Chapter 774: 773.OK Disintegrates

After chatting with Liu Mang for 20 minutes, McGrady almost didn't get pissed off. Seeing that the 20-minute food abuse competition was over, McGrady immediately went to find Prince, whom he was most interested in, and had a relationship with him. Some Eagles assistant coach Stockton, who played very similar to Liu Mang, discussed how to partner with Liu Mang together.

This matter is very important to McGrady. As a player who started from the bench and relied on defense, McGrady has been changing his style of play according to the situation he encountered. He became a superstar from the very beginning, entirely because of Grant- Hill was reimbursed year after year and had to become a superstar.

It is precisely because of these experiences that McGrady sighed after the Lakers won two consecutive championships. If the Lakers traded him with Eddie Jones in 1998, he would rather be Pippen than go to the Magic to struggle, because he It was a complete accident that Pippen, who was originally planning to become Hill, became a superstar.

It's just that he has good talent, and he doesn't particularly want to be a superstar at all.

McGrady came to the Eagles to report almost immediately. Since the 27th to the 29th was the time for the new team Bobcats to select players, according to the NBA, it was the time for "alliance reorganization". McGrady had no way to come. The Eagles reported that before the draft, McGrady was on vacation, and it was not impossible to rush back from abroad, but at that time the Eagles were busy with the draft, and he didn't come to make trouble.

No, on the 30th, "the alliance reorganization is complete", he came to report early in the morning.

The Eagles saw that McGrady came to the team to report immediately after the transaction, and took the initiative to discuss with Prince about defensive issues and with Stockton about organizational offense.

Coach Kruger and Price found that McDickon seemed a little overwhelmed by his refusal to play well.

He has won the scoring title, was the leader, lost miserably when he was the leader, and has the opportunity to join a championship team and become an important role. For McGrady, it is better than going to the Rockets. Positivity and confidence are too strong!

Most importantly, the Eagles have Liu Mang.

This is a double MVP! The number of players in NBA history can be counted on one hand! Even if it is 80% dependent on teammates, it is impossible without two brushes to become the data center of the team known as "the strongest lineup in history".

Compared with Yao Ming, Liu Mang is obviously easier to get McGrady to agree with, no matter in terms of strength or character.

Now coach Kruger and Price are only worried about McGrady's contract extension.

In order to get McGrady, half the team was dismantled!

The two called Liu Mang aside, and told Liu Mang their worries after they traded McGrady.

Liu Mang remembers that in the original history, Tracy McGrady said it twice, once in the summer of 2001, he lamented that he missed the opportunity to join the Lakers. If he partnered with O'Neal or Kobe, he would be Pippen.

In 1998, the Raptors chose Carter, so they planned to trade McGrady to become a famous star. As early as 1997, the Raptors had this idea. The goal in 1997 was Pippen, and Eddie Jones in 1998, but the Lakers More wanting a proven pitcher than developing another high schooler who could be a headache.

The second time was after completely retiring in 2014. McGrady lamented that since the new century, the most dominant team is still the Lakers. Once again, he lamented that he regretted not being able to go to the Lakers to partner with the OK combination.

Liu Mang has always felt that McGrady's character is very special. He doesn't like to fight for these things. After fighting Yao Ming for so many years, he still hasn't decided who is the boss. The most important point is that the two of them don't fight for the boss. Those who are willing to be green leaves need players with absolute strength like Peak Hill and OK to become the boss and lead the two forward.

Neither Yao Ming nor Tracy McGrady have the spirit to lead the team forward.

Regarding the cooperation with McGrady, Liu Wei felt that the problem was not a big one. As for the issue of contract renewal, Liu Wei expressed his own understanding after chatting with McGrady for a few minutes that day: "Tracey doesn't want to talk about it now, he I guess I'm worried that I won't be able to blend in with us."

"I can understand this point, but Ace, is there a way to increase the possibility of Tracy's contract extension?" Price pinned his hopes on Liu Mang, who has a very good relationship with McGrady.

"Uh... Let me think about it," Liu Mang turned his head, "Yes! It's very simple, just let him feel that our team is unmatched by other teams!"

"Can't other teams compare?"

"Yes! Let's take our time, anyway, there is still a year left, boss, you are like this..."

...

...

The press conference to welcome McGrady will be held at 3:00 pm.

After the start of the press conference, owner Price announced that he had reached a four-year 11.9 million verbal agreement with Iguodala and the Eagles, but he has not signed a contract. locked in the team.

Josh Smith and the Hawks reached a four-year, $7.4 million verbal deal.

