NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 231: All for Benefit (Daily Chapter)
On June 2001, 6, when the draft ended that night, the sports media began to comment.

Madison Square Garden is the home of the Knicks, and the New York media is the most active.

The Knicks would have nothing in this year's draft without the help of championship guard Sprewell.

Because the Timberwolves were forfeited draft picks, the Knicks finally selected Trenton Hassell with the 28th pick;
With the 47th pick, the Knicks selected power forward Antonis Forsis from Greece;

With the 50th pick (a second-round pick from the Suns), the Knicks selected Jaylon Collins, a 2-meter big man from Stanford University.

Affected by the record, the Knicks' draft picks are basically worthless.

Most of the players selected are in the atmosphere group. The bottom pick in the first round is given up after two years of salary, and the second round pick is basically eliminated in one year.

This is also the reason why many low-ranking players don’t like to play for the Knicks. If you come here, don’t expect to be successful.
The case of Ben Wallace is somewhat special. After in-depth digging by the sports media over the years, everyone knows that "Little Ben" was taken care of by Oakley.

If a second-round pick doesn't have a "relationship", don't expect to make a splash with the Knicks.

It was an accident that Lewis fell into the second round, and a big man who can shoot three-pointers is also a rare attribute in the league. The "rough guy" picked in the second round really doesn't have that.

There were also some Knicks fans at the draft. It was not too big of a deal to have fun, and many of them even held up photos of Sprewell—the real champion guard!

Bulls general manager Krause kept a straight face the whole time, and Sprewell's statistics were very good, ranking among the best in the league.

In many games, it's easy to get 20+ points. For the current Bulls, this guy is definitely responsible for the strength.

What is confusing is that good data does not mean winning. The Bulls had some internal conflicts last season because of the ball rights.

This time, the championship guard will be given a new inside partner. If there are no results, Sprewell will most likely say goodbye to Chicago.

Li You understood the real situation. Sprewell was just a mess. The brother confessed to him when he was drunk.
Winning a championship, having a big contract, and being the boss of the Bulls. With all these conditions, playing football has almost become a side job.

This situation is not uncommon. It should be said that this is the true performance of most players in the NBA. Training is too hard and there are too many games. "What are you afraid of when you have money?" is the common denominator of players.

The New York media doesn't care at all about the low-ranked players. Just by looking at them, they don't look like superstars!

In contrast, Pau Gasol, a handsome young man, fits most people's perception of a star player.

Although the agency had already informed Gasol and confirmed that he would play in New York without even having to pay out of his own pocket for the club to buy him out, Gasol's face turned red with excitement after he was selected and then traded.

Wearing a black suit, white shirt, and dark blue tie, Gasol was quickly surrounded by the New York media when he took a makeup photo with a Knicks hat.

As we all know, Li You doesn't like fat Eddie Curry, and Jeff Van Gundy loves Tyson Chandler.

The rumors have long been confirmed. After all, when the Knicks sent out a trial invitation, they only invited Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, and Pau Gasol.

Eddie Curry, known as the "Baby Shark", was so angry when he heard the news. After being traded to the Hawks in the draft, he did not forget to complain a few words during an interview:
"I prefer Atlanta to New York. I will prove myself and I am confident that I will lead the Hawks to rise again!"

"."

It’s a pity that after blowing the whistle, most sports media are listening in one ear and hearing it in the other. Not all genuine “Big Sharks” will work, and pirated “Little Sharks” will most likely end up as fishing in a few years.

Pau Gasol, who was surrounded on the other side, was answering questions from the New York media in broken English:

"I have always followed the NBA. Being able to play in the highest level league in the world is a dream come true!"

"Yes, of course I like the Knicks. They have won the championship for four consecutive years. I think fans all over the world like this team."

The New York Times likes Gasol's "superstar face" very much. Although he looks a bit soft, after a few years of polishing, he has a high probability of becoming an All-Star:
"Pau, you will play with Lee next season. What are your expectations for the first season of your career?"

Knowing that you have to brag when answering such a question and cannot be humble, Paul Gasol said in simple sentences:

"Lee is a superstar. I think I can learn a lot by playing next to him. I won the championship in the Spanish League. In my first season, I want to win the Rookie of the Year first."

