I'm good at basketball too

Chapter 355 Who Are You?New trainer?

Jimmy Butler came to the Hornets' training facility at the usual time today.

But he discovered that today he was not the first to come to the training hall.

A somewhat unfamiliar figure with his back turned to him was shooting a three-pointer on the court.

Butler didn't take it seriously, thinking it was the team's newly recruited trainer.

"Hey, Jimmy, would you like to come to the bullfight?"

With his back turned to him, the man suddenly spoke.

Butler froze.

This person's accent is very strange, definitely not anyone from the Hornets.

But how dare he open his mouth to fight a bull with himself?
Who doesn't know that he is the little bullfighting prince of the Hornets.

"What's the bet?"

Butler said subconsciously.

Like his warp father, Butler likes to gamble on certain topics.

"Bet on the next game's starter."

Although Butler didn't understand what this guy said, he agreed immediately.

On bullfighting, Lao Tzu is invincible in the Hornets.

Then, when the somewhat unfamiliar figure turned around and looked at him with a smile, Butler realized that he had made a big mistake today.

"Damn, am I going to lose my starting position for the next game?"

He looked at the smiling yellow-skinned face in front of him, and subconsciously shivered.

Yesterday, his agent told him that Li Ran will be the head coach of the Hornets next season.

However, Butler felt that no matter what, Li Ran would not come to the team until after the offseason.

Why are you here now!
Seeing the basketball thrown by Li Ran, Butler could only bite the bullet and pick it up.

"He hasn't played in the NBA for two years. It doesn't mean who wins the bullfight, right?"

With this belief to comfort himself at last, Butler bravely stood opposite Li Ran.

Then, a bloody 21-6 made Butler wake up instantly as if a basin of ice water had been poured on his head on a June day.

He didn't know that Huaxia had a saying.

Your uncle is still your uncle.

After this round of bullfighting, Butler sat down on the sidelines.

"Li, why are you here now?"

He asked a little puzzled.

"I've been idle for too long. I'm afraid you will forget me if you continue to stay at home."

To be honest, if Li Ran hadn't abused him on the court just now, Butler might really have forgotten who Li Ran was.

Although he knew that Li Ran was the husband of the owner of the Hornets, the NBA has always been a place where the strong are respected.

Even if he was as strong as Jordan, wouldn't his ribs be broken by Ci Shiping?
However, Li Ran is only 25 years old this year. . .

Even if he didn't play for two full years, the legends he left in the NBA are still circulating.

Moreover, for a basketball player, 25 years old is far from his peak.

Li Ran didn't care about the bet with Butler just now, and sat chatting with Butler on the sidelines.

"Steve retired this year, do you have any thoughts?"

Butler thought for a moment.

"I think we need to improve at the point guard position this year."

"Then who do you think is more suitable for us to reinforce in the first position?"

Butler raised his face and thought for a moment.

"Paul is the best, and Rondo is fine. If it doesn't work, you can get Curry over."

Li Ran laughed heartily.

"Who do you think the team can sign among the three this year?"

Butler sighed helplessly.

Next season, the Hornets' salary space will be so large that it is unacceptable.

Both Butler and Clay need a maximum salary, and Lowry also needs a contract of at least 1400 million next season, and his contract expires with these rookies.

The UAE is also a contract starting at 1000 million. At the center position, the salaries of Horford and McGee are indispensable.

In this case, unless the signing rights of several rookies are given up or they are traded out this year, where will the Hornets sign the players Butler said.

"Do you think it's okay for me to play point guard next season?"

Butler glanced at Li Ran in surprise.

The meaning of that look is very clear.

Are you kidding me?

The whole world knows that Li Ran can't organize.

A starting point guard who averages 3 assists per game will be laughed at by other teams.

"Actually, I have another candidate, Derrick Rose of the Bulls, what do you think?"

Butler finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Li, I know you have a good relationship with Rose, but Rose's injury, are you sure he will return to the level before the injury? That's a ruptured Achilles tendon!"

He said to Li Ran angrily.

Li Ran didn't care.

"What happened to the ruptured Achilles tendon, I had it before I entered the league."

