NBA Backer King: Chapter 237 Joining the No. 1 pick
Chapter 237 Joining the No. 1 draft pick
Seeing that they were a little silent, Pharaoh asked suspiciously: "Kevin, Dan, why don't you speak?"
The two looked at each other, and Kevin Johnson smiled: "It's nothing, I'm thinking about how to cooperate with you and have another good season. But don't think that I can be the same as last season. I'm old, not the monster of Jordan. ."
Pharaoh reached out and patted Kevin Johnson on the shoulder with a smile: "Don't worry, I'm a bit stronger than last season, just leave the ball to me."
Dan Marley said at this time: "Danny Manning has been seriously injured, otherwise the Clippers would not choose to trade him, I don't know how much strength he has now."
Kevin Johnson recalled for a moment and said: "Last season he played for two teams, and the overall scoring data should be 20+, but his physique is prone to injury, and it is hard to say how he will perform in the new season."
Pharaoh knows that Danny Manning, the No. 1 draft pick in 1988, is a talented insider. His cruciate ligament ruptured in his rookie season, which directly cast a shadow over the future of this genius. He only played 82 games in one season, but as long as he No more injuries, the strength should be good.
Dan Marley said at this time: "The Bulls' Cobra Grant went to the Magic. The strength of the Bulls has declined in the new season, but the strength is still quite strong."
"Grant gone?"
Pharaoh's brain immediately came alive. This is the main power forward of the Bulls. He is good at cutting inside and playing without the ball. He rebounds well and has the ability to pull off long shots. Losing the main power forward, the Bulls should not be as good as this season. So strong last season.
Kevin Johnson immediately splashed him with cold water and said, "Do you know Grant's European substitute? It's Tony Kukoc, known as the Europa Magician. He is also very strong, only his rebounding ability and defense are worse, scoring Ability and assist ability are not weaker than Grant, and the long shot ability is stronger than Grant, and his ability to pull is stronger.
Pharaoh was stunned and argued: "That's a loss, at least their bench is weaker."
"That's true." Kevin Johnson laughed.
"By the way, Barkley didn't retire, did he?" he asked suddenly.
"No, I went back to Phoenix in the summer and asked Dr. Carter to do a check on him. I'm going to stick to it again." Kevin Johnson laughed.
"If the flying pig retires, the big dream will be killed by him." Dan Marley laughed.
"He can't fly now." Kevin Johnson teased.
The friendship between the two of them and Barkley is also a one-year teammate. In fact, it is only average. It is not as good as the deep friendship with Pharaoh. The Suns are the mother team of the three of them. Friendship is an iron triangle.
The next day, on the 19th, Wang Tiejun went to the headquarters, found Colangelo, and learned about the current team's lineup.
Colangelo gave him a list of the lineup, he looked at it, there were a few less old people and a few more newcomers.
Inside: Wang Tiejun, AC Green, Ostishorpe, Danny Manning, Wayman Tisdale.
Strikers: Robert Horry, Antonio Long (swingman), Danny Ainge (swinger)
Outside: Kevin Johnson, Dan Marley, Elliott Perry (point guard), Wesley Parson (shooting guard).
"Sir, isn't Thorpe going?" he asked when he saw Thorpe's name.
Colangelo nodded and said: "He wanted to leave, but the transaction was not completed. With the current lineup, I actually don't want to let him go.
Thorpe is 33 years old, AC Green is 32 years old, I guess they will all decline in the next form. But until we bolster them, they still have some use. "
"Sir, what do you think?" Pharaoh asked.
Colangelo said with a smile: "Old K, you are still young, don't worry, the team's reinforcement is not just a matter of reinforcement, it takes opportunity and time."
"I see."
Old Wang nodded, he knew that if he wanted to strengthen a position, he really needed an opportunity.
Just like the Bulls, after so many years, they finally found Clifford Robinson last year. This is because the original team couldn't keep up with the big contract offered by the Bulls. If they could afford the contract, the Bulls would still make up for it. The strong fifth is helpless.
Jordan has been with the Bulls for so many years, and the management of the Bulls has also spent many years building a championship-level team. Now the Suns build a team with him as the core, which also takes time, not just a mouthful.
Colangelo added: "We're not sure about Danny Manning's body, but he joined as a free man and didn't cost anything, so it was a good deal.
In addition, I hope to have some gains in the 1996 draft, I hope to complete the reinforcement in two or three seasons. "
"Two or three seasons?" Old Wang nodded.
But he said seriously: "Sir, how to strengthen the team, I don't care, but I don't want to ruin it."
Colangelo was stunned and laughed a few times before he said, "Don't worry, how could I complete the team building in a rotten way?"
He is the owner of the Suns, and it is impossible to choose to rot, because that is an absolute damage to the Phoenix market.
And although the team is aging, even if its strength is not comparable to the Bulls and Mosaic, it is still the first-class in the league. This season, it still has the strength to attack the championship. How can it be rotten?
