The players are on vacation, but the coaching staff and management are not on vacation.
They are not busy renewing contracts with players, but are busy drafting first, and the next step is the draft!
Presti has shown his prowess in the draft in consecutive years.
The Thunder's draft myth has emerged, and Presti and the management are increasingly looking forward to the draft.
They are also willing to spend more time on rookies.
A powerful rookie that is really easy to use and cheap.
Just like Zhao Chen this year, only 800,000 US dollars!
If we select a few more Zhao Chen, Durant, Westbrook and the like.
Presti thinks he will be the most awesome draft general manager in NBA history.
When the Thunder announced their disbandment, the general managers of the other 29 teams across the league took action.
They all learned from Aaron Mintz that Zhao Chen is very likely to leave the Thunder.
The general managers not only called Aaron Mintz themselves, but also encouraged their star players to get close to Zhao Chen. They were ready to poach people.
In the past, Zhao Chen's attitude in interviews showed that he did not despise small cities, nor did he pursue big cities wholeheartedly.
This is enough to make small city teams ready to move.
.......
On the way to the airport, Zhao Chen received recruitment calls from James, Kobe and others.
James said that he has communicated with Irving and Love to be in Cleveland together. As long as Zhao Chen is willing to come over, they will form an epic super Big Four! ! !
Hearing the four giants of this epic level, Zhao Chen's heart didn't waver at all.
I wonder what James’ mentality was like knowing that Durant went to Oakland to form the “Five-Star Warriors” in his previous life?
Go there and be James' little brother?
Are you kidding me?
James is his loser.
Of course, James also tactfully stated on the phone that he and Zhao Chen are on an equal footing, and he is willing to make sacrifices in terms of salary and ball rights.
The team will let Zhao Chen hold the ball at critical moments, and he has great trust in Zhao Chen's key ball ability.
James' call was full of sincerity, and Zhao Chen also said he would seriously consider it after being polite.
If he refused directly, Zhao Chen was afraid that James wouldn't be able to step down.
After all, in James's mind, the Big Four are enough to create a dynasty.
Kobe's call was straightforward.
Kobe said directly that the Lakers had nothing but the No. 7 and No. 46 picks.
Except for himself, there is no player that other teams are willing to ask for, and he has the right to veto the transaction, so the Lakers' trading chips are equal to 0.
Zhao Chen naturally knows this. All the evil done by the Lakers starts from last season.
In the 2012-2013 season, the Lakers made a last-ditch gamble around the 34-year-old Kobe. They gave away a lot of draft picks and all the players they could trade.
The league's No. 1 center Howard was introduced. The 27-year-old Howard is in his prime, has been awarded the best defensive player for many times, and has two-time MVP Nash, plus the original Gasol and Artest.
The Lakers' starting five were all superstars or quasi-stars, but as a result, the Lakers almost failed to make the playoffs that season. In the end, they barely got tickets and were swept by the Spurs 0-4 in the first round.
If he goes to the Lakers, Zhao Chen will have to start from scratch.
What Kobe can give Zhao Chen is the status of the team leader. Kobe is willing to assist Zhao Chen...
After four consecutive years of failure and injuries, Kobe knew he might not be able to return to his peak.
If it were other players, Kobe would not give up his position, but the target would be Zhao Chen, the FMVP.
Both the fans and he can accept Zhao Chen as the new owner of Los Angeles.
Zhao Chen fell into deep thought.
The Lakers are located in Los Angeles, a name that cannot be compared to small cities like Cleveland and Lahoma, Ohio.
At the very least, Los Angeles has many direct domestic flights, but Cleveland and Lahoma, Ohio, require connecting flights. The convenience of life is reflected in all aspects.
Of course, in the end, Zhao Chen told Kobe that he would seriously consider it.
However, Zhao Chen discussed it more deeply with Kobe.
Zhao Chen asked Kobe about the possibility of the Lakers getting a large number of high second-round draft picks this year. If there are a large number of draft picks, then the probability of him joining will be very high.
There are many strong players in this year's second round. If we can get a lot of potential rookies, then Zhao Chen thinks it would be interesting to go to the Lakers.
Joe Harris, Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Clarkson, and of course that little chubby Serbian Nikola Jokic!
It’s hard to imagine, these guys are all second-round picks…
And because Zhao Chen is a Kobe fan himself, he also has some affinity for Kobe and is willing to talk more with Kobe.
Bryant finally said he would talk to management about the possibility of acquiring a large number of draft picks.
Zhao Chen wanted too many draft picks, and Kobe felt that if Zhao Chen really came, he would be in trouble playing with a bunch of rookies.
After talking on the phone with the two big guys, Zhao Chen also turned off his phone and got on the plane back to China with Enna.
Both of them also wore masks to avoid being recognized.
Wearing a mask has become Zhao Chen's daily habit.
This also has advantages. Covering up his appearance and changing his hairstyle will make it difficult for him to be recognized.
Enna had just been sitting next to Zhao Chen and talking on the phone with him.
"Brother Chen, will you go to the Lakers?" Enna asked softly.
"I haven't decided yet. It's a lot of fun during this period." Zhao Chen pinched Enna's nose.
"Brother Chen, I find that you are very hesitant." Enna pouted.
"How to say it." Zhao Chen smiled.
"Either go to a big city or stay in a small city to win the championship. Those are the two choices. There's no need to be so entangled." Enna said.
"You're right, I think so too. In short, it will be decided before the draft, so don't worry so much." Zhao Chen said.
"Okay, I'll go wherever you go." Enna leaned her head on Zhao Chen's body.
....
Enna is currently on a long vacation.
Penguin's attitude is that Enna can go back to work whenever she wants.
As the 13-14 season comes to an end, the cooperation between the Penguins and the NBA in the 14-15 season has officially begun.
From the moment Zhao Chen announced his relationship with Enna, Enna was no longer an ordinary wage earner.
However, after flying back to the capital, Enna decided to go back to work first.
She also wanted to work, maintain her independence as a woman, and avoid completely becoming Zhao Chen's vassal.
Zhao Chen turned around and returned to his hometown first.
Zhao Chen's home is a third-tier city in the south, and there happens to be an airport in the capital that goes directly to his home.
It has to be said that the domestic infrastructure is awesome.
Zhao Chen's parents were waiting for Zhao Chen at the airport early.
Zhao Chen's parents are both ordinary teachers. Their family is not considered a sports family. Zhao Chen is also an ordinary family in the true sense.
Of course, the only thing related to sports is that Zhao’s father is a teacher who teaches physical education.
Since childhood, Zhao's parents and Zhao's mother have paid a lot to train Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen's global fame also allowed Zhao's parents and Zhao's mother to enjoy his halo.
When Father Zhao instructs tactics in school, the students will listen obediently.
There are even some professional basketball institutions and youth training bases offering high salaries to poach Zhao's father.
But Zhao's father also knew his level and was unwilling to embarrass Zhao Chen, so he refused them all.
Father Zhao knew that Zhao Chen's growth to this point depended more on himself.
Zhao Chen worked hard enough to make his parents proud of him.