"You think other people are just like you freak?"

"Okay, then I will be my head coach next season honestly. I hope you can listen to me. If you don't listen, I will replace you and play by myself."

Butler was really frightened by this look.

Damn it, Li Ran is not trying to scare people. He is really more effective than anyone else in the Hornets.

In other words, the fans might be eager for Li Ran to play.

Butler silently made a decision.

He won't go on vacation this offseason, so he will stay in New Orleans honestly and train.

What if Li Ran really starts him off?
Li Ran chatted with Butler for a while, then returned to his office.

He has to think carefully about the Hornets' lineup next season.

Thanks to the good foundation he laid for the Hornets back then, although the Hornets lack Nash now, their main frame is still complete.

At the very least, next season's starters of Bloodcloth, Clay, Butler, UAE and Horford can be considered competitive.

However, Xuebu's rookie contract expires this season, and Li Ran is considering whether to renew his contract.

Moreover, this lineup is definitely not enough to compete for the championship.

On the premise that Li Ran does not play.

What the team needs to strengthen are the point guard and the inside position.

As a point guard, Li Ran really wants to get the injured Rose, but Rose's trade value is still very high, and the Bulls still hope for the No.2 two-time MVP winner in team history.

The Hornets want to trade Rose, even if the Bulls are willing, it will be a nerve-wracking deal.

As for the inside line, the decline of the inside line in the league is too powerful now. There are almost no good centers, and even if there are, they are offered as treasures by their respective teams.

Thinking about it this way, the Kings are really extravagant, sitting on two top three centers in the league.

Still can't get results.

Li Ran is still a novice head coach. He just passed the qualification certificate test, so he decided to wait and see.

Anyway, next season he will also register as a player.

If the performance of the Hornets is not satisfactory, it is not empty talk that the head coach is warming up on the sidelines.

Now that the offseason has not officially started, and even the draft has not yet been held, Li Ran is not in a hurry.

It's still a long time, don't worry.

Let the bullet fly a little longer.

In this year's draft, the biggest favorite is wolfberry king Andrew Wiggins from the University of Kansas.

His physical fitness and ball skills make him the biggest favorite for this year's No. [-] pick without any suspense.

At least better than last year's Anthony Bennett.

Kwame Brown was finally able to take off his hat of the number one parallel importer in history.

Although he has some buttery hands, he is still useful in protecting the frame and rebounding.

Under normal circumstances, for an epic parallel importer like Bennett, Li Ran thinks that he may not be able to be selected in the second round.

He has averaged 5+3 per game in his career. In the NBA environment, individuals can do it.

And most people also believe that the Cavaliers holding the No. [-] pick will choose Wiggins to be the core of the team's reconstruction with Irving.

Only Li Ran didn't think so.

But it has nothing to do with him.

The Hornets don't have many draft picks this year, but Li Ran doesn't have any players that urgently need to be selected. He just needs to strengthen the Hornets' bench.

After all, the Hornets' starting lineup is quite capable, and they still need more playing time to improve themselves.

Li Ran needs to fill the Hornets lineup in the draft and free market.

This year, the Hornets have not many players left with contracts. They are Okafor, McGee, Yi Jianlian, Harris, Butler, Clay and Thomas Jr. if they are full.

Lowry's contract expired this year, and he did not choose to renew his contract with the Hornets. He chose to test the waters in the free market, and Li Ran did not keep him.

Although there are not many people, they are all real players with immediate combat power and potential.

This year's free market is also full of big fish. Both James and Anthony announced that they would jump out of their contracts. These are two FMVPs.

Who will they end up with? On the bright side, there is a peaceful alliance, but there is already an undercurrent surging in the dark.

And there are many other big fish, Eric Bledsoe, Marcin Gortat, Gordon Hayward, Greg Monroe, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nor Wicki, Paul Pierce, Zach Randolph, Lance Stephenson, Paul Gasol and others are all very good players.

In addition, although there are several players who are free agents, they have basically determined their choices, such as renewing their contracts with the team or finding a new home, or retiring.

