The Godfather of Basketball

The NBA draft is linked to the regular season record, and the draft pick at this time has also undergone some slight changes from the previous life.

The Rockets ranked first in the league in the regular season last season, which means that they have the 30th pick in the first round and the 60th pick in the second round.

Because the second-round pick has been traded before, what the Rockets have in this year's draft is actually only the 30th pick in the first round.

Regarding who to choose, Tang Tian and Morey had already discussed before departure. The first goal is Nicholas Batum, and the second goal is DeAndre Jordan.

Novak's contract expires this season, and whether to renew it has not yet been decided. Although Pietrus swung over to serve as a substitute for most of last season, it is necessary to prepare a potential rookie in this position.

This was the result of discussions between Tang Tian and Morey. Batum had also tried out for the Rockets and was affirmed by Morey.

But even Tang Tian wasn't sure that Batum would fall to this position. Although he was selected by the Rockets in his previous life, he was the 25th pick at that time.

If Batum can't be selected, then Jordan, the second-round bead, is the second choice.

If Gasol hadn't been selected last year, then Jordan would have been Tang Tian's first choice, but now that Gasol is here, choosing Jordan is plan B, hoarding talent and preparing for Gasol's possible departure .

Everything is in plan, it depends on who the Rockets will choose in the end.

On the evening of June 27, 2008, American time, fans of various teams poured into the Madison Garden Arena, and the jerseys of the 30 teams in the arena complement each other.

There were more than a thousand Rockets fans present. The team has won the championship for two consecutive years. Coupled with the excellent vision of the draft in the past two years, they appear to be particularly high-profile this year.

Of course, this also attracted the envy and jealousy of many fans of other teams.

This is holding the championship, and can continue to search for treasures at low positions. On the other hand, the rookies selected by other teams in the first season may not be as good as the low-position drafts of the Rockets. It is really popular.

After everything was ready, the 2008 NBA Draft officially kicked off in the live broadcast of more than 200 TV stations around the world.

Familiar environment, familiar Stern, familiar taste.

The only difference is that with the advancement of technology, the draft background arranged on the scene has a more technological sense.

"The No. 1 pick in 2008 belonged to the Chicago Bulls, and they had five minutes to think about it."

Although the draft picks have changed, that change is limited to the strong players, that is, the first and second rounds. The top three picks and the lottery haven't changed much.

"The first pick in the first round of the NBA in 2008, the Chicago Bulls selected Derrick Rose, a 1.91 meter point guard, from the University of Memphis."

The Bulls made the same choice as in the previous life.

After Rose was selected, he put on the Bulls hat handed over by the staff, and walked onto the stage with a happy face.

Becoming the No. 1 pick is the best start.

"The Chicagoans chose Rose in the end. They already had Keke Hinrich, and Beasley was obviously a better choice." In the Rockets' small draft room, Jones also communicated with others.

"The performance of Beasley University is crazy. I think Chicago is worth a try, but you also know the tradition of the draft now, the point guard is the first." Morey said, he is doing data analysis, and it seems that he is more optimistic Beasley.

Tang Tian didn't say anything at this time. Beasley University's honors are really a bit exaggerated. USBWA named the best rookie in the United States, Pete Newell's best interior player of the year, the absolute core of the U19 US team, and the university averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. ...

With this data, it is not too much to say that James is a college student.

It's just that the biggest difference with James is that Beasley's body is much smaller, and there are really a lot of off-court problems.

In the previous life, many fans imagined that Beasley would play Durant-style statistics after being selected by the Bulls, but this seems a bit unrealistic. Let’s not talk about shooting stability and defensive issues. The cultivation of students is far less than the later majors.

The Heat selected Michael Beasley with the second overall pick.

The Timberwolves drafted OJ Mayo at No. 3, then promptly traded him to the Grizzlies.

With the fourth overall pick, the Sonics selected backup point guard Russell Westbrook from the UCLA Bruins.

The Grizzlies took Westbrook's UCLA teammate Kevin Love with the fifth pick and traded to the Timberwolves.

...

The lottery draft hasn't changed much like it did in the previous life.

With one hot rookie picked off one after another, the draft unknowingly came to the 25th pick.

This draft pick belonged to the Rockets in the previous life, but because of the record, it has become the Pistons.

After getting out of the lottery, people in the Rockets' draft room have been paying attention to the draft situation all the time. When they reached the 25th pick, Tang Tian also began to stare at the small TV in the room.

"With the 25th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected DJ White, a 2.06-meter power forward from Indiana University."

With Stern's announcement, everyone in the Rockets draft room breathed a sigh of relief.

Tang Tian also calmed down. It seems that the position of each team has been basically determined, and it will not change because of a slight change in the pick.

The Hornets selected Dante Green with the 26th overall pick.

History has changed slightly here. This important bargaining chip used by the Rockets to trade Artest went directly to New Orleans.

The Spurs selected George Hill with the 27th overall pick.

Morey has been trying to trade up picks in the process, but has been as unsuccessful as his pre-draft attempts.

Although it is late in the first round, after all, there is only one draft pick in hand, and no one wants the person they fancy to be intercepted.

And the attraction that the Rockets can give chips is relatively limited.

"The 28th pick in the first round of 2008, the Grizzlies selected..."

As Stern emerged from the backstage of the draft for the 28th time, all eyes in the Rockets cabin were on the small TV.

"Darrell Arthur, 2'06 power forward, from the University of Kansas."

"yeah!"

When the Grizzlies chose, the Rockets cabin cheered.

The Celtics have Pierce, Powe and Posey, and they will never want Batum. If the Grizzlies do not choose, it means that the Rockets will win Batum.

Tang Tian also clenched his fists at this time.

The next choice is the Celtics, and the Rockets' meeting room has already begun to discuss the Barea trade.

"Ding!"

At this moment, Tang Tian's cell phone vibrated.

He picked it up and saw that it was a short message from Woj.

Looking at the above information, he froze for a moment, then smiled wryly unconsciously.