basketball scientist

The season has ended, but the promulgation of awards continues. On May 24, NBA officially announced the list of the best team of the season.

Nash, Kobe, James, Nowitzki, and O'Neal occupied the All-NBA first team with their outstanding performances.

Paul received 373 votes in the selection of the best team and ranked fourth in the selection of guards, beating Wade, Iverson, and Arenas, and was selected to the second team of the best team.

He is also the first player after Duncan to be selected to the All-NBA Team in his rookie season!

Along with him, Billups, Ben Wallace, Brand and Duncan were selected to the All-NBA second team.

Iverson, Wade, Anthony, Marion and Yao Ming were selected to the third team.

This is a regrettable season for the little giant. In terms of personal performance, the destructive power and dominance he has shown in the penalty area this season have reached the highest peak of his career so far.

Based on his offensive performance alone, he has been able to touch the edge of "super giant". However, frequent injuries and dismal team record allowed him to only get a third-team honor.

However, this is also due to the overall decline of the center position. You must know that Garnett, who also did not enter the playoffs and the forward position mentioned the "All-NBA Four Teams", has no solution at all.

Although there are various reasons, leading the team to fish in the peak season has always been a huge black spot, and it is reasonable for Garnett to miss the best team.

Arenas, who led the team to sixth place in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals in the playoffs, also missed the All-NBA Team, which was somewhat controversial. After the selection, Arenas also immediately questioned the selection mechanism.

, thinking that his performance is worthy of a spot in the best lineup no matter what.

This topic was detonated. Billups, who had an excellent record and average personal data, and Iverson, who had no data and led the fishing team, became the target of media questioning.

ESPN pulled out the three of them for comparison, and analyzed who of the three is more worthy of an All-NBA lineup from various dimensions.

The analysis results are out, and it seems that... Iverson really took advantage in this third formation~

In the MVP selection, Nash defeated Nowitzki, who had better statistics and results, and won the MVP again, which also caused a lot of controversy.

The Mavericks have the third best record in the league, only two games behind the Spurs. Nowitzki averaged 26.6 points, 9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1 block per game. Not only did he reach the peak of his career in terms of personal offensive data, but he also made significant improvements on the defensive end.

Leading in all aspects of high-level data, he only ranked third in the selection, even behind James, who led the team with mediocre results.

Nash also has his own advantages. The team renewed Stoudemire's contract with the maximum salary, and he played after being out for most of the season. He reluctantly came back and played three games and was reimbursed for the season. After giving up Joe Johnson and Richardson because of money problems,

Under such circumstances, he and Marion were the only two players left in the team's starting lineup last season. The imported center Kurt Thomas was retired in the middle of the season, leaving only seven players in the team's original eight-man rotation.

In this case, Nash led the team to 54 wins. James Jones, who could only shoot three-pointers, and Tim Thomas, the cancer that the Bulls waived, both performed well beside him. His ability to drive his teammates was historically top-notch.

It can only be said that Nowitzki's status as a German must be at a disadvantage, but Nash's winning of the award is not a big problem. If you ask Keyan to vote, his first vote will definitely be given to Nowitzki.

The attributes are becoming more and more obvious. (It’s just Key Yan, not the author himself)

...

The playoffs continue to be in full swing, but Ke Yan got into work early after a week's rest.

After communicating with Timberwolves general manager McHale on the phone, he and Larry Sands went to Minnesota in person to try to win the Timberwolves' only valuable player, Garnett.

After missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, and the team's performance has shown a downward trend, falling from ninth in the Western Conference last season to twelfth in the Western Conference this season, the Timberwolves have entered a relatively embarrassing stage after being stable for many years.

.

The team has Garnett, the cornerstone of the league's top 10 team, but they do not have the ability to build a team around him. Garnett is obviously very versatile, but the Timberwolves management is unable to find a suitable helper for him.

The team's first lottery pick in many years was finally converted into McKenzie. His performance can only be described as "qualified for immediate combat ability", which seems almost meaningless. When it comes to potential, it seems that he can't see it.

