So I am the god of basketball?

Chapter 67 Even if Meng Lang is 22 years old...

Bleacher Report reveals more inside scoop on the deal:
  "At the same time that the Magic made an offer, the Rockets and Lakers were also making an offer to the Timberwolves management, hoping to snatch the fourth pick in the first round from them."

"The Rockets' offer is for Vernon Maxwell plus Otis Thorpe and next year's first-round pick; the Lakers' offer is for Thaler Slater and their No. 12 pick in this year's first round. .”

"It is said that the original goals of the Rockets and Lakers were also Meng Lang!"

As an authoritative media outlet, Bleacher Report’s sources have always been of high quality.

So the doubts turned into surprises.

Another offer list from the Magic: Scott Scales plus a first-round pick was also revealed by them.

The choice of the Timberwolves management made many experts say they couldn't understand it.

The Rockets' offer is full of sincerity. Maxwell's average of 13.8 points per game this season has indeed declined compared to the previous two seasons, but he still has a 33.2% three-point shooting rate. He is a powerful three-point shooter. .

Otis Thorpe averaged 12.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season. His data was also not as good as the previous two seasons, but his condition improved in the playoffs.

Personalities aside, these two are both great puzzle pieces that are very easy to use.

The Lakers' offer is also full of temptation. Thadler Slater averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season. He is the Lakers' "scoring leader", "assist leader" and "steal leader". The last Laker to do this was Magic Johnson.

He has absolute credit for the Lakers' ability to reach the playoffs this season.

Not to mention the Magic's Scott Skiles, who ranks third in assists per game this season!
  These players are actually used to steal Meng Lang's bargaining chips...

The Timberwolves actually don't want any of them!

You deserve it. You haven't made it to the playoffs in 4 years since you entered the league. What a bunch of "pig heads" you are!
  Not to mention other fans, Minnesota fans broke the defense.

When the Timberwolves were first established, Minnesotans were full of hope for it.

The city originally had an NBA team.

The Lakers, one of the two giants in the league, came out of Minnesota.

The first championship in the history of the Lakers was also won in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota.

This is why the Lakers did not retire George Mikan's jersey until his death.

George Mikan has always believed that the Lakers' orthodoxy lies in Minnesota.

He also took the lead in building the Timberwolves.

This should be a proud city.

As a result, four years later, the city's second team is still in a state of disarray.

They understand the management's intention in selecting the draft pick, which is to bet their hopes on the future.

Can……

I've been gambling for four years, isn't it enough?

How long are you going to bet on?

In fact, until 2023, even though the Timberwolves' management is no longer the same group of people, outrageous operations have continued.

Let’s not talk about the “yin and yang contract” in 98. Not to mention Jimmy Butler, who took the team into the playoffs as soon as the trade was completed. Later, in order to get Gobert, he directly exchanged 10 for 1, giving away 5 That deal with the first-round draft pick was the real mistake!

Not to mention the performance of this team after acquiring Gobert, the five first-round picks in this transaction alone were more than enough to replace a regular season MVP in previous years.

When Allen Iverson went to the Nuggets in 05, the 76ers only got two first-round picks.

They are really a bunch of "geniuses"!
  People who can understand the purpose of their choice are basically thinking in the same way as them.

McHale was the only member of the Timberwolves management team to make a mark in the years to come. Kevin Garnett became the regular season MVP in his hands, and later gave the Timberwolves a bunch of chips when he left.

The good news is that McHale has now entered the Timberwolves front office.

Meng Lang was not surprised that the Lakers wanted to choose him. He was more surprised that the Rockets were so interested in him.

Although he received a trial invitation from the Rockets, he refused because their draft pick was too low. In this way, they came up with a plan to grab the fourth pick in the first round.

This……

Talented people do attract bees and butterflies.

Even the "rotten peach blossoms" can't be stopped!

As far as he knows, the current owner of the Rockets is not Alexander, a "miser". Is it possible that this city really has some "red ties"?
  Just wait, your "Chinese Emperor" will come in 9 years!
  hiss~
  When you think about it, it’s really far away!

