After finalizing some details of the contract with Thomas, Li Yan continued to discuss the Knicks' team situation with Thomas next season.
The current situation of the Knicks can be described as a mess, and each contract is worse than the last.
Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis have superstar contracts, but what they produce is very ordinary content.
Even if there is a trade, the results will not be very good. Which other team manager has no brains.
The only thing to do is to exchange "poison" for "poison". You can only choose the cup that is relatively less toxic to you.
Li Yan stated his opinion bluntly. He wanted to clean up Marbury and Francis.
Li Yan needs absolute possession of the ball and absolute right to speak. As long as his outside partner can squat in the hole and shoot open shots, it will be good if he can defend.
Unfortunately, neither Marbury nor Francis has such characteristics.
Playing as a substitute, well, Li Yan didn't think "Lone Wolf" would agree.
Thomas readily agreed.
The "Smiling Assassin" is also a ruthless person. He told Li Yan that the team would try its best to complete the transaction according to Li Yan's requirements.
If the trade is really impossible, the Knicks will negotiate with them to buy out their contracts and ensure that Li Yan will not see these two guys in the training camp of the new season.
Regarding this year’s No. 8 pick, Thomas asked Li Yan if he had any suggestions.
Li Yan thought for a while and said:
"I prefer Yi Jianlian, he is a flexible big man with top-notch physical talent and athletic ability.
He can play fast breaks and hit shots from beyond the three-point line. I feel like he fits well with me.
Although Yi Jianlian's confrontation is a bit poor and his back-up skills are average, I don't think it's a big problem. "
"Yi Jianlian's height will have obvious advantages on the outside. As long as his three-point shooting is more stable, he will become a star player."
Thomas nodded. He was not an outsider, so he naturally knew whether Li Yan's analysis made sense.
Li Yan recommended Yi Jianlian, and the hometown complex was only one aspect.
If it was a player like "Grandma Wang", Li Yan would never dare to recommend it randomly, for shame!
Yi Jianlian does have the potential to gain a foothold in the NBA. As long as he integrates into the team and avoids those damn injuries, Yi Jianlian will definitely develop greatly.
"Lee, I agree with you. Yi is indeed an excellent player and we will choose him." Thomas said with a wry smile:
"The key is that he is currently a favorite in the draft. Except for Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, Yi's draft prospects are as good as anyone's. We may not be able to get him with the No. 8 pick."
"It's okay, just take it if you can. If not, forget it." Li Yan told Thomas not to pay too much attention.
"Do you have any other recommendations?" Thomas asked.
Li Yan looked at the draft list, thought for a while and said: "Joakim Noah is also good, the defense is very tough, the rest is just casual."
"Coach, I believe in your vision." Li Yan smiled.
"Hahaha." Thomas also laughed.
Isiah Thomas has a high say in the Knicks. He was originally the Knicks' president of operations, but the Knicks' performance was too poor.
With the attitude that I can do whatever I want, Thomas fired the coach and directly led the team himself.
…………
After completing the meeting with the Knicks team, Li Yan returned home.
"Taylor Swift" saw Li Yan's relaxed expression and asked, "Dear, are you sure which team you will go to?"
"It's settled!" Li Yan didn't show off: "I will join the New York Knicks."
"Really?" Swift jumped up happily: "Great, New York welcomes you!"
"Taylor Swift" spends most of her time in New York and Los Angeles. If Li Yan joins the teams in these two cities, it means that they can be together often.
"Ha! So happy?" Li Yan said with a smile: "So you are not a Nuggets fan."
"Hehe!" "Taylor Swift" smiled playfully: "I'm just your fan. Before you came to the Nuggets, I didn't pay attention to the Nuggets!"
"Damn it! It turns out you have been lying to me. You told me before that you were a die-hard Nuggets fan." Li Yan hugged "Taylor Swift" from behind:
"Little girl, lie to me and get beaten."
Li Yan slapped "Stymie" on her buttocks.
"Ah!" Swift gasped and teased: "Come on, come and punish me!"
Damn it, looking at Swift's raised buttocks, Li Yan couldn't stand this teasing, he just raised his gun and mounted his horse...
…………(Enter the VIP plot below)
Although Li Yan has confirmed his intention, it cannot be officially announced yet.
The NBA's free agent market will open on June 30. Players and teams can discuss trades during the grace period, and official signings will begin on July 6.
Just leave the rest of the contract to the brokerage team, Li Yan doesn't need to worry about it himself.
After checking the itinerary with the brokerage team, Li Yan made a phone call.
There is no way, although it is difficult, you still have to face what you have to face.
Li Yan was the first to call Iverson. In Li Yan's mind, Iverson was just like his elder brother.
In addition to frequently swiping his credit card and guarding against cashiers, Iverson also took great care of Li Yan in his life.
The fact that Li Yan can stay so comfortable in the Nuggets is inseparable from Iverson.
Due to salary issues, the Nuggets had previously given up on renewing Li Yan's contract.
Therefore, "Answer" was relatively calm when he received Li Yan's call.
"Lee, congratulations on signing a big contract, you deserve it." Iverson smiled: "Don't be bullied by others without me by your side. The New York Knicks are not a good place."
"Don't worry about other people's opinions, be yourself, time is on your side." Iverson encouraged: "Your achievements will be far above mine."
"Haha, don't worry, no one will dare to bully me. My five lightning whips are not a vegetarian." Li Yan said with a smile:
"By the way, boss, you're not old yet. Keep up the good work and set a small goal first. How about 30,000 points?"
"Farke, is this a small goal?" Iverson laughed and scolded: "Do you know how few people have scored more than 30,000 points now?"
"No problem, you are very popular in my heart!" Li Yan continued to praise: "Next time you go to Denver, boss, you have to continue to show your style as a single-defense cashier!"
"You brat, you signed a big contract, it's your turn to treat me!"
"Hahaha!"
Li Yan and Iverson chatted for a long time, and the two even made an appointment to have dinner and go to a nightclub together next time.
In a successful season, "Answer" fulfilled his long-cherished wish to win the championship, and Li Yan also started his path to super giants with the championship.
After hanging up the phone with Iverson, Li Yan continued to dial the numbers of George Karl and other Nuggets players.
Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Nene, Marcus Camby, JR Smith…
Naturally no one blames Li Yan for the current situation.
What remains between Li Yan and his Nuggets teammates are all good memories.
So after promising to go to nightclubs and have fun together countless times, Li Yan successfully completed his "home visit" to the Nuggets.
