Champions Creed

Chapter 314 Chapter 313: Let’s call it the Nomadic Dynasty (ask for monthly tickets!)

Shaquille O'Neal's strategy was successful. When his team said that they would opt out of the contract in 2003 if he went to a non-competitive team, most bad teams withdrew from the deal.

Currently, the teams eager to get Shaq are all playoff-level teams.

Paul Pierce is close to the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.

As for Roger, the rumors about him were outrageous.

The Knicks and Warriors have the most rumors because they were photographed meeting with James Dolan and Mikhail Prokhorov.

But there are also many other rumors, such as Orlando. If Larry Hughes is not re-signed, the Magic will have enough salary space to sign Roger.

God of Orlando + Son of Orlando? It's very exciting to think about it.

Some people also say that Roger may join the Los Angeles Clippers, because the basketball market in Los Angeles is no worse than that in New York, and is far larger than that in San Francisco.

There are even rumors that Roger will swap teams with Kobe in a sign-and-trade deal.

This rumor made the little models in Los Angeles and the female stars in Hollywood happier than the Lakers fans. Who doesn't want to have an in-depth exchange with the most famous basketball player in the world? Whether you are doing it for your career or just for the experience, this is an extremely wonderful thing.

But before all that was settled, the 2002 draft was the first to solve the mystery.

The 2002 NBA Draft has attracted much attention because it is very likely that the first Asian No. pick in history will be born this year.

Yao Ming has been in the spotlight of the American media for several years. In view of Roger's outstanding performance, Americans no longer doubt whether Chinese players can adapt to the NBA.

Different from the original timeline, Yao Ming arrived at the draft under the arrangement of Eric Fleischer. He was the second Chinese player after Roger to enter the green room to participate in the draft.

Yao Ming was very nervous because for him, if he was not selected with the first pick, it would mean failure.

At the same time, he was concerned about another thing.

Five minutes before the draft, Yao Ming asked his translator, Colin Penn, to ask Eric Fleischer, "Sir, do I have a chance to play with Roger?"

This is the best outcome for Yao Ming. If Roger was also in New York, he would be able to integrate into the team and life in a foreign country more quickly.

Eric Fleischer hesitated for a moment and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked Yao Ming: "Can you keep a secret?"

Yao Ming nodded.

Fleischer asked Colin Penn again: "What about you?"

Colin Pan raised his hands: "I am just a rookie translator. I have no interest in or qualifications to get involved in other matters."

After hearing their answers, Eric Fleischer shrugged: "No chance. New York has no chance of getting Roger. So don't listen to the media's nonsense. This is the final answer."

Yao Ming was very disappointed, and James Dolan would definitely be even more disappointed if he knew the news.

Roger and Fleischer discussed that New York's trouble is not just James Dolan, but also those damn media and fans.

In New York, they never love their players unconditionally.

The New York media was the one thing Patrick Ewing hated the most throughout his career.

They are more ruthless in criticizing their own players than outsiders.

Roger didn't want something like this to happen to him.

"So where will Roger go to play?" Yao Ming asked Colin Pan again.

"Oh," Eric Fleischer waved his hand, "that's another secret. There's only one chance to know the secret a day."

Soon, the draft began.

In the first round, David Stern picked Yao Ming with the first pick without any suspense.

At the scene, all the New York Knicks fans cheered and were as happy as if the United States had won the Third World War in advance.

First, under the hype of Eric Fleischer, Yao Ming was like Victor Weinbach 20 years later. He was highly anticipated early on and was the top pick in everyone's mind.

Second, New Yorkers felt that this was a signal that Roger was getting closer to the Knicks, and they firmly believed that Roger would be more willing to cooperate with his compatriots.

So, the whole of New York is celebrating this.

Yao Ming took the stage and put on a New York Knicks cap. In any case, this result is at least better than Houston. Although James Dolan has many shortcomings, he is really willing to spend money, unlike Houston, a team that competes for the championship every year but spends every year.

After Yao Ming finished the interview and stepped down from the stage, Roger immediately called to congratulate him.

For most fans, the biggest suspense of the night has ended.

Because the 2002 draft was not a big year, there were not many rookies that attracted much attention.

With the second pick, the Chicago Bulls took Jay Williams.

The third pick is the Golden State Warriors, but not many people care about who the Warriors will choose.

Roger, however, cared.

Mike Dunleavy is full of confidence. The white forward, who was born into a basketball family, has achieved brilliant results at Duke, with a record of 95 wins and 13 losses in three years.

If Yao Ming hadn't come out of nowhere, he and his teammate Jay Williams would have taken the top two spots in the draft, because there are no better players than them in the entire college basketball world.

