In Wang Zelin's memory, the current 2014 draft will be regarded as the year of the super draft.
In fact, even in 2020, when Wang Zelin has traveled back in time, when people talk about whether the rookies in 2014 are really the golden generation, they really can’t give an answer to this question.
Because for the rookies at that time, although the success rate was quite high, it was still slightly insufficient compared to the two rookie years of 1996 and 2003.
However, considering that the team has the 12th overall pick in the second round at this time, and looking at it from a later perspective, if they do it well, they may really be able to select the biggest pick in the 2014 draft.
beads.
"The Essence of Human Pork Belly" - Nikola Jokic!
I remember that when I traveled back in time, the 2020~2021 regular season was coming to an end and the playoffs had not yet started.
At that time, Teacher Yue had the best year of his career, averaging 25 10 8 quasi-triple-doubles per game.
At the same time, he was also the most powerful contender for the regular season MVP that year!
Being able to go from being the 11th pick in the 4th round of the 2014 draft to becoming the best center in the league, and even the regular season MVP is almost within easy reach. His potential is definitely a T1 pick in the 2014 draft.
However, compared to the visible physical talents of Wiggins and Embiid, Jokic's basketball talents are more reflected in his golf intelligence, game reading ability, etc.
To put it bluntly, the former is an explicit talent, which can be seen by everyone; while the latter is a hidden talent, which needs to be trained by the right person.
Jokic is undoubtedly lucky because he met his mentor Mike Malone in the Nuggets who was willing to give him a chance.
Of course, no matter what, Jokic himself is also very good, and he has lived up to the high expectations and training of the Nuggets and the head coach.
For Wang Zelin, wherever the team's draft picks are placed this year, there are only so many players to choose from.
Since history has proven Jokic's potential and the heights he can reach, if you don't choose a talented fat man with a future MVP level, why choose someone else?
"I think this fat guy...ah, no, this little fat guy from Serbia is very good!"
While Nell Orsi and Terry Stotts were waiting, Wang Zelin picked out a piece of information from a pile of information and dropped it in front of them.
"Serbia?"
"Wait, you call this a little fat guy?"
Nel Orsi and Terry Stotts took a look at the information and their eyes were opened immediately.
This information is actually Nikola Jokic’s draft report:
Player: Nikola Jokic
He is 6 feet 11 tall and weighs 255 pounds. It can be seen from the chubby and round face in the audience report that this guy is somewhat overweight.
Advantages: Yue Jiqi, who only started practicing basketball after he was 16 years old, has a very good basketball IQ and is making rapid progress. This is his biggest advantage.
He also has a strong personality, team spirit and good work ethics. Simply put, he is a good boy who listens to the coach."
Then, the very obvious shortcomings come:
Talent is very average, lacking speed and jumping ability.
In addition, as an inside player, he also needs to strengthen his finger strength and lateral speed, which may be his biggest weakness.
His defense is also very poor and it is difficult to meet the team's expectations.
To put it bluntly, if this kid can play in the NBA, it will be like buying a lottery ticket and winning a special prize in the end.
Ahem, the last sentence was left by an anonymous scout.
It can be seen that at this time, no one would have thought that Yue Ji would achieve great things in the future.
After reading the scouting report, Nel Orsi looked resentful:
"Wang, if you don't want to choose, you won't pick anyone at random. Even if you choose, you'll pick someone more reliable..."
"Hey, do you think I'm kidding?"
Wang Zelin suddenly became unhappy and said "I'm serious".
The whole office suddenly fell into silence.
a long time.
Coach Terry raised his head and asked: "Wang, can you tell me why you chose this kid?"
"..."
Wang Zelin was immediately stunned.
He can't say that this fat guy in front of him, who everyone loves to ignore, will become a first-rate center in the league in the future. Who would believe it?
"If I have to pick one reason...eyes!"
After pondering for a moment, Wang Zelin gave a reason that was not a reason.
"Okay, let's choose this guy."
Coach Terry suddenly smiled and decided on the spot for this year's draft.
What?
Nel Orsi was dumbfounded, turned around, and looked at Coach Terry in disbelief.
"OK, then I'll go back first."
After deciding on the candidate, Wang Zelin stood up, patted his butt, pushed the door open and left.
Seeing Wang Zelin walking away, Nel Orsi asked loudly: "Terry, it's okay for Wang Zelin to be young and ignorant. Why are you crazy like him?"
Coach Terry was not in a hurry to explain, but still smiled mysteriously: "Who do you think is the real future of the team, you, me or Wang!"
"Of course the king!"
Nel Orsi answered without hesitation.
It can be said that before the Trail Blazers won the championship, Wang Zelin was already the guarantee of the team's ticket prices and attendance; after the Trail Blazers won the championship, although the values of all players have increased, Wang Zelin's value has definitely risen the fastest.
The most powerful one.
Did you see that there is already a large group of people in the outside world saying, "Wang Zelin has replaced James and become the new number one active player."
"That's it," Coach Terry shrugged. "Wang's presence is responsible for helping the team's ceiling in the future, and our most important task in the future is to think about how to keep Wang in Portland. Just one time
Draft picks, in exchange for the pleasure of getting the No. 1 player in the league in the future, I think it’s worth it. What do you think?”