"I know my strengths. I can help Li and help the team. I can't wait to play!"

"."

Most of the New York media are circling around Pau Gasol, and the one receiving the most attention on the other side is Kwame Brown.

High school players have not experienced the training of the college basketball system, and they lack tactical awareness.

However, in recent years, as high school rookies have generally made a name for themselves, prejudice has become less and less.

Mark Bartelstein was worried that the No. [-] pick he signed said the wrong thing, so he helped deal with media reporters throughout the process.

Unlike Li You, Kwame Brown, who has not yet entered college, has a childish personality.

Charles Oakley doesn't like the No. [-] pick, and he doesn't like Hamilton, who plays a role in the team.

Generally speaking, the two parties can't get along. Oakley likes to smoke cigars, play with girls, and drink. He dresses maturely, likes to pretend to be a boss, and flaunts himself as a member of the upper class.

Some young players like to play games, lively nightclubs, and personalized clothing.

Both sides look down on the other, but the old guy has a higher say. Therefore, it is not an easy task for Kwame Brown to get ahead in the Wizards.

Most media reporters don’t know that Michael Jordan plans to come back. After all, the man said that he was 99.9% retired.
When interviewing No. [-] pick Kwame Brown, most of the questions asked were related to leading the team to rise:
"I am the best player in this class. I love playing for McNugget. He is our idol. I am very happy to be able to play next to my idol."

Keeping his agent's words in mind, Kwame Brown worked hard to show his confidence, and no one made it difficult for him. After all, he still had to give Mark Bartelstein some face.

Tony Parker, who was drafted by the Spurs, looked at the two people surrounded by reporters and was a little envious for a moment. No one paid any attention to him at this time.
Michael Jordan did not forget Li You. After the draft, the two got together to chat about the private training camp.

Even though he knew that his physical function was declining, McQueen still believed that he was better than most players in the league.

Both of them were dressed in dark gray formal suits, chatting and laughing on the sidelines, and soon attracted many media reporters.

Noticing the media from Chicago, Maikou pulled Li You and said with a smile:

"I'm going back to Chicago to start a training camp this offseason, and I invited Lee, but this guy doesn't seem willing to accept my invitation!"

"He lost to me many times in Las Vegas. I don't want to be dragged into playing golf. In this regard, he should challenge Tiger Woods. Although the opponent is a fan of his, I guarantee that Mike will lose a lot. awful."

Li You didn't care when he was exposed, but laughed loudly from the sidelines. It was obvious that he was in a particularly beautiful mood after being selected as the top pick.

The reporter in Chicago was a little curious when he heard about the training camp. He roughly guessed that it was a hook activity, so he asked casually:
"Maiko, is the training camp a brand activity?"

"No, I just want to understand my physical condition. You know, sometimes I also want to move my body."

As soon as Michael Jordan finished speaking, many people suddenly realized something and couldn't help but whisper.

Li You looked at Maikou beside him who was smiling silently and still teasing reporters, and couldn't help but laugh secretly in his heart:
"The days of losing numbness are still to come!"

On June 6, at the Westwood Village Theater in Los Angeles, Li You was dressed in a black formal suit, followed by Scarlett in a little black dress.

At the premiere of "Beauty and Crazy", Li You came to the scene. Before he could wave, he was booed by some Los Angeles reporters, and then everyone laughed again.

Obviously many reporters are Lakers fans. They just lost the finals, so they naturally started to boo when they saw Li You.

Starting from 18 o'clock, celebrities came one after another to support the show.

Many media reporters know that unlike young players who like to play games, Li You prefers watching movies.

Whenever there is a premiere in New York, I will go there to support it, but this is my first time in Los Angeles.

Director Stockwell is indeed very respectable. Although it is a cliché romance film, it attracted many stars to support it.

Scarlett, who was on the side, held Li You in her arms, moved her steps cautiously, and complained in a low voice:
"Slow down a little bit, it's my first time wearing such high shoes!"

After her last movie hit the market, Scarlett frequently returned to California in order to find a job. Unfortunately, the film industry seems to be a bit superstitious, and she couldn't get a good job for a while.
"Li, are you planning to leave New York? This is your first time appearing at a premiere outside New York!"

