the rest, only noise

Chapter 1375: The Beginning of Mythology

The 1997 NBA Draft was held in Charlotte.

On that day, there were a lot of rumors and gossips among NBA teams.

For example, the Portland Trail Blazers, who are hard to find, are discussing joining with the head coach of the University of Kentucky, Rick Pitino, and they intend to cooperate again.

Pitino had coached the Blazers before Pat Riley joined Portland.

He, like Riley, left no legacy behind.

In the following years, Pitino devoted himself to college basketball and brought the Kentucky men's basketball team to impressive results.

He is arguably one of the most high-profile coaches in college basketball.

Lessons from failing to succeed in the NBA that year taught Pitino that to be fully successful, he had to have overall control.

Therefore, what he asked for this time was not only the coach and the high salary at the same level as Louis, but also absolute power.

He made it at Kentucky, so he can make it in the NBA.

That's what people think.

No one knows the result of the negotiations between the Blazers and Pitino. What you can see is that the Blazers put Clifford Robinson on the shelf afterwards.

In addition, the Timberwolves are uncertain about the selection of the second pick.

It was impossible for Duncan to be selected, Van Horn was rejected by Louie, and McHale's suggestion was the 1997 No. [-] high school student in the United States, Tracy McGrady, who was both risky and hopeful.

reason?Someone from him has already selected two No. [-] high school students in the United States, what reason is needed?
Wouldn't it be good to have a mouthful of Youth Storm?

McHale believed in Louie's vision, but he didn't have the guts to bet on McGrady.

In this way, Louis can only give him two choices.

One is to trade the No. [-] pick to the Knicks in exchange for Scottie Pippen, whom they are eager to get rid of.

Or, it can also be traded with the Heat for Danny Manning, who they also want to get rid of.

Both of them lost their character and popularity last season.

McHale doesn't want to pin the team on this kind of person.

"Are there any other options?"

"You can figure it out for yourself. The second pick is very valuable. It is not difficult to get an equivalent bargaining chip. I just think that these two teams have superstars who are eager to make a move, and they are very suitable for trading." Louis smiled lightly. Said, "Considering that these two are negative equity based on their respective teams, you can definitely ask for more benefits."

After that, Louis did not continue to guide, and let McHale figure it out by himself.

At seven o'clock in the evening, countless pairs of eyes focused on the Charlotte Stadium.

Louis and his colleagues stayed in the draft war room to watch TNT's live broadcast of the draft.

Normally, NBC's broadcast is more professional, but TNT has a guest named Magic Johnson.

This is where the magician goes when he retires.

He signed a three-year, $3 million contract with TNT.

Starting today, in the next three years, he may be seen in all TNT TV programs related to the NBA.

In addition to the main host Ernie Johnson, commentator Magician, TNT also invited Hubie Brown and Georgetown University coach John Thompson.

Magic, as usual, has nothing to say, and broke the shocking inside story: "Portland's signing of Rick Pitino is close to completion. Coach Pitino is ready to take his success in college basketball to the NBA , Moreover, it is said that he doesn't like the Blazers' previous style of play, and has a plan to change everything. The first thing to bear the brunt is to carry out a deep blood exchange. Except for Michael, everyone can be replaced."

EJ (Ernie Johnson) tentatively asks, "Where's Hakeem Olajuwon?"

The magician smiled "You really know what the problem is", "That's right, Hakim is not on the protection list either."

"It's crazy!" Brown said. "It's hard for me to imagine them getting an equivalent return in a trade."

The news shocked the Lakers draft war room.

"Trade Hakim?" Nelson said with a strange smile, "Did I hear correctly?"

"If this is true, then the Trail Blazers are finished." Zhao Yuanzheng is not optimistic about Pitino's performance in the NBA, "The full-court press is not suitable for professional basketball."

The prerequisite for full-court press to be effective is that athletic talent and physical confrontation can suppress or even crush opponents.

Aside from the Knicks' murderous tight end back in the day, the modern NBA has no success stories.

Pitino also stumbled in Portland that year.

What's more, Jordan, who was still in his prime at the time, couldn't achieve results under the leadership of Pitino. Can the same routine work on the old Jordan now?Not to mention that you have to trade his most powerful helper.

"If he succeeds, the Lakers won't have any competitors in the West." Bird asked with a smile, "Is this a good thing?"

Why is this not a good thing?Just like the Knicks back then.

After the decline of the Celtics, the Knicks were invincible in the Eastern Conference. Every year, they easily kicked the ass of the Eastern Conference to advance to the finals. On the other hand, the Western Conference is the most competitive Western Conference in history.Every team that makes it out of the West has to shed its skins and face the sluggish Knicks in the Finals.

Louis can only say that Pitino is awesome, and he wants to see if Jordan will be so angry that he will retire, or give up the reputation of "one man, one city" and ask for a trade.

There is also a possibility that if Jordan did not respond to this and allowed Pitino to dismantle the team, then the "promise" that Louie made to him in 1993, "I want you to have no championship for life", will most likely become a reality. real.

After a while, David Stern walked up to the stage, facing the camera.

"Good evening, and welcome to the Charlotte Arena for the 1997 NBA Draft. This is the home of the Charlotte Hornets. To all the fans who came to the venue and watched the draft on television, I would like to say Heartfelt thanks!"

"Let's get started, the Los Angeles Lakers have the No. 5 pick this year and they have [-] minutes to make a choice"

The moment Stern mentioned the Lakers, the audience booed like thunder.

Many people shouted: "Shadow!"

Little Bass was not happy when he saw it. He, who has cashed in once in 30 years, finally got some good things. Why is it a shady scene?

"This group of people just don't live as they want, and they don't like being nice!" Little Bass looked at Louis, "Isn't it, Sir?"

"OK."

By convention, before the team that is about to make a choice announces the answer, everyone on the TV station will discuss it.

Today, several people from TNT directly skipped the "who the Lakers choose" link, and directly asked Tim Duncan what kind of sparks will be produced with this team that just won the championship.

John Thompson said: "In my opinion, this will deepen the asymmetry of the league. Tim will make the Lakers an unbeatable team."

"Maybe make them the best team in the history of professional basketball?"

The magician said happily: "In my opinion, the current Lakers are a 99-point team."

Because grandpa retired.

"However, the addition of Tim Duncan can make them a 100-point team in an instant." The magician is not stingy with compliments to the juniors, "I want to make it clear that they got 100 points because the full score is only 100 points. "

In the draft war room of the Lakers, Johnny Buss called from the front, talking drunk.

"You guys say, what would happen if I accidentally said Tim Duncan's name as someone else's name?"

Louie smiled and said, "I'll smash all your wine stash, kick you out of the forum, and even have a desperado kill you."

"Haha, coach, don't scare me. I really drank. You know, what people who have drank will do is unpredictable."

Louis simply asked: "Who is with you?"

"Jenny."

"Then let Jenny do it!"

Although what Johnny said was horrific, in fact, things went smoothly without any accidents.

When David Stern returns to the stage again, the next ten seconds will become a memory cherished by countless Lakers fans.

It represents the beginning of a myth.

"In the 1997 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected. Tim Duncan from Wake Forest University!"

PS: I have a day off tomorrow.I feel much better now, but the feeling of coding is much worse, and my brain seems to be slow and uneasy.

(End of this chapter)