Chapter 842 [The Great Dictator, Signing Plan]

After the championship parade, the annual NBA draft soon came.

Yang Rui convened a meeting with the management staff. He first listened to reports from various departments on their work, the team's profitability, publicity plans, etc. Then he announced that all summer signings would be decided by himself, and a list would be provided for the manager to go to. Contact person.

Neither the team manager nor the deputy manager had any objections, and Yang Rui was very satisfied. What he needs is a manager who can help the team make money. He doesn't need to listen to opinions on matters on the court and is prepared to become a dictator.

When Yang Rui stated that he would focus on the free market this year, sign new players, and trade two generals, Faried and Griffin, in exchange for potential players, many people raised objections.

Few teams would trade their big-name stars, especially if the Clippers have sufficient salary.

Manager Nell Olshey asked in confusion: "Boss, didn't you say that the team's goal next season is to win four consecutive championships? If Griffin is sent away and Chandler breaks out of his contract and is poached, we will have no inside line. How can we win the championship next season? Even if we sign someone in the free market, even if we have the strength, it will take time to get used to it, right?"

Yang Rui explained unhurriedly: "If we don't make a big change in the summer, of course we will be very strong next season, but have you ever thought about it. Players who already have rings have less desire to win. If they want big contracts, they must be in the next season." If someone puts up good numbers in a contract year, like Faried, will he work hard for the team to win next season, or will he work hard for the data?"

Olshey asked: "Then why trade Griffin? He has been an All-Star starter for several consecutive years. There are few better insiders in the league than him."

Last season, ESPN reported that Griffin was a top ten player in the NBA. His regular season efficiency value was very high, ranking ninth, and his playoff data was not bad either, averaging 35.4 minutes per game and scoring 23.5 points. 8.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists, shooting 50% from the field, 14.3% from the three-point range, and 74% from the free throw line. However, Griffin didn't perform very well in the Western Conference Finals.

Yang Rui said: "His tactical role is average. He has never practiced three-point shooting well. His wingspan is not enough on the defensive end. He is a below-level help defender and his free throws are bad. He has trained him for several years and has no potential left. He has There is a certain strength, but there are also hidden dangers of injury, and now I plan to eliminate the hidden dangers.”

Everyone was speechless. Yang Rui is a boss who understands football and he won't do anything random. Although Griffin is very popular, it doesn't matter if he leaves. There is still Curry on the team who is more popular.

Yang Rui continued: "There are many star players in the free market this year who are suitable for the team's system. If you sign any one, you can replace Chandler. If you sign two, it doesn't matter if Griffin leaves. Besides, we can still use him to replace him." Back to the stars, you heard me right, would I think I have too many rings and deliberately make the team weaker?"

Everyone laughed. Scout Kim Hughes asked: "Boss, this is a big year for the draft. Do we want to exchange for a high-ranking draft pick to sign rookies and train them?"

"No need. From my point of view, this year is not a big draft year at all. Two picks in the first round are enough. If you trade the one in the second round as soon as possible, you won't be able to select any strong players."

"All right."

When the draft pick was exchanged from the Grizzlies, it was agreed to be a top ten protection. This year, it happened to be 11th. In Yang Rui's view, this position is already high enough to select the person he wants.

This is a seriously overrated draft. It is known as a rare draft year in the past ten years. Many teams messed up and grabbed players.

But in Yang Rui's previous life, the 14th class was more like a year of injuries. Almost all lottery picks were laid off, and only a few were reimbursed, including Randle, Embiid, Agordon, Jabari Parker, etc...

Even those who were not injured did not show much strength. Wiggins' talent was touted as invincible, but after playing for a few years, he looked like a second-rate player at the level of Gay, with unstable shooting and average organizational skills.

Yang Rui gave Olshey two lists and asked him to select them in the draft.

With the 11th pick, the future dunk king Zach LaVine was selected. He is a combo guard who is 196cm tall and weighs 82kg.

The template is JR Smith and Jeremy Lamb.

LaVine's athletic ability is amazing, with a side vertical jump of 105CM and a very fast first step, but his shooting is not stable. In addition, LaVine is afraid of physical confrontation on both offense and defense. He is very weak in on-ball and off-ball defense and cannot fight against strong defenders. He often misses and is easily broken through.

The reason Yang Rui chose LaVine is simple. His style of play attracts fans and he can play a role in fast breaks. In the previous 16-17 season, he averaged 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3 assists per game, shooting 45.9% from the field and 38.7 from the three-point range. %, he can hit 2.6 three-pointers in one game, and his offensive power is not weak.

Yang Rui's most optimistic person is in the second round, the white center Nikola Jokic from Serbia.

Jokic is 208cm tall and weighs 113 kilograms. In his previous life, he was selected by the Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in the second round. At that time, no one could have imagined that he would become the leader of the Nuggets in the future.

He is a super comprehensive technical center who can play both high and low positions. He can face the frame and break through with the ball. He can support the pivot in the high position. His shooting range reaches beyond the three-point line. He can also rely on technical skills to attack in the low position. He has hooks from both sides and is very flexible. .

In the 16-17 season, Jokic averaged 27.8 minutes per game, scoring 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He shot 57.8% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range, and 82.5% from free throws.

As long as the defense is strengthened, Jokic will be the perfect core of the inside team. Even if the defense is average, no one among the players in the 14th class has a greater tactical effect than him.

When the Clippers signed Kitchen with the 30th pick in the first round, they picked up a star for free. Yang Rui is looking forward to him and Draymond Green, two insiders who are good at passing the ball, becoming partners. Then you can play however you want, and the ball will definitely It runs very fast.

Jokic has a contract with a European team and may not be able to land in the NBA until 2015. The Clippers will have to find someone else to fill the role next season.

This is not a problem. Yang Rui is ready to sign experienced veterans, and he will also be able to bring the Clippers' young inside players.

Lakers insider Pau Gasol is a completely free agent. The Lakers were last in the league last season, so the contract to sign him will definitely not be high.

In addition to Gasol, there is also "white side" Whiteside, a cheap guy in the free market who can easily sign into the team. Yang Rui didn't consider signing him before because his football intelligence was too low. After he went to China for a tour, the problem would probably be solved.

This summer, Yang Rui estimates that Whiteside has been taken away from China's secondary league. It won't be long before he returns to the NBA, becomes a starter, becomes an All-Star, marries Bai Fumei, and reaches the pinnacle of life. Think about it. Still a little excited.

Because he plans to choose Jokic, he will not worry about having no one at the center position in the future. Yang Rui plans to sign a one-year minimum salary with Whiteside first. Even if he is not taken away in this life and does not play well, he will only pay a minimum salary.

As long as Whiteside plays to the level of Yang Rui in his previous life, he will make a lot of money. Not only does he have super physical fitness, he is good at picking and rolling, and he has also developed a mid-range shot, but he lacks organizational skills.

In the 16-17 season, he averaged 32.7 minutes per game, scored 17 points, 14.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.1 blocks, and shot 55.7% from the field. In the 15-16 season, he was also selected to the second team of the All-Defensive Team, averaging 3.7 blocks per game and becoming the league's shot-blocking leader.

Therefore, it is unnecessary for the Clippers management to worry about the decline in internal strength. Yang Rui has too many candidates. If an insider like Bosh breaks out of his contract in the summer and is willing to join at a reduced salary, Yang Rui will not accept it, because others are stronger and cheaper. Bosh is likely to have blood clots, and Yang Rui doesn't want to sign someone to tie him to the team.