So embarrassing.

The team's record was poor, and Garnett, who was infinitely loyal to the Timberwolves, also had conflicts with the team management. Garnett regarded Flip Saunders as his mentor, and he had conflicts with team owner Taylor and general manager McHale.

The relationship is relatively average, with dissatisfaction with McHale and Garnett's attitude toward head coach Casey also being average.

In a sense, the Timberwolves' current situation is similar to that of the Lakers.

The difference is that the Lakers are located in Los Angeles, and their attraction to free agents is not comparable to that of the Timberwolves; Jerry Buss is willing to spend money on the team, as long as it can improve the team's competitiveness, the luxury tax is just a number;

Kobe is a little younger than Garnett, and the Lakers can still squeeze into the playoffs...

Trade Garnett and enter reconstruction? McHale has this idea. The key is chips.

There are rumors that Garnett will go to the Lakers and Suns, but they are really just rumors. The Lakers don't have any leverage. If the Suns are willing to bring out Stoudemire, they can talk about it, but "Marion Harrington"

There is nothing attractive about draft picks.

McHale was born in the post, and he has his own evaluation standards for post players. He really doesn't think highly of these players.

Neither Larry Sander nor Keyan was a big shot in the industry, and the Timberwolves didn't pay much attention to their arrival, only arranging a staff member to pick them up at the airport.

Arriving at the Timberwolves' office area, Larry Sander and Ke Yan also waited for nearly half an hour before McHale and Casey took the time to meet with them...

Everyone introduced themselves to each other, and the next step was to negotiate the deal.

"Kimi, I'm very grateful for your sincerity in coming to Minnesota to talk about LG's trade with me, but what I want to say is that LG is one of the top five superstars in the league and the core of the Timberwolves' team building. Subjectively, we have no intention of trading him.

idea," McHale said.

"Come on, if you don't have the idea of ​​​​trading, why don't you invite me to come to Minnesota to discuss it in detail?" Ke Yan sneered and said seriously, "Kevin (McHale), Devin (Keith), I think you need to understand one thing.

"

"What?"

"KG can no longer support the Timberwolves, and conversely, the Timberwolves cannot keep KG forever."

McHale and Casey fell into a temporary silence. Ke Yan's words pointed out the current problem of the Timberwolves!

Randy Foye, who the team picked in the draft, is a good immediate player who may be able to grow into the team's core player and may be able to quickly help the team enter the playoffs, but then what?

Garnett is already 30 years old. This season, he has been unable to support the team by himself. Can the team still hope that he will reverse growth next season?

There are still three years left on Garnett's contract. In three years, Garnett will be 33 years old. By then, he will not renew the contract anyway and fight for a championship ring of his own, right?

"The 2007 draft is the highest-quality draft since 2003. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are the best. Al Horford is mature and ready to fight. I don't doubt him at all.

Now he can play in the NBA. There is also China's Yi Jianlian. His physical fitness and technical characteristics are very similar to those of KG when he was young." Ke Yan said, "Kevin, you are a professional manager. You should know that in a suitable

Time advances to rebuild, how important it is to choose a suitable core to build the team."

This statement is very attractive to McHale. After a bad year, if they get Oden or Durant, the Timberwolves can get rid of the current dilemma of being neither good nor bad and complete the rebuilding around one of them.

"Tell me your offer, Kimi." McHale reached out to stop Casey, who was about to protest, and signaled.

"My plan is to use Josh Smith and David Lee as the main body, the Rockets' No. 8 pick this season, the Hawks' 2007 first-round pick, and the 2008 first-round swap rights, plus some balancing contracts.

Complete this deal." Keyan said.

There is a high probability that the first-round swap in 2008 will not be possible, but the trade bargaining chips provided by the Hawks are still generous. David Lee is a player on the second team of the All-Rookie Team this season, and the trade value is at least one lottery pick.

"???" McHale looked at Ke Yan, "Where's Joe Johnson?"

