When pride still matters

Chapter 463 Sooner or later one day

The reason why the 2009 free agent market is called the largest in history is because many unrestricted superstars entered the free market.

James, Kobe, Bosh, Boozer, Stoudemire, Hamilton, Kidd and Ray Allen all became free agents.

When it was revealed that Bosh was going to join the SuperSonics, the response from the outside world was huge.

Because the Sonics have just finished defending their championship, their core lineup is intact. If they add a top-four star power forward in the league on this basis, it will greatly increase their probability of winning three consecutive championships.

For a time, Bosh became the focus.

Many people want to verify the authenticity of Mark Stein’s revelations. Although he is Yu Fei's mouthpiece, this does not mean that his information is 100% accurate.

However, Bosh is very interesting.

A reporter got the opportunity to interview him and wanted to know whether the news of him joining the SuperSonics was true.

And Bosh replied: "I can't say anything until it happens."

"If you get injured because of this ball, not only will you lose the draft, you will also not be able to play abroad." Yu Fei said.

He was told by his agent that no NBA team was interested in him and he should be prepared to lose the draft.

Bosh was tired of scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds every night in Toronto and leading the team to a first-round exit.

He simply felt familiar with the name.

The team that just won two consecutive championships has strengthened the fourth position while the core position remains unchanged. This is definitely terrible news.

Today is the last day of trial training.

At the time, he was shooting a cover for GQ magazine.

His advantage is that his athletic ability is at the NBA level and he is a great threat in rotating offenses, but other than that, he has no obvious advantages. The shooting is not good, the defense works hard but the effect is not good.

What sets the Spurs management apart from GMs of other teams is that they attach great importance to the mental health of their players.

From that day on, Bosh's agent rejected calls from various teams.

Two days before the draft, Yu flew to the Furtado Center for a walk.

Ji grabbed Yu Fei's hand and stood up and said: "A hungry dog ​​has no right to pick and choose. I have to grab meat to eat."

The thing is, he's really trying hard.

Later, Yu Fei was also caught by reporters in Los Angeles.

Looking at all NBA teams, which team is more likely to win the championship than the SuperSonics?

At the end of June, Yu Fei returned to Seattle.

"What? Do you already know that Chris is going to play the Tyrannosaurus rex in the fourth part of "Jurassic Park"?"

Even without official news, the teams knew that Stein's news was true.

Yu Fei's shocking rhetorical question stunned the reporter.

Presti locked down Mills, but he couldn't hang himself from a tree either.

What's more, Bosh had already hinted at Fei when he was on the Dream Team.

A Los Angeles reporter asked: "Fry, are the Chris Bosh rumors true?"

This is a mutually beneficial and win-win decision.

One is his speed, he may be the fastest player in this class. The second is his scoring ability. Although it is impossible to 100% reproduce the college-level offense in the NBA, if he can adapt to the intensity of the NBA, he must be a good substitute scorer. Finally, there is his psychological maturity.

Yu Fei has never seen anyone dare to fly to save the ball in the trial training.

Instead of struggling alone in Canada, it is better to find a competitive team to increase the probability of winning the championship.

Because their draft pick is too low, it is impossible to ensure that they can really wait for the person they want.

Now the Sonics have space, Bosh has the will, and Yu Fei welcomes it.

Therefore, he can only work hard in trials.

"Well said," Yu Fei smiled, "I will remember you."

When Ji flew out of bounds in front of Yu Fei and saved the ball, Yu Fei extended his hand to him.

Mature psychology is a plus for them, and such people usually do not bring the problems they encounter in life to the team.

Not long ago, the Sonics officially tried out sophomore guard Patty Mills from St. Mary's College.

In other words, the two sides hit it off.

On the trial list, the only one who made a slight impression on Yu Fei was Nando De Colo from France.

Ji didn't know what it meant to be remembered by someone like Yu Fei.

Bosh is about to join the Sonics.

Although it has not been made public, Yu Fei's recruitment of Bosh went smoothly.

Mills had three characteristics that impressed Presti.

However, the player who impressed him the most was Alonzo Gee SG/SF from the University of Alabama.

In addition to Mills, Presti also considered Patrick Beverley as a potential backup.

He has no advantage other than physical prowess, and even his physical prowess won't be impressive if he doesn't work hard.

Fight, this is how mediocre people climb up.

Two days later, on June 6, the 26 NBA Draft was held at Madison Square Garden.

This is undoubtedly a frustrating draft. At a glance, there is no talented player in sight.

The Clippers, who hold the No. 1 pick, are trying to trade the pick for an All-Star, but except for the Heat, who are willing to offer McGrady in exchange for the No. 1 pick, other teams are not interested.

But although the Clippers want to trade the No. 1 pick, they don't want to trade a superficial star player like McGrady who is old and fragile.

Therefore, he would rather use the No. 1 pick himself.

Not surprisingly, the Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the first pick.

Subsequently, the Kings used the second pick to select Hasheem Thabeet, who has the highest talent ceiling in this class.

