basketball player

Chapter 124 Chapter 122: The Second Deal
Three hours before the draft, 76ers coach Doug Collins was still debating whether to agree to the Pacers trade.

Regarding Vucevic, Doug Collins is actually very interested.In today's era when the role of three-pointers is becoming more and more important, a fifth position with long-range shooting ability will no longer be labeled as a "soft guy", but more acceptable.The template is Wang Zhizhi and Mehmet Okur's Vucevic, who is undoubtedly an excellent candidate for the fifth position in space.

But no one knows what Vucevic can do. The NCAA three-point line is not the same thing as the NBA three-point line.Many players with excellent three-point shooting percentages in the NCAA will not find their sights in the NBA. Evan Turner, who the 76ers placed high hopes on in 08, is a living example.

Vucevic's biggest advantage is his shooting range. If his shooting range cannot be used after entering the NBA, then the 76ers will waste a draft pick.

At this moment, the Pacers threw an olive branch.Their chips are very interesting, a tough white man who can also shoot three-pointers and pass the ball with one hand, Josh McRoberts.

Mike Roberts is certainly not a star player, but his excellent ability to stretch the space has been well known last season.

Moreover, McRoberts' toughness keeps him from being crushed too badly inside, and he can occasionally fight tough battles.As for whether Vucevic can adapt to NBA-level confrontation, that is also unknown.

Under Henson last season, McRoberts made 40.2 percent of his 3.2-pointers and averaged [-] assists per game.He and Vucevic are the same type of player, but the difference is that Mike Roberts has proven himself to be a qualified NBA player. Although Vucevic may have a higher upper limit, the uncertainty is also greater.

After weighing the rights and disadvantages, 76ers coach Doug Collins finally called the general manager.

"Let's take this deal and tell the Hoosiers we're going to take Kawhi for them."

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Three hours later, at the NBA Draft, with the 15th pick in the first round, the 76ers, as promised, used a 15th pick to win the short power forward from San Diego State University, Kawhi Leonard.

In Doug Collins' view, choosing Leonard is simply a gamble.This guy's upper limit is very high, after all, his physical fitness is there.But the floor is also horribly low, because teams don't even know where Leonard should play.

But who cares?It was the Pacers who chose Leonard, not the 76ers.Collins didn't intend to help Henson solve these troubles.

Just after the 76ers selected Leonard, Collins' cell phone rang.He thought it was a thank you call from the Pacers, but when he took out his phone, he saw that the caller was Spurs general manager RC Forbold.

"We are willing to trade Leonard with George Hill and a second-round pick!" As soon as the call was connected, Forbd said the purpose of the call straight to the point.

This made Collins feel a little surprised. George Hill is the new favorite of the San Antonio people. Everyone knows how much Popovich likes the young point guard.For the Spurs, George Hill is definitely an important asset.

Now, however, the Spurs are willing to use such an important member to trade a rookie whose upper and lower limits cannot be predicted.Is that guy named Leonard really so amazing?

The Spurs' draft vision has always been vicious, and Collins also remembered that Coach Henson Joe is also a good draft pick.Two teams with unique visions in the draft have taken a fancy to Leonard at the same time, which can't help but make Doug Collins re-examine the value of Leonard.

However, a transaction is a transaction, and a transaction that has been facilitated and submitted to the alliance for review cannot be withdrawn.

"I'm sorry Forbd, you are one step late, Leonard belongs to the Pacers."

After Collins finished speaking, there was no sound on the other side, and he must have been dumbfounded.At the same time, on the big screen at the scene, the information of this transaction has also been made public.

Doug Collins looked at Leonard who was being interviewed. What kind of huge waves can this little guy make in the league?

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Popovich, who knew he had been duped, had disheveled hair. After getting angry, the old man's face was flushed because of the soaring blood pressure.With Henson Joe in the league, Popovich estimates that his blood pressure will definitely soar to a higher level.

Back then, even the "Red Leader" Auerbach couldn't fool the Spurs and take Duncan away.But today, a little Henson Joe took Leonard away from under his nose.

As soon as Leonard is won, it means that he is no longer interested in the George Hill deal. This is simply a naked fraud!
Popovich is quite familiar with Bird. The legendary Indiana basketball figure has a lot of ideas and a good way of building a team, but he is by no means the kind of person who will play tricks.

All of this must have been planned by Henson Joe!

In desperation, the Spurs only won the smart guard Corey Joseph of the University of Texas at the 29th pick.Although Joseph is also a very favorite candidate for the Spurs, the failure to get Leonard or Holiday still makes Popovich feel that this year's draft has failed extremely.

Just when Popovich thought everything was over today, the last pick in the first round of the draft, Popovich saw the Indiana Pacers again!

At this time, in the Bulls box, Bulls general manager Gail Foreman decided to send Jimmy Butler to Indianapolis after consulting Thibodeau.

As the No. 62 team in the Eastern Conference last season, this 2008-win team actually didn't spend much thought on the draft. The [-] draft has allowed the Bulls to succeed, and now the Bulls want to get some experienced veterans rather than rookies.

A draft pick with the 30th pick in the first round has little trade value.Thibodeau thought about it and decided to choose Jimmy Butler, who has the potential to become a defensive champion on the perimeter.

After all, Thibodeau is a defensive maniac, even if Jimmy Butler's shooting ability is urgent, he is willing to try.Anyway, with a 30th overall pick, the Bulls have no more options.Select a rookie at the end of the first round, use it if you can use it, and forget it if you don’t.

At this time, the Pacers offered Dengtai Jones to the Bulls.

Dengtai Jones is a typical 3D player. His defense has been baptized in actual combat and recognized by people, and Dengtai Jones' shooting is undoubtedly much more reliable than Jimmy Butler.

As an experienced player, Dengtai Jones will bring greater help to the Bulls' championship plan.Although the Bulls don't really want to trade with direct competitors like the Pacers, the Pacers' proposal undoubtedly hit the Bulls' G point.

So after thinking about it, Thibodeau told his general manager Gail Foreman that the deal could be agreed.

"It's the Pacers again? What are they doing? Crazy accumulation of rookies?" Popovich frowned. The Pacers were one of the youngest teams in the league last season.But after today's two transactions, the Pacers have undoubtedly become younger.

It stands to reason that the Pacers, who reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, should build a team following the principle of steady progress instead of making the lineup younger and younger.

Henson Joe has no experience, but Bird has a lot of experience. He will not allow Henson Joe to mess around after a successful season.

So there's only one reason the Pacers are doing this: Leonard and Jimmy Butler are good enough for them to let go of experienced players, even McRoberts as important rotation players.

So far, the first round of the draft is over, and Henson Joe and the Indiana Pacers have won two rookies who are not high in the draft.But their choice left Popovich with lingering fears.

What kind of tricks can the Pacers play in the new season?
(End of this chapter)