I’m Really Playing Basketball

The NBA 2002 draft lottery is over.

The Miami Heat miraculously won the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft with a 1.4% chance of being the No. 1 pick.

The Houston Rockets selected the No. 2 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft with a probability of 9.75%.

The Golden State Warriors, who have the second-to-last record in the NBA regular season, won the third overall pick.

The Chicago Bulls, who ranked last in the NBA regular season and tied for the worst regular season record in history, only won the guaranteed fourth pick.

After the draft lottery ended, the entire United States was shocked for a while.

This result is too abnormal, too insane!

Now that the NBA playoffs are in full swing, the layout of the NBA draft lottery is actually very limited, and the attention will not be too high.

If it weren't for the incredible results of this draft lottery, there wouldn't be many people paying attention.

It's okay to have such a low-probability counterattack in the conference, but this night, it actually happened twice.

For a while, David Stern's shady scene, Mourning who represented the Heat and Francis who represented the Rockets all became the focus of the NBA.

David Stern doesn't care about such extensive coverage by the American media. Do you only know that I am black now?

Am I still being too kind?

As for Mourning, who suddenly returned to the focus, Mourning was of course very happy. He didn't look so weak when he was originally weak.

She was receiving interviews everywhere, and there was a weak appearance of a recurrence of kidney disease.

On the other side, Francis and the Houston Rockets were a little silent.

Neither Francis nor the Rockets' head coach and general manager stood up to show like Mourning and the Heat, and they were all silent.

It seems that this great victory this time is not a victory, but a defeat.

On May 20, 2002, the second day of the draft lottery, the general manager's office of the Houston Rockets, general manager Dawson, head coach Tang Shuai and other senior executives of the team were all silent at this time. It's not like the atmosphere of a major victory.

The Houston Rockets had been inspecting Yao Ming three years ago, because Dawson witnessed Yao Ming mistreating Chandler. Since then, Dawson has only Yao Ming in his eyes.

This year Dawson finally made it possible for Yao Ming and the Oriental Club to terminate the contract at a high price.

In order to get Yao Ming to the NBA, the Houston Rockets spent manpower, energy, and financial resources in the future, which is unimaginable.

It can be said that, no matter what, the Houston Rockets are bound to win Yao Ming.

Now, the situation has changed very subtly.

"We lost the No. 1 pick with the Heat."

"Now, our destiny is controlled by others."

In the NBA, there are not many good people, especially those NBA general managers.

The Rockets' desire for Yao Ming and the Heat's desire for Jay Williams are known to almost the entire NBA.

"Rudy, maybe we don't have to worry too much. The Heat may not rob us. Although it is no secret that we want Yao Ming, no one knows how much we are willing to pay for Yao Ming. If the Heat rob us, they will have to bear the loss of Jay Williams." James, and besides losing Jay Williams, there is no way to get Yao Ming!"

After Dawson, general manager of the Rockets, finished speaking, the surrounding air became a little more relaxed.

NBA teams want to get Yao Ming, not only to be selected, but also to meet many requirements of Eastern clubs and basketball associations.

The Rockets are willing to accept those demands, but the Heat will never.

"If the Heat really dare to rob us, we only need to select Jay Williams at the second pick, wait for the Heat to hit a wall with the Eastern Club and the Basketball Association, and beg us. David Stern will never allow it." If the Heat prevent Yao Ming from coming to the NBA, then the Heat will not rob us, but we will rob the Heat!"

Dawson's words finally cheered up the atmosphere in the office a lot.

"However, in order to reduce trouble, are we tentatively revealing some of the harsh conditions we accepted in order to get Yao Ming?"

"Yes, deter the Heat and Pat Riley, no problem."

After the NBA draft lottery ended, many teams held a draft battle meeting as soon as possible.

Especially the top four picks.

The second-place Rockets are in the "clouds of battle".

The fourth Bull is 'Dark Clouds'.

And the third Golden State Warriors are in the "clouds of Buddha".

The two best players in this draft are guards and point guards.

Seriously, they really have no shortage, Jason Richardson, Larry Hughes, Arenas...

These are all young guards with great potential. Seriously, they already have a surplus of talents on the guard line. Larry Hughes' rookie contract has expired, and the contract requirements are not high, but they would rather let him go freely. Don't want to renew.

There is no way, the team's salary has exceeded 10 million, triggering the luxury tax line.

Now the Warriors want to lower their salary first, and clean up the excess guard line by the way.

Unless they can really help clear their salary space, they have no interest in signing and trading.

"Wade, it's really embarrassing."

If the Warriors really want to have the money to continue to add guards to the team, they might as well keep Larry Hughes.

However, although Wade is embarrassing to the Warriors, someone needs it, such as the Chicago Bulls who have been "harassing" the Warriors after the draft lottery.

"Reject the Bulls, Artest is too bad-tempered, we don't need another Chris Webber, he is not as strong as Chris Webber, the Bulls' chip is very sincere, but it's too bad for us, our The No. 3 pick can open up competition, and we need a high-quality No. 3."

"What if our draft pick doesn't get traded?"

"Then take a quality forward at No. 3, like, Dunleavy Jr.?"

"..."

If the general manager of the Bulls who got the fourth pick heard this, he would definitely vomit blood on the spot.

