start with scouting

Chapter 577 Negotiations
After thinking about it, Su Yang subconsciously wanted to exchange Cousins ​​for George alone, which would be a very easy operation.

Regardless of salary balance, the total salary of the players of the Kings and Pacers does not exceed the salary cap, and they can be traded directly.

It also has nothing to do with the future salary space. George also takes up space. When the 17th season is over, he still needs to choose three out of four, or forcefully retain the Big Four, give up high-quality substitutes such as quasi-superstar Thomas Jr. and Galloway, and use basic salary players to fill the quota.

The main thing is to keep the two rookie contracts of LaVine and Jokic, and they can also enjoy two years of benefits. If they win three consecutive championships, everything is easy to say.

But recalling that because of Cousins’ absence, the Heat unscrupulously used a three-two defense and double-teamed Curry, bullying the King’s inside offensive threat is too low. If Cousins ​​​​is sent away, the playoffs will face the Warriors and Spurs. Difficult to fight.

But if you want to send Jokic + LaVine away at once, it will be even more painful. You need to adjust your tactics and re-run the chemical reaction.

After much deliberation, it is difficult to make a choice.

Su Yang was silent for a long time, and Xin Ji on the other end of the phone chased after him and said: "The Pacers emphasize that there may be new situations at any time..."

Between the words, Hinkie conveyed the meaning of the Pacers: George is very popular, going out to the Celtics, the Thunder are also competing fiercely, the Lakers are also participating in the competition, even including the Heat, Riley's ambition to rebuild the Big Three has not disappeared, but it is not included Wade.

"Let them fight, let's talk after the Christmas war..."

Su Yang felt relieved when he heard the words. The bargaining chips that those teams can provide cannot be compared with the Kings. The four first-round picks are too vague. Who knows what kind of players can be selected, and Cousins ​​has become famous. Keech and LaVine have visible potential.

In addition, the Pacers are probably unwilling to send George to the Eastern Conference team. It will be too painful to play a few games each season.

The biggest threat to the Kings may be the Lakers.

After all, George has a child lake dream.

The relationship between the Pacers and George has not reached the point where they are in trouble. Maybe in order to make things happen, it is really possible to trade with the Lakers.

But Su Yang wanted to wait and try to get George at the least cost. In addition, the deal before the Christmas war was too heart-wrenching.

"Then I'll find a way to deal with them..." Hinkie also understood that the Pacers' discussion and disclosure of other teams was nothing more than raising prices.

In a blink of an eye on the 25th, the Kings played against the Cavaliers at home.

The Christmas game was broadcast live by TNT. O'Neill's quartet flew to the scene to comment, and Miller and Thomas explained.

Su Yang spoke on behalf of the king before the game, announcing that he has started a long-term education donation activity, and will invest money to support education in the Saskatchewan area every year in the future, to repay the support of the fans in the entire Saskatchewan area, and may even build an exclusive private university in Saskatchewan.

In short, we are preparing to launch a 20-year plan to try to let Saskatchewan also have a top sports school like UCLA.

The fans didn't take it too seriously and just applauded excitedly.

The game then started, the Cavaliers started, Irving, Wiggins, LeBron, Love, Kristan Thompson.

On the King's side, Cousins' comeback time was delayed due to four consecutive away trips with the team, and West temporarily served as the starting power forward.

On the first attack, the Cavaliers won the jump ball.

LeBron took the ball with his back from the sideline and prepared to single out Antetokounmpo. According to Su Yang's arrangement, Jokic gave early help, mainly to block the passing route and break through space, forcing LeBron to go up the line, and then the team shrank Encircled and intercepted.

But no one went to fill TT Thompson in advance.

One is to bully Thompson's lack of COSCO shots, and the other is to prevent LeBron from making long passes from the opposite corner to avoid open three-pointers.

LeBron saw through the king's defensive intentions at a glance and threw the ball to Thompson in a hurry, but Thompson just caught the ball and took off to put the basket, but Jokic returned to the defense in time to block the shot. To the king's prediction.

The commentator Miller shouted excitedly when he saw this: "I underestimated Jokic's inside defense, he can make up for his speed with consciousness..."