This includes Tim Duncan, Andre Kirilenko, Kobe Bryant, Wade, Bosh, Luol Deng and others.

But before the draft, Li Ran received a call from an acquaintance.

"What? You want to retire too?"

Li Ran said in surprise while holding the phone.

"Wait a minute, don't worry, isn't it just an injury? I think you still have fuel in your fuel tank. Why don't you come to the Hornets for two years, and I'll take you to get a championship ring."

"What? Are you sure? Don't make trouble. I am bound to the championship. I will definitely win the championship next year at the latest. If I can't win the championship this year, can I play in person next year?"

"That's it, I'll give you a two-year maximum salary."

"No? It's alright brother, you're saving me money. Well, I'll ask Li Ning to send you an endorsement contract later."

Li Ran hung up the phone, sat on the sofa and let out a long breath.

The call just now was from Yao Ming.

In this life, Dayao, with the help of Li Ran, his career has been much smoother than in his previous life. However, the Lakers have never passed the Grizzlies in the West. The only time they entered the finals was this year, and it was also because of Kobe and Yao Ming. He was injured successively and lost to the Heat's Big Three.

Since his career was different from his previous life, Li Ran felt that it was a pity that Yao Ming would retire like this.

It just so happens that the Hornets have a lot of salary space this year, so it's better to let Yao Ming come to the Hornets to see if they can win a championship.

After all, Yao Ming's strength is still there.

However, when Li Ran offered to offer Yao Ming a two-year maximum salary, Yao Ming himself refused.

He only asked for a two-year veteran's minimum salary contract.

This made Li Ran very emotional.

As expected of a well-known player with high emotional intelligence, Yao Ming seemed to have vaguely guessed some of the relationship between Li Ran and the Hornets.

Moreover, Yao Ming wants a veteran's basic salary, so the Hornets have more salary space to strengthen the team.

"Li Ran, we have enough salary space this year, should we try to sign James?"

Cole asked Li Ran this before the draft.

Li Ran shook his head without hesitation.

"Steve, the Hornets are my team now, not the No. 6 Heat team. I don't want anyone to challenge my authority on the team."

Cole nodded with a smile.

The relationship between Li Ran and James has never been harmonious, and the two have fought many times, both openly and secretly.

"Just focus on the draft. The team's goal next season is the finals."

The Hornets' draft picks this year are the No. 18 pick in the first round and the No. 35 pick in the second round. The second round pick is an addition to a previous transaction.

For Li Ran, these two lottery slots are enough.

On June 6th, at Madison Square Garden, Li Ran once again represented the Hornets at the draft conference.

Cole took the uniform team to see who Li Ran's target is this year.

He was very curious, because as long as Li Ran made a move to select a rookie, no matter how high or low the pick was, there would be no parallel imports.

There is still some time before the start of the draft, and Li Ran is waiting.

He looked back at the knight, the knight uniform team was nervously talking on the phone.

A deal that will shake up the entire league is coming.

"In the 2014 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Andrew Wiggins from the University of Kansas with the first pick in the first round."

Tan Huimin said with a smile on the stage.

The reason why Stern chose Tan Huimin instead of the more well-known bald man as his successor is also due to Li Ran.

This is one of the conditions for his comeback.

Only after losing Li Ran, Stern knew how much the NBA had lost.

It was the last thing Stern did for the league before retiring.

Wiggins came to the stage with a smirk, put on his knight hat, and greeted the audience's applause.

Only Li Ran sighed.

Brother Gouqi is strong, but because of some decisions made by some people, he became one of the few champions in NBA history who was just picked and traded without even playing a game.

In the previous life, after James decided to return to the Cavaliers, he once said that he wanted to play with Irving, Varejao, Thompson and West.

But there is no Wiggins name.

This also makes Wiggins a bargaining chip in the trade of Love.

The specific reason is that Wiggins did not choose to sign with James' agency.

James is without a doubt the best businessman playing basketball on the entire planet.

In the second round, the Bucks selected Jabari Parker.

Embiid was selected by the number three overall as in his previous life.

The draft is going on little by little.

(End of this chapter)