Everyone started to boo again, but Li You didn't care. He pointed to the movie poster on the other side and said with a smile:

"It happens to be the offseason. I actually like Los Angeles very much. The weather here is really nice!"

"."

Everyone chatted and posed for photos. Jimmy Fallon, who was also wearing a formal suit, quickly hugged Li You:

"Thanks, Bro! I knew you were coming!"

Li You didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had really not planned to attend the movie premiere before. If it weren't for the invitation from his friends, he wouldn't be interested in clichéd love movies.

At this point in time, computers and games have no appeal to him, and watching classic "old movies" has become Li You's main pastime in his spare time.

"Are you serious? Don't you like the sister type? Oh, even though Dunst is young, she does feel like a sister."

Li You hugged his friend and began to whisper. Scarlett, who had a sore foot on the side, covered her mouth and laughed. Dunst, who was also a child star, became more and more anxious as he grew older. He really looked old-fashioned.
While casually greeting people around him, Jimmy Fallon showed a wry smile. After his partner hosted MTV, he was obsessed with this chick:
"We are just ordinary friends. I don't like to associate with big stars."

Li You pouted quietly. This guy didn't mean what he said. The two had known each other for many years and already knew each other's preferences:

"Back in New York, I have a party and I invited Nicole. Didn't you watch Moulin Rouge several times? Do you want to attend?"

No longer pretending, Jimmy Fallon nodded quickly and almost burst out laughing, but Li You once again leaned into his friend's ear and whispered:
"Hollywood actresses over 30 may start thinking about family!"

"."

Although not everyone can be a successor, Li You still has to remind him that just like Jennifer Connelly, she has already started looking for a father for her children.

Kristen Dunst, who was wearing a white dress on the other side, quietly moved to the two of them, hugged Jimmy Fallon, and smiled:
"It's great to see you here, Lee! Thanks for coming to my premiere!"

The 19-year-old Dunst looks a little anxious, but she dresses "generous and rich" and knows how to show off her sexy side.

"What a bitch!"

Scarlett quietly glanced at the headlight on the opposite side and complained in her heart.

Everyone was chatting and laughing in low voices, and the atmosphere was very good. As the "generous and rich" Dunst left, Scarlett complained in a low voice:
"She has great resources and always receives some good scripts."

Li You didn't care about Scarlett who was suddenly "envious". He hugged her and comforted her in a low voice:
"When you reach her age, maybe you will become a big star!"

There is a high probability that I will have to continue to rush in the future. There are too many vases in Hollywood and a lot of beautiful girls. If you want to get ahead, it is destined to take another two years.
Even though Jimmy Fallon kept promising that the movie was good to watch, Li You still couldn't arouse much interest in it. The story of a poor boy and a rich girl is not good for an old American.
In the film, Dunst once again showed off her sexy figure and is indeed "generous and wealthy".Scarlett on the side rolled her eyes again while watching the movie, then suddenly leaned into Li You's ear and whispered:
"I don't want to go home tonight!"

In California, she mainly stayed with her mother, and in Manhattan she was taken care of by her father. Without discipline, the girl wanted to indulge.

Even though he put on an adult face, he still looked extremely young. Li You glanced at the girl and his fantasy of practicing "big ball" was shattered.

On the morning of the 29th, I practiced small ball all night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. When I got up and saw Scarlett handing over the nail polish with a smile, Li You knew that the other party was going to reenact the scene from last night's movie.

Not caring at all about how naked she looked, Scarlett, who had her feet grabbed, lay on the bed laughing.

After watching Li You apply nail polish on himself and pull up the pillow, the girl asked with a smile:

"Li, how many girlfriends have you had?"

Li You didn't even raise his head. At this time, his obsessive-compulsive disorder broke out. He applied nail polish seriously and said casually:

"I don't remember, but every time it was the girls who took the initiative to break up. The reason was that I was too good to them."

She twisted her body and laughed again. When she saw the clothes scattered beside the bed, Scarlett's face turned slightly red and she quickly asked:
"Will you marry sister Milinda? You have been dating since college."

Li You still didn't raise his head and continued to respond casually:

"Of course, I am a good and responsible man!"

Seemingly not getting the answer she wanted, the girl curled her lips secretly, and then asked in a low voice:
"Where's Jin? You're so kind to her. You didn't forget to take her with you to the mayor's party!"

