Rebirth of My Rocket Dynasty

Chapter 40 Kenny Smith's Departure and 97
After the end of the epic 96-97 NBA Finals, the Rockets returned to Houston the next day.

But what all the Houston players didn't expect was that tens of thousands of Rockets fans rushed to the airport to greet their heroes.

Looking at the slogans outside the bus, everyone in the Rockets was very moved.

Although this is a difficult and failed series, the Rockets still showed the strength and tenacity of the Rockets to all fans.

"Hey man, I feel like I'm going to cry," Kenny Smith said.

"Me too, so are you still going to leave, man." Olajuwon looked at this old man who had fought with him for 7 years and said sincerely.

Looking into Olajuwon's sincere eyes, Kenny Smith was silent for a long time.

He still shook his head firmly and said: "Thank you Hakeem for staying, but I can no longer contribute to the Rockets, and I am going to retire. I won two championships, which can be pursued by many players for life. And what I can’t pursue. I have nothing to regret, I don’t want to fly around in such a sky, and you know, my children also need my care.”

"Well, since this is the case, I won't force you, I will tell the boss and ask him to prepare a beautiful retirement ceremony for you." Looking at the old friend who has decided to leave, Olajuwon is not good at forcing To stay, I can only give my friend a glorious retirement ceremony.

"Hey bro, don't be so sad, I have already talked to my boss about it, and the boss wants to keep me, but I didn't agree, and then the boss gave me a good job and asked me to be a full-time reviewer for ** and TBS Member, you said that I help you scold your opponents on the commentary platform, isn’t it very good.” I got a little off-line again.

"Hehe, that's really good. Watching you destroy the opponent's spirit and us destroy the opponent's body is a very beneficial thing." After finishing speaking, both Olajuwon and Kenny Smith Laughing, but anyone can hear the reluctant friendship in the laughter.

Half a month later, Kenny Smith’s retirement ceremony was held at the Compaq Center Arena in Houston. All fans who entered the stadium that day were admitted for free. About 2 Rockets fans shouted “Kenny stays!” The slogans of "Kenny, we need you" and "Please don't leave", hope that the excellent outside killer in their hearts can stay.

Under the watchful eyes of many Rockets veterans and NBA active and retired stars, Kenny Smith announced his retirement statement.

(The real history is that Kenny Smith was traded, and then he was seriously injured and announced his retirement. Now we will give Kenny a healthy body and let him leave the NBA. Salute you to that calm No. 30. Goodbye to that single Section 7 three-pointer to save the Rockets guy.)
In this way, Kenny Smith, the hero of the Rockets' two consecutive championships, announced the end of his basketball career.

And such a scene also made the other old courtiers of the Rockets sigh in their hearts.

Just when everyone was preparing for Kenny Smith's retirement ceremony.

The time for the '97 NBA Draft has come.

Looking at the Spurs who are proudly holding the No. [-] lottery.

Tiger was really upset.

The well-deserved draft in 97 must be 'Stone Buddha'.

As long as you own the 'Stone Buddha', it is the foundation for your team to win the championship.

What a fate.

Think next year's Spurs, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Tim Duncan, Avery Johnson, Sean Elliott, I'm not alive, it's not much better than dealing with the Bulls ah.

In addition to the old and firm Jazz, the Supersonics that have not yet fully fallen, the rising Blazers, and the Lakers who are gradually recovering.

God, you still let the time-traveling man live.

Don't think about it, study it, the lottery in your hand.

The 27th place in the first round is very good and strong.

Then there is No. 30, which is also very tough.

Below are the 35th, No.40 and No.40 five.

One first-round pick and four second-round picks in hand.

How to choose it, big head ah.

"Dawson, do you have any goals for this year's draft?" Tiger, who had a big head, asked his general manager.

"There are some, you can read them yourself or let me tell you." Dawson took out the folder and handed it to me.

I pushed back and said, "Tell me about it."

Dawson, who took back the folder, said, "Okay, let me talk about it."

Clearing his throat, Dawson said: "First of all, this year's No. 6 pick will definitely be the big man Tim Duncan from the U.S. Virgin Islands. This big man from Wake Forest is very good, 11 feet 260 tall, 6 Pounds of weight, calm mind, and solid basic skills, which make him very different from this impetuous era. Van Horn is also a big man with a height of 10 feet [-]. When he is good, he shoots accurately. The disadvantage is that it is too soft. Then there is the Chauncey Billups guard, the evaluation is still very good. Antonio Daniels is also a good guard, and Tim Thomas, Tracy McGrady, Derek Anderson is a high pick."

After hearing this, Tiger secretly calculated in his heart.

"Duncan, don't even think about it. If you kill the Spurs, you won't let him go. As long as the Van Horn glass man is not injured or sick, it's okay. 'Flounder' is still young and arrogant, don't think about it ...Daniels also needs to hone it, but it's good to be a backup point guard. Tim Thomas and McGrady are both geniuses, but your talent is good without a good mentality. Derek Anderson is not good. Bad, mediocre player, useless." Thinking of this, Tiger continued to ask.

