After the draft, the Wizards went through the signing process with the rookies one after another.
Since the Wizards' "Knife Music" was credited to Barcelona's account immediately, Barcelona readily completed the buyout and termination of Pau Gasol's contract.
As the second pick, Dajia's starting salary in this life is about 400,000 more than Wang Shuo remembered. The rookie can earn a considerable pre-tax income of 3.31 million US dollars in his first year.
However, not long after the Wizards completed the signing of Gasol, Gasol's agent Lu Doi found Wang Shuo and made an "unkind request."
"You mean, if possible... you hope the Wizards will let Paul go back to play in the European Championships this summer?" Wang Shuo was happy looking at Lu Doi with a sad look on his face.
Because if he remembers correctly, next year, Wang Zhizhi will also encounter the same problem as Gasol.
That is, the conflict between the summer league and the national team competition.
At this time in 2001, the rookies did not dare to play big names like they would in the future, and they often missed the summer league.
In addition, Lu Doi is worried that if Gasol leaves a bad impression on the Wizards head coach Wang Shuo due to his absence from the summer league and does not give him a chance to play in the new season, wouldn't it be a lose-lose situation?
In addition, in theory, Gasol can report to the Spanish men's basketball team after finishing the summer league.
After all, the Spanish Basketball Federation does not have that much power to expel Gasol just because he arrived at the national team a few days late.
However, since this is the first time that Gasol has been recruited by the Spanish men's basketball team, from a personal emotional point of view, Gasol obviously wants to grab a favorable position in the upcoming Spanish men's basketball training camp.
Although he was known as the "NBA version of Yongle Ceremony" in his previous life, Wang Shuo really couldn't remember how the Grizzlies chose this matter in his original timeline.
But......
Does this kind of thing require a choice?
What kind of international joke are you kidding? Isn’t the intensity of confrontation and intensity of competition in the European Championship right now higher than that of the rotten fish and shrimps in the Summer League?
In fact, American basketball, which has always been arrogant, will soon find that after nearly 10 years of catching up, European basketball has completely surpassed American basketball in terms of tactical concepts.
The three world series, the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 Japan Basketball World Championship, are the most vivid cases.
So, when it came to the 2008 BJ Olympics, on the one hand, out of consideration for the Chinese market, and on the other hand, in order to regain his place, Stern had to call on Kobe and other stars to ask American stars playing in the NBA to The country goes to war.
result......
In Wang Shuo's view, the so-called old coach K is simply not worthy of his name.
Because in 2008, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the US men's basketball team was simply overwhelmed by talent.
In fact, it was not until the 2010 Basketball World Championships and the emergence of new-generation players such as Durant that American basketball began to regain its former hegemony in terms of tactics and concepts.
It was also from then on that the NBA began to gradually enter the era of faster and more accurate small balls.
In short, letting Gasol play in the European Championships is a good thing that has the best of both worlds in Wang Shuo's opinion.
Because at this time, with the emergence of Spain's golden generation, the Spanish men's basketball team has become one of the top forces in European basketball.
However, even if he was willing to let Gasol return to China early to prepare for the European Championships, Wang Shuo knew that he couldn't agree right away. Looking at Gasol's agent Lu Doi, Wang Shuo said with a troubled face: "You know, Herb, the reason why we are willing to pay this high buyout fee for Paul is precisely because we are very optimistic about Paul..."
Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Lu Doi's forehead, and he quickly echoed: "Yes, yes... we all know what you said."
So, just like that, after some extreme pushing and pulling, Wang Shuo "reluctantly" agreed to let Gasol return to Spain in advance to prepare for the European Championships.
However, before leaving, Wang Shuo also made his request to Gasol, "In the summer, I will send some of the team's tactics for the new season to your mailbox via email, and we will officially train together with the team. Before, you have to understand these tactics.
In addition, you must adapt to the NBA's three-point line in advance. In the new season, I don't need you to become a reliable shooter immediately, but you must ensure that you can fire from the two bottom corners and the top arc when the team needs it. Ability.
Also, if you want to get playing time in the new season, you have to add more muscle. "
As an insider known for his agility and footwork, Gasol certainly cannot gain too much weight, and compared with his brother, his own physique also determines that he is not suitable for hanging too much weight.
However, gaining muscle is a necessary course for every young insider when joining the NBA.
In Wang Shuo's previous life, Gasol's ability to hit "18+9" in his rookie season was related to the fact that he gained a full 5 kilograms of muscle this summer.
You know...that's 5 kilograms of muscle!
Generally speaking, even the most diligent and self-disciplined NBA players can only gain about 1.5kg to 2kg of muscle in a month during the offseason.
However, Gasol was able to gain muscle while preparing for the European Championships. It is enough to show that, like Hamilton, he is the kind of player who does not need the coach to worry too much about his training.
But even so, Wang Shuo still has to show his stern side as the Wizards head coach.