The Timberwolves hold the No. 3 pick. They are a team that has accumulated raw talent to a certain extent. Russell Westbrook performed well in his rookie season. Although Oden after his comeback is far less amazing than Durant in his rookie year, he still has good performance. Rookie year.

With a young core both inside and outside, they want to use the third pick in exchange for a veteran who can help the young people grow.

The Heat once again brought out Tracy McGrady to tease him.

This time, the Timberwolves were tempted.

Although Tracy McGrady is old and disabled, he is no longer the number one player in the Eastern Conference at the beginning of the century. However, although Lao Deng is old, he is still useful. He averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season. He can be used to control Westbrook's Wen. It is appropriate for Auden to feed the young people with bread and lead them forward.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement.

Yu Fei was at home when the incident happened.

He had to sigh that Riley knew how to play.

Wade was already on the verge of breaking the defense last season, with an attitude of "If you don't give me reinforcements, I'm going to moisturize." But Riley is such a person. He has never seen anything like this. It can be seen at a glance that Wade is imitating Kobe to advance. In order to retreat, I didn't want to leave, and I didn't want to bring young people with me, so I forced the team to replace a star.

Riley did as he was told, and when McGrady was replaced, Wade readily cut his salary and renewed his contract.

However, just after the season, Riley traded McGrady.

What happens next will completely change Yu Fei's perception of the NBA in the 2010s.

"In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Stephen Curry from Davidson College!"

Those who change the times will inevitably cause changes in the timeline.

Yu Fei's butterfly effect made Durant the No. 2007 pick in the draft, allowing small balls to arrive early, and three-pointers became a fashionable skill that should have been difficult to enter with the shackles of Mohammed Rauf. Curry in the NBA is now the embodiment of the answer.

For Riley, who started exploring the answer to the version early, this is a destiny child not to be missed.

For Curry, he avoided being stuck in the trash early in his career and went to a team that fully understood his strengths. But the Heat's training intensity is well known, and it's hard to say how long Curry can persist.

Yu Fei could predict that Curry would set off a hurricane in Miami, but now he wants to know more about Wade's psychological shadow.

Then, not knowing what they were missing out on, the Golden State Warriors selected Tyreke Evans with the fourth pick.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Ricky Rubio with the fifth pick.

Then, it was the turn of the Rockets, who failed halfway but were lucky enough to win the No. 6 pick.

The timeline was suddenly revised.

They selected the destined James Harden, which means that next season Yu Fei will see a dream scene that Rockets fans have never seen in his previous life - Harden and Yao Wei playing side by side.

Subsequently, DeMar DeRozan was selected by the Knicks.

Jrue Holiday, the first post-90s generation in NBA history, was selected by the Nets.

Brandon Jennings was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers.

One person after another was selected, and the Sonics waited painfully.

When he reached the fourth pick in the second round, Presti's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Patrick Beverley was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers.

In this way, he came all the way to the 29th pick in the second round.

Just when Presti thought Patty Mills was theirs, the Miami Heat used cash to buy Patty Mills from the Lakers in the second round.

At that moment, the air in the Sonics draft war room became a little murky.

They are not heartbroken.

After all, this is only the 30th pick in the second round.

However, what happened in the past few hours made their many days of trial training in vain, and even these few hours of waiting became meaningless.

"This teaches us a lesson," George Karl said, holding back a laugh. "If you can spend a million dollars to improve your draft stock, you have to spend it."

Presti asked, “Any recommendations?”

"Fry liked Alabama's Alonzo Gee," one staffer said.

Presti immediately thought of this person, but this person did not show any advantages in the trial training, but his shortcomings were obvious.

However, what does the 30th pick in the second round ask for so much?

"Is he still there?" Presti said in a tone that sounded like he was asking a hospice patient.

"Still."

"OK," Presti said, "that's him."

※※※

Alonzo Gee was prepared to go undrafted.

His family was by his side, and every time the people on the stage said a pick, the people cheering him on became a little more anxious.

The wait behind the draft table is torture for those who are waiting to be drafted and those who expect him to be drafted.

"It's okay, Zoe, there are many outstanding NBA players who have not been selected." Key's mother comforted, "You still have many opportunities."

"I know, Mom."

When the league's vice president took the stage and announced: "Now I will announce the final pick of this year's 2009 NBA Draft, the Seattle SuperSonics."

Seattle?
That face and those words came to Key's mind.

I remember you.
The voice appeared in Key's mind, and then—

"The Sonics selected Alonzo Gee with the 30th pick in the second round from the University of Alabama!"

The 30th pick in the second round is the last pick in the draft, but as long as he is selected, it proves that for at least one night, you have been recognized by the highest hall of basketball as a basketball player.

Key's family members screamed with excitement, and her mother burst into tears.

And Alonzo Key still recalled what that man said to him in his mind.

I remember you.

Key will always remember these words, and sooner or later, he will say to that God-like man: "You have not remembered me in vain."

(End of this chapter)