Chapter 390 Coaching Change Troubles

Early the next morning, Li Shengli rushed to the training facility. Although he had never been late for no reason since he started playing basketball, there were always people who arrived before him in the Mavericks, and today it seemed that he was the second to last one to arrive because head coach Motta Not here either, the team atmosphere is quite...pleasant.

"Li, you are finally here."

"Come on, come on, there's good news!"

Kidd and Curry were a little excited, and others were also very happy, but Li Shengli was stunned for a moment, "What's the good news? We have a deal?"

"That's not it. We were talking about this yesterday." Kidd responded.

"Yesterday, you said Mota..."

"Yes, management fired Motta."

…

Why so fast?

Li Shengli never expected that the Mavericks management would move so quickly. Judging from Motta's state in the post-game interview last night, he probably didn't even know about it.

In other words, the decision of the team management was made on an ad hoc basis. It may even be that the dismissal decision was made only in the early hours of yesterday. It was officially announced early this morning, which was both quick and without warning.

"It's not even March yet. We're halfway through the regular season. Why would you choose today?"

"Then who knows, maybe there is no reinforcement plan, and the head coach Wan Wan is fired. Is this going to comfort you?"

"Stop talking nonsense, who takes the position of our head coach?"

"Our assistant coach John Gordon."

"Okay, Curry, you take everyone to train first, and I'll go talk to Knight."

The news of the coaching change came very suddenly, which is a good thing, but Li Shengli also needs to communicate with the management and ask clearly about the future formation of the Mavericks. Even if there is no news on today's deadline, he still has to give an accurate answer. Bar.

…

After a while, when he arrived at the team's general manager's office, Knight seemed to have guessed that Li Shengli would come.

"Oh God, Lee, what do you want from me?" Although Knight is the general manager of the Mavericks, on the one hand, a new official has been appointed, and on the other hand, Li Shengli has only been here for half a season, and his performance at this time He was quite enthusiastic and invited Li Shengli to sit down.

"Nothing, just asking about Mota."

"Oh, unfortunately, Motta has been fired by us, and John Gordon will be the head coach in the next games." Knight's tone was very regretful, but he didn't seem to have much sympathy for Motta.

Generally speaking, the matter of firing a head coach will be handled at the end of the regular season when the team's record is poor. Saying a few nice words can be regarded as a peaceful breakup. There is no precedent for firing a head coach during the season. It's just rare because it means the fired head coach has completely broken up with the team.

"Did you decide yesterday?"

"No, it was this morning that our entire management unanimously approved this decision!" Knight paused and then said: "Externally, the reason we claim is that Coach Motta's level during his coaching period did not meet our expectations and requirements. , As for internally... This doesn’t need to be explained too much. I think you and everyone understand that Motta is not suitable here. What he does is indeed not a competent head coach and cannot handle the relationship with the players. , and even creating and intensifying conflicts in our team. Gordon has already explained everything to our management."

John Gordon?

Our interim head coach?

Actually made a small report to the management?

Li Shengli really couldn't laugh or cry. He felt that this kind of thing was too nonsense and too funny. The assistant coach made a small report to the bishop, and then counterattacked and became a full-time official. This horse riding looked like a palace fight.

…

"Li, given the different positions we are in, sometimes I really don't know how to express our sincerity, but in fact the construction of the team cannot be completed in one or two days, and we are also working hard for it. I hope you Don't mind yesterday's post-game interview, Dallas...can be your forever home!" Knight's words came from the bottom of his heart, and the so-called minding probably stemmed from the slow process of establishing the Mavericks' lineup.

"It's okay, I can wait!" Li Shengli nodded, as long as the management has a reinforcing attitude, at least they are really doing their job.

"Great, long live your understanding. I hope we can have a better record in the next games!" Knight clapped his hands to express his happiness. "To be honest, we can try our best to meet your requirements now, but this must be based on the ball." Based on the team's record and the value of your performance, after all, no team is a charity, we should all know this, and as for finding new teammates for you, we will continue to do so."

…

Trading, this kind of thing cannot be done with a slap in the face.

As the deadline approaches, the trade plans sought by the Mavericks have all been rejected by the target team. Even if they are not rejected, the price is not acceptable to the Mavericks. Therefore, we can only expect to gain something in this year's draft, and this operation is still relatively consistent. The original intention of forming a bottom team like the Mavericks.

save money!

Rookie definitely saves money!

Rich teams don't bother to do this. They all directly dig up big-name players whose contracts have expired with high salaries. They use the knife to open the way and directly skip the training process. But the Mavericks can't do that... The entire team tightens their belts and lives a budget-conscious life. , every transaction may be damaging. If you get a poisonous contract that you can't get rid of, the whole team will suffer.

Spend the least money to create the strongest combat effectiveness!

This is the original dream of the Mavericks, and acquiring Li Shengli, the most cost-effective player in the league, will definitely make a lot of money. If you insist on saying that O'Neal is also very fat, O'Neal's No. 1 contract is larger than Li Shengli's No. 2 contract!

…

The somewhat fruitful conversation ended.

Knight's meaning has been made very clear. The Mavericks really want to build a team with Li Shengli as the core, but the process will not be too fast because the Mavericks are too 'poor', and Li Shengli still has to carry this imperfect lineup. continue waiting.

As for the impact of the regular season record on future draft picks...the Mavericks' current record can make it into the playoffs, but they don't have to be as embarrassed as Mourning was in the Timberwolves and were forced to mess up, even if the order of the first round picks is not the same. High, but as long as they get a tougher No. 4, there's no problem. The point is that the Hornets' first-round pick is in the hands of the Mavericks.

With Larry Johnson injured in the All-Star Game and retired for the season, the Charlotte Hornets simply fell into a cesspit. In the last game, they were directly blasted by the Washington Bullets, the underdog at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and the whole game exploded by 20 points.

Even though this is just one game in which Larry Johnson is absent, it can be seen that... the Hornets can't stand it anymore. One of the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference will be given up, and the team was originally expected to enter the playoffs with a low pick. There was no loss in trading the picks, but after the All-Star Game, the Hornets management almost committed suicide collectively.

Fortunately, in the original trading plan, the Hornets made it clear that this draft was to protect the top five picks, and they had a lot of room for maneuver. At worst, they could gamble that they could get the top five picks in the 1995 draft and trigger the pick. Protection, waiting for Larry Johnson to recover from injury and delaying the delivery of draft picks until next season.

For the Mavericks, no matter what, they still got another bargain.

The poor will return to poverty, but the poor can't stand the good luck!