"Then what good players are there after the first round and the second round?"

"It's hard to say. At the end of the first round and the second round, we saw a few good players. Mark Jackson is not the same as our Mark Jackson. This is also a big man who has the potential to be a player." Excellent inside blue-collar, Anthony Johnson is a good backup guard, Stephen Jackson plays with passion, but he has too many shots and has a hot temper. Chris Crawford is a good white shooter, Mark Blunt. With a good mid-range shot, it’s against a near miss.”

Tiger, who bowed his head in thought, thought that these players in the second round were also a little unsatisfactory.

Slowly pondering: "Mark Jackson was a relatively good blue-collar insider in later generations, but now our insider is still good. Anthony Johnson seems to have made a name for the Pacers and Eagles later. It's good to be a substitute. It just so happens that Kenny To retire, Cassell has not said anything about renewing his contract. Mark also needs a good substitute. Stephen Jackson is a knife, it depends on how to use it. That Chris Crawford does not Think about it, my buddy has a group of pitchers. Mark Blunt, my big Ben is still a backup, what position can he have."

After thinking about it for a long time, Tiger said: "The pick in the first round, you can choose according to your choice. For the pick in the second round, you can just sign Anthony Johnson and Stephen Jackson. You can figure out the rest, Anthony. Johnson will stay as a substitute for Mark, Stephen Jackson will send me to Europe to play for two years, and you can sign the rest if you like.”

"Okay, boss, I will arrange it. However, I have something to inform you." Dawson's face was a little bad when he said this.

"What?" Tiger asked strangely.

"Sam, I want to leave." Dawson looked very bad when he said this, after all, Cassel was chosen by himself.

Hearing this, Tiger was startled.

Then ask questions.

"Why did he leave? Could it be a salary issue? I've already offered him 6 million for six years. How much more does he want?" Tiger's first reaction was the salary issue.

"No, no, no, boss, you look down on Sam too much. He wants to leave not for money, but for his own position." Dawson quickly explained.

"Position, position, hey, yes, our team really has no place for Sam." Tiger said with a long sigh.

"Yeah, boss, the Rockets are a half-court offensive team, and our point guard is destined to be a traditional pass-oriented point guard, while Sam is a very self-aggressive one." He needs the ball," Dawson said, explaining why Sam was leaving.

"In addition, Sam already has two championship rings. What else can he ask for? He would rather be a chicken head than a tail. The Rockets are strong, but who doesn't want to be the boss." Tiger analyzed the card in a deeper level. Searle's psychology.

"Forget it, let him go, where he wants to go." Tiger let him go with a wave of his hand, but he himself was already prepared, because Cassel's evasion on the contract renewal had already explained all this.

"Well, he wants to go to the Timberwolves. Maxwell is doing very well there. If Kassel wants to go there, the Timberwolves will give him a salary of 5 million for five years." Dawson said the team he wants Kassel.

"Hehe, well, we don't set up obstacles, let him go." Tiger said with a smile.

"Well, the boss has nothing to do, I'll go first." Dawson got up and left.

Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, Tiger looked at the night in Houston and thought to himself: "Sam, you have lost an opportunity to create a future with a great team."

According to Tiger's plan, the Rockets kept a low profile in the 97 draft.

With No. 27 in the first round, Jacques Vaughan was selected.

No. 30 in the second round, Mark Jackson was selected.

No. 35 in the second round, selected Anthony Johnson

No. 40 in the second round, selected Stephen Jackson

No. 45 in the second round, Mark Blunt was selected.

After the draft, Mark Jackson, Stephen Jackson and Mark Blunt were all sent to the Rockets to hone in European satellite clubs.

Only Anthony Johnson and Jacque Vaughn were left behind by the Rockets as Mark Jackson's backup.

Seeing the reluctance of the few people who were sent to Europe for training, the general manager of the Rockets promised that as long as they perform well, they have every chance to return to play in the NBA.

However, after a few days, several people looked at the salary that was not inferior to the salary level of the NBA, and happily went to Europe, because they also knew that they were second-round rookies, and if they did not perform well, they would be laid off.

The Rockets can give them a chance to play, and they also guarantee that as long as they play well, they will be recalled.

The Rockets played a great series with the Bulls this year, so what else could they not be satisfied with?

So I packed the check, packed my luggage, and headed straight to Europe.

So far, the Rockets, like the Bulls and other strong teams, have maintained the basic stability of the team, laying the foundation for the next season's game.

Although, Cassell's departure and Kenny Smith's retirement brought certain troubles to the Rockets' back line.

Fortunately, though, Mark Jackson was still in his prime.

In addition, Bodi Roga can also play point guard.

This has largely alleviated the shortcomings of the Rockets guard.

Tiger Jones, who has solved the draft problem, is not idle.

Hey, how can I let go of this good opportunity to make money this year.

(End of this chapter)