start with scouting

Chapter 290 Harden or Curry
In the office, Kupchak and Jim Buss seemed to be deflated, obviously suffering a major blow.

As Su Yang expected, the Lakers' second application for trading Paul was ruthlessly rejected by Stern again.

"No, we add an extra first-round pick, or let them pick a young player at random, and they actually think that the Hornets will suffer a lot under such conditions." Jim Buss was puzzled, "It must be other people jointly targeting us…"

When Su Yang sat next to him and heard those remarks, he almost couldn't hold back his anger and said: You are too shameless, aren't you?
As far as the Lakers' record of reaching the playoffs all year round, a future first-round pick can only be the bottom five in the first round, and its value is basically equal to nothing, let alone random selection of young people in the team. 3-point Devin Ebanks?

Jim Bass has seen too many robbery transactions. As the CEO this time, he has no understanding of the hidden rules of transactions.

The key contracts of Gasol and Odom are now regarded as burdens. After the Hornets eat them, the price will only be lower.

"Everything is as you predicted. I admit that you are the right one. What new ideas do you have now?"

Kupchak ignored Jim's complaints, turned to look at Su Yang and asked, with a little curiosity in his eyes.

The progress of how to trade Paul is exactly the same as Su Yang predicted, and even the process and details are the same!
In the past, even though Su Yang showed that he knew how to trade during the interview, he still didn't believe so much, but after the labor agreement and the deal with Paul, he has fully recognized Su Yang's talent selection ability, not to mention that Su Yang himself is the leader. coach.

"Immediately stop the plan to trade Dwight Howard. Don't rush to prove that you can still succeed because of frustration. Sometimes you need to wait patiently. I said in the previous interview that the thinking of winning the championship needs to be changed..."

Su Yang spoke bluntly, mainly holding his breath in his heart. The management's coquettish operation directly made the team's hearts scatter.

At the beginning, knowing that the deal for Paul could not be violated, I strongly suggested that they need to keep it strictly confidential before the deal was reached. As a result, the news was leaked early, resulting in nothing being done. Don't rush to prove that you can do it, and start trading Howard immediately.

Those words are a bit ugly.

Jim Buss immediately raised his eyebrows and glared, but Kupchak replied calmly: "I know this will disrupt your plan, and I'm sorry for it, but we still need to send Lamar Odom away, and we will be in Look for a center in the middle of the season."

Su Yang nodded to express his understanding. The Lakers' insistence on sending Odom away is more out of helplessness. The main salary space is too tight, and they need to pay too much luxury tax to stay. The main players of the Lakers, Odom and Gasol are Easiest to get option.

As for the search for a center in the middle of the season, it is also normal. Now the Lakers lineup only has Bynum as a serious center. It is necessary to find a backup for Bynum. However, given the current lineup of the Lakers, most likely they can only have a second-rate backup. .

"As long as I give up my full pursuit of Howard, I think it's fine..." Su Yang replied, "But for the substitute players, I hope that some players will not be signed because of some one-sided needs. If possible, I hope to get McGrady and Ba Ence..."

Between words, Su Yang emphasized that the Lakers lacked a three-point shooter, but only knew that the salary space was tight, and it was impossible to get a 3D player of Battier's level. Used for convenience.

Moreover, Barnes and McGrady are both at the basic salary level, and they can use the veteran's basic salary clause without worrying about the salary space pressure.

"Since you recognize the abilities of the two of them, I will do my best to get them to the base to report within two days..." Kupchak said, "I also plan to sign Mike Roberts. A player with an eye for performance…”

Su Yang pretended to stare in surprise. In fact, he knew that Kupchak was going to replace Odom with Mike Roberts, and Mike Roberts had the ability to cope. After several seasons of experience, his technical maturity and physical condition were much better than before.

Anyway, it will be very useful, so by the way, let Kupchak have a full sense of accomplishment and control.

"Then let's talk about the season goals..." Kupchak turned to look at Jim Buss again, "What do you think?"

"I think it's okay..." Jim looked at Su Yang again, "Let's reach an internal agreement first, what do you think?"

"My expected goal is the Western Conference Finals. If I don't meet the Spurs in the second round and can meet the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, then I have a great chance of reaching the finals. If the final opponent is the Heat, I have a [-]% chance of winning the championship. ..."

After Su Yang finished speaking, Jim was stunned on the spot, but Kupchak reacted and said: "You mean that you may control the ranking by losing, so as to avoid meeting the Spurs prematurely, let the Thunder eliminate the Spurs first, and then use experience Restraining Thunder?"

Su Yang nodded to confirm that the Spurs in the 11-12 games were too strong, and it was difficult to play with normal routines. It was the best decision to let the young people of the Thunder use their physical talents to attack first, but it is not necessary to lose on purpose. First in the regular season is best.

Seeing Su Yang nodding, Jim rushed to say: "I think it's feasible, and we will cooperate with you to let the fans understand."

Picking opponents is a job with a high risk of reputation. If you play well, you will be a smart star, and if you play badly, you will be a coward.

But the Lakers lineup is like that. It is too difficult to win the championship normally. If you want to win the championship, you must make good use of your familiarity with the Thunder's style of play and the characteristics of a big center restraining the Heat's lineup. What is lacking.

"The most you need to fix is ​​Kobe..."

Kupchak didn’t have much entanglement with deliberately losing, and suddenly said: “During the interview before, you suggested that we trade James Harden or Stephen Curry as the core of the future team. If we really want to do that, what is the price? ?”

"The price is Bynum whose data has steadily improved this season, or a three-way deal, or a high-ranking draft pick."

"Why not Pau Gasol?"

"Paul Gasol is more important than Bynum, and he can design a richer tactical system around it, and the traditional center represented by Bynum will soon become useless, but not every team. The team understands that."

It may be beyond the basic understanding of "the one who wins the center wins the world". Kupchak fell silent about what Su Yang said, and Jim Buss also looked confused. The two knew that Su Yang was very good, and there were many things to prove it. accept.

That was the little shark Bynum, who was on the rise visibly to the naked eye, and was actually going to be used to replace the unknown outside line.

"Then if you succeed in defeating the Heat to win the championship next year according to what you just imagined, are you still planning to replace Bynum?" Kupchak asked again, "Especially a center like Bynum, who can perfectly restrain the Heat's breakthrough, can still Raiding inside..."

"That still needs to be replaced!"

Su Yang said firmly: "Even if there is an opportunity in the middle of the season, we have to change, even if we give up the championship that is very likely to be won next year because of this, because after the exchange, we can lay the foundation for winning the championship in the next ten years. To change!"

According to memory, Curry will be reimbursed due to an ankle injury in the middle of the season, his personal value will fall to the bottom, and then be exchanged by the Warriors management for Bogut, but the Bucks medical team believes that Curry's ankle injury cannot support long-term combat, and finally chooses Eli s.

If the same situation still occurs in this life, then Su Yang thinks it is necessary to make a move in the middle of the season, even if he gives up the championship.

"Of course, if you have other methods, you can get it without Bynum. That is the perfect situation..." Su Yang added.

Kupchak was silent for a long time, then said: "Given that you can always predict success, I promise to advance your vision, but if we can trade both, who would you prefer to get? James Harden or Stephen Curry?"

(End of this chapter)