basketball player

623 Chapter 621: I was fooled again
On June 6, Barclays Center in New York, Henson is very familiar with this place.

He's won countless basketball games here and, of course, won the NBA draft.In the first year after he announced his return last season, he won Malcolm Brogdon at the Barclays Center.Now, a year later, Brogdon has entered the NBA Rookie of the Year shortlist.

This year, Henson believes he can win the draft as well.As soon as the draft is over, he can start his real vacation.

After winning the championship, Henson's only wish was to be with his family.The busy playoffs made Henson miss his daughter's birthday, and Henson didn't have a good dinner at home.After the season ended, Henson rushed to New York immediately without stopping, without much personal time at all.

And all of this, Henson can only make up for it with vacation time.

Therefore, Henson now has to start the draft quickly.Once the draft is over, no, it doesn't even have to wait for the draft to end.As soon as the first round is over, Henson can return to his family and start his wonderful vacation.

"Boom, boom, boom." Just as Henson was looking at the rookies who were thronging the audience and didn't know that they were about to enter a hellish league, there was a knock on the door of Henson's box.

Henson nodded, and Silas immediately went to open the door.

"Henson, what do you want from me?"

The person outside the door yelled before entering the private room, and then walked in freely.

The voice Henson was familiar with came from his old friend, Gregg Popovich!

"Pop!? Didn't I say that I will find you in person later? Why did you come here by yourself? Please come." Henson immediately stood up and politely greeted Popovich to sit down.

After all, Henson felt a little embarrassed that he asked someone for something, but he made him go there himself.

"Hahaha, I'm curious what the hell you're up to, so I took the initiative to come here. Tell me, what do you want to talk to me about? A deal?" Popovich knew Henson well, and when Henson said something at this juncture, it must be another unlucky guy who was going to be tricked.

"It is indeed a deal, but my deal with you is just a foreshadowing. Well, let me tell you my plan, and you can see if you can accept it."

After so many years in the league, Henson has accumulated some contacts of his own.Popovich is one of them.

After listening to Henson's talk about his plan, Popovich was startled at first, and then the corners of his lips curled up slightly.Such an insidious method is really Henson's style!
It's just pity for Erwin Johnson who just took office not long ago. The "magician" is still kept in the dark.

It seems that the game at the end of the first round of this year's draft is very intense.

※※※

Henson now sees Adam Silver more and more pleasing to the eye. Of course, he is not attracted by Silver's appearance, but likes this guy's nonsense style.

At this point, Xiao Hua is much better than Stern.When Stern was in power, whenever he spoke, he would say a lot of official good words.

But Xiao Hua can't, he knows very well what is the theme and what is the auxiliary material.Therefore, after a few opening remarks on stage, Adam Silver announced the official start of the 2017 NBA draft.

The No. 76 pick, the Philadelphia 76ers got their wish and picked Markelle Fultz, the "James Harden". The [-]ers' choice not only excited the fans, but also made "Magic" Johnson breathe a sigh of relief.This means that the person he fancy has not been picked.

So the second pick, the Lakers also took Lonzo Ball as planned.And Ball also came to Los Angeles, which has a big market, as he wished. This time the draft can be described as a win-win situation.

Johnson thought to himself, the next draft has nothing to do with the Lakers.His next round of games will appear at the end of the first round!
Meanwhile, Henson and Popovich agreed on their plan.Silas left the box with a small envelope, probably to apply to the alliance.

After that, the Celtics took Jayson Tatum with the third pick, and the Phoenix Suns took Josh Jackson with the fourth pick.The draft continues to be exciting, but Henson and Popovich are indifferent.

Like "Magician", their game was at the end of the first round!
After a long wait, the lottery draft is finally over.Henson took a sip of water, and since rookies don't have to go on stage to shake hands with Silver, the progress of the draft will definitely be much faster.

"Henson, are you willing to put in so much effort for a rookie at the end of the first round?" In the private room, Popovich and Henson chatted without saying a word.

"Kyle Kuzma has immediate combat power, and I need immediate combat power to strengthen my team, Pop. So, I am willing." Henson did not fool Popovich. Facing friends who are willing to help him, Henson has always been very sincere.