"We will also get married, didn't I say that? I am a good and responsible man."

"Don't try to lie to me! You have to answer seriously."

"God has not stipulated that a man can only marry once!"

Li You tells the truth. Few people can win his heart, but young and beautiful girls can always win his heart.
And whoever gets him can unlock more knowledge!

As if she was angry, the girl sat up and jumped directly on Li You. After hugging her, she bit her shoulder hard:
"I have known for a long time that you are a playboy, but my brother likes you so much!"

Unexpectedly, this girl was so physically capable, so Li You simply lifted her up and slowly moved to the window.

Making the other party exclaim, Li You quickly leaned into the girl's ear and whispered jokingly:
"Of course I am telling the truth. Do you still want to continue discussing this topic now?"

Sensing her body's reaction, the girl bit Li You hard again and muttered:
"It's already noon!"

On July 2001, 7, the NBA announced the salary cap for next season at $1 million.

Since the player income BRI will most likely not be triggered, it is very likely that all teams in the league will not pay luxury tax this season.

Although the new regulations have been implemented, if you want to restrain local teams, you will have to wait until next season.

The settlement time for this offseason will be advanced this year, and teams can officially conduct transactions on the 18th.

Although Kukic was sent to the Hawks, he was still in New York at this time. In the past few days, he has been helping rookies Pau Gasol and Fordsis find a house to settle down.

Gasol, who has already played in the professional league, is also considered a millionaire. With the US dollar opening the way, he can naturally enjoy the best services in New York.

Kukic had obviously gained weight. When he saw that Gasol was renting a house near the arena, he suggested in a low voice:

"Daily training is in Tarrytown. You can just rent a small apartment here. It's more convenient to settle near the training facility."

The real estate agent naturally knows a few people, and he doesn't forget to promote the house at this time:

"Lee has a house in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and wants to make his home in New York. He can also consider that area. We can provide the best housing information."

Pau Gasol shook his head. He was also a little worried about whether he could gain a foothold in the Knicks. After all, the coach didn't seem to like him very much.

Jeff Van Gundy is becoming more and more famous as a championship coach. New players will naturally feel a psychological burden when they encounter such a coach.

After looking at the house all morning, Pau Gasol invited Big Brother to have dinner at noon.

I chose a Spanish restaurant, and after I sat down, I was asked for an autograph by enthusiastic fans. After Pau Gasol finished taking a group photo, Kukic introduced the team situation with a smile:

"Pau, don't worry about starting and playing time. Even if coach Van Gundy doesn't like you, as long as Li nods and wants to partner with you, you can start!"

Pau Gasol was slightly taken aback when he heard this, and seemed to have no reaction. Kukic introduced in a low voice:
"This is the NBA and the superstars have the final say. This is completely different from Europe."

"The Knicks' offense is actually very simple. Many times they just give the ball to Lee, and he will decide what tactics to use in each round."

"Head coach Van Gundy and the coaching staff are more responsible for building a defensive system in daily training."

"So, as long as Li feels that it is okay to partner with you, you will definitely get a lot of playing time and you should also get good data."

Pau Gasol was completely dumbfounded. NBA coaches are hosting masters?

Seeing Gasol's surprised expression across from him, Kukic couldn't hold back for a moment and grinned twice:
"If you have good numbers, you might even be an All-Star in your first year. That's the benefit of playing in New York."

"The media here have a lot of say. As long as they recognize you, it will be much easier to get honors than other teams."

The situation was completely different from what he expected. Pau Gasol nodded subconsciously, and then suddenly asked:
“What will happen if there is no recognition from the media?”

Kukchi suddenly remembered Ewing, who had suffered consecutive defeats before:
"If you fail to get recognition from fans and media, you will probably be booed at home. People here prefer winning and their tolerance for failure is very low."

Nodding thoughtfully, Pau Gasol has yet to experience what it's like to play in New York.

Thinking of the particularly successful career of the big brother opposite him, Pau Gasol suddenly asked:
"Michael Jordan or Lee, who do you think is a better teammate? Who is stronger?"

The Dream Team made the world aware of the NBA, and Pau Gasol grew up watching the McDuck game. Li You, who is only 3 years older than him and has achieved exaggerated honors, naturally wants to know more about it.

