In the basketball world, starting from the 99 World Youth Championship

Chapter 34: Jersey Numbers Summer League
On the Pacers side, Donnie Walsh looked at Larry Bird, who was still going to continue to operate (dismantle the team), and felt a little panicked, "Larry, are you sure to do this, will we rise in the future?" Send Jaylen away Rose and Hoiberg's choice of Zhang Tian is enough to make people stunned, but the king is forced to tell himself, this is just the beginning?
Larry Bird still has a good impression of this general manager who has worked in the Pacers for many years. Although the other party is not a person who expands the territory, it is more than enough to be a conservative master. "Definitely, I have a hunch that next year's Lakers will be our number one enemy in the finals, so the inside combination of Dell and Rick must be dismantled, and the outside line must also be injected with fresh blood. Otherwise, even if we make it to the finals, it will be nothing more than a myth of fulfilling the Zijin Army."

Although Larry Bird is the head coach, as an Indiana star, he is very powerful and has many fans. The general manager himself is completely incomparable in terms of connections and reputation.

Forget it, anyway, the team is not his own, why bother so much.

After that, Zhang Tian signed a four-year rookie contract of 1000 million yuan with the team. However, according to the tax rate of the cornfield, there is absolutely no 1000 million yuan that can be obtained. As for how much.Zhang Tian was too lazy to do the calculations, he was always very slow with numbers.

Apart from Zhang Tian, ​​the Pacers did not choose other rookies, but they quickly attracted everyone's attention when the trading market opened.

Dale Davis last season's starting insider and Harold Workman were sent to Portland in exchange for 96 rookies Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Cato.

In addition to this, he also sent Sam Perkins, a living fossil of the 84 draft, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for a basic salary insider of the Wizards——Ben Wallace. This swingman is short, and if it weren't for his afro, no one would believe that he would be an insider.

The Pacers' operation really shocked the entire league. Of course, most of them watched the jokes.

"The Pacers can be removed from the top players this season."

"Larry Bird will definitely pay for his arrogance this season."

ESPN, TNT's major sports portals evaluated the Pacers' operations.

Although the door of the transfer market has been opened, there are not many attractive deals, except Anfernee Hardaway was traded to the Suns, and the Magic got Pat Garrity, Danny Manning, and the future two Apart from two picks, there was no other trade. After seeing that Zhang Tian was selected by the Pacers, the Suns decisively chose to trade Penny.It's a pity that Brian Colangelo didn't expect it at all, this is a bomb.That's why the Pacers attract so much media attention.

After Zhang Tian signed the rookie contract, he was thrown to Rick Carlisle by Larry Bird. He embarked on a tough summer league trip, but his teammates were all famous. None, the second-generation Kobe "Terminator" Lagabel, Birdman Anderson, Spain's future national player Garbajosa, Greek super point guard Papa Lucas, in addition to these four, the other substitutes Zhang Tian I don't even know each other.

Compared with Zhang Tian's luck, Wang Zhizhi was suppressed by the Bayi team. After arguing with Bayi, the Mavericks still decided to let Wang Zhizhi enter the NBA next year.

The summer league that the Pacers participated in was the California Summer League. Just a week before the start of the summer league, a few "newcomers" came to the team, Jr. and Ben also came to participate.According to Larry Bird's meaning, it is necessary to examine the state of these two people to determine their playing time in the new season, which makes Birdman and others howl infinitely.

"Chris, don't be depressed, as long as you show your enthusiasm, there is no place for you in the NBA." Now Anderson gives Zhang Tian the feeling of one word - thin.

Anderson nodded bitterly. He was the least confident of the undrafted picks recruited by the Pacers.

Little Ao is no stranger to the summer league. He participated in the summer league once in [-], but the result was useless. McDunleavy didn't even look at him.Even if he was bullied by Isaiah Ryder and went to the toilet for breakfast, the other party would not say a word.In the NBA, if you have no strength and no reputation, it is the original sin.

So even though he has been in the league for three years, he doesn't seem to be any different from a rookie. Compared to Xiao Ao's introversion, Da Ben, who has been in the society for a long time, has a more cheerful personality.

"Zhang, if I want to get a long salary, where should I start? I have played in the NBA for several years, and those coaches have asked me to develop my scoring ability. It is too difficult for me. The mid-range shooting is more painful than the shot put."

Da Ben looked bitter and bitter, which really made people laugh, "Ben, don't listen to those old men talking nonsense, your strengths are defense and rebounding, as long as you practice these two well, even if you score [-]. Zero, it's not difficult to get along in the NBA."

This is what Daben did in his previous life, and he became a team spirit in the Pistons.

Daben didn't say a word, Zhang Tian's answer was completely different from the previous coach, do you want to try it yourself?

In addition to these, the three of Zhang Tian also chose their respective jersey numbers. Originally, Zhang Tian wanted to choose No. 34, but it turned out that it was a retired jersey, so Zhang Tian made the best choice and chose No. 7, while Xiao Ao chose No. 20. After choosing No. 3, Big Ben chose No. [-].Zhang Tian can't remember which number Cato chose, but that's the case with the jersey number.

In the first game of the summer league, the Pacers ushered in the challenge of the Bulls. The Bulls' two rookies both played, Brand and Artest, and Zhang Tian's opponent in this game was Artest.

Damn, I ran into a strange man when I came up. I didn’t look at the almanac when I went out. Carlisle’s confirmed starting lineup is like this. Apart from Rand and Artest, Zhang Tian didn't know anyone else. The insider who partnered with Brand was called Keltner, a player from MIT, but his speed was too slow. Signing this guy might as well sign Battelle.

This year's draft has a total of three Chinese participants. Unfortunately, Wang Zhizhi has to stay in the CBA for one year, and Battelle is not selected because his speed is too slow. Unless he is tough and fouls, otherwise he is on the court. Can't show any effect.

Artest is still more curious about Zhang Tian. He is not a defensive player now, but an offensive player. When he got the ball and pushed Zhang Tian, ​​he gouged in, but was slapped off by Da Ben's big hat.The ball went out against the body of the Bulls, so the Pacers had the ball.

Rick Carlisle watched the scene, and wrote down in the small notebook that he carried "Physical confrontation needs to be strengthened." Strengthen Nima, Artest's current weight is almost 109, and the difference between Lao Tzu and him is almost 20 kg. How to strengthen it.

The Pacers attack, Papalukas wants to attack one by himself, but he understands that this is the NBA, not Europe, so he will definitely not stay if he does this. Facing the Bulls' small point guard who doesn't even have a six-foot-one, Greece The core point guard passed the ball to Zhang Tian. Zhang Tian got the ball and still slapped it back and forth. A shooting motion shook Artest, but instead of rushing in, he took a step back. Shoot a three-pointer, brush, Artest falls from the air, and the ball is smoothly drawn into the net.

(End of this chapter)