I have never seen such a wonderful team!

Don't give it away for free!

No. 4 pick + Artest for your No. 3 pick, isn't it good? !

For the current Warriors, it's really not good, unless you bear the wages.

If the Warriors really need a lottery pick, Larry Hughes' contract can be changed, but they would rather let Larry Hughes go for free than this year's lottery pick.

In any case, anyway, the Bulls are about to vomit blood for the Warriors, a strange request that has never appeared in NBA history.

Three of the top four picks in the 2002 NBA Draft are preparing for the 2002 NBA Draft with different attitudes.

As the owner of the No. 1 pick, the Heat are of course preparing for the game.

And it is the chairman of the Heat, Pat Riley, who is leading the Heat in preparing for the game.

After the Heat won the No. 1 pick, they immediately hired the team's former general manager and head coach Pat Riley as the team's chairman.

As for the position of the head coach and general manager left by Pat Riley, it was held concurrently by Pat Riley's disciple, Spoelstra.

Anyone who knows the relationship between Spoelstra and Pat Riley knows that Spoelstra's head coach and general manager looks 'very fierce' but is actually 'very cute'.

Spoelstra is as good as a "husky" in front of Pat Riley.

"Teacher, what do you think of the Houston Rockets disclosing Yao Ming's information?"

"They're in a hurry."

Pat Riley is actually not interested in Yao Ming.

But seeing the harsh requirements revealed by the Rockets in his hands, Pat Riley became interested in Yao Ming instead.

"Is this Chinese giant worthy of being treated like a superstar by the Houston Rockets?"

Kneel down?

Spoelstra didn't know how to answer for a while, and the teacher was still so "venomous".

However, it is still so accurate.

"Maybe that Chinese giant really has the potential to become a superstar."

"At least, that's what the Rockets think."

Spoelstra added.

And hearing what Spoelstra said, Pat Riley nodded slightly.

"Although Dawson's ability is average, I believe in the ability of the center forward."

"Eric, help me to investigate this Chinese giant."

The end of the draft lottery means that the NBA draft battle has officially started.

Although this year is a small draft year, for NBA teams, the draft is the beginning of a new season, which has become a common practice.

So no matter how young the draft year is, every NBA team is going through a fixed process.

The team has a fixed process, and of course the players also have a fixed process.

After the draft lottery is over, the players participating in the draft will begin to participate in various training camps.

Some are held by NBA teams, and some are officially held by the NBA.

The performance of young players in these draft training camps will largely determine their order in the draft.

Of course, some people are privileged.

For example, after the draft lottery, Jay Williams rejected invitations to all NBA teams and NBA official training camps except the Heat.

After all, the No. 1 pick has already been secured. Everyone knows that the Heat want to get him, and they want to go crazy.

After Jay Williams rejected all draft training camp invitations, Wade, the No. 2 favorite in this year's draft, also announced his rejection of all training camps except the Bulls.

At the same time, Yao Ming's team, which has caused a lot of trouble in the United States recently because the Rockets announced their secrets, also announced that they will not participate in all the training camps organized by NBA teams and officials this year.

Three of the hottest rookies at the moment all refused to participate in this year's draft training camp.

This makes the NBA draft training camp, which was already deserted because of the young draft year, even more deserted.

For a while, the enthusiasm for the NBA draft, which was not much, became even more sluggish.

"I didn't expect the Chicago Bulls to be so unlucky this year, with such a poor record, they didn't even get the top three. This is a pain for Dwyane."

After the draft lottery, Wade was in a low mood.

Chen Xiao and the others were all worried.

Fortunately, although Wade's mood is a little low, he also knows that now is the most important moment in the lives of Marquette University players. The college players are all sent away.

"I'm fine, but I'm a little worried. Now that the NBA draft training camp has started, you can focus on the draft. Don't worry about my business."

After leaving Wade's residence, Chen Xiao and Ron Howard parted ways with other Marquette players.

They are busier than Chen Xiao and Ron Howard.

Both Chen Xiao and Ron Howard were invited by the NBA offense and defense to participate in the draft lottery, which means that they can participate in all draft training camps officially organized by the NBA without any obstacles.

They don't need to run around for the most important official NBA training camp, tryouts.

They only need to selectively participate in the training camps of various NBA teams.

Moreover, with their enthusiasm, almost all NBA teams that open camps will invite them.

For example, they were invited to the Wizards draft training camp and the Heat training camp that opened first, and the entire Marquette University only invited them.

"Brother Luo, you really don't want to go to Washington with me? The Heat have the No. 1 lottery, so it doesn't make sense to go there."

"I know, but Jay Williams is there, and only there."

Seeing the smile on Ron Howard's face, Chen Xiao nodded enviously.

I really want to pursue my dream like Brother Luo without worrying about food and clothing. I don't care if my draft pick drops, and I just do what I want to do.

I always feel that Brother Luo has become more magnanimous and free and easy after returning home this time.

"Brother Luo, I wish you success."

"Ah, you too."

Chen Xiao and Ron Howard smiled at each other, and turned to leave at the same time.

In front of them, it seems that there is a golden sun attracting them forward.

And that is their new journey...

ps: The end of the first volume.

PS2: Foreshadowing chapter.