The rest is just noise

June 16, 1985, draft day.

This year, the Knicks have a lot of draft picks.

Not to mention the No. 1 pick, there are also first-round picks from the Lakers and second-round picks from the Celtics and Mavericks, plus my own second-round pick, two first-round picks and three second-round picks, in one session

In a draft filled with extraordinary talent (10 All-Stars were produced), there is definitely a lot to be achieved.

Sitting in the Knicks' draft war room were DeBusschere, Louie, executive Wu De, and Madison Square Garden president Jack Krueger.

Louis has been in New York for almost a year, and this is the first time he has met the president.

Kruger made a joke before the draft: "If you don't draft Patrick, I'm going to take out a machine gun and shoot everyone in the room."

The staff of the alliance were talking about something they had and didn't have, when suddenly, the phone rang.

DeBusschere then asked: "I'm Dave DeBusschere, what do you need?"

"Oh, really? Please wait."

DeBusschere covered the phone and said to Louis: "There's a call from San Antonio. They want to trade a second-round pick for Roy Sparrow."

Louis laughed and said: "I don't think a second-round pick can be worth our starting guard. You have to pay more."

Louis's momentum today was obviously different from usual, and DeBusschere himself became nervous.

Although Wu De and Kruger were the people with the highest status in name, they did not understand the operation of professional basketball. When they saw Louis frivolously asking the other side to increase the price, they both laughed.

"They are willing to give us an additional $50,000 in subsidies." DeBusschere signaled to Louis with his eyes that the price was not low.

Sparrow is not a hot commodity, so it would be good if he could be brought back in exchange for draft picks.

Now that the other party wants to send more money, there should be no reason not to agree.

"If I remember correctly, San Antonio's second-round pick was fifth?"

"yes."

"I think you can agree." Louis joked, "There are not many fools willing to give away draft picks for Sparrow."

In this way, a deal was reached between the Knicks and Spurs before the draft.

The Knicks sent Roy Sparrow to the Spurs for the fifth pick in the second round in 1985 and $50,000 in cash.

"I expect the phone will be ringing constantly today." DeBusschere had already foreseen it.

Nicks Supermarket is about to open. In theory, they have no non-for-sale items except Stockton.

Dale Ellis can be regarded as not for sale. If the other party's offer is attractive enough, it is not impossible to sell it.

Next, on TV, David Stern walks up to the front desk.

DeBusschere called people on the front lines. Although they all knew who to choose, they still needed to confirm again.

After all, there is a lesson learned from the NFL's Buccaneers - in 1982, the Buccaneers were hesitant between guard Sean Farrell and defensive end Booker Reese. At the draft

The team equipment manager Pat Marcuccillo (Pat Marcuccillo) was told that the choice must be between the two. However, when the team finally decided to select Reese and called to inform Marcuccillo, there was a noisy background on the phone.

The noise caused him to hear only Sean Farrell's name. So Marusilio handed over the card with Farrell's name on it. However, the Pirates were not done with it after they made the mistake of drafting Farrell. They liked Reese very much.

, so the first-round pick of the second year was traded to ensure that he could be selected in the second round of the draft. As a result, the highly anticipated Reese only played for the Pirates for two seasons, scored 2 interceptions and then disappeared into the crowd, and in 1983

This year's draft is the greatest draft in NFL history.

What if the Knicks get the No. 1 pick but make a mistake and miss Ewing?

Then Kruger might have been so angry that he shot everyone.

After confirmation from the front, the staff notified Stern of their choice, and then the eternal words rang out: "In the 1985 NBA draft, the New York Knicks used the first overall pick to select...Patrick Ewing

, from Georgetown University!”

The draft was originally held in New York, and the Knicks' selection of Ewing was highly anticipated, and the audience burst into loud cheers.

Ewing, 22, wore an off-white suit and red tie.

He is probably the oldest-looking No. 1 pick before Ayton, Oden, and James.

However, one advantage of people who look older or mature is that they can withstand the changes of time.

Especially those women who are 20 years old but have mature faces. Although they look more like mothers than their peers, after ten or twenty years, their peers will become yellow-faced women, but she is still standing at the "peak".

If you don’t believe it, you can go and see Yu Feihong.

The ten seconds before Ewing walked on stage and shook hands with Stern.

The commentator praised Ewing thus: "The top five players in the history of the draft can bring qualitative changes to any team in the quagmire. The most unmissable core player in history, spring in New York is really here!"

Wu De had heard of Ewing's name, and when he heard the commentator exaggerating, he couldn't help but ask Louis: "Is it really that good?"

"If Patrick is half as good as what these guys say, I'll be satisfied." Louis gave a negative answer.

"If Patrick is not so good, why do all professionals praise him so highly?" President Kruger asked in confusion.

"It's simple, because he is a lottery ticket that has been scratched in half."

Louis said: "If the correct number is 123456, then his performance in college has already shown us '123'. However, what really determines whether he is that good is the last three numbers. Wrong one number and he will be

It’s not that good.”

"You don't seem to think much of him?" Wu De asked.

"To tell you the truth, we discussed the possibility of trading the No. 1 pick, but I was worried about being shot by Mr. President, so I decided to choose him after a fierce psychological struggle." Even Louis couldn't bear to miss Ewing.