Even, Jordan is another year older, and Big Dream and Barkley are also a year older. The older you get, the more likely you are to get injured and your state will decline. The Bulls and Mosaic teams in the new season may not be as strong as last season.
But thinking of this, he also thought that Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley in his team were also a year older. The team's perimeter strength this year should not be as good as last season.
In his future reinforcement plan, he also hopes to find two good rookies on the perimeter to fill the positions of Lightning and Lei Gong.
There is also Danny Ainge, who is almost 36 years old. The new season is the last year of his contract. It has been said that he will retire after this season. The bench also needs to strengthen a pitcher. Can Parsons top it?
Of course, if Danny Manning can play a 20+ All-Star performance, the new season will be more promising.
Thinking of this, he suddenly thought of Wilkins.
Wilkins did not renew his contract with the Clippers, and there has been no news of his next move. Do you want to get in touch?
Wang Tiejun took the list and looked at it. He evaluated the strength of this year's lineup in his heart. He felt that it was not weak, and it was already very strong.
Of course, this strength is when the player is healthy. If there is an injury, it will be trouble.
For example, Danny Manning, a guy with a ruptured cruciate ligament, is a big hidden danger to the Suns in case of another knee injury.
But as long as Danny Manning stays healthy, he thinks this year's roster strength can even beat the Mosaic team.
You must know that Barkley is getting more and more physical injuries, his state will definitely decline, and the strength of the Mosaic team will also decline.
On his side, he and Manning are the main players in the inside line, and AC Green and Thorpe are the substitutes. The overall strength is even stronger than the inside line of the Mosaic team.
On the outside, the Mosaic team is generally average. Although Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley will also decline in state, they should not be weaker than the Mosaic team.
So by comparison, this year is actually a very promising year to reach the finals.
The only three questions are whether Green and Thorpe can stay, and whether Danny Manning can stay healthy. These three people are critical.
He shared his thoughts with Colangelo, who expressed his agreement with him.
After sent Wang Tiejun away, Colangelo immediately asked people to check Wilkins' information and began to analyze.
Wilkins, nicknamed the essence of human movies, the slam dunk king, the third overall pick in 1982, the swingman of the front and guard, 35 years old this year, and the data of 26+6+2 last season, 9 All-Stars, one-time scoring champion, One best first, four second, two third, although old, but the strength still exists.
If you get Wilkins, you can make up for the lack of perimeter firepower of the Suns.
And Wilkins, like Danny Manning, are free men at no cost.
The only thing to consider is whether the Suns' salary can bear the burden of a superstar like Wilkins.
Wilkins' salary last season was 3.25 million. With his performance last season, if he is signed, at least this level must be maintained.
The salary cap for the new season is $16 million, and he calculated the team's total salary.
Old K is 2.36 million, Kevin Johnson 2.75 million, AC Green 6.47 million, Thorpe 2.58 million, Danny Manning 1 million, Dan Marley 3 million, Vaiman Tisdale 850,000, Horry 1.5 million , Antonio Lang 330,000, Danny Ainge 2.08 million, Elliott Perry 250,000, Wesley Parson 650,000, a total of 23.82 million.
Among them, Suo Xian is to be traded, minus his salary, the total salary is 21.24 million, or more than 5 million.
"Green?"
He murmured, the team's highest-paid player was the team's fifth scoring point last season, with an average of 12+8 per game. For this performance, the salary is a bit high, and the price-performance ratio is too low.
You must know that superstars such as Big Dream Barkley and Pippen are only paid two or three million a year. Ewing will only be more than four million in the new season, and David Robinson will only be seven million in the new season. The highest center.
He thought that in the playoffs, Thorpe and the old K partnered well, and Green and Thorpe were both old. He brought in Danny Manning, an All-Star insider. Should he trade Green?
It's not that he doesn't give up the luxury tax, it's that Green's performance is not worthy of his salary, and Green is old.
In addition, Danny Manning is definitely going to play the main power forward. Green can only sit on the bench, but he is the person with the highest salary in the team. It is not so luxurious for the Suns to let such a person sit below.
However, it is also difficult to trade Green, because the salary is too high, few teams are willing to take over, and the tactical coordination has to be considered, which needs to be discussed with head coach Westphal.
But even if he can't get out of the deal, he wants to bring Wilkins in. Although he needs to pay 10 million luxury tax a year, he can maintain his impact on the championship.
A good record, combined with Phoenix, a city with decent spending power, can make the ball market better, ticket sales are higher, and the ticket and advertising revenue for the playoffs is also considerable, and it can also pull a little more. Sponsors, as well as getting more live broadcasts across the United States, and the favor of regional broadcasters.
All kinds of benefits add up, good operating income can completely offset the huge luxury tax, and let the team's operation enter a good state, which is much better than rotten.
A big market will never be rebuilt in a rotten way. Only those small markets, when the market is hopeless, will rebuild in a way that will hurt the market.
Not only the Suns, but the Lakers, for example, never fail. No matter how much money they spend, they have to build a competitive lineup. They just don’t want to hurt the market.
