start with scouting

Chapter 381 Fighting alone
At the same time that Su Yang spoke, Kupchak looked for Ezeli's scouting report, and Ryan West tapped the keyboard to find the video of Ezeli participating in the joint trial training from the computer. The two were familiar with each other, and they seemed not surprised. Xi suddenly mentioned Ezeli.

Seeing that expression and movement, Su Yang suddenly had doubts in his heart: Could it be that they have discussed it a long time ago?
When the words came to my lips, I could only continue talking.

"Our current offensive system requires inside players to pull space and have a certain long-range shooting ability. If Mike Roberts and Diaw cannot be left in the free market, the necessity of choosing Draymond Green will be greatly increased..."

Last season, the Lakers signed Mike Roberts to a two-year mini-contract. The main purpose was to overshoot and adjust the salary space so that they could pursue Howard in the future.

If it weren't for Su Yang joining, Mike Roberts would have played the worst season of his career with the Lakers, and now Mike Roberts' performance is worthy of a bigger contract, and he can enter the free market to try, at least 400 million starting.

As far as the Lakers' current salary space is concerned, there is almost no reason to keep Mike Roberts, at most a sign first and then a change.

The same goes for Dior. He bought out the basic salary from the Bobcats and signed with the Lakers. For this reason, he gave up the opportunity for the Spurs to fight side by side with Parker. But the season is over and the free market is open. As far as Dior’s performance in the playoffs is concerned, there is no starting annual salary of 500 million. Don’t even think about it. .

Coupled with the fact that the Spurs have enough space and can fight side by side with Parker, Diaw has no reason to reject the Spurs again.

If the salary offered by the Dior team is relatively high, then the Lakers don't have much motivation to keep Dior, just make do with it.

The Lakers are not as rich and powerful as they used to be. Last season, they almost gave away Odom for nothing, and then took the draft picks to send away Walton and Fisher. The purpose is to save money, but even then, the Lakers still need to work hard next season. Avoid the luxury tax.

Because of the lockout and other reasons, according to estimates, the league's luxury tax trigger line for next season is about 7000 million US dollars, and in the Lakers, players with fixed salary contracts, Kobe next season 2785 million, Gasol 1900 million, Artest + Blake 1126 million, Biedrins 900 million, Curry 396 million, and the salary of seven people has reached 7107 million US dollars.

With that calculation, the Lakers are at least six players short.

In short, in Su Yang's view, neither McRoberts nor Diaw can stay, and choosing Green is the Lakers' top priority in the draft.

Of course, with almost the same logic, Jesse Bass proposed to choose Ezeli as an inside supplement, which is also the right direction.

The core disagreement is who is more suitable.

"It is true that Draymond Green can organize and shoot three-pointers, but we have Kobe, Gasol and Curry, and there is no shortage of scorers. Under the threat of Curry and Kobe's three-pointers, we can get more space. It's not complicated or anything..."

Jesse Bass continued: "We need defense more, rebounding and frame protection are especially important, and Ezeli can catch up with players who shoot from mid-range positions. In that regard, Draymond Green should not have Ezeli So good at it."

After the words fell, Jim Buss and Ryan West nodded silently in agreement, probably because Green's draft report read: The perimeter defensive threat is not enough to make the ball holder give up, lacks explosive power, and the defensive guards are very weak.

And Ezeli's scouting report reads: With his height, he shows impressive lateral speed, can keep up with the defensive object in the middle distance, has a strong ability to protect the frame, and has a body that can immediately adapt to NBA-level confrontation quality and mental condition.

Su Yang was stunned on the spot.

Not because Jim Buss and Ryan West agreed with that statement, but because Jesse actually taught himself how to form a team.

Why is he also the coach of three championships, even if Durant and Kobe had already been in the team before, wouldn't he be taught to form a team?
Seeing that Su Yang looked different, Kupchak hurriedly smiled and said, "If we choose Ezeli, you need to spend more time redesigning some tactics. Your level is so high, we believe you can handle it easily. As for who to choose , we will formulate two sets of plans, respectively presupposing that Raymond Green falls into the second round and not falling into the second round..."

Between the words, Kupchak tried to find a balance. He praised Su Yang for his high level of coaching, and he could lead any lineup. Get the championship.

Jesse Bass continued: "Su, I don't question your professional ability, but we need a tough center, especially when Biedrins and George Hill are not that type, Ezeli is Our best pick."

The 2012 draft can be called an insider sales conference. Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Meyers Leonard, John Henson, Tyler Zeller in the lottery range, Ezeli is really a draw at the end of the first round. The best traditional center forward in the second round.

It's a pity that the traditional center is about to become obsolete.

"Rebounding is also an option we urgently need. Draymond Green is obviously not an excellent rebounder. According to his physical test data in the joint trial training, he is only 201 cm tall in shoes, and his real height is only about 198 cm..."

Jim Buss also advised, "I also understand your desire to use the inside to stretch the space, but since you have succeeded in the Thunder, our Lakers have succeeded without the inside to stretch the space before, so it is not something to worry about."