Contrast these two teams desperate to get their own.

Meng Lang thinks the Magic team is the best result.

Although he knows that the Rockets will win "two consecutive championships" in the next two years.

But don't forget that Vernon Maxwell and Otis Thorpe were both sent out. Thorpe is still the main bargaining chip to obtain the "Glider" in future transactions.

Even if Olajuwon is in this situation, he can still "1 with 3" and win "two consecutive championships" or even "three consecutive championships"...

and then?
  Three years later, Olajuwon was still only 33 years old!
  There was no way he would give up his position willingly.

Among the four major centers, the "Admiral" was so confused by Popovich's PUA that he gave up his core position in a confused manner. The others are not good, they all have the attitude of "As long as I don't die, you will all be concubines".

Is it a matter of subject comparison and competition for the "boss" position?
  Not to mention what kind of trouble will be caused by the time, Meng Lang is really not sure whether they can "cut through the mess quickly" due to the urinary behavior of the Rockets management, and when they will be able to build a reliable lineup for themselves after the trouble.

Kobe Bryant waited three years for Pau Gasol.

What if we really wait another three years and Michael Jordan retires with three consecutive championships, but he still beats the "God of Basketball"?
  As for the "three consecutive championships" that may be won by teaming up with Olajuwon...

It has nothing to do with Jordan.

In this "three consecutive championships", Meng Lang is most likely to win the finals MVP in the last year, and it is easy to cause Olajuwon's dissatisfaction.

Isn't this just "accompanying my little brother"?

The situation of the Lakers is a little more complicated. Even starting from this summer, it took Jerry West 7 years to create an "OK" combination. The chaos he experienced during this process was really consumed by Meng Lang. Sorry.

You can't think that you are the "chosen one". With him joining, the Lakers' transaction will become smoother, right?
  He can give advice, but the question is, can Jerry West listen? Since we have this buff, wouldn’t we be able to find a brighter road in the Magic team?
  At least beating Michael Jordan in the 95 Eastern Conference Finals is a sure thing!

And the Magic's configuration is a perfect fit for him.

His relationship with Anfernee Hardaway is still so good. ——What are players without the ability to hold the ball most afraid of? Just ask Arab League. Aren't you afraid that there will be a "no passer" in the team?

However, these two teams did not grab him, but they also gave him a lot of talk.

The Rockets' move to offer Thorpe, and the Lakers' offer of Sleeter as a bargaining chip, were very similar to Jerry West's later trade of Divac for Kobe Bryant.

As much attention as Kobe later attracted, Meng Lang now also caused as much commotion.

Maybe even bigger!
  Because of his remarks about "impairing the 84 generation", it was also reported by many media.

He is confident enough.

The "Golden Generation" of 84 produced a total of 3 MVPs: Jordan, Olajuwon and Barkley.

In the 93 generation, even if Hardaway and Chris Webber couldn't reach that level, they were much better than the average All-Stars and could be described as "half-step regular season MVPs."

And when it comes to All-Star players:

Mashburn, Vin Baker, Alan Houston, "Alien" Cassel, Nick Van Exel, and Bob - whose "Quiet Mimi" changed the first stop of his career. Hurley!

That is to say, none of this group of people has won the championship, and the "93 generation" has just been buried and forgotten in the future. This time, with him as the "son of the plane", no matter what, he has to rush into the "golden generation" !
  Of course, this is not an easy thing, but it is difficult that he challenges, just like he regards challenging the "God of Basketball" as his goal.

However, he can predict the future, and others do not have this ability.

So when he shouted this slogan, everyone outside thought he was too arrogant.

Not just the media, not just fans, including some NBA players, laughed scornfully when they saw reports about this incident.

It is normal for young people to be crazy!
  But madness also requires capital!

Why was Pippen slapped?
  Didn't he just say that he was the strongest person as soon as he joined the Bulls?

If you don't take Jordan seriously, can Oakley, a "die-hard Joe fan", not give him some color?

Now Meng Lang uses the entire "84 generation" as a stepping stone as soon as he comes up. You can imagine what kind of hostility he will face.

What's more, he was already in the limelight.

