Where: Grizzlies draft office, FedEx Field, Memphis, Tennessee.
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace realized a huge opportunity was at hand.
Just now, on the TV set in the office, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Stephen Curry with the first pick in the first round.
This means that Blake Griffin, a talented power forward, will have the opportunity to come to Memphis and bring talent here!
Wallace couldn't believe his eyes. He always felt that the picture on TV was fake. Was the player wearing a Clippers hat on stage Curry? Not Griffin?
The size difference between Griffin and Curry is so big that you can tell them apart in person.
On the side, team owner Michael Haisley said to Wallace: "Chris! Don't be in a daze, call New York, quickly! We only have five minutes to change our minds!"
As early as twenty minutes ago, the Grizzly Bear had issued instructions to the forward working group.
They want to take the next African mountain with the second pick, Hashim Thabeet.
Although his performance in the trial training was mediocre, he did not show any shocking talent.
But in the NBA, height is the greatest talent. If you don't know who to pick, just pick the taller one.
But now it's clear that there is a better choice in front of you.
Just like the 2003 draft, if the Cleveland Cavaliers were stupid enough not to draft LeBron James.
The Detroit Pistons, who are closely behind, will definitely take James, even if they actually missed Anthony and selected Milicic.
In this year's draft, Griffin is the unanimous No. 1 pick among many managers and scouts.
Wallace immediately picked up the phone and dialed the number of the New York Grizzlies office, "The plan has changed, pick Blake Griffin!"
…………
Location: Thunder Draft Office, Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Memphis Grizzlies' second pick selection was being played on TV, and David Stern had already stepped onto the stage.
Thunder general manager Spreti stood there with his arms crossed. This was the first time he was so nervous in a draft.
As the third pick, they already knew the choices of the first two teams.
So they locked up Arizona State guard James Harden with the third pick.
But the Clippers gave up Griffin and chose Stephen Curry, which made Presti have other ideas.
"If the Memphis Grizzlies still insist on choosing Thabeet, then I can bring Griffin back to Oklahoma."
Although he is optimistic about Harden, if there is a chance to win Griffin, Spreti will still choose Griffin.
Not just because Griffin's talent is more obvious, but also because Griffin is an Oklahoma City native.
He was born in Oklahoma, where he attended high school and college. The people of Oklahoma City witnessed the growth of this white monster.
If he can come to the Thunder to play, it will definitely be a huge benefit to the team's box office. Who doesn't want to watch hometown superstars play?
Think about LeBron James, who was born in Ohio.
Besides, Griffin is already a great player and a perfect ticket-selling machine.
The team's recruitment of players depends not only on strength and record, but box office appeal is also very important.
Especially a small-market team like the Thunder.
Griffin + Durant + Westbrook, there is absolutely no need to worry about ticket sales and ratings.
"With the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma!"
The entire office sighed at the name Griffin.
It's a pity that the Grizzlies didn't make a fool of themselves and missed Griffin.
On TV, Griffin put on a Grizzlies hat, his expression was both relieved and a little angry.
He didn't even smile when he shook Stern's hand.
He could have gone to the big city of Los Angeles, but now he had to go to Memphis in the south.
Spreti called the front team: "Keep the original plan and take down Harden."
…………
Location: Timberwolves Draft Office, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
"With the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Tyreke Evans from the University of Memphis!"
The Timberwolves' general manager couldn't help but rub his hands in excitement when he saw Stern read Tyreke Evans' name.
Because the next fifth and sixth picks all belong to the Timberwolves.
The Clippers took Curry with the first pick and became a little butterfly flapping its wings, causing a storm.
As a team that has always presented treasures in the draft, the Timberwolves naturally have to make some mistakes.
Kahn looked at the team's main lineup last season:
Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomez, Mike Miller, Ryan Gomez...and Randy Foye.
Foye is a defender that the team focuses on developing, but this guy is embarrassed and useless.
