Chapter 46: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, the Oriole Waits Behind
(I just saw a comment from a book friend in the review area, hoping that this book can explode after it goes on sale. To be honest, I don't know if the sales of this book are good or bad, and I don't know if it will go on sale at all. However, I guarantee that if this book does go on sale, it will definitely explode afterwards. But for now, during the new book period, it's indeed difficult to make a big impact. During the new book period, I can only maintain a stable update of 5,000 words per day with two updates, please forgive me.)
"Damn Mavericks, damn Donnie Nelson." When NBA draft TV broadcast, David Stern announced the Mavericks selected Nowitzki with the sixth pick, in Boston Celtics' club conference room, everyone was silent, only heard head coach Rick Pitino's roar.
Rick Pitino, the former head coach of Kentucky University, also left NCAA for NBA this year, just like Zhu Fangyu. In the past three years, Wake Forest has been stepping on Kentucky's heels to win the championship. In 1996, they eliminated Anthony Epps-led Kentucky in the Elite Eight; in 1997 and 1998, they defeated Kentucky in the finals. It can be said that the two most glorious college teams in the past three years are Wake Forest and Kentucky. After Zhu Fangyu announced his departure from NCAA, Rick Pitino also announced his departure from NCAA, as if the two had discussed it beforehand.
In fact, Rick Pitino was indeed preparing to duel with Zhuang Fei again. For three years, he had been suppressed by Zhuang Fei and was not convinced. The Boston Celtics, who were originally very interested in Zhuang Fei, immediately gave up their pursuit of him when they learned that Rick Pitino would also be entering the NBA, because Rick Pitino was a local Bostonian with a household registration. Moreover, to show their sincerity, the Celtics handed over the three major positions of general manager, chairman, and head coach to Rick Pitino, so now the Celtics are basically under Rick Pitino's control. Who dares to speak above his head? This also indirectly explains that at the time, Zhuang Fei's conditions for signing rights and trading rights were not excessive, but Zhuang Fei did not have an American household registration, so even if he achieved greater success than Rick Pitino, he could not receive the same treatment as Rick Pitino. Therefore, the entire NBA was willing to let Zhuang Fei be the general manager and head coach of the Toronto Raptors, a non-American team.
"Mr. Rijk, isn't he just an international player? Why get so angry?" An assistant kindly reminded him. But to everyone's surprise, Rick Pitino not only didn't take the hint but instead scolded: "**, what do you know?"
That assistant was left shaking by Rick Pitino's words.
It's no wonder that Rick Pitino was so angry, a cooked duck flew away, who wouldn't be angry? Why is it a cooked duck? Because in May before this year's draft, Rick Pitino and Novitsky had contact. Others may not understand Novitsky, but Rick Pitino does. After evaluating Novitsky, he gave the following evaluation: The second Larry Bird.
Not only that, but Rick Pitino and Novitski also reached a secret agreement, the content of which was that the Celtics would guarantee to sign Novitski with the 10th pick, on condition that Novitski would tell the media that even if he were drafted by the NBA, he would not immediately join the league, but rather spend another year or two training in Germany. This was also a cautious move by Rick Pitino, who feared being beaten to the punch by someone else, as the 10th pick wasn't considered a particularly good draft position. If Novitski had indicated that he was unwilling to join the NBA immediately, it's likely that no one would have used a high lottery pick on such an unknown international player.
However, since things have been done so meticulously, yet still allowed someone to get ahead, how could he not be furious?
When Rick Pitino saw the Milwaukee Bucks select Pierce at No. 7, he was speechless, and even the backup plan didn't work out.
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"Haha, well done!" Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks' locker room was filled with cheers and applause, as old Nielson kept clapping his hands. They had finally taken down this German guy, Rick Pitino thought his tactics were flawless, but it was precisely Nielson who saw through them.
"The Germans are on board now, it's up to that Canadian, I think Phoenix won't turn down this offer" Nelson muttered with a smile.
"Coach, is it necessary to be so excited? Was using the sixth pick on him a waste?"
"Haha, is the 6th pick a waste? No, even if it's not in the top 5, in my opinion, this rookie class except for Vince Carter, he's better than everyone else" Nelson said with a smile, now he's already started imagining the scene of Novitsky and Nash arriving at the same time, as for the anger of the Boston management team, he can't control it, he just wants to snatch people from Rick Pitino's hands.
Just then, the door of the conference room was pushed open and a man came in. Old Nielson turned his head to look, it was his son, and Old Nielson immediately asked anxiously.
"Danny, how's it going? Did Phoenix agree?"
"No, they can't be in charge now," Little Nielson said with a sorrowful face.
"Can't make a decision? Why, not happy with the chips? I didn't tell you, any chip is fine?" Old Niels said angrily to his son, he had told him before that as long as he could take down Nash, he would agree to any of Phoenix's chips.
"Don't get angry first, it's not that they're dissatisfied with our chips, but Nash is no longer in Phoenix"
"Not in Phoenix?"
"That's right, the Minnesota Timberwolves had reached a trade agreement with Phoenix half a month ago, and Nash is now a Timberwolves player." Little Nelson shook his head with a wry smile. He didn't think that he, an old man who was usually good at calculations, would also suffer a big loss.
"The Forest Wolf, Zhuang Fei, it's him. No wonder he took a liking to Nash. No wonder." Old Nielson's lost expression was clear, his mouth still trembling constantly, just like Rick Pitino.
Little Nielson could only stand by foolishly as he saw the old man like this. At the same time, he also became more interested in that Chinese player. The old man had often been delighted when watching Vickson's games and had always said that the Chinese player was just like him, with a strong passion for offense and speed. Now it seemed that the two were indeed very similar.
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"Zhuang, what's got you so happy? Even if we did get Rashad Lewis, there's no need to be like this." In Zhuang Fei's home, the TV screen showed that the NBA draft had ended perfectly, but Zhuang Fei seemed completely unaware of it, still grinning from ear to ear. This left DeAntoni baffled, having laughed for an entire evening and still laughing.
"Haha, this is not just a Rashad Lewis thing," said Zhuang Fei mysteriously. Today's NBA draft has deviated greatly from the historical one, and there are many reasons for this, such as the strong emergence of Vlade Divac, Carter, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who were not like this in Zhuang Fei's previous life. These two people mainly disrupted the ranking of the top few picks.
Zhuang Fei's interference disrupted the draft conference's suspension and the ranking of the back end.
"Coach, have you already discussed the trade with Mr. Kevin?" Stefan Green, who had been following Zhu Fei for many years as a disciple, apparently saw something.
Zhuang Fei didn't say a word, just smiled and nodded. Zhuang Fei's silence only piqued the curiosity of Stefan Green and DeAntoni.
"Coach, who are you going to replace Marbury with?" Stefengreen and DeAntoni asked Zhuang Fei with shining eyes.
Just as Zhuang Fei was about to answer, the phone in his house suddenly rang.
"You'll know soon." Zhuang Feifei quickly left the TV and went to answer the phone. Looking at Zhuang's back, Stephon Green and DeAntoni exchanged a glance and both sighed.
It's finally here, Zhuang Fei thought to himself, then picked up the phone.
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