The Whip of the God of Basketball

Leon felt his chest constricted, and he had a strong urge to pick up the phone in front of him, call Pitino in Boston, and ask him why he made such a choice.

However, he still restrained himself. In the past month, he worked hard, collected data, and wrote scouting reports, just to prove that there was no problem with his choice.

Now, the name that Stern said was not Michael Reid, Leon is sure that there must be more articles behind this, his previous efforts will not be in vain overnight, Pitino and the scouts will not This easily obliterates his achievements.

Chris Wallace quickly returned to his seat. He looked at the silent Leon, as if waiting for him to ask why.

But Leon didn't ask why, he turned his head to look at Wallace and said, "We must have a backup, right?"

Wallace nodded with his lips raised. During the time he knew Leon, what he admired most about Leon was not his observation or calculation ability, but his calm psychological quality.

Wallace himself is neither a player nor a coach. After all, he became the general manager as a fan, so he has never experienced big scenes on the basketball court, and he has no big heart. Just now, Pitty After Nuo called and told him what to do, he felt like he was out of breath -- just like when he drafted Paul Pierce with the 10th pick in 1998.

But that time it was because of excitement, this time it was downright nervous, so that he didn't even have time to open his mouth to tell Leon Pitino what decision he had made.

"There will be a deal soon." Wallace said softly after sitting down next to Leon, and at the same time he took a breath to calm down, because the Dallas Mavericks will hold the twelfth pick next.

Leon stared closely at the draft platform. He glanced at the audience and saw Michael Reid and his mother sitting in the far left of the sixth row. The contact with people has been very smooth. When no other team is optimistic about him, only the Celtics favor him.

Especially the scout from the Celtics left a very good impression on Reed, and Reid also firmly believed that the Celtics would select him in the first round.

However, before the draft, Reid heard rumors that the Celtics might trade the No. 11 pick down to get a lower first-round pick and second-round pick, and then use the second-round pick to win Reid.

Even so, Reid doesn't care too much, his mind has been put on the Celtics, but the Celtics did not trade down in the draft, nor did they win Reed in the eleventh place. This drove him into despair.

Leon clenched his fists, his brain was running fast, collecting all the information related to Etan Thomas in his mind-at this time, Etan Thomas was wearing a Celtic green hat, and was in ** Chatting with the host in the interview area, he also looked dazed.

"Etan Thomas, a power forward from Syracuse University, a strong forward with a tough game ... no, that's not my concern right now, Etan Thomas, Thomas ... yes, the Mavericks want him , It’s the Mavericks, their big-mouthed owner once said he wanted this player, Dallas Mavericks!”

Leon was thinking that Stern had once again stood on the stage, and he announced the results of the team's selection for the twelfth time: "In the first round with the twelfth pick, the Dallas Mavericks chose...from Ohio University Michael Reed!"

Leon almost jumped up from his chair, that's right, he was right, Pitino robbed Ethan Thomas in advance, just to make a deal with the Mavericks!

Such examples are not absent in the previous drafts. Leon has read the details and trading process of all the drafts in the past two decades, and he has long learned that it is not a complete secret which player is selected by which team in the NBA. Many teams decide who they want long before the draft, and the teams will communicate with each other to avoid the situation of robbery.

This is why the Lakers were able to trade from the Hornets to the thirteenth overall rookie Kobe Bryant in 1996. It was not that other teams did not want to take him, but that the Lakers general manager David West had already announced that he wanted to take Kobe. Kobe also made it clear that he would only play for the Lakers. Coupled with West's deep connections in the league, naturally no one will compete with him.

Some teams are not so lucky. In the 1998 draft, everyone knew that the Golden State Warriors with the fifth pick wanted Antawn Jamison, and the Toronto Raptors wanted Vince Carter with the fourth pick. , As a result, the Raptors took Jamison in the fourth place, forcing the Warriors to choose Carter in the fifth place, and then traded with the Raptors to get Jamison and sent a sum of cash.

These transactions flashed through Leon's mind, and his mood became clearer at this time, but he didn't quite understand the purpose of Pitino's doing this, because the Mavericks didn't seem to have the players the Celtics wanted. If the robbery is just to get a sum of cash, it doesn't seem to be in line with Pitino's style.

But Leon knew that Pitino must have some purpose, and it was probably for personal purpose, because judging from Wallace's performance, he didn't even discuss this deal with the team's general manager. Abnormal, no matter what, as the No. 2 figure in the team's operation and an important partner, Wallace has a reason to know such an action in advance, instead of receiving a call to respond temporarily.

What's more, the risk of doing so is very high. If the Mavericks lose their minds and don't want Thomas at all, then the efforts of the Celtics and Leon for nearly a month will be in vain.

Sure enough, in the next pick, the twelfth pick, the Dallas Mavericks took Michael Reed, whom the Celtics wanted.

When Reed stepped onto the stage and put on the blue cap of the Dallas Mavericks, his smile was quite forced. He had bad teeth and a bitter face, and his face was even more ugly. At this time, Michael Reed Probably the only person in the world who is sad because he can't wear a cuckold.

Seeing Reed's twisted face, Leon felt uncomfortable, but he has calmed down. Since the Mavericks also won Reed, it shows that they are indeed willing to trade with the Celtics, because Reed is not there. Mavericks expected draft list.

Leon was no longer in the mood to read the next draft. He stared at the phone in front of him, knowing that if the draft was completed, the phone would notify him.

As time passed by, Wallace and Leon both felt quite difficult, and now things were out of their control. Leon kept observing the commentary booth with the seat down. He knew that if there was a deal between the Celtics and the Mavericks, the host there would get the information and broadcast it immediately. With Leon's ear, he could hear it completely. to what they said.

Finally, when the draft was in the second round, the phone in front of Wallace finally rang.

Wallace grabbed the phone at lightning speed, still didn't speak, just "um" twice, Leon stared at Wallace's face, he could see the change of expression on his face, from loose to He took a deep breath until he frowned, not knowing what news he got.

After hanging up the phone, Wallace turned around and said to Leon: "One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The good news is that the Mavericks have agreed to a deal with us. Michael Reed exchanged Ethan- Thomas; the not so good news is ... it's an added bonus to the trade, we're going to trade guard Adrian Griffin for Dallas Mavericks power forward ... Dennis Rodman."

"Dennis Rodman? But he is no longer on the Mavericks' roster..." The moment Leon heard the name, all doubts were cleared in his mind. His mind is so sharp, he already knows most of the players in the league, including of course the famous bug, Dennis Rodman.

"Sorry Chris, I'm going to make a phone call."