During the previous tryout, the Golden State Warriors also praised him highly. He believed that no one could compete with him for the third pick.

Seeing David Stern walk onto the stage again, Dunleavy was so excited that he hugged his family in advance.

David Stern also glanced at Dunleavy on the stage, which seemed like a kind of advance communication: "Hey, kid, get ready."

Opening the envelope, David Stern began to announce the result: "With the third pick in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors select Amar'e Stoudemire from Cypress Creek High School."

There was a burst of exclamations at the scene; this was an unexpected name.

Mike Dunleavy's expression froze. Even if he was going to fall out of third place, it shouldn't be Amar'e Stoudemire who squeezed him out!

Amar'e Stoudemire has been in the lottery in draft projections but has never been in the top three.

Yes, even though there have been a series of successful high school rookies before him, Stoudemire is clearly different from those successful predecessors.

Roger, in high school, spent a year killing the top 100 players in the United States, led his team to win the state championship, shined in the ABCD training camp, and created an unprecedented 4-on-5 winning miracle in the McDonald's All-Star Game.

Kobe Bryant surpassed Wilt Chamberlain in scoring in his four years of high school. He beat Jerry Stackhouse, the third overall pick in the draft, in a one-on-one match the year before the draft, and beat former Defensive Player of the Year Michael Cooper in a tryout.

Kevin Garnett, an all-around power forward with explosive physique and a full set of skills, his only disadvantage during the draft was his underweight.

Tracy McGrady, who became nationally famous at Roger's training camp, led his team to a 20-1 record in his senior year under much scrutiny. He has the height of a forward and the skills of a guard.

Kwame Brown, who was invincible in high school, won the "If Cleveland had the No. 1 pick, I would take him" award from Michael Jordan.

What about Amar'e Stoudemire? His high school career was not at the same level as the previous ones. He changed six schools for various reasons during his four years of high school. His record at Cypress Creek High School was just a mediocre 16 wins and 13 losses in his senior year, and he never dominated the high school basketball world. Although Stoudemire had an impressive physique, his skills were very crude, completely different from the previous ones who had matured their skills in high school.

What many people may not believe is that Stoudemire's template in the draft report is Ben Wallace.

But that is just the media's highest expectation for him. Not all players who have physical fitness but no skills can eventually become DPOY.

In this off-draft year, maybe some teams would take a chance on this physical jumper. But the top three? That's incredible.

The Warriors fans at the scene started cursing.

"That stupid Russian, he can only play with his AK, he knows nothing about basketball! I knew that if I sold the team to the Russians, everything would be ruined!"

"Just because he promised to build a new arena, the league actually let a foreigner control the team. Wealth and greed are destroying this league."

"If you were Roger, would you still come after seeing the team make such stupid decisions? God, they messed up everything!"

"Amare is a lottery ticket worth scratching, but he didn't let you scratch it with the third pick!"

"Maybe the Warriors thought Amare was LeBron James."

However, Roger was satisfied with the result.

The biggest change for Amar'e Stoudemire is the scouts' appreciation for his defensive attitude in the draft report.

I don't know if it's because Roger told him to work hard on defense, but now this Stoudemire is a player who is very passionate about defense. Although his defensive skills and experience are not enough, at least he is not like the Suns Stoudemire who completely ignores defense.

Seeing Stoudemire wearing a Warriors cap and Mike Dunleavy's expression like a shark that had eaten shit, Roger turned off the TV.

The rest of the 2002 draft doesn't matter.

Next to Roger, his uncle who was watching the draft with him was a little confused: "Really? You plan to win four championships in San Francisco with a high school jumper and Alan Houston, who led the team to the lottery? Roger, otherwise consider New York. Your aunt may be in New York. I have a strong feeling."

"I didn't say I would rely on them. This is not our final lineup. I still firmly believe in one sentence: basketball is a step-by-step process. Whoever discovers this law can reach greatness.

What I want is a ceiling, a future ceiling that can support me to win three or four consecutive championships, rather than just one or two scattered championships for quick success. That is not what I pursue. I no longer need that kind of championship to prove myself.

Besides, I suspect my aunt isn’t even on this planet.”

"What? Can I marry an alien as your aunt?"

"Is it possible? I mean, you will never get married in your life? I'm 27 years old, uncle, and you are considered a rich man, but my aunt has not been seen yet. I've already told you that you don't have to spend so much time helping me run the auto repair shop, and you don't have to sell original flavors whenever you have time. You can pay more attention to your personal life."