Su Yang was stunned again when he heard the words.

Mainly, Jim's statement is logical and self-consistent. The Lakers could win the championship with a three-point deviation before. How much impact can a substitute player have?

In the eyes of Jim and Jesse, Green's organization and three-pointers are nothing more than Roberts' level, and his defense is far inferior to Ezeli.

In the key original history, Green was selected with the 35th pick, but the simulated Cavaliers were not selected, and many other teams were not selected.

Even the Warriors chose Ezeli first, then Green.

That is the time limit.

"Then what if Ezeli is selected in the first round or before the 35th pick?" Su Yang thought for a moment and decided to change directions. Anyway, no matter how consistent Jesse and Jim's logic is, it is useless for Ezeli to be selected in advance. No more arguing.

Ezeli's simulated pick is 36, which was selected by the Pacers.

The reason why it is so low is that it is old, lacks offensive means, and has a history of injuries, so the risk is too high.

"Our alternative plan is Quincy Miller, Jared Cunningham or Kim English..." Kupchak slowly stated the advantages and disadvantages of the three players, emphasizing that the Lakers need a swingman player, as Part of the team's long-term plan.

Su Yang listened very tangled.

Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris have proven to be embarrassing and will not be recalled from the NBDL. In addition, McGrady is very likely to choose to retire, and Barnes is very likely to enter the free market to seek a big contract. The Lakers really need swing man.

But for the three players mentioned by Kupchak, Su Yang only has an impression of Jared Cunningham, after all, the Shanghai Sharks.

The other two players who failed to stay in the NBA for a long time were selected for nothing by the Lakers, wasting their positions.

After Kupchak finished speaking, Su Yang asked decisively: "What about Chris Middleton, who used to be a candidate for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, and is currently ranked 38th in the simulation. wheel, you can also consider..."

Between the words, he roughly stated why he hoped that 'if Green is not selected at the 35th pick, it is best to choose Middleton'.

"Middleton suffered serious injuries." Jesse Bass said, "That caused his simulated draft to drop sharply. As for Will Barton, as the American League Player of the Year, his chances of falling into the second round are too low. There's no need to think about..."

Su Yang was stunned for the third time when he heard this.

Why did Ezeli turn a blind eye to the injury, and Middleton was specifically singled out for the injury, is there a big difference in the injury?

A bit of a double standard.

"It stands to reason that this kind of matter should be directly decided by us, but today everyone has very reasonable suggestions..." Kupchak paused for a moment, "Let's vote to decide, first of all, support the 35th pick Ezeli's No. Plan number one."

The draft is nominally the responsibility of the general manager or president of basketball operations, but in fact the boss, or a strong coach, or star will make suggestions, or even take the initiative to intervene, such as Cuban, who is determined not to let Nelson choose Antetokounmpo.

After the words fell, Jesse Buss, Jim Buss, and Ryan West immediately raised their hands, and Kupchak also raised his hands.

Su Yang shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, it was useless to object.

Followed by the vote of 'If Ezeli is not selected, choose Quincy Miller and others', it is still a 4-1 vote.

Seeing the result, Su Yang didn't give up, but he didn't continue to refute in person, and was ready to think of other ways. After all, the draft has not started yet, and old Buss and Kobe can also change their plans, so there is no need to rush to mess up the atmosphere too stiff.

"Then I have another proposal, pick Jay Michael Green with the 55th pick, and the other 60th pick is very likely to lose Kent Bazemore, that guy is from Old Dominion University and belongs to the Colonial Athletic League. He has unique skills..."

As the head coach, Su Yang knows that there is a tactic named after Bazemore, which is a little tricky for lobs and cuts.

"We currently don't have any information on Bazemore and JaMychal Green. We will collect it first and study it carefully based on your suggestions. However, there is not much time left before the draft. We still have some trial training work, so it may not be too late..."

Kupchak explained slightly apologetically, but he didn't explicitly say that he would not accept Su Yang's suggestion, and he really didn't have time to do it.

Jesse Bass then informed Su Yang that Johnson Odom, Thackeray and others were going to be selected with the 55th and 60th picks.

Su Yang was very angry, but he didn't show it. He agreed to discuss a few words, then left the office and drove home.

After parking the car, he immediately called Old Bath, but Old Bath's assistant answered, saying that Old Bath was undergoing a medical test.

In a daze, Su Yang suddenly recalled that the old Buss will die of cancer next year, and the Lakers have officially entered the era of the young Buss.

At such a node, it is not suitable to find Old Bath again.

After thinking for a long time, Su Yang called Kobe again, but Kobe made it clear that he would not intervene, and advised him not to think too much, and just perform his own duties. The main thing is that the Lakers trust him enough, otherwise they would not send Bynum away for Curry. This time it's just three second-round picks.

Anyway, give Jim and Jesse, as well as Kupchak, and even Ryan West enough space, don't interfere too much.

If you really want to be in control, buy a team and play by yourself.

After hearing those words, Su Yang felt quite reasonable.

(End of this chapter)