According to McHale's idea, Joe Johnson is included in the trade no matter what. From the perspective of salary matching, he should also be included in the transaction list!

"Joe Johnson is not on the trade list. Besides, I think if the Timberwolves' target is Oden or Durant, you don't need Joe Johnson." Ke Yan reminded.

"You can't say that, whether it's Oden or Durant, Joe Johnson can perfectly match them, right?" McHale continued, "Kimi, I'm not satisfied with the offer you gave. You

The wonderful prospects described are all based on the Timberwolves failing next season and then getting Oden and Durant; rather than your contribution to this transaction. If you do not change the offer, you cannot provide us with a real

Players with core potential are used as bargaining chips, and I will review your trade request."

"What about Bynum?" Ke Yan suddenly asked, "I wonder if you recognize his potential?"

As a former top insider, McHale could certainly see the potential in Bynum, and his ideas immediately opened up.

"You want the Magic to be the third party?" McHale was a little skeptical.

"You don't need to intervene, I'll negotiate the deal. I just want to confirm with you whether you are willing to move forward with the deal if I can include Bynum in the deal."

"Maybe~"

When the transaction reached this point, it was somewhat beyond McHale's expectations. According to his original plan, it was "Joe Johnson and David Lee to add the eighth pick." The core of the Eagles' transaction should be Joe Johnson. Unexpectedly, the other party turned out to be

No plans to include Joe Johnson in the trade.

After the negotiation ended, McHale immediately called up the Eagles' roster and draft picks and made an analysis.

If the Hawks trade for Bynum without moving Diaw, and then include Bynum in the deal, this team will most likely form a "Paul, Joe Johnson, Percy Garnett, Diaw" starting lineup.

With this lineup, McHale almost wanted to shout "Hawks championship!"

But looking back and analyzing what Ke Yan said during the negotiation is not unreasonable.

When making a deal, you don't just look at how much the Eagles can get, you also have to look at your own benefits.

If all goes well, with Bynum, Josh Smith, and Durant, the Timberwolves can complete their reconstruction within two to three years. By then, Garnett's huge contract of more than 20 million can be converted into more reasonable contracts for the three newcomers, and the Timberwolves' configuration

More reasonable.

"This Kimi is really amazing!"

Ke Yan is indeed great, but most general managers in the league are not vegetarians.

Many transactions would seem ridiculous from a fan's perspective, but when you are in this position and in a complex environment, what you can see and the judgment you get are completely different.

Bynum is a very "tasteless" presence to the Magic.

This center, who is not yet 19 years old, averaged 6.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18 minutes per game in his rookie season. You know, he is not the team's main offensive point, and he spends a lot of time with Howard.

Appearing together, standing in the twin towers.

From this point of view, his potential is really good. With the Magic's position as a "weak team", Bynum should have received the most careful training, and the Magic are also the best at training centers for the Lakers!

However, Bynum and the Magic are more like "meeting the right person at the wrong time, and the tragedy that happens" in the relationship between men and women. The Magic already have a more talented Howard, who is better at playing center. Bynum

Nahm can only serve as a substitute; the core of the team's outside tactics is the Turkish Turkoglu, and the main method of attacking is the pick-and-roll, but Bynum is not suitable for the pick-and-roll.

To put it simply, when Bynum came on the court, Howard and Turkoglu both felt uncomfortable!

The team's new coach Van Gundy's plan is to check for gaps in the team's lineup. He is more willing to fully develop Howard's potential and equip the lineup around Howard. He also wants to use Bynum's potential to strengthen the team's strength.

One of the chips.

In response to the trade intention proposed by the Eagles, Weisbrod and Stan Van Gundy discussed it and gave the conditions for negotiation, Josh Smith!

This power forward with explosive athletic ability and excellent offense and defense can effectively strengthen the team's weak links. On the defensive end, he and Howard can defend the Magic's basket, making the Magic's restricted area a "no-fly zone", and on offense

At the end, the impact of the Magic's inside combination is also amazing!