When he was with the Bulls, Kukic was ostracized, but when he came to the Knicks, he spent most of his time with the Knicks:
"It's hard to compare the strengths of the two, after all, their playing styles are completely different."

"Neither of them are good teammates. Mike will lose his temper on the training ground and make strict demands on his teammates, while Li never makes demands, but when he feels that your ability and attitude are not enough, he will not even think about starting."

"The two have completely different ways of leading the team. Michael is a stern bastard, and Lee should be ruthless, but as long as you can perform well, both of them will recognize you."

Pau Gasol was confused again. He thought Li You was easy to talk to. On the day of the draft, the other party smiled and encouraged him for a long time, but now he told him that these impressions were wrong?

He was leaving the Knicks anyway, so Kukic let himself go and continued:

"There is no pure basketball in the NBA, and there are no secrets in playing in New York."

"Be careful not to complain in front of the media. The reporters here have a good relationship with Li. They are simply mouthpieces. Play seriously and I believe you can succeed in New York."

"."

Li You, who returned to New York, received an invitation from "Xiao Ben", including Larry Johnson and Alan Houston.

The four met at an indoor golf course not far from New Jersey, a club where members of the Knicks often come.

Putting on golf suits, several people chatted casually while swinging golf clubs.

After bragging and spanking, Larry Johnson suddenly said:
"I plan to officially retire this year. I don't want to suffer from back injuries anymore. As long as the contract can be bought out, I should enjoy life."

"That's a lot of money, it should be enough for me to pay those child support!"

Hearing the other party's self-deprecation, several people did not laugh. Alan Houston even frowned and asked in a low voice:

"32 years old? After the contract is over, you can continue to play for a few more years."

Patting his stomach and gesturing to his chest, Larry Johnson said seriously:
"Last season, I was recovering in pain, but I still had problems managing my body."

"We play to make a lot of money. Now I am satisfied. I have a championship and a lot of money. As long as I don't spend money randomly, it is enough for me to enjoy a prosperous life in New York."

Alan Houston did not refute, because he is currently pursuing a big contract, and his agent is still arguing with the team. For the last contract of his career, he needs a long-term contract.

Li You was also a little surprised when he suddenly announced his retirement. But seeing Larry Johnson's disinterested look, he knew that what he said was true:
"You should find a job after you retire. I'm worried that your child support will increase. After all, there are too many beautiful girls in New York."

Larry Johnson laughed when he heard that he would be old if he didn't play with girls. After returning to New York, the party must start!

Ben Wallace, who had his hair tied up, was also laughing along with him. After being traded, the relationship between everyone did not change.

As a mature player, he naturally understands that business is business.

Ben Wallace looked at a few people and seemed to recall the days when he was negotiating the contract. He was slightly depressed, but he still said:
"Lee, I plan to go to the Pistons. My agent told me that the Hawks will most likely not provide me with a stable starting position."

"I want to go to a weak team first and get more data, so that I can sign a big contract in the future."

Li You was not surprised when he heard "Xiao Ben's" plan. Larry Johnson retired and the Pistons were completely rebuilt:

"It is indeed a good plan. If you want to get a big contract, in addition to data, you also need more honors. No one will share rebounds with you. Winning the rebounding champion is good."

Soon the four of them started chatting. Everyone had a championship. They talked about the future, mostly about how to make money.

Larry Johnson is the most down-to-earth guy. He plans to find a job with the Knicks. If the alimony payments explode, he will have a plan.
Alan Houston hopes to get a six-year long-term contract, retire immediately after executing this contract, and then become a basketball coach like his father.

Of course, if given the opportunity, Alan Houston hopes that he can join the Knicks coaching staff and serve as an assistant coach, so that he will still have a lot of salary after retirement.

"Small Ben" hopes that he can produce good data, be recognized by more people, and then sign a big contract, and his career will be completely complete.

Several people called out to friends and ended up having fun late at night. The black-style nightclub was still extremely noisy late at night.

Li You looked at the rolls of beautiful knives in front of the booth, and looked at the drunk people, hugging the girl and chewing randomly, and secretly sighed in his heart:

"Everything in the world is turbulent for the benefit of others."

"."

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(End of this chapter)