So I am the god of basketball?

Chapter 129 This "Butterfly Effect" is getting more and more interesting

The labor disputes in 95, including the labor disputes in 98, and the league lockout in 2011, are all pains that a league must go through. It was also during these travails that the NBA became more and more standardized.

At this time, the NBA can actually see from Ewing's contract that there are still many bugs. Basically, the team and the players can sign whatever they want.

The main reason for labor disputes is that the league is making more and more money!

89年NBA签下了新的转播合同，4年6.01亿，而后93年他们又签下了新的转播合同4.89亿！

The price of this broadcast contract in 89 was 10 times that of the previous one!

Just like after the new broadcast contract in 2012, a 3-million-yuan contract became the "standard package for All-Stars." It is the same now. In this era when the maximum salary is only more than 6.01 million, the -dollar broadcast contract is too much.

The bosses are richer, which makes the players more bold when asking for contracts!

It is on this basis that the trend of rookies asking for tens of millions of dollars in contracts arose.

Ewing's tens of millions of annual salary became the trigger.

If everyone in the next group has the same annual salary of tens of millions as Ewing, then if they finally get some money, won't it all go into the pockets of the players?

This is what these bosses don't want to see.

Negotiation is imperative!

Before the negotiations, the 95 draft was just around the corner.

This is a rather embarrassing draft.

The quality of the previous drafts in 93/94 was very high, and then there were high-quality drafts like 96/97.

Sandwiched between these four drafts, n years later, everyone only remembers the 95 draft, Kevin Garnett. As for the other players from the 95 draft, I can't remember any of them.

But in terms of honors, there was indeed such a regular season MVP player in 95.

Others have not reached the level of "historical superstars".

But as far as this era is concerned, the 95 draft can still be regarded as a "draft year" of very good quality!

The first pick in the first round was Joe Smith.

As the future famous "wandering No. 1 pick", Smith's talent is actually very good.

Born at the University of Maryland, he has a very good offensive ability with the ball and is a "jack of all trades" on the offensive end. To put it simply, he and Kevin Garnett are regarded as the two old enemies of the "95 generation".

The media generally see that these two players with similar styles and similar bodies will become representatives of the "95 generation" in the future.

Smith almost did it. He originally contributed 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in his rookie season. If he hadn't been involved in the "yin and yang contract", his performance would not have plummeted.

It is worth mentioning that he was originally selected by the Golden State Warriors.

This time, because Chris Webber and the "mad scientist" didn't have a falling out, the Warriors didn't fail, and they made it to the playoffs. So this time the "No. 1 pick" does not belong to the Warriors, but to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Smith's draft prospects have not changed at all. He is still recognized as the "number one pick" in this class.

Just from the Warriors to the Clippers, Meng Lang didn't feel that the "butterfly effect" he caused could change the career of this "No. 1 pick". The reason is also very simple:

The crumbling Warriors are not a patient team, so Smith was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers after only playing for the Warriors for two years. This is a key node. Smith is a player who can only perform with the ball in his hands. He couldn't adapt to the team's system without the ball, and it was only after that that the Timberwolves got a chance to pick up the slack;

Compared with the Warriors, the Clippers' patience is not much better, and their ability to train new players is even worse. Now it depends on how much the Clippers trade Smith, and... whether they will trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers!

If Smith can go to a team that continues to give him the ball and doesn't give the Timberwolves a chance to miss, that will really change his destiny.

However, due to the change in the lottery, the original second pick in the first round became the number one pick, and other lottery picks also changed accordingly. This caused the change in the fate of the "95 generation" and it was not just Joe Johnson. one person.

The second pick in the first round became the originally fourth-place Washington Bullets. They did not choose Rasheed Wallace as originally, but chose Antonio McDyess.

The third pick in the first round was the Philadelphia 76ers, who took Michael Jordan's "schoolboy" Jerry Stackhouse.

Meng Lang also watched the live broadcast of this "draft". When he saw Stackhouse coming on the court, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth:

The fun guy is here!

This buddy said "I'm not afraid of Jordan", which opened the curtain of "North Carolina seniors never bully juniors".

The reason why Meng Lang laughed was not just because of the dispute between this guy and Jordan.

It's because of what Stoudemire said in an interview before the game against Duke in January this year: "If I had been born two years earlier, North Carolina would never have been reversed by Duke in the Finals!"

