Start coaching the Thunder, starting with Westbrook

Chapter 14 The Eve
The draft conference is over, and the representatives of each team will also leave the scene and go back to their respective homes.

When Popovich came out, he saw Li Sheng and Presti coming together, and he didn't know what was going on.

Because the signing has not been announced to the public, Li Sheng naturally did not tell Popovich, but he had informed him before, and now Popovich can think of it with his toes.

It's just that he was also curious. If it wasn't for the position of head coach, it would be better for Li Sheng to stay in the familiar place of the Spurs. In this way, the Thunder should have promised him the position of head coach.

What about Brooks?
Anyway, he is also the coach who led the team to the finals. This year, it was also because of Westbrook's injury that he stopped the second round.
Popovich didn't think that Li Sheng's limelight in the finals would make him fall into the eyes of the boss of the Thunder, and then directly find him to replace a meritorious bishop like Brooks.

Do you still consider the feelings of the core players?

Even for Popovich himself, the position of coach in the early years was not so stable, it depends on Duncan's face - and then he saw that Duncan was expressionless, hehehe...

Of course, Popovich also noticed Durant who was walking on the other side of them. It seemed that he was not dissatisfied, and he didn't know if he knew about it. It stands to reason that he would not hide it from him.

At this time, Popovich suddenly thought of the draft results of the Thunder just now, and his heart suddenly moved. He immediately went up to greet Presti and Durant, then turned to Li Sheng and said, "Lee, let's go to the side for a chat?"

Of course, Li Sheng had noticed Popovich long ago, but even if he had known about it earlier, he still felt a little embarrassed when they met on such an occasion.

But Popovich came to him on his own initiative, and it was impossible for him to refuse, so he told Presti and walked aside to chat with Popovich.

After Li Sheng left, Durant couldn't help asking curiously: "Coach Li...does he have a good relationship with Coach Popovich?"

Presti was a little surprised at the change of his title, but he didn't think too much about it. He smiled and said, "Maybe, you should have seen the post-match press conference of the finals, how Craig praised him."

When it comes to the finals, Durant's heart is hot again, and he has only played in the finals, but Li Sheng is in the championship uniform group.

Compared with winning the championship in the first year and leaving behind himself, maybe there is something different about him, what can he bring to the Thunder?
Here Popovich chatted casually with Li Sheng first, and then asked him about coaching the Thunder.

Li Sheng kept his mouth shut, but Popovich already knew what was going on, and smiled immediately: "Then congratulations, by the way, your team just chose that Gobert, are you interested..."

Although Li Sheng actually didn't get along with this old man much, he knew him through various news in his previous life, and he knew that he was shrewd and calculating, so he knew what shit he was doing as soon as he pouted his ass, and immediately smiled: "You should know, I can't make the decision."

Popovich believed him a ghost. If it weren't for him, how could the Thunder choose the Greek with the 26th overall pick and the Frenchman with the [-]th overall pick?
European players are his favorite. In the future, if not for the increasing proportion of international players in the NBA, and more and more of them playing or even becoming the core, I am afraid that the market for international players in the draft will still not be optimistic in many cases?

In fact, the Thunder did not deploy scouts in Europe, so most of the Thunder's rookies and free agents are American or have played well in the United States.

Presti this time is entirely because of the boss's support for Li Sheng, and Li Sheng also persuaded him with that set of rhetoric before, so that he listened to Li Sheng's suggestion and finally made such a decision.

Popovich has dealt with Presti a lot, and he thinks he knows him very well, but Li Sheng has said so, and Popovich can actually understand it. After all, the rookie coach has just taken over, so he should act cautiously.

He didn't expect Li Shengnian to repay the Spurs so soon because of his friendship. He mainly came here to test out and establish friendship, so he quickly patted Li Sheng on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Okay, come on, kid. I look forward to seeing you in the opponent's bench in the new season."

"Me too..." Li Sheng smiled, but he didn't want to fight with him anymore.

After saying goodbye to Popovich, the two returned to their respective teams. Li Sheng suddenly noticed that Durant seemed to be looking at him, and looked back at him, and saw him grinning and showing his bright white teeth.

I don't know if it's because of the obvious contrast of dark skin, or because of racial talent, the teeth of black people seem to be particularly white.

Li Sheng knew that he would not show affection to him for no reason, and thought that Presti should have said something to him just now, so he also smiled back, and then patted Durant's... butt-he swore that he really didn't do it on purpose, anyway, he was close to 1.8 meters tall, but beside Adu, who was the height of a center, he was almost like a child.

Presti asked curiously, "What did Popovich tell you?"

"Ask if we can trade Gobert to them..."

"Hehe..." Presti smiled, as if he didn't quite believe it, and he didn't know whether he believed that Popovich would not be so direct, or whether he believed that Li Sheng would say it so bluntly.

Li Sheng didn't explain, but also smiled.

Although they didn't come all the way with Durant before, they had to go back to Oklahoma anyway, plus the four rookies and their respective agents, as well as the staff from the Thunder and the team.

When Li Sheng came from San Antonio before, because he didn't know how much the system's "invitation letter" was worth, he still kept the house he rented in San Antonio, and most of his luggage was still there. He stayed at Presti's house temporarily in Oklahoma City for the past two days.

Of course, after signing the contract, Presti also arranged for someone to start looking for a house for him.

The two-year contract Li Sheng signed with the Thunder was only 200 million in the first year and 300 million in the second year, a total of 500 million US dollars. Compared with the players, it is of course a child, but compared to the position of coach, especially for a rookie, it is already quite good.

We must know that after the salary increase in the future, Cole, the Warriors' triple crown coach, only made 3000 million in three years, and Popovich's future annual salary will reach more than 1100 million. This is because he also serves as the general manager.

Brooks, the former head coach of the Thunder, has an annual salary of only 500 million.

Of course, whether the 500 million can be obtained depends on Li Sheng's personal performance. If he leads the team well enough in the past two years, and even wins the championship, not only will he have an extra bonus, but he can also renew his contract in advance and exchange it for a big contract.

But if the record does not advance but retreats, it is impossible for Bennett to continue to support him no matter how much he believes in him. Otherwise, the players and fans, including the general manager Presti, will rebel.

Of course, Li Sheng definitely has the confidence to help the team improve, because the team's foundation is still there, and fresh blood has been added. The technical and tactical level of the predecessor is not bad.

Not to mention, he also has systematic help.

But before that, he had to go through the "torture" of the media first...

(End of this chapter)