Both Iguodala and Josh Smith signed the standard contract of the lottery show, and there are still differences between the lottery zone and the guarantee contract and the non-lottery zone.

Tony Allen's contract is much smaller, a 4-year 4.14 million 2+2 contract, the team may not implement the team option in the third year, but if it is implemented, just like Prince, the next two years will be It is a guarantee contract.

Don’t worry about Varejao’s and Ariza’s contracts. Even if the Eagles don’t sign them, they can “own” them for at least three years, such as contacting them with European teams or the CBA. , all give up directly, so that they can go to other teams to try their luck. Those who retain the right to sign are usually European players who have contracts or are too young. European players often start playing at the age of twelve or thirteen. He has played professionally, played for a few years and showed his talent to be spotted by NBA scouts, and he is usually only seventeen or eighteen years old.

Then, Price handed out jerseys to the newcomers.

The original nine of the Eagles, in the backcourt, Liu Mang wears No. 1, Calderon wears No. 3, Jason Terry is No. 31, Prince is No. 22, and Korver is the rare No. 26. Generally, players who choose jerseys between No. 20 and No. 30 usually choose No. 21 for Dominique Wilkins, No. 22 for Glider Drexler, No. 23 for Jordan, and No. 24 for Moses Malone. , Korver played a different way.

In the frontcourt, Rasheed Wallace is No. 36, Muhammad is No. 2, Kwame Brown is No. 54, and Kevin Willis is No. 42.

McGrady originally wanted to choose No. 1, but Liu Mang used No. 1. Since Liu Mang won double MVPs, it is impossible for anyone else to wear No. 1 in the Eagles.

Calderon is very good at making things happen, and he took the initiative to give up the No. 3 jersey to McGrady. McGrady accepted the No. 3 jersey that Calderon gave him. No. 3 is also one of the iconic numbers of outside players. Calderon Deron changed to the No. 5 jersey.

Iguodala originally wanted to use No. 9 in college, but the No. 9 of the Eagles is the retired jersey of Bob Pettit, the first player in the history of the Eagles. Therefore, he chose No. 8 based on someone's suggestion. Originally, a certain No. 1 who did not want to be named wanted to let Iguodala or Tracy McGrady choose No. 24, but felt that the time had not come...

Ariza also wanted No. 1, so he chose No. 11. Anderson chose No. 18. Tony Allen chose No. 25. Josh Smith originally wanted No. 5, but he didn't compete with Calderon. No. 6.

...

After the player welcome ceremony, there is an interview session.

The place where the press conference was held was not the interview hall, but the stadium, because even if many rows of seats were demolished, the reporters would still be packed!

Even McGrady was a little surprised, there were too many reporters! There are so many players in the second round of the second round of the draft like Ariza are surrounded by a group of reporters.

"This is the Eagles? God, what kind of life do the Eagles players live? It's like playing in Los Angeles and New York!" When McGrady experienced this kind of battle before, he was still an All-Star every year. In the season of the scoring champion, there were not so many reporters attending the press conference.

McGrady is like this, and the five new rookies are all scared!

But when McGrady saw Calderon and Korver, two guys who didn't play much last season, enjoyed the flash, as if they were used to it...

People are more popular than people!

These guys live in luxury! Except for the Lakers and Knicks, compared with the Hawks, other teams, even if they win the championship or get superstars to join, it is impossible to have this kind of treatment. Because of the gap in record, the Rockets do not have the same treatment as the Hawks.

However, McGrady was more excited than surprised. Which player would not like to be surrounded by flashing lights? Start trying to enjoy the attention.

Price and Coach Kruger were on the sidelines, secretly high-fiving behind their backs.

According to Liu Mang's instructions, they notified as many media as possible, organized a super-large press conference, and let McGrady "take the bait". Sure enough, seeing McGrady's surprised and excited expression, this strategy was considered a success.

I have enjoyed flashlights for a long time, and if one day I am going to lose this kind of attention, I will not give up. Reluctance is one of the most critical emotions that affect a person's decision.

McGrady is enjoying the flashlight, while Liu Mang is in pain. The reporters are asking him why the four important players left.

Liu Mang was annoyed by this question, and said directly: "Of course, we had a fight before, it was because of the MVP problem, they didn't beat me together, I beat them four with one hand, and I won and stay."

"..." Ghost letter!

Relatively speaking, Chinese sports reporters are too friendly, after all, they are their own family members.

The reporter from the court station was not an acquaintance, but they were also very friendly. They asked the question: "Ace, what is your expected goal for this year's Olympics?"

