Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

Chapter 187 The free market opens!Sign four All-Stars in a row?Contempt for the Heat's Big Three?
In early July, the NBA free market opened.

As the most high-profile team in the league, the Sonics face being poached almost every summer.

Marc Gasol, who was selected to the best defensive second team last season, was poached by the high salary of the Grizzlies in the rebuilding period. The Grizzlies provided him with a five-year sub-maximum salary of 5 million US dollars. The problem of renewing Durant's contract is unable to match.

The management of the Grizzlies has cooperated with Lu Yong for a season, and they believe in Lu Yong's vision more than other teams. They firmly believe that Lu's products must be high-quality goods, and it is impossible to miss this opportunity to dig for treasure with a hoe.

Like the Grizzlies, the Rockets are also staring at the Supersonics. General Manager Morey failed to poach Lu Yong, so he hit the players with his idea. He poached Dragic with a three-year contract, and he is optimistic about Dragic. Be the second Steve Nash.

Dragic played 51 starts in the Sonics last season. Although he was relegated to the bench in the playoffs, his talent for organizing offenses has long been shown. The contract is not as big as that of Gasol, but as a second-round pick It is also a blessing in disguise.

The most important thing is that Dragic is a member of the Sonics championship. He has rich experience in the playoffs at a young age and is loved by all teams.

Gary Neal chose to join the Spurs. During the offseason, many teams poached him. Among them, the Clippers even offered him a 4-year contract, but in the end Neal chose the Spurs. I don’t know the head coach. What Popovich promised him, in short, his departure from the Sonics this summer is inevitable.

With the joining of two rookies, Jeremy Lin and Stephenson, the supersonic guard line is crowded. It is impossible for the management to offer a high salary to Neil to reduce the salary space. Even if Neal has played well in the past two seasons, he has to say goodbye when.

Sam Presti couldn't help but feel pain every offseason, as if someone had scraped off a layer of scum on the bone with a knife, and he didn't have the strength to renew his contract.

Boss Bennett is willing to pay the luxury tax in order to win another championship. The sun has come out from the west. At the same time, with so many people left, the supersonic salary space will definitely explode. For Bennett, who has always been reluctant to spend money impossible.

Carlos Boozer's departure did not cause too many waves. After all, he joined the Sonics in the summer to find a springboard, and he has always pursued a maximum salary.In the end, Boozer signed with the Bulls for 5 million in 8000 years. In the new season, he will team up with Rose to attack the championship.

Veteran Juwan Howard was poached by the Heat and got a two-year contract. The annual salary of 200 million is not much, but his worth is significantly higher than last year's test of the free market.

Substitute center Jerome James also successfully found his next home. Although he didn't have many opportunities to perform in the Sonics, as a tank center, Jerome showed good strength against Howard and O'Neal. , Joining the Celtics for 260 million a year, his career was redeemed in Seattle.

With the players whose contracts have expired leaving the team one after another, the Sonics currently have 11 players. They only need to sign four more players to make up a roster of 15 players. This summer's signings are not too difficult.After all, there are many stars in the free market in the past 10 years, and the Supersonics' reputation and strength are enough to attract players to join them.

What the Sonics lack most is the inside line. Both the center and power forward positions need signings. The opening of the free market is mainly to strengthen these two positions.

There are quite a few inside players testing the waters of the free market this year. The Sonics had contact with the target players before the start of the draft. They completed the first signing of the offseason that morning and locked in the All-Star with 3000 million in two years. Insider David Lee successfully snatched someone from the Warriors.

大卫-李身高2米06、体重111公斤，球场上司职大前锋，上赛季效力纽约尼克斯可以轰下20.2分11.7篮板3.6助攻和1次抢断，投篮命中率54.5%，是一位拥有超高球商的白人内线。

David Lee is one of the most underrated post players in the league. He is known for his rebounding skills and was once the league's double-double king.David Lee's offensive skills are very gorgeous. Although he is a left-handed player, he can also shoot with his right hand. His excellent footwork, flexible ball control, superior vision and excellent passing sense make him a great player. A player without an offensive blind spot.

