I just play ball

Chapter 373 Trip to New York
After the meeting, Li Yue drove back to the apartment.

After arriving, he called Taylor first, roughly described the content of the conversation with Kupchak, and asked to draft a contract that maximized his own interests while giving the team as much room as possible for future reference.

Taylor immediately notified the team to start working, and Li Yue simply washed up, lay down on the bed and took a rest.

He awoke as night fell, and while he was cooking dinner, he thought about how those people must stay.

First of all, there must be Nick Young. Others vote with a basic salary, just to re-sign a contract after showing their worth. However, if other teams offer contracts, then respect their personal wishes and wish everything well.

Followed by Gasol, as a veteran of the team's meritorious service, the value provided is far from simple data.

Finally, there is Jodi Meeks, as the main substitute, whose three-pointers are of great help to enrich the team's tactical choices. As for Hawes, Marshall, Blake and others, they are not so critical. post position.

After clearing my mind, dinner is done, and I have a video chat with Chenxi while eating, talking about my trip to Italy.

Early the next morning, Kupchak sent power forward target candidates, namely Boozer and Ed Davis.

The management also wants PJ Tucker very much, and thinks it is difficult to compete with the Suns. On the one hand, the salary space is tight, and on the other hand, Tucker must play the starter, which conflicts with Landry, although Landry is willing to accept the substitute identity.

At noon, Kobe expressed his opinion through a text message, thinking that the bench lineup may lack offensive firepower. It is best to sign a player like Boozer who can score independently, or arrange for Landry to be a substitute and sign Ed Davis.

Li Yue prefers the second option, and Landry is very skilled with Iguodala leading the second team.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Iguodala called and informed that he was willing to participate in the recruitment operation.

Li Yue received a call in the gym. This trip to Italy did not keep training well, and he needed to hurry up to recover and prepare for the upcoming youth training camp plan in China, which would last for more than half a month.

The team is unable to participate in the summer league this time, and the coaching staff has already agreed that Wharton will lead the team to Las Vegas. Li Yue only intends to provide some information on the undrafted draft to help the team find as many suitable players as possible.

At eight o'clock in the morning on the 26th, Li Yue took a private jet to New York.

The draft is still held at the Barclays Center, the home court of the Brooklyn Nets, and ESPN is responsible for the entire broadcast. Judging from the comments of major media and social networks, this draft is called the strongest in 10 years. Kings, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid all have the strength and popularity to aspire to the No. .

The two second-round draft picks of the Lakers were decided to be used on Jokic and Jordan Clarkson after discussions between the coaching staff and the management. The issue of substitutes after the departure of Dunton, Blake and others, but it is still assumed that everything has to wait until the free market opens.

Before confirming the choice of Jokic, Li Yue had to meet with the scout who provided the scouting report to find out what made him make the judgment that 'potential seems to be limited'. As for the video of Jokic playing , Li Yue has seen it a lot, and his mind is full of the image of a "flexible and dead fat man", and his ability to play the ball when facing double teams is particularly impressive.

And Jordan Clarkson is relatively ordinary, an older rookie, that is, his combat power is still qualified. The highlight is his height of 196 cm. His lateral movement speed is enough to keep up with the mainstream point guards in the league. His defensive ability is slightly insufficient. It is more cost-effective to use as a substitute.

However, some experts predict that the Rockets may use the 25th pick to select Jordan Clarkson.

This prediction is not just nonsense, just because Jordan Clarkson scored a total score of 91 on NBADRAFT. His personal advantage, that is, his strong impact ability is very prominent, which perfectly fits the Rockets lineup.

If that's the case, the Lakers' backup plan is to choose Spencer Dinwiddie as a backup for Kobe.

After a 6-hour flight, Li Yue landed at New York International Airport and took a special car to Barclays Center.

There are already many fans gathered outside the arena, and most of them are Cavaliers, probably because the Cavaliers won the No. , Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid just choose one of them, and they can be traded even if they are not compatible with the team.

Li Yue wanted to enter through the side door, but he was still caught by sharp-eyed reporters, and he was embarrassed to accept the interview out of politeness.

"Mr. FMVP, which player do you think will become the No. [-] pick?"

"I am optimistic about Joel Embiid. He has the standard body of a big center and has a very high basketball IQ. He can improve to the current level after only a few years of exposure to professional basketball. The future is unpredictable."

"So if you were the general manager of the team, you would choose him? Don't worry about injuries at all?"

"The most important thing about a rookie is his potential. He didn't suffer from an unrecoverable injury, why not?"

"Then how do you evaluate two players, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, they often fight as small forwards, and once said in an interview that you are their idol, and hope to have the opportunity to train with you."

"As long as time and opportunities allow, I am very happy to train with them. As for the technical level of the two, I cannot make any comments, because I have only watched some of their highlight videos, and I don't know enough about them."

"OK, can you reveal the potential candidates for the Lakers this time?"

"No."

Li Yue shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, turned around and entered the arena with a smile, and took out his mobile phone to call Stevan Bidlovich's number, that is, the guy who wrote the scouting report for Jokic. The two made an appointment to meet in the coffee shop , for a paid consultation.

After a full 15 minutes, Li Yue finally got rid of the enthusiastic fans and came to the coffee shop.

Stevan Bidlovich raised his hand and shouted, Li Yue went over to sit down and ordered a cup of cappuccino.

"Why do you think Nikola Jokic's potential is limited? Just because he lacks explosive power and speed?" Li Yue asked directly, "Have you brought him more game videos? I need to do some research and analysis."

"It's all here." Stevan opened the briefcase and took out a USB flash drive from it. "I also accidentally noticed the player Nikola. I made that judgment because the league is generally pursuing fast-paced games. With his size and speed, it will be difficult to survive in the league, is there any problem?"

Li Yue picked up the USB flash drive and put it in his pocket, and said with a smile: "You are mistaken. It is always the player who decides the game style, not the game style that makes the player. If O'Neal is at the peak now, even if his team is the Heat , LeBron will also change his style of play for him, talk about the place or scene where Nikola Jokic impressed you the most."

(End of this chapter)