The rest is just noise

After the Lakers won the championship this year, the system was officially formed, which means that starting from this year, they will pay more attention to the functionality of players rather than absolute strength in the draft and offseason signings.

So after locking in Duncan, they still have to determine the 59th pick in the second round.

There really aren't many options for this position.

Last year, there was a big baby named Ben Wallace. Who among this year’s undrafted players is more famous?

Louis has a bad mind and cannot remember those unknown people, even though the timeline has reached 1997.

However, how many people can remember the undrafted draft in 1997?

Therefore, he gave full play to his prerogatives as president and gave West the full responsibility for this matter. After all, the LOGO man is also a restless person.

What Louis needs to handle is Greg Ostertag's transaction.

Although he appreciates Ostertag's dedication to the team, it is inappropriate, especially since the team does not currently have the need to reserve a big center for O'Neal.

Even if there is this need, after Duncan comes, they will have better manpower to face the Sharks.

Ostertag will enter a contract year with Garnett next year.

If he continues to stay with the Lakers, he will still only play a few minutes per game as a substitute, which will also be a great disadvantage to his financial prospects. No matter how you consider it, trading Ostertag is a decision that is beneficial to both parties.

The person who is most positive about this is Minnesota's Kevin McHale.

At first, McHale wanted to do it for free.

After Louis saw his intention, he opened his mouth and asked for Ray Allen.

"Coach, there's no way Ostertag can replace Ray Allen!" McHale didn't believe Coach Lu would treat him like this.

Louis said angrily: "Yes, he is definitely not worth trading for Ray Allen, but in my opinion, he can definitely get something back for us."

"Coach, tell me what you want. Except for the first-round picks this year and the next five years, as well as Juwan Howard, Kenny Anderson, and Ray Allen, there is nothing we can't trade."

That being said, all valuable things in your team are not for sale, so what else is there to talk about?

Fortunately, Louis is by no means an unkind person.

He knew McHale didn't want to make the same mistake as Danny Ainge, so he was very aggressive about the draft picks.

But Louis doesn't want his draft pick either.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in what you're talking about. You just need to do one thing for me, and Greg will be yours."

"As you command."

"Go negotiate a deal with Sacramento."

McHale asked confusedly: "What deal?"

"I have my eye on an overseas player, and his signing rights are in the hands of the Kings. You go and get it, and then Greg will be yours."

"Oh? Are there any overseas players that coach you are so interested in? What's his name?"

Louis said without reservation: "Dejan Bodiloga."

"Coach, if I find this player can be of use to me, can what we said on the phone count?"

"Okay." Louis said with a smile, "But you can't call me again from now on."

"Haha, I was joking."

"I like your jokes, just like the orangutan's cold jokes that make people laugh."

"This is a bit much."

Louis believed McHale could secure the signing rights for Bodilloga.

This kind of thing needs to be done by a management rookie like McHale so that no one will be suspicious.

If Louis goes to talk to the Kings, Bodilloga will probably have to wait until he is 44 years old in this life, just like in his previous life, before the Kings give up his signing rights.

⑴Bodiloga retired at the age of 34

Moreover, it is not easy for multiple parties to participate in this kind of thing.

If suddenly multiple teams are interested in Bodilloga, the Kings will still have to wait for the highest offer even if they don't keep him.

Therefore, just let McHale do it and see the effect. If it fails, wait until the offseason to make an irresistible offer to the Kings through other relationships.

Before the draft began, the first team to complete the transaction was the Portland Trail Blazers.

Riley resigned and the Trail Blazers were leaderless. Jordan seemed to have given up and took no interest in the team's affairs. As soon as the season ended, he fled to the casino and gambled crazily for days and nights, and then there was no news again.

Clifford Robinson's punch to Rex Chapman in the Western Conference Finals tore apart the relationship.

The Trail Blazers, who wanted to reorganize their lineup, decisively cut their teeth and made a deal.

The Trail Blazers sent Rex Chapman in exchange for George Mulesan, Isaiah Leder and this year's No. 18 pick.

This transaction revealed two pieces of information.

The Cavaliers decided to use the existing lineup as the basis for in-depth formation.

The Leder and Muresan they paid for are useless players to them. The former has the ability to average 15 points per game when he lets go, but he basically doesn't defend on the court and has a lot of trouble off the court. Muresan

Before the Cavaliers prostituted Mourning for nothing last year, I felt like everything was better, but when compared with Mourning, the difference is simply beyond words.

Using two useful but awkward players with a mid-to-late first-round pick in exchange for an All-Star small forward is definitely a reinforcement.

The Trail Blazers seem to be planning to rebuild rather than reorganize, because the top five players of any championship team should not have Leder and Muresan.

The night before the draft, after Louis' painstaking planning, the Knicks also chose to trade.

June 27

NBA official announcement: The New York Knicks will send Shawn Kemp and Jerome Williams to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Cedric Ceballos, Rick Mahorn and the 1999 first-round draft pick.

right.

The New York Times published a headline article titled "The End of an Era."

Based on Kemp's position in the Knicks dynasty, his departure is far less serious than Louis and Wilson.

But the damage this incident caused to the fans and the impact it had on the team was no less than the departure of Louis and Wilson.

Not to mention Kemp's outstanding contributions to the Knicks, judging from his age, when Ewing gets old, he will be his successor.

Kemp has always been Ewing's toady.

However, because of money, this beautiful relationship that should have been a good story for countless people was completely destroyed.

Kemp wanted the second-highest salary on the team, but the Knicks, who wanted to save money, refused.

Kemp was angry that his efforts were not rewarded, and he was even more dissatisfied that Ewing never came forward to speak for him. But before today, he was still saying that he wanted to play for the Knicks and planned to retire in New York in the future.

Then, the transaction happened.

This was a bolt from the blue, shattering the fans' last illusions.

"I thought Leader would become New York's Reed Auerbach, and I was wrong; I thought Benj would become New York's Larry Bird, and I was wrong too; I thought Sean would be Patrick's support when he gets older.

The team guy, but I was wrong again.

This is the most disappointing day in my life. I can't bear this outcome, just like I can't forget how proud they once stood together.

From now on, we have to face an aging team. They are no longer a dynasty, no longer a contender for the world championship, or even a strong team. And in the shadow of the Dolan family

I don't see any hope of revival for this team either.

Accept it, fans, professional basketball in New York is dead!"

Dave Anderson, the Times' top sports writer, wrote sadly and angrily in the last few paragraphs of the article.

Louis, who was in Los Angeles and almost single-handedly created this deal, didn't feel anything.

Did he dismantle the Knicks? No, he just offered a mutually acceptable plan, and the Lakers didn't get any benefits.

Camp is destined to go, the only difference is where to go.

As for the significance of losing Kemp to the Knicks, he has no intention of pursuing it because many unimaginable things have happened before.

The Knicks are the laughing stock of the league now. No one respects them. They are just doing what they should do.

When a person dies, he must be buried.

If the team's luck is not good, it must brake in time.

Louis feels that the Knicks sending Kemp away now is a sign of their sobriety. With the few cards they have in hand, there may not be a chance to see the Lakers again at the top in the future.

The premise is that the Dolan family will no longer interfere with team affairs, and at the same time, they fully trust the management headed by R.C. Buford and Elgin Baylor.

It sounds hopeless, but how can one not have dreams?

Just dream first, there is everything in the dream.