Gasol did not question Wang Shuo's request, or he did not dare to question it.
Even though Wang Shuo standing in front of him at this moment was only a few years older than him.
That's what international players are good for.
Even Teacher Yu, who likes to drink Coke in the future, has become more self-disciplined after being yelled at by Ma Long, who is now Wang Shuo's third assistant coach, several times.
Obedient, sensible, and well-behaved.
In addition to Gasol, after the signing was completed, Wang Shuo also explained Arenas, Jefferson and Haywood respectively.
Unlike those players who are eager to whip him back to the training ground.
Because Wang Shuo knew that Arenas was a training fiend who could easily destroy himself, Wang Shuo's request for Arenas was that he could find a small island after the summer league and seriously think about joining the Wizards. In the tactics of the new season, how should he position himself and relax.
"I have watched your college games and I admire your style of play. In my opinion, your most important task this summer is to adapt to the NBA's three-point line and adapt to the intensity of NBA games." Looking at Arenas , Wang Shuo said.
After hearing this, he felt that he had met Bole, and Arenas, who was willing to "die for his bosom friend", immediately stated that he would definitely train hard in the summer, and then use his performance in the new season to keep Wang Shuo's coaching position !
Wang Shuo: "..."
have to.
Wang Shuo finally figured it out.
For a person like Arenas who is willing to give everything for basketball, if you talk to him about rest, it is just like telling Kobe that you need to reduce unreasonable shots, it is all in vain.
So, after thinking for a while, Wang Shuo said to Arenas: "The Wizards' training hall will be open to you all day long in the summer.
Our team's assistant coach and shooting coach Chip Englund is a top trainer that even Michael Jordan praised. I think he can definitely help you further improve your basketball skills this summer. "
Although he can't stop Arenas from torturing himself, in Wang Shuo's view, at least he can regulate the process of Arenas torturing himself.
"Remember, you must give me three-pointers to practice accurately! Because in the new season, I will decide based on your training results this summer whether to give you the right to fire at any time on the court." Before saying goodbye to Arenas, Wang Shuo said with a meaningful expression.
result......
Wang Shuo obviously underestimated the "destructive power" of the pie he just threw to Arenas at this moment.
You know, if the Wizards hadn't come out midway and the Celtics selected Arenas with a first-round pick, Arenas would have been a second-round pick at most this year.
but now......
Not only did some people appreciate his basketball skills, but he also told himself that as long as he practiced well, he would give himself unlimited firing rights in the new season...
Just try to think about it!
If you were Arenas, what would you think?
General Gilbert! May the Lord vote for three points, strike iron, and have his hair permed from generation to generation!
At this moment, Arenas' desire to repay Wang Shuo, the Bole, was absolutely sincere and heartfelt.
And compared to Arenas...
Jefferson is obviously a player who knows his position and what he wants to do.
Therefore, after briefly asking Jefferson to practice three-point shooting from the two corners, Wang Shuo turned to look for Haywood, who had not forgotten to eat hamburgers on the day of signing.
As a very cost-effective young insider, Haywood, who is 213 centimeters tall, weighs about 120 kilograms at the moment.
to be honest......
If it weren't for O'Neal in this era, and Yao Ming coming soon, Haywood would have been a blue-collar center starting at at least 20 million before Wang Shuo crossed over.
He has excellent rebounding ability, solid positioning skills, works hard on the court, and is also quite strong in protecting the frame.
In Wang Shuo's view, the only shortcoming of this guy is that his offensive ability is basically zero, he can only score by eating cakes, and his free throws are poor.
In the new season, as an important puzzle piece for the Wizards, Haywood is not only the only player in this Wizards team who can truly protect the frame, but he is also the key to whether the Wizards can further liberate Gasol's offensive talents.
In Wang Shuo's original timeline, Haywood could plug and play in the new season. In Wang Shuo's view, the only problem was to learn to control his diet.
The superhumans in the NBA have amazing appetites, and a big guy like Haywood is even more amazing.
During the regular season, Wang Shuo doesn't need to worry about this.
Because no matter how high your calorie intake is, the NBA's 82 high-intensity games a year can completely burn you out.
But in the offseason, if Haywood still eats like this...
That's a big problem.
Fortunately, Haywood is not the kind of player who doesn't listen to advice, and Wang Shuo can also bring out his senior Jordan to suppress him.
"Anyway, if you don't want to be sprayed by your senior, you'd better build stronger muscles for me this summer."
Facing Wang Shuo's "Chi Guoguo threat", how could the poor, weak and helpless Heywood think about eating a burger?
Throw it away quickly and go to the gym tomorrow!
Before entering the league, Haywood had heard his seniors talk about Jordan many times.
Therefore, Haywood is very clear that compared with the "amiable" Wang Shuo, Michael Jordan is the real devil.
Get four rookies.