The subsequent public opinion effect.

Even if he is right, he can't wait until the day he proves himself.

The first question asked by reporters at the scene to Ewing was: "Do you know the city of New York?"

"I don't know much about it, but I've been there, I've played there."

"There are rumors that you have a bad relationship with the Knicks head coach Little Lu. Is it true?"

Ewing sneered subconsciously, "We have had some differences, and they were all about basketball. This will not have any impact."

That's weird...

"You and Patrick have a problem?" DeBusschere felt his heartbeat speeding up.

Louis smiled and said: "It's not too late to know now."

The Pacers, who got the second pick, selected Wayman Tisdale.

A man who received many accolades but whose career prospects were in doubt.

He is a player of Barkley's type, but he does not have Barkley's explosive physical fitness. Moreover, his playing style is very soft, which is usually a synonym for soft, and he has a reputation of being too nice and not playing hard.

The Clippers, with the third pick in the first round, selected Benoit Benjamin, who is known as Ewing's double wall.

In terms of talent, he should be the second pick.

However, even a team as stupid as the Pacers knows that the risk of drafting him is too high. Although he is seven feet long, has first-class running and jumping, and has the potential to become a great inside man, he is too lazy, too lazy, too lazy, too lazy.

They would rather choose a short brush inside line.

This person's laziness is well-known in the NCAA. Just from the college highlights arranged by the TV station, you can see that his gait is a bit lazy.

A slacker who lacks motivation to move forward, coupled with a place like the Clippers, is the perfect path to suicide.

Next, the first big trade in this year's draft occurred.

The Portland Trail Blazers sent All-Star guard Jim Patterson, Calvin Knight and a 1987 first-round pick in exchange for the Seattle SuperSonics' fourth pick in the first round, which selected the "X-Men."

"Xavier McDaniel SF/SG.

The commentator expressed confusion as to why the Trail Blazers would send away All-Star guard Jim Paxson and then draft back a small forward?

They already have Jordan and Drexler at the same position, are they going to play mahjong together?

Louis saw something special in this draft.

The Trail Blazers have begun to stock up on wings, because the Lakers and Celtics both have the best wing reserves in the division. To compete with them, the wings must have enough manpower. In addition, will they let Jordan serve as a guest point guard, or directly

Push Drexler to the point forward position?

Since the trade with the Trail Blazers, this draft has changed.

Reed Auerbach, who was far away in Boston, thought of Louis' advice after returning from the Olympic selection team - Karl Malone.

It's incomprehensible that teams with early draft picks are looking down on Malone. He played amazingly at Louisville, scoring and rebounding well. In this draft class full of talent, he should be the best.

Top six choices.

Ralph Sampson's performance in the Finals and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's slaughter of the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals made each team's desire for a super center reach an incredible level. So, in addition to the calm Trail Blazers, in 1985

In the first seven picks, 5 centers were selected.

Malone's name was still there, waiting to be called, which allowed Auerbach to see an opportunity.

The Celtics first sought a trade with the Suns, who held the tenth pick, and they almost succeeded. But within Boston, it was no secret that they wanted Malone.

When Utah realized what was happening, it took action.

The Jazz were full of praise for Malone, but they didn't think they could draft him. They only had the 13th pick in the first round, and by the time they did, Malone had already been picked. But suddenly, they discovered that Malone was not

Untouchable.

There is a reason why Malone's draft stock suddenly dropped. In addition to the fact that the front-end teams are like crazy to draft high centers even if they can't get Ewing, there are two other points. Malone messed up his workout, and the Suns'

Chief scout Al Bianchi had dinner with Malone after the team tried out, and found that although the man was muscular, he was too quiet and seemed like a good person-a good person can play well.

Basketball?

At least we know that a good person would never get a minor pregnant and refuse to admit it.

Then, Malone's college coach also betrayed him and turned Malone into a black man when he was questioned by NBA executives.

This is the reason why the draft prospect of the second-largest forward in history has plummeted, and it is also the reason why the trading market has been experiencing successive shocks at this time.

Auerbach was conservative after all, and the Suns' tenth pick was not enough to get Malone.

The Jazz almost went crazy and used the 13th pick in the first round + the first round in 1986 to trade with the Dallas Mavericks, who held the eighth pick in the first round. They got the Mavericks' eighth pick and happily selected Malone.

, thus ending the Celtics’ plan.

Additionally, Chris Mullin went to the Warriors with the seventh pick.

Malone was selected with the eighth overall pick, which surprised Louis. If Malone's pick dropped a little further, he would try to pursue him with a trade, but now, he must look back.

Then, Knicks' phone rang again.

This time, the call came from the Bulls' draft war room.

"It's Jerry Krause, the Bulls' new general manager," DeBusschere said.

"What does he want to do?"

"He wanted to trade John Stockton with the 11th pick in the first round," DeBusschere said.

"Didn't you say John is our priceless treasure?"

"I told you..."

"Then he still wants it?"

There was no pressure for DeBusschere to talk to Louis, but today with Wu De and Kruger around, he was almost suffocated.

"How about...you come and tell him?"