Looking at the excited compatriots, Liu Wei thinks it is better to set a small goal! It is unlikely to win the championship, and the chances of winning cards are not high. Liu Mang thought for a while and said, "My personal goal is to win a game in the knockout round. What do you think of the top four?"

Before the reporter answered, the long-lost system prompt came...

"Ding... The Olympic mission is triggered: the light of the Chinese team."

"your sister!"

...

"The light of the Chinese team: the host needs to lead the Chinese men's basketball national team to the finals in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and reach the semi-finals. The task reward: the leader buff the Chinese light."

"The Light of the People: Leader buff, when the host leads the Chinese men's basketball national team, all the players of the Chinese men's basketball national team who are not at the lowest level in the NBA will be temporarily promoted to the level of NBA bench players."

Leaving the press conference and coming to the lounge of the arena, Liu Mang was in a serious mood after carefully reading the task content. The leader buff means that there are not many people in the national team, even the lowest level in the NBA. , probably that's what it means?

Liu Mang remembers what is the lowest level of ability evaluation in the NBA? It seems to be 45?

"Ding... The lowest level of ability evaluation in the NBA is 45, the average level of bench players is 50, the average level of role players is 60, and the average level of starters is 70.

Calculated according to NBA rules, 40-49 is the American secondary professional league and European league level, 35-44 is the CBA professional level, 30-40 is the Asian professional league level, and below 30 is an amateur player. Special reminder, the Chinese team's point guard Sun Yue who will enter the NBA in the future has an ability evaluation of 53. "

Sun Yue is only 53? That is, the man who pulls the average role player back, that is, the type of Calderon who rarely played in his rookie year... The others are not worse! Seeing that the CBA is only the third level in the world, Liu Mang feels that it is a bit difficult to win in the knockout rounds!

However, after Liu Mang calmed down and thought about it, he discovered some problems.

The level of the European League is between 40 and 49, and European teams with NBA players, except for Greece, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, countries separated from the former Yugoslavia, Lithuania and other countries, are not as good as the future. many.

Of course, this is just an ability evaluation calculated according to NBA rules, but when it comes to the rules of the international league, it will definitely be different.

Liu Mang remembers that there are many European players who can play in the NBA. There must be some who haven’t gone to the NBA. The NBA pays a basic salary to guard the drinking fountains. It’s better to be a superstar in Europe. The Argentine veteran of the NBA, Prigioni, only entered the NBA at the age of 35, and he still retired at the age of 39.

Similarly, the overall level of the CBA is low, but those who can enter the national team, the Chinese team may not necessarily be weaker than most of the teams in European countries, but there are few stars like Nowitzki and Gasol , with Yao Ming, the Chinese team can also beat the European teams, and originally only Yao Ming could also enter the knockout rounds, but now there is an extra player.

Liu Mang felt that if he partnered with Yao Ming, he would brag a little more. The NBA is a dual-core team that can be called a championship team! The role players are a little better, Liu Mang feels that he can play more time, at worst he can play all the games.

Thinking of this, Liu Mang was quite confident.

The main goal now is to strive to break through the ability evaluation of 90 before the start of the Olympic Games!

The goal of Liu Mang's national team in his career is not only to win a knockout match, he also wants to win a medal in the Olympics!

Then this buff must be obtained!

It's time to get in touch with Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi. Tomorrow will be July. Although it's not a rest, it's still half a month away from the finals. Liu Mang decided to resume training and improve his strength as much as possible before the Olympic Games!

...

...

While Liu Mang was busy with the national team, on July 1st, the free market had just started, and an event that would affect the structure of the league happened in the NBA!

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat reached a deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and an unprotected 2006 first-round pick.

OK disintegrated!

In fact, on the third day after the finals, after the Lakers season summary meeting hastily ended, the trading window has already been opened.

As early as the beginning of the just-concluded season, the relationship between the Lakers and O'Neal had already collapsed.

Because the Lakers insisted on only giving O'Neal 80 million for 4 years, otherwise there would be no discussion, and O'Neal insisted on a 100 million contract, so the number of years did not matter.

O'Neal's insistence, obviously, is to compete with Kobe and Jerry Buss.

Kobe, who is not yet 26 years old, and O'Neal, who is 32 years old, this choice is very simple.

Due to the loss in the finals, the last chance to restore the relationship was broken. OK was incompatible, so within two days after the end of the Lakers finals, the Lakers put O'Neal on the shelf, and at the same time allowed other teams to contact O'Neal. It is to allow other teams to directly understand whether O'Neal is willing to renew his contract after contacting him.

The approach of the Lakers is completely different from that of the Magic. The Magic refused other teams to contact McGrady at the time, so no team was willing to give good bargaining chips.