With the lineup of Nelson, Stevenson, Turkoglu, Josh Smith, and Howard, Stan Van Gundy is confident that he can take the team into the playoffs and even replicate the "miracle" of the Eagles this season if the signing is good.

”, it’s not a problem to make it to the second round!

Maybe it was to exchange a "raw center" for Josh Smith. Even the Magic themselves thought it was ridiculous. They chose to raise the stakes, the team's 11th overall pick this season, or the first round pick in 2007.

The Eagles can take either one.

Turning around, Ke Yan and Larry Sander came to McHale to restart negotiations with the Magic's offer.

"Bynum and David Lee were drafted No. 8 by the Hawks in the first round of 2007 and by the Magic in the first round of 2007 by Jerome James and Darko Milicic." Ke Yan gave the final offer.

If the deal is completed, it will be the first major "7-for-1" deal in history. Compared with the historical deal between the Timberwolves and the Celtics in 2007, there is no doubt that the Hawks have a richer bargaining chip.

But their lineup is more balanced than the Celtics' lineup. Just as McHale thought, the starting lineup of "Paul, Joe Johnson, James Posey, Garrett Diaw" can almost lock in the championship in the Eastern Conference next season.

The only opponent left is the king of the Western Conference.

"But Josh is also the person we want!" McHale showed a sly smile, "In our team building plan, Josh will be our starting small forward. The key is that we don't need so many inside players!"

"Let Josh Smith play small forward, no wonder you are a bad team!" Ke Yan cursed in his heart, "Kevin, this is the best bargaining chip we can give. If you want more

, maybe our transaction can no longer continue."

"But the Timberwolves really don't need so many inside players!" McHale said forcefully, "We need to strengthen the team's small forward position..."

"James Posey? Absolutely not!" Larry Sands stood up and objected.

"As compensation, I don't want the Hawks' first-round pick in 2007." McHale looked at Ke Yan with a smile, "In addition, I can include Hassell in the trade."

Haha, thank you!

Hassell is the "defensive hero" of the Timberwolves. His defensive attributes are relatively "balanced", his strength is decent, his footwork is okay, and his speed is not slow. In other words, he is relatively mediocre.

Except for some players with poor physical fitness, if most players devote all their energy to the defensive end, their results will not be much worse than him.

He plays relatively hard, and even if his style of play is not Ke Yan's cup of tea, based on this, he should still be able to make a difference as a substitute for the Eagles. After all, the Eagles will appropriately reduce the number of people who "don't care about the head but not the back" next season.

The offense should appropriately approach the "offensive and defensive balance".

His problem is that there are still 4 years left on the contract, with a total price of 17 million! This is a garbage contract!

It is equivalent to saying that the Timberwolves helped take advantage of Jerome James's "junk contract" and gave Hassell to the Hawks.

"I also want you to pick two second-round picks, No. 35 and No. 36 this year!" Ke Yan said.

The second-round pick obtained from the Pistons was the 60th pick, which was not enough to help the Hawks acquire P.J. Tucker or Millsap.

"Come on, Kimi. I've already given you a first-round pick! I'll give you one at most!" McHale shook his head, "You don't want to trade because you can't negotiate a second-round pick, right?"

"Please, Kevin, you can't train so many new people at once!" Ke Yan insisted, "I have to choose two suitable substitutes, right?"

After struggling for a long time, McHale finally agreed to Keyan's request.

Although Garnett was sent away, the team's goal has been basically achieved.

In one breath, I got two first-round picks this season, a first-round pick next season, a young center with great potential, a young inside man who entered the best rookie second team, and a high-quality wing. Garnett was sold for this price.

, very exaggerated!

This scientist is really a genius!

ps: Some book friends may question that the Eagles paid too many chips in this deal, but I would like to remind you of a few points. First, this is a man who has just turned 30 years old, is still in his prime, and has three years left on his contract.

Garnett; secondly, this transaction neither touched the core configuration of the Hawks nor affected the future of the Hawks; thirdly, the protagonist agreed to pay so much for the trade, but he had other intentions.