上个赛季大卫-李还曾在对阵勇士队的比赛里砍下过37分20篮板10助攻，成为自1986-87赛季NBA有完备技术统计以来，首位打出过30+20+10的球员。

Although David Lee was not selected for the best team after the season, he was selected as an Eastern All-Star, and his overall strength at this stage is even higher than that of Boozer.

On the 4th, the Sonics completed the second signing of the offseason. Veteran Jermaine O'Neal joined with a one-year minimum salary, and the inside line was strengthened again.

Last season, Jermaine O'Neal played 70 games on behalf of the Heat, averaging 13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. The data is not bad, but the poor performance in the playoffs became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Let the Heat give up on him without hesitation.

首轮系列赛热火1比4被凯尔特人淘汰出局，小奥尼尔场均打23.4分钟，受伤病影响只能得到4.2分5.6篮板1助攻和2次封盖，其中投篮命中率低至丧心病狂的20.5%，好悬没把主教练斯波尔斯特拉气死。

No matter how well he played in the regular season, he couldn't make up for the fact that he played hips in the playoffs. After testing the waters of the free market, O'Neal failed to get a satisfactory contract for a long time, and finally chose to join the Sonics with a minimum salary of one year. Odd - Wells and Francis both hope to regain their worth in the Sonics.

Of course, Lu Yong knows that O'Neal's injury has seriously affected his state, but if the two parties signed only a basic salary, then all the defects of O'Neal are not a problem.

All-star David Lee will definitely be the starting power forward for the Sonics. Jermaine O'Neal's current personal ability is more than enough to serve as a substitute, which is much easier to use than Juwan Howard last season. This signing is sure to make money.

The most important thing is that the All-Star insider O'Neal before signing is still a good gimmick, which can attract fans to watch the game and increase popularity.

On the 5th, free agent Eddie House took the initiative to find Presti and expressed his willingness to join the Sonics with a basic salary.

The Sonics had contact with him last summer, and he chose the Celtics for $50. He played 50 games and was sent to the Knicks. He averaged 7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, and his shooting percentage was less than 40%. .

This guy was pretty good when he was young. His career three-point shooting percentage is close to 40%. He is a high-quality role shooter, but now he is in his 30s. He didn't fuck him at all, so he refused decisively.

There are still a few veterans who can play without the ball who want to join the Sonics, but what the Sonics need now is a veteran with fuel in the tank, not a spiritual leader, and Presti can only politely decline.

On the 9th, the Sonics signed the swingman Mike Miller for 700 million a year. After four years, Mike Miller teamed up with Lu Yong again, eager to dream of returning to the top in the new season.

上赛季迈克-米勒效力华盛顿奇才，场均打33.4分钟，得到10.9分6.2篮板3.9助攻和1次抢断，三分球命中率投出了生涯新高的48%。

Since Lu Yong left the Grizzlies coaching staff, Mike Miller's life has been worsening day by day, and all statistics have declined severely. He has become an ordinary starter from the FMVP with great glory in the past.

Miller became a free agent in the summer and was looted by many teams. Among them, the Heat even provided him with a three-year contract, hoping to get this marksman and become a helper beside the "Big Three".

Even though the news of the Heat's formation of the Big Three has not been officially announced, the entire league knows that Wade, James and Bosh are about to join forces to form the strongest Big Three in history and launch an impact on the championship.

It's a pity that with Lu Yong's relationship, Mike Miller finally chose the Sonics, hoping to play under Lu Yong and strive for a more lucrative pension contract next year.

The joining of Mike Miller allowed the SuperSonics to add a historical pitcher, which not only made up for the loss after Gary Neal left the team, but also improved the outside firepower and made the offensive efficiency stronger.

When he was an assistant coach in the Grizzlies, Mike Miller was able to win the Finals MVP because of Lu Yong's support.Lu Yong knows better than most coaches in the league how to develop the potential of pitchers. The two will join forces again in the new season without running in. Everything is so familiar.

On the 13th, the Supersonics announced another blockbuster signing in the free market.

The Chinese insider Yao Ming, who implemented the player option for the last year, jumped out of his contract and joined the Sonics for 1 million in one year, leaving the Houston Rockets for which he played for many years.

Last season, Yao Ming was reimbursed for the season due to a stress fracture in his left ankle. When talking about renewing his contract, the Rockets management only wanted to provide Dayao with a one-year base salary, rather than a multi-year retirement contract.

