In spite of everyone's panic, Nel Orsi remained calm and calm, sitting on the sofa and even swaying his wine glass leisurely.
"Nel, you..."
"Don't worry, everyone, I predicted this would happen before the draft, so just last night, the team reached a deal with the eighth overall pick, the Raptors."
"You know our boss's financial resources!"
It’s really easy to get things done when you have a big backer!
Orsi smiled slightly and took a sip of red wine.
When Paul Allen was mentioned and thought of his unique ability to make money, everyone seemed to have taken a reassurance and immediately resumed their original chatter and laughter.
…
"With the sixth pick in the first round of 2012, the Trail Blazers selected Damian Lillard, a senior graduate from Weber State University. Let us congratulate this young man with applause!"
"Damien, congratulations!"
The Trail Blazers still selected Lillard with the sixth pick. Although Wang Zelin felt a little bit disappointed about this, he was more happy for this new friend he had just made.
"Thank you King, I believe it will be your turn soon."
"hope so!"
After watching Lillard take the stage of the draft, Wang Zelin returned to his position.
"It seems they are going to use the 11th pick..."
"Zelin, don't worry, you will be here soon." Mother Lin Huiqing was worried about what other ideas her son had, so she leaned over and held Wang Zelin's hand.
"I'm fine, Mom."
Soon, the Warriors with the seventh pick made their choice. They selected North Carolina Blackhawks Harrison Barnes.
The North Carolina Blackhawk originally had a chance to compete for the No. 1 pick last season, but because of his enthusiasm, he chose to play for one more year and his strength has not significantly improved, which led to his draft stock declining.
However, since Wang Zelin once rejected the Warriors' invitation for a trial training, they naturally would not lick their faces and invite a big man.
At the eighth pick, this pick belongs to the Toronto Raptors.
The moment he opened the letter, the viewers in front of the TV could clearly see through the close-up that the famous NBA president was stunned for a moment.
There’s something good to watch!
At this moment, everyone who understands already understands.
Then David Stern raised his head, faced the camera, and showed the audience that familiar smile.
"With the eighth pick in the first round of 2012, the Toronto Raptors selected Wang Ze Lin, a young center from China!"
"Let us congratulate this young man! We also wish him a great future!"
Ah no!
After Wang Zelin took the peaked cap with the Raptors team logo printed on it from the staff next to him, he went on stage with a confused look on his face.
It seems that I have never gone to Toronto for a trial training. How could they choose me?
No, I don't want to go to that place where birds don't poop.
"Young man, welcome to the NBA!"
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. David Stern!"
"Hahaha, I can see that your English is very good, much better than YI's back then. This will be of great help to your integration into the NBA."
"Thanks!"
Then it was time for the two of them to take photos together.
After returning to his seat, Wang Zelin immediately cast doubtful eyes on Zhou Yang.
Just when he wanted to see how Zhou Yang, the agent, would explain, the other party's phone rang.
"xxx..."
"Zelin, it turns out that the Trail Blazers and the Raptors reached a deal. They used the team's 11th pick plus some extra chips in exchange for the Raptors' eighth pick."
"So, Portland is where I want to go!"
"Yes, our goal remains Portland."
"That's okay, that's okay!"
After the brief commotion, the draft continued.
The Pistons originally wanted to intercept Wang Zelin in advance so that they could rob the Trail Blazers or Mosaic.
But now that he couldn't steal the chicken, he had to adopt the original plan and use the ninth pick in his hand to select the young Shen Zhuang, a freshman at UConn.
Drummond's physical talent is outstanding for the center position. If it weren't for Wang Zelin's emergence, he would have been the Pistons' first choice.
…
At the end of the draft, Wang Zelin, who was selected with the eighth overall pick in the first round, was chased and intercepted by a large number of reporters without hesitation.
Since Wang Zelin publicly rejected the Golden State Warriors' training camp invitation, Wang Zelin's highest pick in recent NBA prospect lists was only the Mosaics' twelfth pick.