Before the free agent market officially started on July 1, Wang Shuo also arranged to lead the team in the summer league.
Although Wang Shuo is just a rookie coach, even if he is still a rookie, he will not be able to personally lead the team in a competition of this level in the summer league.
This is almost an unwritten rule in the NBA.
Under Wang Shuo's arrangement, this year's Wizards summer league will be led by "Old Mike", that is, D'Antoni.
"Black Mike" and "White Mike" will be mainly responsible for assisting "Old Mike".
“In summer league, you can pay more attention to Jamal Crawford, whom we just acquired through a trade.
Try to give him the right to fire and let him go and fight. "Wang Shuo said to D'Antoni.
"Can you briefly tell me about his style?" D'Antoni, who cannot be omniscient and omnipotent, asked modestly.
"He has excellent dribbling ability, can break through, and can also shoot three-pointers." Wang Shuo roughly summarized Crawford's style.
After hearing this, D'Antoni immediately felt that he had found true love, "I will definitely pay attention to his performance."
In addition, on this day, Wang Shuo also contacted Artest through his agent on the phone.
At this moment, Artest, who had not yet formed an indissoluble bond with Jordan's ribs, left a pretty good impression on Wang Shuo.
When he was young, Artest was not the floor player he would be in the future.
Especially before he was suspended due to the "Palace of Auburn Hills" incident, if Wang Shuo remembers correctly, he will average 1.9 three-pointers per game for the Bulls next season, and his three-point shooting rate is an astonishing 39.6%.
In the new season, as one of the most important bodyguards around Jordan, Wang Shuo probably made three requests to Artest on the phone.
First, pay attention to your defensive actions on the court, but if the opponent is the first to cause trouble, try not to use your words if you can take action.
Anyway, in the NBA, as long as you don't hit the fans, the kind Stern will suspend you for one or two games at most in 2001.
Second, improve the three-point level, because Wang Shuo will develop some special tactics for him in the new season.
Third, as one of the invitees to Jordan's upcoming training camp, try to protect Jordan as much as possible in the training camp.
"Is Michael really going to come back?" On the phone, when he learned that Jordan would become teammates with him next season, Artest, who was traded from one bad team to another, still disliked the Wizards at this moment. the meaning of?
No bragging, no blackmail, okay...
If Jordan could be three years younger, Wang Shuo would even have the confidence to recruit Kobe Bryant.
Because Kobe actually said that he had considered joining the Wizards and playing with Jordan.
Look, what is the charm of "old gangster"?
Besides having to work with Jordan, Artest never expected that Wang Shuo would have a worse temper than him.
After all, this is the first time Artest has seen a coach supporting him on the court!
"But what if I get suspended for fighting?" Artest asked on the phone.
"As long as the person you hit is not a fan and something happens, I will help you pay the fine. After the suspension, you will still be the main player." Wang Shuo promised Artest.
In fact, the main reason why Wang Shuo supports Artest in maintaining his ruthless spirit is because the atmosphere in the NBA is like this at the moment.
Think of Vince Carter!
If it weren't for Bruce Bowen, Vince Carter wouldn't have transformed from "demigod" back to "mortal" so quickly.
Anyway, Wang Shuo has such an attitude.
Every player for the Wizards in the new season is valuable.
If a team like the Spurs really dares to plot against the Wizards, then I'm sorry, no matter what Tim Duncan is, Wang Shuo will definitely find a way to make him retire for the season.
Basketball, of course, requires a fair and just duel.
Real man, it doesn't matter if you move a little bit louder.
But don't make those shady and bad moves.
In a blink of an eye, the time came to July 1st.
Wang Shuo, who came to Unseld's office early in the morning, got two pieces of good news.
"I have contacted Tyronn Lue's agent and he is willing to come and play with the Wizards. Because the Lakers don't seem to be planning to renew his contract." Unseld said to Wang Shuo.
Although many fans complained that it was because of Iverson's collapse in the Finals that Coach Lu lost his job with the Lakers.
But in fact... Wang Shuo knows very well that the reason why the Lakers did not renew the contract with Director Lu is simply because they no longer need Director Lu to continue serving the team.
In the new season, the Wizards will definitely have to prepare a substitute for Arenas.
In Wang Shuo's eyes, Coach Lu, who knows how to pass the ball to the strongest person on the court, is the best candidate for the Wizards' backup point guard.
"I also contacted Stephen Jackson's agent, because we were willing to offer him a contract with a longer contract period, so he decided to abandon the Spurs and switch to us." Unseld continued.
No clue, Pop from the Spurs is such a stingy and calculating person.
But at this moment, how could Unseld know...
The contract he gave Jackson actually earned the Wizards?
In fact, Jackson, who has wasted several years now, is not without strength, but has always been underappreciated.
In the future, once he shows his value on the court, Unseld will definitely feel that the long-term contract he offered Jackson is worth it.
…
