When pride still matters

Chapter 329 This is everything

"With the joining of local players like Brandon, maybe he can change the destiny of the Sonics."

"Change the fate of the Sonics?"

Yu Fei looked at Trem and wanted to know where these words came from.

"You know Howard Schultz (Supersonics owner) has been trying to sell the team in recent years, right?" Traim asked.

Yu Fei nodded, this news had always been there, it was just thunder but no rain.

"Recently, Schultz has been actively negotiating with the Oklahoma investor group," Traim said. "Although there are still many details that have not been agreed upon, I feel that the SuperSonics will soon change ownership."

This is what Yu Fei already knows.

The Sonics became the Thunder of the future.

Although he doesn't know exactly what year the Sonics moved, he can use the process of elimination to figure it out.

Many people looked at Roy differently as a result, including Michael Jordan, who was drafting remotely in Charlotte.

Yu Fei returned to Seattle in a low-key manner, and after meeting Roy, both of them felt a little emotional.

The Bobcats have the third pick in this year's first round, and Jordan has two options.

One is to choose Bird II Adam Morrison, and the other is to take a risk and select Roy, whom he actually likes very much, but who is not worth it with the third pick.

"It's difficult," Traim said, "but at least it can give people hope. If he rises as quickly as you do, he may be able to bring considerable profits to the Sonics, and then the Sonics may be able to stay in Seattle."

Jordan liked Roy's maturity, toughness and versatility.

Westbrook was a rookie in 2008. Yu Fei has looked at his career data and found that he has never played a game for the SuperSonics.

Therefore, the timeline for the Supersonic relocation can basically be determined to be between 2007 and 2008.

But taking Roy with the No. 3 pick would be a waste.

Because what he and Trem said are things in the future. Now, the SuperSonics are still in Seattle, and Schultz is still the owner of the team. Although he wants to sell the team, he has not yet reached an agreement. The Sonics aren't going anywhere until he actually sells the team.

Yu Fei came to the Little Green House with his family as a member of Roy's group of relatives and friends, which caused a shock on the scene.

6 April

Madison Square Garden

Harden was a rookie in 2009, but he has been a Thunder player since his debut.

Traim said: "The only reason Schultz bought the Sonics was because he felt the profits from running the team were limited, and the investment group from Oklahoma really wanted to move the team to their hometown. Last year The Hornets lost their home court to Hurricane Katrina and their games in Oklahoma were well-received, and the league and merchants saw a market there."

A few years ago, when James participated in the draft, Yu Fei only came to the scene to help out, but did not sit next to James. Because they are not that close.

Yu Fei didn't ask any more questions.

Yu Fei asked again: "Do you think Brandon can change this?"

Few people knew about the relationship between Yu Fei and Roy, and they never expected that he would directly become a member of Roy's family and friends.

Six years ago, they were chatting about basketball at Roy's house. Now, Yu Fei is the most famous basketball player in the world, and Roy is about to realize his dream.

"Will they move the team?" Yu Fei asked knowingly.

Now, seeing Yu Fei appear in Roy's group of relatives and friends, Jordan quickly threw Roy into the trash can with a kind of disgust driven out by pure hatred.

"We don't need this hick with health risks!" Jordan said, "We don't need him!"

Bobcats general manager and head coach Bernie Bickerstaff asked, "Who do we pick?"

"Adam Morrison."

Hearing the name gave Bickerstaff a tingling feeling.

Not only because almost all Bird IIs since the 80s have died in infancy, but also because Jordan's reason for giving up Roy was "health risks."

Yes, Roy has health concerns, but concerns represent potential risks, and Morrison has a public concern - he has diabetes.

So is the injury concern really the reason why Jordan gave up on Roy? Why couldn't he be more frank and say directly, "I hate this idiot who calls Da Fei a brother"?

In fact, even without Yu Fei, Jordan would still choose Morrison.

He believed in his first instinct just as he believed that both Yu Fei and Kwame Brown could become talents.

Although Brown did not meet expectations, with Yu Fei, who far exceeded expectations, Jordan trusted his own insight even more.

He trusted his first instinct.

Jordan fell in love with Morrison when he saw him burst into tears after his last college game ended by one goal. He believes in the possibility of a man who can shed tears over a game, allowing him to ignore all negatives, the curse of Bird II? diabetes? A soft guy who can dunk at will when he plays? These are just minor obstacles.

Then, the draft begins.

It's an open secret that the Raptors, with the No. 1 pick, want Andrea Bargnani.

Ironically, in the entire lottery, only the Raptors would select Bargnani if ​​they got the No. 1 pick.