"So, you're not afraid of my repentance? Are you not afraid of me taking that rookie as my own?"

"No, because he is only an immediate force for me. But for the Spurs, you don't need him. He is a [-]-[-] swingman, but you have Leonard and Aldridge. By the way, I heard that you are also very interested in Gay this summer. So, you don't need to take him."

While speaking, the draft has reached the 26th pick in the first round, and the Portland Trail Blazers picked the No. 27 and No. 28 swingman Caleb Swanigan from Purdue University.Immediately, both Henson and Popovich cheered up, and then came the Lakers' [-]th and [-]th picks. The key is here!
At the same time, in the private room of the Lakers, "Magic" Johnson handed over his two envelopes.He thinks that his choice is extremely smart.That Chinese general manager, you will regret it when the time comes!

"With the 27th pick in the first round, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Josh Hart from Villanova University!"

On the stage, when Xiao Hua read out the result, Henson jumped up happily, and Johnson really fell for it!

Henson deliberately said that he wanted Hart, just to divert the Lakers' goal!The Lakers will definitely cut off the rookies they fancy. In this way, the probability of the Pacers getting Kuzma is even greater!
Now, let's see what the Lakers will do with the 28th overall pick!
After selecting Hart, the "Magician" thought about it and decided to keep Kuzma at the 30th pick.Because he believes that most teams have not recognized the value of Kuzma.If you want to cut the beard, the other teams have already cut the beard.

As for the 28th pick, "Magician" intends to choose the all-around power forward Tony Bradley who the Jazz likes very much.Use this as a bargaining chip to threaten the Jazz to choose Kuzma with the 30th pick, and then let the Jazz use Kuzma + other chips to exchange Tony Bradley.

In this way, he can not only get Kuzma, but also get some additional benefits.

The "Magician"'s calculations were crackling, and he could already imagine the scene of himself being praised by the media after the draft.

So the 28th pick in the first round, following Hart, the Lakers won North Carolina forward Tony Bradley.Dennis Lincer, general manager of the Jazz, covered his forehead, and the Lakers must have asked the Lions to open their mouths.

After seeing the Lakers' choice, Henson and Popovich smiled at each other in the private room. The Lakers did not choose Kuzma with the 27th and 28th picks.Well, they're saying goodbye to the University of Utah forward forever.

People, sometimes you can't be too greedy. "Magic" wants to win big in the draft, but his desires are beyond his control.

Just before the No. 29 pick started, Silver announced a trade.The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to trade their 29th overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Josh Richardson.

Seeing this deal, "Magician" was a little puzzled. Hart had already been selected by the Lakers. The Pacers wanted to make a deal. They should also start negotiating with the Lakers about Hart. How did they go to trade with the Spurs?

Then, Adam Silver held the microphone, looked at the envelope, and read out the name on it.

"With the 2017th pick in the first round of the 29 draft, the Pacers selected... Kyle Kuzma, out of the University of Utah."

"What!?" Johnson's face turned pale all of a sudden, and of course others couldn't tell through his skin color.

It stands to reason that Kuzma should never have gotten the attention of the Pacers?What is Henson doing?Want to use Kuzma to threaten himself to trade Hart?
After only being stunned for a few seconds, the "magician" suddenly realized.Josh Hart is just a cover, from the beginning, what Henson wanted was Kuzma!That's why he deliberately said that he wanted Hart to divert his attention and lure himself to disrupt the draft plan.

And he also brought in his good friend Popovich, and took down Kuzma before the Jazz, so as to prevent future troubles!

When the "magician" realized that he had been deceived, it was too late.The Lakers have observed Kyle Kuzma for two years, and Henson took it for himself! The "magician" always wanted to take advantage of others, but he didn't expect to lose himself in the end.

Meanwhile, at his home in Burton, Mich., Kuzma yelped in disbelief at what was happening on TV.

He looked at the Blu-ray DVD he put on the table, and still couldn't believe that he was going to play for the team he could only watch on TV next season!

Next season, he will wear the corn yellow jersey that represents glory and victory!
Henson at the draft site smiled slightly, he was already looking forward to his vacation.
(End of this chapter)