After thinking about it, he immediately contacted Wilkins' agent.
"What? That's a shame!"
The phone got through, and just as he explained his intentions, the other party told him that Wilkins is now in Boston and has just signed a one-year contract with the Celtics.
Disappointingly hung up the phone, he complained: "What did Wilkins think, he actually defected to the Eagles' mortal enemy, how much does he hate the Eagles? How much salary can a stingy team like the Celtics give him? The Celtics are in the process of rebuilding and don't value a veteran like him at all."
This side is disappointed, and Wilkins and the agent on the opposite side are also disappointed, and even more disappointed, looking at each other.
Because the Celtics only gave him a one-year contract of more than two million yuan, which means they don't value him too much, and the Celtics are rebuilding. He can only be a stepping stone for newcomers here, knowing that the Suns want He went to the sun.
Although the Suns are also rebuilding, but it was built on the basis of having the cornerstone of reconstruction, and it still has the strength to win the championship. With empty hands, he would rather go to a championship-level team.
Wilkins hated the Eagles.
After he was selected by the Jazz at the third position in the first round in 1982, he was immediately transferred to the Eagles. He never played a game in the Jazz. The Eagles were his home team.
In this team, he played for twelve seasons, but the team abandoned him for a glass man Danny Manning.
"Anyway, there is only a one-year contract. If we finish this year, we will go to the Sun next year?" said his agent Murphy.
Wilkins gave a wry smile, he will be another year older next year, what else can he be in?
If the Suns are signed this time, with him and Danny Manning on the outside, plus Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley, the Suns' outside scoring ability will not be weaker than the Bulls at all. They can crush the Mosaic and the Spurs. Maybe the Suns can. win the championship.
The choice is wrong, time is also fate, maybe God is destined to have no crown for life, he sighed in his heart.
…
On the Suns side, failing to get Wilkins, Colangelo decided to temporarily move AC Green so as not to weaken the team's strength. With the Suns' current market, the luxury tax of several million is completely acceptable. bearable.
The new season starts on November 4th. On the 23rd, the preseason ended. On the 24th, the Suns returned to Phoenix. On the 25th, the team assembled. The pre-season training for the 94/95 season began.
At 8:30 this morning, Wang Tiejun arrived at the team headquarters.
Greeted the coaching staff first. There is no change in the coaching staff in the new season, but Danny Ainge has begun to participate in the coaching staff. After retiring this season, he plans to join the coaching staff of the Suns. This is the only change.
Greeted new and old teammates again, and no newcomers disapproved of him. After all, strength and violence are here. In today's NBA league, even the three super centers, even Jordan, dare not act wild in front of him.
Even Danny Manning, the former No. 1 pick, was polite to him and didn't put on the air of being No. 1 pick.
He observed the situation of his teammates and chatted with them.
"Robert, have you practiced your shot?" The first one found Horry.
Horry nodded and smiled and said, "Don't worry, old K, I have practiced throughout the offseason. Especially the three-point shot, it's already very accurate."
Old Wang nodded and said, "That's good, don't give you the ball, and you won't be able to hit the open space."
"certainly."
Horry nodded awkwardly.
"AC, what are you thinking?" Pharaoh found that Greene's mood seemed to be wrong, and he was a little gloomy.
AC Green glanced at Danny Manning, shook his head and said, "It's nothing, old K, I'm fine."
I know my own business. The team has introduced an All-Star insider like Danny Manning. He understands that it is difficult to get a starting position this season, so he is not in a good mood.
Moreover, his salary is the highest in the team. If he can't play the main force, the team may sell him and not let a person with the highest salary in the team sit on the bench.
On the other side, is Otis Thorpe, who is in trouble. He didn't get many starts last season. This season, there is another Danny Manning. His mood is ten times worse than Green.
What's more annoying is that he asked for the transaction, but it was not completed, so he could only stay reluctantly.
But he has already proposed a transaction to the management through his agent. He is almost 33 years old, and he really doesn’t want to stay here. Taking advantage of some fuel, he wants to go to a team that can play the main force.
The main position will allow him to get a bigger contract after this contract ends. This is the most practical interest and must be fought for.
Pharaoh and the two chatted a few times and then walked away.
He understands the situation of the two, but the NBA is a place where the strong survive and he has no way to help them, and it is impossible to help them.
Now he is worried that the two will ask for a trade. In fact, Thorpe asked for a trade in the offseason, but it didn't work.
Once Green and Thorpe leave the team, the Suns' bench lineup will definitely decline, and this season will be very troublesome.
This is also a problem in team building. The interests of the team and the players are inconsistent, the interests of the main force and the substitute players are inconsistent, the interests of the players and the coaching staff are inconsistent, and under various conflicts, want to build a stable and strong team, even It's really hard to be a championship-level team.
Colangelo is also watching the players on the side. The outside line is aging, and the inside line is very old, except for the cornerstone of the team, K. He is still asking for trades. sigh.
(end of this chapter)