The king counterattacked on the court, looking for cover and running continuously.

The Cavaliers cooperated very well in leaving space. Wiggins and Owen worked hard to chase and defend, and neither Curry nor LaVine got a good chance.

The basketball was conducted several times, and finally he was about to hang Jokic for a low singles, but West made a mistake in a hurry and was intercepted.

The Cavaliers then launched a fast break. LeBron and Love's high-position pick-and-roll failed, followed by a switch between the strong and weak sides, and it was hung to Love's waist and back. Unfortunately, Love lost weight during the off-season. Moved West, forcibly sank to the bottom and turned around for a layup, hitting the iron.

The King grabbed a rebound and pushed for a fast break, Curry chased and hit a three-pointer, and Irving failed to make a breakthrough in a one-on-one single, and passed to Love to open a wide open three-pointer on the left wing. Offensive state, the situation is a little anxious.

You come and go in the game. Core offensive efficiency such as Curry, Antetokounmpo, LeBron, and Irving is relatively low. On the contrary, Jokic and Wiggins, two non-core players, became kings because they did not encounter too much defensive pressure. And the main force of the Cavaliers scored points.

Especially Jokic, because TT Thompson wanted to intercept Antetokounmpo's breakthrough, but also to prevent LaVine and rushing to the basket, his movement speed was deviated, and it was difficult to stay at the top of the arc for a long time to interfere, allowing him to quickly score 7 points, 2 assists and 5 Rebounds, amazing efficiency.

The anxious situation of the two teams lasted until the end of the first quarter. Su Yang and Blatt tacitly changed players when the ball was dead, and also tacitly chose to keep the main lineup. The king only changed LaVine and West, and the Cavaliers only changed Love and Viking Adams, but the king quickly widened the gap.

After the main Covington and Turner came on the field, Antetokounmpo switched to the power forward position, and the king's defensive threat increased again. On the Cavaliers side, LeBron hadn't fully fired, and with 1 minute and 41 seconds left, he replaced LeBron Go down, the knight collapsed a little.

After the first quarter, the Kings lead 30-19.

Jokic played perfectly, with 10 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, sparking a small wave of social media discussions.

In the second quarter of the game, LeBron and Irving made an early appearance, forming a Big Three with Love, and grabbed a wave of offensives to chase 6 points in a row.

Su Yang had to shorten the rotation at the same time, but the Cavaliers started a defensive battle, desperately double-teamed Curry, gave up offensive rebounds many times, and pressed the rhythm with determination. They successfully prevented the King from rising and were forced to dig positions one by one, but the Cavaliers couldn't do anything. Have an orgasm.

The only profitable player for the two teams is Jokic.

By the end of halftime, the Kings only led by 3 points.

Back from the halftime break, the Cavaliers continued to adopt the strategy of desperately pressing the rhythm, but the King had no choice but to accept the move and narrowed down by 2 points.

The fourth quarter of the game was quite tragic. Jokic continued to stay on the court with bleeding from the corner of his eye, Wiggins continued to play despite the contusion, and JR almost fought with West. They each received technical fouls until 20 minutes left. Seconds, the king won the game.

Originally only leading by 2 points, but at the critical moment, Jokic once again predicted in advance and intercepted LeBron's pass, and then threw a football quarterback-style long pass, assisting Curry to hit a three-pointer, giving the Kings a 5-point lead The advantage is a real surprise.

The Cavaliers turned to double-team Curry and emptied Antetokounmpo, forcing the Kings to pass the ball to Antetokounmpo, but Antetokounmpo stabilized the pressure and made 4 consecutive free throws, withstood LeBron 2+1, helping the Kings win 104-100 Defeat the knights and win the Christmas War.

In the whole game, Jokic became the king's biggest hero, scoring 24 points, 12 assists and 15 rebounds in a super triple-double.

In the post-match press conference, LeBron generously praised Jokic: "He is an outstanding young player. He predicted my pass twice in advance. This is not common in the league. I believe he will have one. A bright future, the sky is…”

Su Yang asked Hinkie to reply to the Pacers at the same time: Jokic traded for Paul George alone, so the Pacers' first round is not necessary.

(End of this chapter)