Even in the minds of most people, Wang Zelin may really have the ability to play in the NBA, but his draft pick should be around the middle to the end of the first round.
But the result was beyond everyone's expectations. The Trail Blazers were actually willing to trade the Raptors' No. 8 pick to sign Wang Zelin.
Why should he?
He hasn't proven himself yet.
This has become a question for everyone except the Trail Blazers.
Including Chinese fans and media from across the ocean.
"Congratulations, King! You have become the highest-ranked Chinese player after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. Can you share with us how you feel at this moment?"
Immediately afterwards, the surrounding spears and cannons were shooting randomly at Wang Zelin's face.
Fortunately, when he was playing in the CBA in China, he frequently saw such big scenes and gained enough experience to face the countless flashes of light in front of him.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Trail Blazers management for trusting me. At the same time, I also feel that I am fully worthy of the eighth pick in the first round. I believe time will prove everything..."
The confidence and domineering displayed by Wang Zelin at this moment are far from comparable to those of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian who had just entered the league.
I just don’t know whether this young man really has top-notch hardware at his disposal, or if he is just talking.
But no matter what, Wang Zelin has passed the media hurdle for the time being. Next, we have to see how strong he is.
…
"What is the magic power of China's inside players? Why are they often selected with high picks in the first round?"
"King's future: Yao, Yi, or Oden?"
"Open low and go high, the biggest upset has been born!"
"The first trade in the draft was born: the Chinese center settled in Portland!"
For a time, many fans and reporters from major media were eager to know: Why did Wang Zelin, whose prospects were unclear on the eve of the draft, suddenly be upset again in the draft?
This is not the eighth pick in a young draft year, but one in a big draft year, and it is quite valuable.
"King was selected because we believe he has enough potential to help the Trail Blazers gain new life. He definitely deserves the eighth pick in the first round. Portland fans, please start your carnival!"
Now that they are a family, the Trail Blazers decided to announce to everyone their confidence in making this move at the press conference for officially signing Wang Zelin.
Just compare Wang Zelin with Davis, the new top pick in the NBA: in terms of height, wingspan, strength, etc., Wang Zelin suppresses the latter.
Of course, Davis's powerful athletic ability can be said to have completely overwhelmed Wang Zelin.
But no matter what, when Wang Zelin's trial training with the Trail Blazers was informed by General Manager Orsi, the Blazers fans who were still clamoring that the team management was blind suddenly realized.
With such physical talent, he can barely keep up with Davis.
This is a talented center who is good enough to be ranked in the top five or even the top three picks, but now he was taken by the team with the eighth pick.
Thinking of Lillard, the sixth overall pick, and Aldridge, the core of the team, many Blazers fans began to react.
The two young people selected by the team this year can be said to be talented. What's even more rare is that their main positions do not overlap with the team's boss Aldridge, the All-Star power forward. This means that the Blazers can definitely
Use the three of them as a framework to create a championship-winning lineup.
Looking at the Thunder next door, the Trail Blazers fans who came to their senses also knew that they were about to have their own third youngster.
…
Far across the ocean, the news that Wang Zelin was selected by the Trail Blazers with the eighth overall pick has officially spread throughout the basketball world.
Suddenly, the emergence of another Chinese big man, the inheritance of China Mobile Great Wall and other dazzling reports began to flood the entire online world.
At this time, Yao Ming had retired for nearly a year, and Yi Jianlian's performance in the NBA was gradually declining. The current China Men's Basketball Team needs a new support.
Wang Zelin, this name is like a new point of excitement, stimulating the nerves of all basketball fans.
CBA championship!
CBA Finals MVP!
CBA Honor Grand Slam winner!
…
The various records Wang Zelin set in the CBA are beginning to be known to more people, and his fan base is also rising rapidly.
However, regardless of what the outside world is saying now, Wang Zelin's NBA journey has officially begun.