NBA: James wants to team up with me

Chapter 35: In the draft, is it really possible that it’s the Lakers?

David Stern shook hands with James and hugged him with a smile on his face.

He is very optimistic about this young high school student and has the idea of ​​​​turning him into the second Jordan. After all, for a player like James who has already made a huge impact before entering the league, the last one was Tim Duncan.

But unlike Duncan, who has a calm personality, a low-key style of play, and a style that does not attract fans very much, James has a strong physical fitness and likes all kinds of dunks when playing. This is the style of play that fans like. As long as the league supports it, he will definitely become a national idol.

The only flaw is that the Cleveland Cavaliers chose James. In such a small market, it is an obstacle to the exploration and development of James' commercial value.

While thinking this, the Detroit Pistons, who hold the second pick in the first round, also gave their choice.

After watching James step off the stage, Stern opened the envelope and took a look, showing an expression that was true, and then smiled at the camera and said.

"With the second pick from the Detroit Pistons, their choice is Serbian center Darko Milicic."

The applause this time was obviously inferior to the previous one.

Many people don't even know Milicic's name at all. After all, the opponent is a player from Europe, and his popularity in the NBA is naturally average.

But it is undeniable that in 03, Milicic was definitely one of the few high-quality inside players.

The Detroit Pistons chose Milicic and gave up Carmelo Anthony, another No. 1 pick, for a very simple reason.

On the front line, they have Tayshaun Prince. Although Prince, who has just spent his rookie season, has less development prospects at the small forward position than Anthony, his talent is visible to the naked eye after all.

They need an inside player more than a forward player.

Although Ben Wallace is still the absolute core of the Pistons inside, his role is entirely reflected on the defensive end, and his offensive ability is almost zero.

Milicic, who has shown superb offensive skills and methods in the European League, has naturally become the Pistons' first choice. Moreover, considering talent and future development prospects, Milicic is not necessarily weaker than Anthony.

But when Milicic walked onto the stage with a smile on his face, Anthony's expression was already a little unnatural.

As the favorite to win the championship before the draft, it would be fine if he lost the No. 1 pick without competing against James. Now he is not even the No. 2 pick.

Anyone else in Anthony's position would not be happy.

It’s just that Milicic’s second place finish is not something to be envied at all.

As a time traveler, Wang Chong knows very well what fate awaits Milicic.

Larry Brown, the famous coach of the Pistons, the championship coach who led the Pistons to defeat the Lakers in the 03-04 season.

In terms of coaching, Larry Brown is indeed at the top level of the league, but he is obviously not good at training rookies.

Larry Brown, who has a strict coaching style, is a representative of the old-school coach. European-type inside players like Milicic are not his type at all.

During his time with the Pistons, Brown had only one requirement for Milicic, and that was to play like a tough guy.

Simply translated, it means imitating Ben Wallace's playing style.

<divclass="contentadv">But this is not how a European center is used.

Flexible feet, comprehensive skills, and being able to play both inside and outside have always been the hallmarks of European insiders. Countless outstanding European insiders have proven that this style of play can survive in the NBA.

Let them be like the local black insiders in the United States, exercising their strength and jumping like crazy to fly into the sky and escape from all kinds of bloody big hats. How could they do it?

Even if Larry Brown made the same request to Pau Gasol, the latter would be defeated by his stubborn coaching philosophy.

The result is that Milicic, who was ranked second in the 03 generation, was just a substitute player for the Pistons for several seasons. He sat on the bench all year round and was ridiculed as the "human victory cigar." He only disliked it when the Pistons were leading by a big score. Milicic's Larry Brown will let him play for a few minutes.

Of course, Anthony and Milicic have different positions. If they come to the Pistons, they may not be directly eliminated like Milicic. However, if you want to become the first offensive core like in the Nuggets, it is not easy to have unlimited firing rights. possible.

But there must be something to give, and Anthony, who is with the Pistons, may very well become the first player in the 03 class to win the NBA championship, and his career will completely change.

-

When the draft came to the third pick, Anthony, who was a little blue, finally heard his name, and a smile appeared on his face again. He took the baseball cap with the Nuggets logo printed on it from the staff at the side, and went on stage with a bright smile. .

When Anthony took the stage, Henry Thomas walked over from one side, sat next to Wade and Wang Chong, and spoke to Wade in a low voice.

"I have good news to tell you. Don't be too surprised. The Heat management just called me and said they will choose you soon..."

Wade was stunned, and his eyes suddenly widened.

Heat? Miami Heat?

He remembered that the Heat's draft pick was the fifth pick in the first round, an absolutely super high pick!

Before the draft started, Wade's draft pick prediction was only the 13th pick in the first round. Even he himself didn't have high hopes for it. He never expected that in a sudden turn of events, he would become the fifth pick in this draft. A player who was chosen!

When Wang Chong heard this from the other side, he didn't show any particularly surprised expression. He already knew this. On the contrary, he would only be surprised if the Heat didn't choose Wade.

But what he didn't expect was that after talking to Wade, Thomas looked at him again.

"I also have good news to tell you, the Lakers are very interested in you."

Wang Chong: "..."

So?

The Heat's pick is the fifth pick in the first round, and the Lakers' pick is the 24th pick in the first round. Is this really good news?

Seemingly seeing Wang Chong's expression of wanting to curse, Thomas then added: "The Lakers know that there is a high probability that you will be selected in the middle of the first round. To ensure nothing goes wrong, they will compete with the team with the higher pick." If you are traded, there is a high probability that you will be among the teams that hold lottery picks."

Wang Chong stopped cursing now.

This thing is going somewhere!

Every year in the league's draft, there are many cases of trading directly after the draft. As long as the chips are enough, even the No. 1 pick can become a trading chip, let alone a position slightly lower in the draft.

If the Lakers are really determined to win, they can really do it as long as they are willing to pay enough chips.

Although Wang Chong mentioned that he is not interested in the Lakers, that was based on the relatively complicated internal situation of the Lakers, and the premise that the opponent only had the 24th pick.

If the other party can select him in the lottery, it might not be a bad thing. After all, they are the wealthy Lakers, one of the most prosperous cities in the United States, the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Who wouldn't love it?