In late May, as the Lakers defeated the Spurs, who had high hopes from fans before the start of this year's Western Conference Finals, with a big score of 4-0, for a time, the "OK" combination was full of glory.
Especially in the last two games of the Western Conference Finals, after returning to Staples, the Lakers scored big scores of 111-72 and 111-82 respectively. Both the game scene and the process were desperate.
After the Western Conference Finals, many American media believed that the Lakers' dominance was more terrifying than that of the Bulls.
Now, no one doubts that the Lakers can defend their title this year.
In the eyes of the world, right now, the only suspense left in the NBA this season is whether the Lakers can win the championship with a perfect playoff record.
Thanks for the assist from the Lakers veteran.
Wang Shuo noticed that as the media praised the Lakers more and more frequently recently, Jordan came to him more and more often to discuss team building plans for the new season.
Obviously, Danzi, who has always been petty-minded, is very concerned about the media's opinion that this Lakers are better than the Bulls.
That is to say, social networks have not yet emerged at this time, otherwise with Jordan's current status, Wang Shuo feels that he is worth 8,000 trumpets.
"Why do you look like you don't care about this year's playoffs at all?" Jordan asked with a puzzled expression as he looked at Wang Shuo in the Wizards' training facility.
Turning to look at Jordan, Wang Shuo was also helpless.
Because he can't tell Jordan that he has watched this year's playoffs.
"I'm never afraid of any opponent, I'm just afraid that the opponent is not strong enough... I remember, this is a famous quote someone once said in an interview, right?" Wang Shuo looked at Jordan and smiled.
Hearing this, Jordan's face suddenly turned red.
Regardless of life or work, Jordan has absolute confidence in himself, but this does not mean that he cannot recognize reality.
As the last dynasty team in the NBA to win three consecutive championships before Wang Shuo's time travel, the Lakers are indeed quite explosive.
In this year's Western Conference Finals, the Spurs wanted to recreate the famous scene of the 1998/99 season, but in the end they were beaten by Kobe Bryant, who had grown rapidly in the past two years.
In this round of the Western Conference Finals where the Lakers defeated the Spurs 4-0, Kobe was able to average 33.3 points for the Lakers with a shooting percentage of more than 50%. Therefore, when the Spurs wanted to double-team O'Neal, they found that they often just filled in the gap. With the hole in the low position removed, the vacuum zone on the outside is directly exposed to Kobe.
At this moment, the reason why Jordan is depressed is precisely because he sees how powerful this Lakers team is.
Fortunately, at the 2001 NBA draft lottery ceremony held in late May, the Wizards won the No. 1 pick just like Wang Shuo remembered, and this also cheered up Boss Joe a little.
On the 29th, the Wizards, who won the No. 1 pick, held another front office meeting.
At the meeting, the main discussion was about how the Wizards could make the most of the No. 1 pick.
"I already tested the Clippers and Hawks yesterday. If we are willing to trade down the No. 1 pick, they can help us get another pick around the 15th to 25th picks in the first round.
Of course, if we don't want the draft picks, they can also send away some valuable players in a trade. "Unseld said to Jordan and Wang Shuo.
Wang Shuo nodded. This was similar to what he imagined. After winning the No. 1 pick, the Wizards could obtain more benefits by trading downwards.
After all, if the Wizards want to select Marca, they don't need the No. 1 pick.
"What did the Clippers say?" Wang Shuo asked curiously.
"The Clippers hope that we can use the No. 1 pick to help them select Kwame Brown, and then they will use their No. 2 pick to help us select the players we want.
Of course, if only the No. 1 pick and the No. 2 pick are exchanged, then we will probably only have another pick around No. 25 in the first round. replied Unseld.
"Where's the Eagles?" Wang Shuo asked next.
"The Hawks haven't told me their target yet, but they are willing to trade with us in the draft and are willing to provide us with a higher first-round pick," Unseld said.
"I'm not very good at trading. What do you think, Weiss?" Wang Shuo paused and asked.
In the past month of getting along with each other, Unseld discovered that Wang Shuo's greatest advantage was that he was good at listening to what others said, instead of just expressing his own opinions like many young people.
"Personally, I am more inclined to trade with the Clippers. Because Hawks general manager Bob Cook is a smart man and I don't trust him very much." Unseld replied.
Wang Shuo nodded. Unseld's worry was indeed not unreasonable.
At least the Clippers told you who they wanted directly and honestly after you expressed your willingness to trade the No. 1 pick.
But the eagle...
Wang Shuo always felt that they might not really want the No. 1 pick, but probably just wanted to be a middleman.
If they still want to rob the Grizzlies as they remember, then the Wizards will definitely not be able to trade with the Hawks.
On the side, Jordan was a little dissatisfied with Unseld's recent work performance, saying: "The two kids we recently tried out also performed very well. I hope they can appear in the team's lineup next season. "
Shortly after returning from Spain with Boss Joe, the Wizards invited Richard Jefferson and Gerald Wallace for trial training.
Jordan is very satisfied with the trial results of these two people, because often only players who have been the boss of a team can understand how important this kind of wing that can do dirty work is to a team.
In the conference room, Wang Shuo first glanced at Unseld and then turned to the "domineering" Jordan. Wang Shuo felt that it was a miracle that Unseld could endure Jordan for a year in his memory.
