and the 4000 and 2013 second-round picks.

Because the Pelicans' first-round pick is not worth much, the Cavaliers asked for more chips.

The pick swap in 2016 only gave the Cavaliers a hope. At that time, the Pelicans still had a high probability of being a strong team. The real deal was actually two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Of course, there are two best sixth man JR Smith.

The opponent's 4-year contract also reassures the Cavaliers' management. They can at least use the 27-year-old shooting guard for 4 years, but the contract is a bit premium.

However, the Cavaliers have no salary pressure, which is completely acceptable.

The Pelicans got the No. [-] pick Giannis Sina Hugo Antetokounmpo.

In fact, before this deal, many teams and managements have scolded the Cavaliers management as mentally retarded.

Giannis Antetokounmpo showed outstanding athletic talent when he combined his body, especially the 34.3cm Achilles tendon, which is the longest Achilles tendon in NBA history.

At the same time, Giannis Antetokounmpo is an athletic forward with an unusually long wingspan, but he has not yet developed his signature skills. He has experience as a point guard and can attack with the ball, but the effect is mediocre.

The defensive potential is huge, but the defensive habits are not very good.

In short, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a talented player, but such talent alone does not support him to become the No. [-] pick in the NBA.

Especially after learning that Giannis Antetokounmpo has only started playing basketball since 2008, and has only been in contact with basketball for 4 years so far.

Before that, Giannis Antetokounmpo was only in the Greek second division, playing for the Filas Ridix team.

But even in the second division of Greece, whose strength is far lower than that of the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged only 22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assist and 1 block per game in an average of 1 minutes off the bench per game. 40%, 30% from three-pointers, and 70% from free throws.

How can this bleak data and efficiency be the number one pick, and it is only a substitute player in the Greek second division, not even a starter.

When will the NBA even have a second-tier substitute as the No. [-] pick?
After the Cavaliers selected Giannis Antetokounmpo as the No. [-] pick, the American players bluntly said that it was an insult to them.

Victor Oladipo, who was selected by the Orlando Magic with the second pick, even spoke on social media.

"How am I not as good as this slender pole?"

Giannis Antetokounmpo's height is 211cm when he is on the side of the body, but his weight is only a pitiful 95kg.

In the NBA, most guards are bigger than him, so no one knows why the Cavaliers drafted such a thin guy.

Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry also didn't know why the Pelicans chose such a guy. He hurriedly urged Hammond to announce the deal.

And at the moment the transaction was confirmed, all the scolding suddenly stopped.

"Because this is the rookie selected by the Pelicans!"

(End of this chapter)