Of the three teams Don Nelson mentioned, except for the Clippers who don't know who to draft, the other two teams are currently the teams most likely to select shooting guards among the lottery picks.
As for other teams, they will focus on the big men.
One is because they lack inside players, and the other is that when they don't know what type of players to choose, the big players have a greater chance of becoming successful.
Just like what Don Nelson said about the Clippers, Lu Yu remembers that the Clippers drafted Tyson Chandler in 2001 without hesitation.
Then he was traded to the Bulls.
Even if you don't use it yourself, big players can still get a good price if they are sold.
Lu Yu kept tapping his fingers on the table: "If we talk to the Clippers, what are the chances of success?"
Don Nelson thought for a while and said: "More than half, we had a consultation with the Clippers once. You know, the Clippers' general manager Baylor is actually a puppet, and their boss Sterling is a greedy person."
Man, they're going to cost us Juwan Howard and Shawn Bradley and will only match us a small amount of cash."
Lu Yu frowned slightly. This is a big opening for the Lions. Juwan Howard was traded from the Wizards to the Mavericks by Michael Jordan this season. Before the trade, he averaged 18.2 points per game and was the Wizards' leading scorer. He also had 7 rebounds in the Wizards.
He is also second in rebounding. Although his data has declined after coming to the Mavericks, it is not much. He still averages 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, which is a quasi-All-Star data. And Sean Bradley
He is also the Mavericks' main rotation big man. With two big men at once, the Clippers are going to empty out the Mavericks' big men.
This is still when they don't know which pick they can get. If they wait until they know that they can get the second pick in this lottery, I'm afraid their appetite will be even greater.
"I'm afraid you don't want to trade, right?" Lu Yu said with a smile.
Part of the reason why the Mavericks chose Lu Yu was that owner Mark Cuban was unwilling to give up the Chinese market, but he was not necessarily willing to make such a big sacrifice for Lu Yu.
Part of the reason is that Nelson really fell in love with Lu Yu.
Just like he liked Wang Zhizhi back then.
In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when Da Zhi was defending Admiral Robinson, he sent an incredible hot pot block. This block made Don Nelson deeply impressed by Wang Zhizhi.
So in 1997, the Mavericks wanted to use the No. 34 pick in hand to select Wang Zhizhi, but they were unable to wait for Wang Zhizhi's registration until the start of the draft.
So in 1998, the Mavericks, which held five draft picks, arranged for someone to go to China in advance to communicate with the Basketball Association and the Bayi Team, because according to regulations, international players under the age of 22 must actively apply to participate in the NBA draft. As a result, the communication this time was very difficult.
If it didn't go well, the Basketball Association and the Bayi Team had no intention of letting him go, so this precious opportunity was wasted again!
None of the three major centers in China want to let go!
In fact, Wang Zhizhi still did not sign up for the NBA draft in 1999, but because he was automatically entered into the draft list after turning 22, the Mavericks selected Wang Zhizhi with the No. 36 pick this year even though they knew that the Basketball Association would not let him go.
It can be seen that the Mavericks and Don Nelson attach great importance to Wang Zhizhi!
Finally, after year after year of negotiations, the Mavericks, the Basketball Association and the Bayi Team finally reached an agreement in 2001. Wang Zhizhi could land in the NBA, but Wang Zhizhi had to return to China unconditionally when needed by the national team, the Asian Games and even the National Games.
.
For example, in April 2001, Da Zhi went to the United States, but then returned to China in the second half of the year to participate in the Asian Championships and an insignificant University Games. Therefore, it was already in November of the second half of the year when Da Zhi went to the United States again.
Da Zhi missed all the training opportunities with the Mavericks. How difficult is it to integrate into it again?
As the owner of the team, Mark Cuban got through several contacts, and his keen sense as a businessman made him a little worried about Wang Zhizhi's prospects with the Mavericks.
But he is very greedy for the Chinese market.
So he set his sights on Lu Yu.
But Don Nelson knew that if he wanted to capture Lu Yu, he would definitely pay a high price.
Don Nelson nodded: "Frankly speaking, we are unwilling because this condition has exceeded our expectations, but at present, they are the team most interested in reaching a deal, and it is precisely because of this that they
Dare to offer such conditions, and with the Clippers' record, they have a high probability of getting the top five picks."
"It doesn't matter whether it's the first few."
Lu Yu waved his hand and frowned: "You are not willing to pay their price, so if you have not negotiated before the draft, then according to their boss Sterling's urine, they will definitely not choose me."
Lu Yu kept reviewing in his mind the situation of each team this season and the picks they might obtain.
"Yes." Don Nelson agreed with Lu Yu's words.
"Then you must grasp one team, and that is the Celtics!"
"Celtics?" Don Nelson was stunned for a moment, and then he immediately understood: "Yes, when other teams have no need for shooting guards, the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics are the most likely candidates.
I will sign your team, and with my connections, I believe the Golden State Warriors can trade you."
"Of course this comes at a cost, but there's no need to worry, they won't be like the Clippers."
"If the Golden State Warriors don't select you, the Celtics will be our last option. The most important thing is that the Celtics have two first-round picks. Although the probability of them selecting you is low, as long as
If they can draft you, they will be the team with the most room for maneuver."
"Their general manager, Chris Wallace, is a...not a very smart guy, and the Celtics haven't had a smart general manager since Auerbach left, you know, so we're going to make a deal with Wallace.
.”
Don Nelson was overjoyed.
Originally, he just wanted to communicate with Lu Yu. He knew that it would be difficult to achieve a result because the Mavericks had no lottery picks at all. Lu Yu had many choices and there was no need to come to the Mavericks.
He didn't expect that Lu Yu would actually give him advice.
This shows that Lu Yu is interested in the Mavericks.
"But you have to be prepared that the Celtics may not have a high draft pick, and be careful not to be picked up by other teams." Lu Yu reminded with a smile.
Don Nelson doesn't know yet, but Lu Yu knows that this year's Celtics only have two picks, No. 10 and No. 11.
The probability of being intercepted is very high.
"If you can reach an agreement with the Clippers, Warriors and Celtics, I can guarantee you that I will refuse trials from other teams."
Basically, if the Mavericks can reach a deal with these three teams, there is a high probability that Lu Yu will not be selected by other teams.
Of course, it is not ruled out that Boss Qiao may have a headache.
Among them, the Clippers have the smallest probability of selecting Lu Yu, followed by the Golden State Warriors and Celtics.
The Golden State Warriors' draft pick is definitely higher than the Celtics. They have a great chance of acquiring Lu Yu. The rest depends on whether the price the Mavericks are willing to pay can satisfy the Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics are double insurance.
Lu Yu didn't like accidents, so he made two insurance plans for Nelson in advance.
Don Nelson smiled. He looked at Wang Fei beside him. As the donor of this meeting, Wang Fei had to say something.
"Congratulations on reaching a cooperation agreement." Wang Fei said with a smile in English: "It's just strange to me. The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics also have a need for shooting guards. You can also get a starter from these two teams.
Position, why are you so interested in the Mavericks?"
"Of course it's because it's guaranteed."
Lu Yu also answered with a smile in English: "The head coach of the Golden State Warriors did not come to see me personally."
Don Nelson was slightly startled, and then he understood why the conversation between Lu Yu and Wang Fei was not spoken in Chinese, because this conversation was meant for him.