"Don't worry, Michael, I have inquired about the two young people you mentioned. We can definitely wait until the draft is over before trading them in." Unseld said to Jordan patiently.
“If we could...can we find a way to get another first-round pick that’s a little bit higher up?
I have a friend who works for the Nets and he let me know over drinks that the Nets had reached an agreement with a Western Conference team this year.
They will trade down their picks this year in the draft, and then ask this Western Conference team to help them select Richard Jefferson. "Wang Shuo, who made a friend out of nothing, suddenly said.
Hearing this, looking at Jordan's increasingly unfriendly eyes, Unseld, who was more nervous than when he played in the Finals, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: "This information is too important, I can ask first, Is what your friend said reliable?"
Wang Shuo nodded and said: "He is a scout for the Nets and has been following up on Richard Jefferson for several months."
Therefore, Unseld immediately stated: "When the meeting is over, I will test the tone of other teams. However, if we also use future draft picks to trade..."
On the side, Boss Joe, who woke up this morning and saw the news headline saying "Michael Jordan is a thing of the past" said angrily: "How many times have I told you on the phone, Wes? Can you not mention that?" Damn the future, the future!
Now that I'm ready to come back, can we prioritize the present?
In the new season, I will lead the team back to the playoffs and then boost the team's market. Isn't that more important than the damn future? "
At the critical moment, Wang Shuo, who had already smelled a hint of gunpowder, hurriedly held down Jordan, then turned to Unseld and said: "You continue first, Wes."
If he were ten or twenty years younger, Unseld, who would definitely invite Boss Joe to the boxing ring at this moment, finally chose to endure everything and said to Wang Shuo: "I mean, if we put the future draft If we trade all the rights, then if we want to trade other players that summer, we won’t have the right bargaining chips.”
In fact, Unseld does not support Jordan's idea of taking a big gamble this summer.
But who told you, Boss Qiao, to completely wipe out the Wizards’ already-not-rich family as soon as they came to the Wizards?
Now, just thinking about the deal in which the Wizards sent Juwan Howard in exchange for Christian Laettner makes Unseld want to slap himself twice.
At this time in 2001, Juwan Howard was a star power forward in his prime.
To be fair, if Jordan hadn't asked Laettner by name, a former national team teammate who probably served him happily at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, then even if the Mavericks hadn't changed their name to the Mavericks at this time, they would have used a gun rack. In his Unseld head, he Unseld wouldn't agree to the deal either.
In the conference room, looking at Unseld, whose words were not intended to stop him from gambling, Jordan's tone softened instantly, but immediately, he said shockingly: "Don't we still have Richard (Hamilton)? For trading?”
Almost at the same time, Wang Shuo and Unseld said in unison: "Richard is not for sale!"
Oh my god!
Brother, if you replace Hamilton, where will you find such top pitchers next season?
Moreover, unlike those newcomers who still need time to adapt, Hamilton, who has already completed his training, is the Wizards' leading scorer in the 2000/01 season, averaging 18.1 points per game for the team.
In addition, Hamilton has abundant physical fitness, diligent attitude and strong tactical execution. For Wang Shuo, who will play a lot of off-ball tactics next season, he is a rare good player.
As the saying goes, it is easy to get a thousand troops but hard to find a general.
At least among players of equal value, Wang Shuo doesn't think the Wizards will be able to get another wing pitcher with a similar level and a good attitude after trading Hamilton.
As a result, Wang Shuo, who was regarded as one of his own, and Unseld, who had never gotten along well with him, were stunned by this "combination punch". At this moment, even the man with an amazing aura Jordan also unconsciously lowered his voice: "I just said that casually."
However, after this incident, Wang Shuo finally saw that Jordan really didn't like, or didn't want to see Hamilton.
Because even in my own memory, in the 2001/02 season, Hamilton beat Boss Joe on the field many times. Boss Joe would eventually say those ruthless words to Hamilton who took the initiative to apply to endorse AJ, and would give Hamilton a friendly gift in the coming year. piston.
“It’s still some time before the draft, so we can continue to test the tone of other teams as Wes said.
Oh, by the way, Wes, could you please help me contact Richard's agent? Regarding some tactical ideas for the new season, I hope to communicate with Richard in advance. "Wang Shuo said, avoiding Boss Qiao's eyes that seemed to be asking himself, 'Are you questioning me just now?' and turning his head towards Unseld.
"No problem. I'll contact you immediately after the meeting." Unseld said very kindly, looking at Wang Shuo, who had such a tacit understanding with him for some reason.
The meeting ended, because he saw from the system that the favorability level between himself and Boss Qiao, which had risen to 85, suddenly changed to 80. Wang Shuo, who knew that because he had just supported Hamilton, was likely to get sprayed by Boss Qiao, Wang Shuo slipped away. The ground disappeared at the "crime scene".
No wonder many people will say in interviews in the future that Michael Jordan is a very difficult person to get along with.
Jie Nima......
"After this training with the Wizards, if I have the opportunity to coach the Lakers in the future, why don't I grab Kobe Bryant?" When he returned to the hotel, he noticed that his favorability with Jordan had inexplicably dropped by 5 points. Shuo sighed with regret.
…