Then in the game against Duke, he completed a reflexive dunk that escaped two blocks and was named "the best dunk in UNC history."

This made him famous.

Became the favorite in the 95 draft.

Meng Lang naturally held back his energy and wanted to teach this kind of "arrogant person" who was trying to take advantage of his traffic.

Ok……

Although he also took advantage of Jordan's traffic back then!

but……

Meng Lang admitted that this is how "petty" people are.

Not only does he hold grudges, but he also has "double standards"!

However, if you really want to say it, he did take advantage of Jordan's traffic, but doesn't Jordan also have a score to settle with him?

It's the same now, he also has scores to settle with Stackhouse.

Stackhouse didn't know that he had already been marked by Meng Lang and Jordan before he entered the door. Wearing a Philadelphia 76ers cap, he was extremely happy. His smile was so sweet that it made people doubt that he was a "Sugar Man".

It really echoes MacArthur’s words:

Candy and cannonballs, who knows what will come next?

The fourth pick in the first round was originally supposed to belong to the Washington Bullets, but now belongs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Even with the addition of Bob Hurley, the Timberwolves failed to embark on the road to revival under the leadership of the "Duke duo".

It can be seen that there are differences between "Duke celebrities" and "Duke celebrities".

Compared with the "Duke celebrities" selected by Detroit and Orlando, the two selected by the Timberwolves are really not good.

This summer, the Timberwolves' management made changes after consecutive failed talent selections. McHale entered the Timberwolves' management, temporarily equivalent to the status of assistant general manager, but also participated in the draft.

He suggested that the Timberwolves draft Kevin Garnett!

As he said when chatting with Meng Lang two years ago, Kevin Garnett finally decided to participate in the draft as a high school student.

Not just because of the money, well, just because of the money!

Kevin Garnett is a typical person I want "money", "fame" and "team performance".

The Timberwolves' "yin and yang contract" is actually because of his six-year 6 million. After signing this contract, the league directly entered the "1.26 lockout phase." After various regulations were released, the Timberwolves' salary space was not enough.

6 million in 1.26 years is an exaggeration. Let’s put it this way. In 04, Kevin Garnett renewed his contract with the team and signed a 5-year, 1 million contract. From 98 to 04, the league’s salary The cap has been increasing, but after six years of increase, the league's maximum salary has not yet reached the price that Kevin Garnett signed with the team in 6...

It's just such a person who licks his face and tells LeBron, "Don't let your loyalty hurt you."

To be fair, with a contract like this where one person accounts for 50% to 60% of the salary cap, let alone the Timberwolves, even in Los Angeles, Kevin Garnett still achieves nothing!

So when Adidas slapped the sneaker contract in front of him and told him that as long as you participate in the draft now, you can get this contract immediately, can Kevin Garnett not be tempted?

Before officially announcing his participation in this year's draft, Garnett had a phone call with Meng Lang. Meng Lang actually didn't give him any advice because he knew Kevin Garnett had his own ideas. But regarding this phone call, Kevin Garnett mentioned this at least 20 times from April to the current June draft:

"Dream, tell me and let me do what I want!"

"He knows my abilities. Since he thinks I can participate in this year's draft, then I must have such abilities!"

“I have confidence in myself, and I am even more confident in Dream’s evaluation!”…

In this way, Kevin Garnett branded himself with the label of "Dream Approval".

This label is quite popular in the draft market.

Garnett quickly became the "big favorite" in this year's draft. ——Of course, Meng Lang knows very well that even without the "dream approved" label, Kevin Garnett is still very promising in the 95 draft market. It's just that the "Future Wolf King" himself has no confidence in himself.

His plan to plot against Meng Lang would only become evidence of "Meng Lang's vision" in the end.

and……

He labeled himself "Meng Lang's disciple" so strongly that Meng Lang had nothing to object to.

Sometimes, it is really "the cleverness is mistaken for the cleverness".

He thought he was doing a good job, but in fact others got more than he did.

However, there is a reason why he is so careful.

There is no example in the history of the NBA draft of high school students participating in the draft.

As explained before, Sean Kemp is not a serious high school student, he just did not go to undergraduate college. As for Moses Malone, he should be regarded as the first high school student in the ABA. Moreover, it was a long time ago. When Moses Malone was selected, Meng Lang had just been born and had no reference value.

Anyone who is the first to eat crabs will always have many concerns.

Kevin Garnett also wants to make his path smoother.