In 2006, the Timberwolves made a clever move and selected Brandon Roy with the sixth overall pick.
If Foye had to be traded with the Trail Blazers for the seventh overall pick, this thinking is incomprehensible.
It's understandable if you want to cut off Hu in advance and ask the Blazers to give you a draft pick or something.
If one of them doesn't match, they just swap, six for seven, which is unheard of.
The next two seasons proved that Roy was very strong, but Foye was just like that, a loss to his grandma's family.
Of course, sources later said that the Timberwolves originally wanted to take Roy and let the Rockets take Foye with the eighth pick.
Then trade Roy for Foye and Luther Hyde of the Rockets.
As a result, the seventh-place Blazers got the news and intercepted Foye in advance, forcing the Timberwolves to make a one-on-one substitution.
It can only be said that the Timberwolves try to make a lot of money every year, but they are always the ones who get hurt in the end.
Even if the deal with the Rockets is completed, Foye and Hyde are useless, and they are still far from Roy.
This time, the opportunity for showmanship came again. With two consecutive draft picks, Kahn looked at their main force:
The five people running away are all forwards, and they just lack a serious center and small guard.
The Grizzlies, Kings, and Thunder didn't take Thabeet, so the Timberwolves just missed it!
Kahn immediately called the front: "Take Thabeet with the fifth pick, and sixth...sixth pick is Jonny Flynn. For Jonny Flynn, no Rubio!"
After giving the order and hanging up the phone, Kahn breathed a sigh of relief. He still trusted the outstanding defenders from the United States more than the Spanish golden boy.
…………
Where: Warriors Draft Office, Marriott City Center Hotel, Oakland, California.
Unlike most teams that have their headquarters offices in their home arenas, the Warriors' headquarters is in a hotel.
The reason is that the Oracle Arena is too old and too small and does not have a large enough and good enough office environment for the team to use (the Warriors have been using this arena since they moved here in 1971 and have undergone a renovation).
From the moment David Stern pronounced "Stephen Curry's" name with the No. 1 pick, the Warriors' draft office was in chaos.
The team's head coach Don Nelson yelled at the TV: "Dunleavy, this little bastard, let Griffin go and take away the Curry we want! I'm going to call him and ask him what the bastard wants to do." !”
After saying that, Don Nelson picked up the phone and was about to call Dunleavy.
Don't look at it, Mike Dunleavy is also considered a senior NBA head coach.
Led the Lakers to the Finals and led the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals.
Quite a handsome man.
But when Dunleavy was playing with the Bucks, the team coach was Nelson.
Nelson was the league's best coach that year, and Dunleavy was just a backup point guard on the bench, a minion.
Therefore, it is completely okay for Nelson to call Dunleavy a "little bastard". He has the qualifications.
Warriors manager Larry Riley advised: "Don, Don, don't be like this. It's normal for the Clippers to take Curry because he is very good. Otherwise, why would we think about intercepting him?"
As soon as Riley said that, Don Nelson calmed down a lot.
Indeed, the Warriors are not Curry's first choice. Curry wants to go to the New York Knicks.
The Warriors also wanted to pick Hu with the seventh pick, but they didn't expect that there was a Clippers in front of them who didn't play according to the routine.
Riley continued: "And Dunleavy resigned as general manager of the Clippers yesterday."
Don Nelson said: "Really? That brat Olshey took over?"
Riley shook his head and said, "No, Sterling appointed a Chinese as manager, and he doesn't even know his name."
Nelson was shocked: "What? Is Sterling crazier than me?"
Riley shrugged and said: "Let's think about who to pick next. We need a good point guard. Rubio is very good, but the Timberwolves will probably take him."
Nelson shook his head and said: "The Timberwolves will not take Rubio. They will definitely choose Flynn and Thabeet. I understand them."
A disdainful smile appeared on Old Nelson's lips, but he felt heartbroken when he thought of Curry being snatched away by the Clippers.
He couldn't help but wonder, what is the role of the Clippers' new general manager?