"That's not called a car repair shop, that's a national chain enterprise! That's not called selling original flavors, that's called idol economy!"

"Whatever you call it, you don't have to spend so much time helping me run the business. I'm not going to go bankrupt, really."

"Don't worry about it, little kid. Don't worry, Roger. I will definitely get married earlier than you!"

Roger:? ? ?
Is this something to brag about?

After the draft, the transfer market officially opens.

The Indiana Pacers took the lead, sending Jalen Rose and the 2003 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks and reaching a sign-and-trade agreement with Paul Pierce.

This move will bring the Pacers to their first peak in the 21st century.

Because the Pacers in the original timeline with Reggie Miller, O'Neal Jr. and Artest was a championship-contending team, it is generally believed that if there had not been the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Reggie Miller would most likely have retired with his ring.

Pierce's defense is not as good as Artest's, but his offense is much stronger than him. Overall, the Indiana Pacers still have the strength to compete for the championship.

Atlanta fans were prepared for this, but the Hawks' shareholders were heartbroken.

Of course, the most painful blow has not yet come.

The next day there was an even bigger deal. The Dallas Mavericks traded Steve Nash and Michael Finley to the Los Angeles Lakers for super center Shaquille O'Neal!
Mark Cuban had long been determined to seize this opportunity of changing times. In fact, in the original history, the Mavericks were also one of the suitors of the Sharks, and Mark Cuban's condition was "anyone except Dirk." If the Heat hadn't intervened, this deal would have been very likely to be completed.

Mark Cuban was next to the Shark when the news was officially announced.

The Shark was very proud. He could already imagine Mitch Kupchak's crying expression.

Before the trading market opened, Mitch Kupchak came to the Sharks, hoping that he would change his mind. Because with the disbandment of the Hawks, the Lakers have a good chance of winning the championship next season.

But the shark told him: "Let me put it this way, Mitch, in ten minutes we will call the Los Angeles Times, in fifteen minutes it will be the Orange County Register, and in twenty minutes you will see a breaking news report on ESPN. The news is that Shaquille O'Neal will never stay in Los Angeles, never!"

It was impossible for the Sharks to stay in Los Angeles, and the chance to win the championship? Oh, a team that was not harmonious, was sure to win against the united Detroit Pistons? He didn't want to continue wasting time in Los Angeles.

Watching the news, O'Neal patted Cuban on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Mark. From now on, it will be as easy for the Mavericks to enter the finals as to travel to Disneyland. This is the reward for having the greatest center in the world. In the West, we have no rivals!"

O'Neal was serious. He didn't think anyone in the West was his match.

Kobe? That idiot is just waiting to tear the Lakers apart.

Roger? The world knew that the most likely place for Roger to go was New York.

Chris Webber? Who can that jerk beat?
But as soon as the shark finished speaking, ESPN interrupted with an urgent news. And now, only the transfer of a basketball player is worthy of ESPN interrupting with urgent news.

"Latest news! Roger has signed a 2+1 maximum salary contract with the Golden State Warriors. The Bay Area has welcomed their king, and the West will completely change from now on!"

The shark was stunned for a moment, then looked at Cuban awkwardly.

He had just boasted about making it to the finals, and here comes Roger?

Damn Roger, this damn tacit understanding!

Meanwhile, Reebok's basketball department was considering how to promote Roger's transfer.

Reebok will definitely not miss this opportunity and must give this transfer a loud theme to hype it up.

As he was thinking about it, someone from the Propaganda Department slammed the table.

"I have a good name. Let's call it 'The Nomadic Dynasty Sets Sail Again'! It means that Roger can establish a dynasty in every place. What do you think?"

Todd Klinsky, president of the basketball department, nodded and said, "Rudy, I have to say, you are a real talent!"
-
Shaquille O'Neal, tragedy itself. I think he will miss the days when he could at least play in the finals. - Los Angeles Times

The East finally sees the light of day, and the chance for all Eastern Conference teams has come! Can the Detroit Pistons return to the Finals? - "Slam Dunk".

No matter what, the Los Angeles Lakers will never have a winning rate lower than 50% under my leadership! - Kobe Bryant talks about the departure of the Sharks.

Roger, New York's eternal enemy! ——The New York Times

Oakland and San Francisco have five professional sports teams combined, but from now on, we only have one Bay Area king! - San Francisco Chronicle

If the team doesn't win the championship within five years, I will get married. - Mikhail Prokhorov

Atlanta's brilliant dynasty was successfully established, but this was not the end for Roger. The emperor of the basketball world set out again, and the great nomadic dynasty continued to set sail! - "Sports Illustrated".

(End of this chapter)