In Lu Yong's previous life, Dayao's loyalty made him accept this proposal, but the appearance of Lu Yong changed Yao Ming's mind, and finally chose the latter between the Rockets and the Supersonics. The new season will be the first in his career. Challenge for the championship trophy.

Even if he hasn't played for a season, Lu Yong has no worries about Dayao's competitive state.

In the 08-09 season, Yao Ming averaged 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. In the new season, Yao's personal data will definitely decline due to injuries. But as long as Yao stays healthy, his height of 2 meters is A moving Great Wall, which is no less than a nuclear weapon when it comes off the bench, will greatly enhance the competitiveness of the Sonics' second team.

So far, the Sonics will have three faces of the yellow race appearing on the field at the same time in the new season, but one of them is the team coach, and the other two are players.

After signing the "four All-Stars", the Supersonics' 15-man roster was officially determined, and all positions have been effectively reinforced, and no adjustments are required.

Center: Noah, Yao Ming.

Power forwards: David Lee, Jermaine O'Neal, Tucker.

Small forwards: Durant, Batum, Gerald Green.

Shooting guard: Mike - Miller, Budinger, Matthews, Stephenson.

Point guard: "Wu Sheng" Jackson, Beverly, Jeremy Lin.

The Supersonic's backcourt configuration is almost full, ranging from all-around fighters to singles nuclear weapons to three-point shooters. When facing different opponents, Lu Yongneng can send different lineups to fight, with a very high fault tolerance rate.

Compared with last season, the power forward position has also been fully reinforced. David Lee's personal ability is not inferior to Boozer, and the addition of Jermaine O'Neal has completely solved the problem of the Sonics' weak offense at the fourth position.

A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. No matter how serious the decline is at this stage, O'Neal was the main insider who averaged 13.6 points per game last season. It is not difficult to crush most of the league's substitutes, but he is no longer suitable for the core of the team. role.

The biggest hidden danger of the Supersonics is that there are only Noah and Yao Ming at the center position, and once they suffer from injuries, they can easily get into trouble.However, David Lee and Jr. O'Neal are both swingers in the fourth and fifth positions. Unlike Tucker, who is forced to play as a firefighter, they have no problem playing center. Even if two insiders are injured at the same time, Lu Yong does not have to worry about no one available. .

After strengthening during the offseason, the Sonics' paper strength has returned to the championship season, even stronger than the 08-09 season. Six players on the team have been selected as All-Stars, full of star flavor.

Three days later, the Sonics held a press conference in the arena to welcome new players.

Lu Yong commented in a good mood. When asked about the team's goals for next season, Lu Yong responded domineeringly. "The Supersonics have only one goal in the new season, aiming at the championship! If it weren't for injuries, we might have been on the road to building a dynasty. Next season, I will widen the rotation of the lineup to ensure the health of the players and win the championship. It must be supersonic."

The reporter asked: "The Heat have contributed to the craziest Big Three combination in history this year. LeBron, Dwyane and Chris are all at their peak. Their lineup for the new season is very scary. Do you still think the Sonics will win the championship? ?”

Two days ago, the Heat officially announced that the team had officially signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and formed an epic Big Three that shocked the league with "The Flash" Wade.With the composition of the Big Three, the Heat's probability of winning the new season has also reached the top of the list without any suspense, and is currently recognized as the favorite to win the championship.

As the head coach of the Supersonics, it is impossible for Lu Yong not to know the news. Faced with the oppression of the Heat's Big Three, he can still shout the slogan of the new season's sword pointing to the championship. This tone is simply too arrogant!
"Of course, I admit that the Big Three of the Heat are very strong, and they were the leaders of each team before joining forces, but I don't think they can complete the run-in in just one summer. As long as the Sonics stay healthy, we are still The No. [-] favorite to win the championship, even if the outside world doesn't think so."

When the reporters heard the words, they immediately regained their spirits. This is big news.

Since the formation of the Big Three by the Heat, no one, whether it is a coach or a player, dared to be as arrogant as Lu Yong in an interview.

Regardless of the Supersonics' record in the new season, Lu Yong's domineering look is deeply rooted in the hearts of thousands of fans.

(End of this chapter)