This is similar to the ancient Chinese practice of "promoting filial piety and integrity". If someone endorses someone, he will be able to rise to prominence. The more talented the person who endorses, the more prosperous his official career will be.

After Kevin Garnett was selected, he looked very excited. After all, he had made history.

Meng Lang originally planned to turn off the TV the moment he watched Kevin Garnett be selected, but David Stern announced the next name and asked him to wait for a while:

"With the fifth overall pick in the first round of 1995, the Detroit Pistons selected Rasheer Wallace, from the University of North Carolina!"

The future "Roaring God" has joined forces with Hill?

This……

Meng Lang vaguely remembered that the Pistons selected Theo Ratliff, the future "blocking king" this year.

In addition, the Pistons also have the shooter Houston...

This time, Hill may be able to get rid of the title of "first-round virgin" with the Pistons, right?

No, how come the Pistons have the fifth pick in the first round this year?

Meng Lang remembered that the Pistons did have two first-round picks this season, but they were both very low.

Although the Pistons did have the fourth-worst record last season.

However, considering that the Golden State Warriors did not mess up this time, and therefore did not get the "No. 1 pick", which caused the "top five pick" protection signs signed by the Pistons and other teams to be triggered, it is not impossible. Possible things.

Isn’t that how they will get the second pick in the next 03 year!

And, these are not the most important.

More importantly, the Pistons now have this lineup:

Hill, Houston, Rasheed Wallace and Ratliff!

Like Hardaway, Hill was influenced by Meng Lang and began to pay attention to shooting earlier. He spent a lot of time on shooting in the last two years of college, which means that he will develop stable shooting earlier.

Rasheed Wallace is known as the "Roaring God", but judging from the trajectory of his career, he is a typical "environmental supporter". In a "prison team" like the Portland Trail Blazers, If his teammates mess up, he will mess up too.

But when he arrived at the Pistons, he met Larry Brown and a group of good brothers who wanted to win the championship, and he became the most versatile big man in the league in those years!

This time when he arrives at the prosperous Pistons, with "gentlemen" like Hill and Houston around him, he may become a "big bodyguard" that is praised by everyone.

From the perspective of attributes and functions, Rasheed Wallace is also very compatible with this team...

"Oh my God!"

Looking through the Pistons' lineup, Meng Lang also saw a name:

Joe Dumas!

I almost forgot that this "combo guard" hasn't retired yet.

In other words, the Pistons’ likely lineup for the new season will be:

Dumars, Houston, Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Ratliff.

This lineup...

Does Hill look like a less critical version of Billups with slightly worse organizational skills but enhanced personal offense and passing ability?

Is it totally okay for Houston to replace Hamilton?

Dumars' defensive ability and his all-around skills are not exaggerated to say that he is a "weakened version of defense and enhanced offensive version" of Prince, right?

Before Ratliff was injured, he was definitely a defensive warrior only slightly weaker than Ben Wallace. After all, he was a two-time "All-Defensive Team" player and a three-time "Block Champion".

Plus Rasheed Wallace…

Did the Pistons' "Popular Five" come out so early?

The only thing you need to worry about may be one question:

The Pistons' head coach is Doug Collins.

Well, that's the head coach who immediately won three championships in the next four years after being replaced by the Bulls.

However, Michael Jordan still missed him very much. Later, he came back with the Wizards and called him to be the head coach of the Wizards.

His specialty is that he is very obedient, not that he is very good at getting along with superstars.

It's a pity that he doesn't have his own coaching theory and can't label the team with his own Collins label.

The gap between him and Chuck Daly may be that much.

He is also a head coach who can get along with all kinds of players. Chuck Daly's ability to use players is not comparable to Collins.

Don't think that Larry Brown, a head coach who only knows defense, can coach the "Five Tigers" and the Pistons can win the championship. Collins is now coaching the Pistons, which is very likely to become the first generation of the "Five Tigers" and can also bring results.

You know, before Larry Brown took over, the head coach of the Pistons was Rick Carlisle. He sorted out the Pistons almost before letting Larry Brown pick the peach.

Moreover, Larry Brown's insistence on defense is also very consistent with the characteristics of the Pistons.

Fortunately, it will take time for this "first-generation Pistons Five" to grow, and a head coach of Collins' level will not delay things.

Meng Lang looked at the changes in the Pistons and was very excited:

This "butterfly effect" is getting more and more interesting!

He expects more changes!

(End of this chapter)