Before the Hawks traded McGrady, they also had contact with O'Neal, and Liu Mang still had two years of peak in his memory. If you save yourself three or four years of peak, you can reach the age of 35 or even 36 and still be able to fight in the playoffs. O'Neal's cooperation is also a good thing, especially O'Neal can still be selected as an All-Star substitute at the age of 37. It is not a loss to replace O'Neal with three years of peak tail and two years of retirement to show off in the playoffs with Raheem.

However, O'Neal expressed his unwillingness to play with another blacksmith enthusiast. Liu Mang, who was listening to the phone next to him, was so angry that he cut off the phone directly, and then asked Price to find the Lakers and apply for a trade for Kobe.

Of course, this one was also rejected.

After that, many teams contacted the Lakers. In the end, the Heat gave the best offer, and O'Neal traveled east to the South Coast.

Originally, the Heat's first goal was of course Duncan.

Duncan signed a five-year contract in 2000. After the first four years ended, he decided to jump out of the contract on June 30, but he immediately signed a contract extension with the Spurs. Duncan, who has just enough seven-year career to trigger the veteran clause , reached a fat contract of 109.33 million U.S. dollars for 6 years with the Spurs, and another 100 million yuan contract was born.

The Spurs did not give Duncan a 7-year maximum salary, and did not allow Duncan to take a salary of up to 27 million in the last year, which surprised other teams, but Duncan actually accepted it, which is even more surprising!

The most surprising thing is that Pat Riley was not even given the chance to meet. Perhaps in Duncan's world view, except that Popovich would let him take his wife on the team's free charter flight when he played away games, the management of other teams layers will not.

Pat Riley was still waiting for the Spurs to fail to offer the maximum contract, and proposed to the Spurs to sign first and then trade. Who knows, the Spurs really did not offer the maximum contract, but Duncan really signed it!

Pat Riley, who called out to hell, immediately launched an alternate plan. Fortunately, he has been communicating with O'Neal and the Lakers, and no tree has been hanged.

The Heat used Odom and Caron Butler plus the first-round and first-round salaries, and traded with the Lakers to get O'Neal.

O'Neal also felt good about being able to partner with Dwyane Wade, and immediately renewed his contract for 5 years and 100 million.

With the left-handed Magician, potential small forward Caron Butler, and an unprotected first-rounder, the Lakers have recovered as much as possible.

...

O'Neal was traded, undoubtedly dropped a nuclear bomb at the beginning of the free market.

The pattern of the entire league has changed!

Originally, even if the Eagles broke up the team, they were still regarded as the best team in the East. The Pistons, Pacers, and Nets were not expected to win the Eagles, but it was different when O'Neal came!

In the West, without the OK combination, including the Spurs, they are relieved. The entire West has been suppressed by the Spurs for two years and the Lakers for four years.

On the Eastern side, the Eagles split up the team, and it may not have such a big advantage against the Western teams, but it still has a great advantage against the Eastern Conference. But after O'Neal came, the Eastern Conference became a two-sided team. A championship-level team is fighting for hegemony, and the minds of other teams have also begun to come alive.

On July 1st, on that day, a series of calm-headed or not calm-headed transactions, team operations, signings, layoffs... and so on.

Among them, the most surprising one is that the general manager of the Timberwolves, Kevin McHale, thinks there are three monsters, who will not win? And the OK combination is gone, he has an impulse, can he lead the team by himself and win the championship?

Therefore, when O'Neal traveled east, Kevin McHale fired the team's meritorious coach Philip Saunders and announced that he would serve as both general manager and head coach.

The second is the Pistons. Stephen Jackson jumped out of the contract on June 30. He and Larry Brown are already at odds, and they are waiting for the free market to start looking for work elsewhere.

On July 1st, when the Pacers were able to contact with free agents and restricted free agents after the opening of the free market, they immediately contacted Stephen Jackson and quickly reached an agreement, a seven-year 50 million fat contract, to join the Pacers By.

Not being able to keep Stephen Jackson is unacceptable to the Pistons management. Larry Brown holds the status of a famous coach and is unwilling to show weakness. In the view of the Pistons management, Larry Brown is not as good as Carlisle. Carlisle is good or bad I won't quarrel with anyone, they are all swept by the Eagles, at least the lineup has not weakened, and young players have been trained.

After Stephen Jackson left Indiana, the Pistons announced that they were firing Larry Brown.

One big event after another happened, all caused by two events.

These two incidents are known in history as: the upheaval of Dongying - the disintegration of OK.

...

Ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a recommendation ticket, there are still six days left, keep the second one!