Although the United States does not have the term "shoot the first bird with a gun", there is a similar proverb.

When ESPN interviewed "Glove" Gary Payton over the phone the next day, he said bluntly: "I will defend this guy personally, and I will tell this guy to shut up. He will know what the NBA is!"

Ervin Robertson, the "best defensive team" player in the 90-91 season, was not so outright hostile. When facing reporters, he said tactfully: "This young man doesn't understand the NBA yet. It's hard for him to be like him here." It's impossible to shoot against someone like that in college!" - Erwin Robertson, the 84th overall pick in the first round of 7!

In the following two days, Rodman and others gave similar attitudes when asked this question.

But Barkley smiled "hehe" and refused to answer the question.

Several other old guys in the "Dream Team" training camp basically have the same attitude.

They have to wait and see again to avoid being slapped in the face.

After all, Meng Lang performed like that in the second training game of the training camp, and he replicated such a scene in the NCAA finals, which should not be underestimated. No one would just mock a capable player.

If you claim to be a "goat" and are still being "touched" casually, then you have to think about the reason!

Especially late in your career.

The old guys in the NBA were excited, but the "93 generation" who were taking a "safety education class" were excited by Meng Lang's "chicken soup."

The way he looked at Meng Lang was a little different.

Especially for Chris Webber and Anfernee Hardaway, they also think that they can become the regular season MVP and compete with Michael Jordan in the future to become a historical superstar.

Oh, no, Chris Webber wants to be the next "Magic" Johnson.

But Meng Lang wanted to improve the overall evaluation of their "93 generation"!

The scale of the pattern made them take a breath of cold air.

and also……

What's the matter with vaguely wanting to follow? ——In fact, during the "Dream Team" training camp, the college student sparring group was already centered on Meng Lang.

But now, in addition to these "proud ones" who participated in the training camp, there are also many players who are not so outstanding, but later became famous in the league.

Turning the "93 generation" into the "golden generation"... This is so damn enjoyable!
  They are all young men in their twenties, and you can't help but stomp around.

In other words, the "safety education class" only lasted for three days, otherwise the "Meng Lang Sect" with Meng Lang as the leader and the "93 generation" as the main body would have been established at that time.

The original intention of the league to set up "safety education courses" is to prevent rookies from going astray after a huge change in their identity.

These courses mainly include "Manage your own money. If you don't know how to do it, find a trustworthy professional to manage it." "Manage your own belt. To be precise, manage your own tadpoles. '", and "control your curiosity, abide by the league's rules, and don't touch contraband."

Meng Lang knew very well that such a "safety education course" was useless. Those who walked out from here would still be bankrupt, and those who should have illegitimate children would still have a lot of illegitimate children, including contraband, because of this player who ruined his career. There are quite a few.

This is like a technical high school girl meeting a rapper, a fate that most black people in the NBA cannot avoid.

After three days of "safety education class", Meng Lang said goodbye to Chris Webber, Alan Houston, Ma Benshi and his college teammate Bob Hurley, but it was only a short goodbye. He had already said goodbye to these guys We made an appointment to train together in the summer.

During this period, the NBA did not have a large-scale summer league. Only the Jazz took the lead in setting up a Rocky Mountain Summer League, and apart from the Jazz, only 5 teams participated.

None of their teams are among them.

Meng Lang has gotten into another trouble in the past few days. Bill Simmons jumped out again and said that he had found out about Meng Lang's high school experience and questioned Meng Lang's age: "He is not 19 years old at all, but It’s 22 years old!”

This caused an uproar.

In addition to his outstanding performance in the NCAA finals, a large part of Meng Lang's draft prospects comes from his age of 19. If his age is false, he is already 22 years old...

Then his draft prospect will definitely not reach the top ten in the first round, let alone the fourth in the first round now.

Pat Williams stood up immediately and responded to Bill Simmons: "ESPN didn't hire you to write reports based on speculation. You clown is sensationalizing. Even if Meng Lang is really 22 years old, I won't do it." I regret my choice, he is far more powerful than you think, shut up now, you ****!"

(End of this chapter)