Therefore, the Raptors tried to trade down, but did not receive a satisfactory offer.

Just before the Raptors made their decision, Yu Fei suddenly received a call from the team.

He's on vacation right now and doesn't have his public phone with him, but the team has his personal phone.

They don't call unless something urgent happens.

"I'll take a call." Yu Fei said to Roy.

"Charlotte may choose me." Roy said, "Don't miss it."

Yu Fei snorted: "That bald donkey can't possibly choose you."

"Anyway, hurry up."

Yu Fei waved and came to the corridor and answered the phone: "What happened?"

The caller was George Karl, and he said, "Frye, we may not be able to draft Kyle Lowry."

Yu Fei frowned. No matter how high Lowry's draft pick is, it cannot be higher than the 20th pick. What does it mean that he can't be selected?

"why?"

Karl said something that almost made Yu Fei unable to recover: "Because we may get the No. 2 pick."

"Wang Defa?"

"It's true, we are talking to Chicago." Carr said excitedly, "This year's top rookies are all big men, but Chicago doesn't need big men because they have already reached a verbal agreement with Big Ben."

What does the No. 2006 pick in mean?

LaMarcus Aldridge!

Is it really possible?

"What's the price?" Yu Fei asked.

"There are a few options right now," Carr said. "Danny and the 2007 Kings first-round pick (from the Ray Allen trade). Kevin and our two future first-round picks, and using Trae Waugh, Zaza, Pence and the 2007 Knicks first-round pick (from the Michael Redd trade).”

"what?"

Yu Fei automatically ignored the plans of Granger and Martin, who belonged to the Bucks' real estate.

But the last option is Pachulia + Penny + Ariza + the 2007 Knicks first round?

"Can Trevor stay?"

Yu Fei asked directly.

"No." Karl said, "Trevor is the core of this deal. Like the Knicks' first-round pick in 2007, it is the basis of the deal."

Ariza is the most compatible with Yu Fei among all the young people in the Bucks.

Martin also has a good relationship with him, but Martin is usually too reserved, while Ariza is the kind of very caring Maboy.

Now, after two years, Ariza has gradually developed from a rough guy to a defensive lock on the wing. His shooting is still developing, but he has already shown 3D potential.

It’s like a nurturing game that’s about to succeed.

However, taking down Aldridge will make the Bucks impeccable both inside and outside.

"I understand." Yu Fei said softly, "Let's make a decision that is beneficial to the future of the team."

Yu Fei pressed the phone, feeling disappointed that the team was about to lose Ariza, but Stern walked out.

He has just announced the candidate for the No. 1 pick, and now, he has to announce the candidate for the No. 2 pick.

"The Chicago Bulls selected LaMarcus Aldridge in the 2006 NBA Draft.!!!"

The Garden scene erupted with harsh boos, and it wasn't that New Yorkers hated Aldridge.

It's because Aldridge should have been drafted by the Knicks.

The Bulls used the Knicks' draft pick.

But this year, the Knicks' record is not ideal, and they gave the Bulls the second pick.

Speaking of which, the 2007 first-round pick that the Bulls asked for from the Bucks also came from the Knicks, and there is a high probability that it will become a lottery pick.

So, in the final analysis, this is all related to the Knicks. It was the Knicks' cool moves that gave the Bucks a chance to change their situation.

Aldridge walked on stage and embraced Stern, wondering what his fate would be.

Yu Fei is back.

Roy asked, "Is everything okay?"

Yu Fei smiled and said, "That's all good. Is it your turn next?"

"It's possible," Roy said. "Michael likes me."

Then, the Bobcats drafted Adam Morrison.

Later, just as the draft simulation predictions of major websites, Roy was not selected by the top four teams, but was selected by the hometown team Seattle SuperSonics with the fifth overall pick.

Roy took the stage wearing an ugly suit and an ill-matched pale yellow tie, with tears in his eyes. After hugging Stern, he accepted an interview with Greg Sager.

"Brandon, what does it mean to you to be drafted by your hometown?"

Roy is not Yu Fei, nor James, nor those who boast. A few years ago, no one cared about him, but now he has become a lottery pick in his hometown. This is like a fairy tale, it is incredible.

The No. 5 pick, who loves his hometown and has a humble personality, sincerely faced the camera and said: "Everything."

This is what people who have a family can say, this is what people who are proud of their hometown can say. Roy has only one root in this world, and that is Seattle. Now that he has a closer connection with his roots, he wants to devote everything to it, because this is the only lucky thing in a million.

That's all.

(End of this chapter)