"..."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Obviously, Nel Orsi was convinced, but he still had some tangles on his face and said subconsciously:
"But, this is too hasty! After all, it is a draft pick, and this is a big year for the draft!"
"No matter how big the year is, what do you think the chances are that there will be another champion in this year's draft?"
"..."
After hearing Coach Terry's words, Nel Orsi was silenced again.
"Okay, Orsi, let's consider the signing of LaMarcus."
Coach Terry glanced helplessly at the fat white man in front of him, knowing full well that the latter was still worrying about the businessman's nature, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Yes, yes, there is another one."
Nel Orsi did not continue to delve deeper. At this time, he also realized that he was really looking forward to the upcoming draft year so much that he became obsessed and almost forgot another more important thing.
"Stop thinking about talent, because the best talent is already in our team..."
Seeing this, Coach Terry also sighed with emotion.
Looking back on the history of the Trail Blazers, it can definitely be described as sad.
Since the beginning of the new century, they have finally assembled the combination of Roy Aldridge and Oden. Even at that time, the outside world unanimously recognized the talents of these three young people.
If nothing else, the Portland Trail Blazers will usher in the opportunity to rise to the championship under the leadership of these three young people.
Unfortunately, the accident happened.
After hitting, Oden got injured.
After repeated beatings, Roy was also injured.
Even Aldridge, who has the strongest fuck resistance among the Mountain Men, suffers from minor injuries and illnesses, and is often injured by beatings.
But things are different now. In the post-Oden and Roy Holoi era, perhaps due to the miserable luck in the previous decades, the people of Portland finally ushered in a year of good luck. In the same draft, they selected
Two talented rookies with unlimited potential, Wang Zelin and Lillard.
No amount of praise is enough for Wang Zelin.
And even Lillard, who was an older rookie before the draft, judging from his current potential and immediate ability, he is still a cornerstone for some weak teams.
Wang Zelin, Aldridge and Lillard are already talented enough. Aldridge can be considered a superstar on the offensive end; Lillard has the potential to become a top shooter from the outside and is already making steady progress towards becoming a top shooter; of course, the most special thing is when
It belongs to Wang Zelin, a talented inside player.
After winning the championship this year, Wang Zelin is only 21 years old, far from his prime age as a center player.
The existence of Wang Zelin ensures that the Trail Blazers have the upper limit to hit the championship in the future; Aldridge, who is about to turn 29, is estimated to have 3 to 5 years of peak period according to his style of play; in addition, he is still half a month away.
Lillard, who is 24 years old, also has a golden period of 6 to 9 years. This core structure is perfect.
By building a lineup around the three of them, as long as the role players the team recruits every year do not hold them back, the Blazers will be able to maintain championship competitiveness for at least 5 to 8 years.
To put it more boldly, if Wang Zelin can be as durable as No. 21 next door, then it is entirely possible for the Trail Blazers to maintain their championship competitiveness for 10 years.
"I have asked LaMarcus' agent, and according to Jeff Schwartz, LaMarcus has good intentions regarding the contract extension."
After hearing Nel Orsi's words, Coach Terry stopped his endless longing for the team's future.
In the NBA, basketball agents can be said to act as a bridge between players and teams. Without the player's permission, the agent will not give an almost definite reply to the team.
From this point of view, Aldridge's contract renewal issue should be stable.
But coach Terry still suggested: "Well Orsi, find a time to settle this matter, otherwise things will change if it is too late."
"I know."
Nel Orsi nodded.
Once the draft and LaMarcus are settled, the next thing will be much simpler.
For example, regarding the offseason personnel reductions and the competition for high-quality role players in the trading market...
Since there is enough time, there is no need to be as hasty as before.
…
…
Talk about the other side.
Rested for a few more days.
Just as Wang Zelin was energizing Lillard, Oladipo, Paul George, DeRozan, and Lowry one by one, preparing to set up a summer training brothers camp. Over in the NBA, various teams are conducting
Pre-draft training, player pre-selection, Py trading, etc.
In addition, there are also some minor transactions, but there is currently no movement in big transactions or slightly famous free agents.
After all, it's still early.
Here at Wang Zelin, after setting a date for the establishment of the Brothers Camp with his brothers, Wang Zelin has returned to China.
Next, he not only has to participate in a series of business activities, but his colleagues also have to go to the national team to report on it to prepare for the Basketball World Cup in Spain from August 30 to September 14 this year.
With the arrival of the offseason, the NBA has also been quiet for a long time until June 26.
On this day, the 2014 draft, which was predicted to be a once-in-10-year draft year, kicked off in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
On the morning of the 26th, after Wang Zelin woke up, he habitually checked the news on his mobile phone. The computer had already been turned on. In a short while, the draft was about to begin.
At 8:30, the selection phase of the draft officially begins.
The result was as expected. Cleveland, known as the son of the league, selected Wiggins with their second No. 1 pick in the past three years.
Of course, in their view, there is nothing wrong with this.
After all, Wiggins' talent is hailed as the next James. Moreover, Wiggins plays the small forward position, and Embiid, one of the top picks before the draft, is injured. In fact, the management can't find anyone who can't.