Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 5

"Willie, what should we do about this Chinese man?"

In a room at Madison Gardens, the Sonics front office is busy.

Although the draft has ended, there are still many things to deal with, especially the signing of rookies.

Because of the previous trade, the Sonics lost a lot of draft picks, and only one first-round pick this year.

As for Wang Hao's second-round pick, they were all acquired through trades, and the price wasn't too high.

As the general manager of the team, Willie Walker said: "Sign first, I want to see his performance in the summer league."

"I don't know!"

Spreading his hands, Jim said with some incomprehension: "I don't see what's so great about this Chinese man?

The defense is not bad, but the offensive ability is lacking, the three-point shooting ability is not bad, and the offensive ability is very lacking. "

As the technical director of the team, although he also works under the general manager, he can still ask questions.

Willie Walker said with a smile: "Isn't this exactly what we need? Paul has emphasized the defense on the flank more than once.

As for the offense, we have Gary, and all the other guys need to do is catch the ball and throw the ball in. "

"If that's the case, then Corey Maggette is a better fit."

"Of course, but you know, we need to free up cap space next year."

Speaking of salary space, Jim is also very helpless.

Using a potential rookie, plus some strong fighters, is just in exchange for an expiring contract next year.

However, this is the reality. Who has made the Supersonic's performance in recent years always lacklustre, losing money year after year.

Of course, there is another reason to free up salary space, and that is to attract big-name players to join next year.

"Jim, don't worry, we still have Ruben Patterson, we have Brent Barry, we don't have to expect a rookie to hold up the wings."

Hearing this, Jim couldn't help laughing. Indeed, this is just a newcomer.

"Okay, I will communicate with the Magic, hoping to complete the transaction immediately, and then notify the Huaxia guy to sign."

It's just a signing of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it's not a fully guaranteed contract, so there's no need to worry about it.

Since 1994, the NBA has begun to regulate the signing of rookies, and the contract for each pick has regulations.

Normally, there is a corresponding guiding contract price every year, which fluctuates within a certain range of values.

For rookies, they need to sign with the team for four years, and the team has team options for the first and fourth years.

After all, the so-called rookie signing rules are actually to regulate the rookie market and then protect the rights and interests of each team.

Of course, the positive significance of this rule is still obvious, at least the situation similar to the big dog Glenn Robinson has never happened again.

You know, Glenn Robinson's exorbitant asking prices are not only displeased by the teams, but also those veterans.

Of course, these rules only need to be aimed at high-ranking rookies.

As for the rookie at the end, it is already very good to be able to sign a contract. How can there be so many ideas?

If it is true that the four-year contract will be signed at once, and it will occupy millions of salary space, it is estimated that many teams will give up the right to sign.

For Wang Hao's contract, Jim already has an idea, it is impossible to sign for four years, and it is impossible to fully guarantee the contract.

Willie Walker didn't know what Jim was thinking, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care too much.

In fact, he didn't know much about Wang Hao, and the reason why he chose to sign it was because of a friend's recommendation.

A New York scout recommended Wang Hao to Willie Walker.

In today's NBA, there are not so many rules, and the same is true for scouting. The relationship is very complicated.

Although this New York scout plays for the New York Knicks, he will also exchange information with other teams.

It just so happened that Willie Walker knew him and got the news.

Willie Walker just found out that Wang Hao was not a basketball player before, and he only received professional basketball training for a year.

This news is not a secret at St. John's University, but for most NBA teams, they really don't know it.

This news fully proved Wang Hao's learning ability and talent, so Willie Walker planned to give Wang Hao a chance.

And the scout also said that if Wang Hao was a player from the University of North Carolina or Duke University, maybe he could enter the first round and even cause multiple teams to compete.

After all, St. John's University is a bit weak, and the attention is not high. Even if there is a little bit, everyone only sees Artest.

In the draft, the choice is the future, and the gamble is talent, but it is only a few hundred thousand dollars, Willie Walker is of course a gamble.

The next day, Schwartz took Artest to sign with the Bulls, and the two sides reached an agreement yesterday.

Until noon, the phone in Wang Hao's dormitory rang, and it was Schwartz.

"Wang, good news, the Sonics have informed us that we have signed."

"Well, I see."

The voice of Wang Hao's hand is very flat, but his heart is very restless. He has finally stepped into the NBA.

To be honest, it was really a gamble for him to directly participate in the NBA, and now he has won the bet.

Of course, even if he loses the draft, he will still strive to enter the summer league as an undrafted pick.

And as long as he has the opportunity to fully perform, Wang Hao believes that he can also enter the NBA.

However, the current method is obviously more appropriate.

At least, he can get a sum of money, enough money for him to live in the United States.

Soon, Schwartz's car showed up at St. John's University, loaded Wang Hao and went straight to the hotel where the Sonics were.

"Wang, you know what? Just now, the Sonics made a deal, and they traded Corey Maggette.

In other words, your chance has come. This year, you have the opportunity to enter the rotation.

It's just that the Sonics introduced Brent Barry. He was injured two years ago, but his strength is still very good.

If he can recover, he must occupy a starting position. The other is Furnon Maxwell. It is said that the Sonics are in contact with the veteran.

If you want to enter the rotation, then you will have two very important opponents, Rashard Lewis and Ruben Patterson.

These two are the Sonics and Lakers who entered last year as second-round picks, and they are in the same position as you.

Rashard Lewis is taller, but his style of play is not suitable for the inside, but more suitable for the third position.

Ruben Patterson is very similar to you, with a strong defense and a tenacious fighting spirit.

He's more athletic than you, but you're a better scorer than him. "

Hearing this, Wang Hao was really surprised. The weakened version of Artest, is there anyone with worse offensive ability than him?
Well, this is a bit too much, after all, Artest's offensive ability is not really bad.

He has averaged more than 15 points per game in ten seasons in his career, and the highest scoring average in a single season is 24.6 points per game.

As a weakened version of Artest, Wang Hao's offensive ability is not really lacking at all.

Can shoot three-pointers, can also squeeze inside to complete layups, and can also try mid-range.

It's just that both of them are the same. Compared with their defense, their offense is really not enough.

Coupled with the physical gap, Wang Hao is even more obvious. After all, the match between him and Artest is only 60%.

(End of this chapter)