586 Nobody Cares (1/2)
The Chinese basketball players finally finished their month of training. It had been a month of torment.
”Finally, I'm done with those meals. I feel nauseous whenever I think about them.”
”I don't know how I got through this month. I got up earlier than chickens do, went to bed later than chickens do, and ate worse than chickens do...”
”Actually, the food was not bad. We had fish, meat, eggs, and vegetables. It was just that American cooks aren't good at cooking. They only boiled the food or baked it. If we had a Chinese cook, the food might've been decent.”
In the front of the bus, the head coach of the team, Chenggong Sun, listened to the complaints of the players and sighed.
They complain after such little hardship. A lot of NBA stars eat such diets for more than ten years. Our players lack self-discipline, Sun thought, irritated.
Overall, Changgong Sun was satisfied with the effect of this training period. Although it was only a month, most of the players had gained weight. This increase in weight came from muscle, not fat.
Chinese basketball players were generally thin; many looked like thin bamboo poles. Because of this, muscle growth had always been very important for Chinese basketball players. However, the training that most players received in China was ineffective at increasing muscle. Of course, some players lacked self-discipline. They were not very concerned about their diets. They drank beer and ate BBQ or fried foods every day. There was no way they could gain muscles.
In the United States, the training environment was different. Dai Li's standard for physical training was a lot higher than most Chinese physical trainers. Moreover, the training center of the Clippers was flanked by the sea on one side and a village on the other. It was impossible to get anywhere without a car. If the players lacked self-disciplined, the environment forced them to behave.
”We will be going to Europe for a warm-up game soon. I hope to see the effect of this month's training very soon.” Sun looked at his watch and thought of something else.
”Yesterday, Coach Li flew to New York to participate in this year's NBA draft. The Clippers have the 20th pick in the first round. I wonder who they will pick,” Sun said to himself.
...
The NBA draft was being held in New York. Almost all of the head coaches and team managers of the 30 teams in the NBA were present.
A Clippers' staff member hurriedly walked to Dai Li's side. He whispered, ”Coach, the Kings want our second round pick. They are willing to pay cash, or trade their second-round draft pick next year.”
”It seems that the Kings have someone in mind.” Dai Li thought about it for a moment and said, ”Then we should exchange draft picks with them. We will trade for their second-round draft pick next year.”
The second-round draft picks, especially after the 40th pick, had always been seen as irrelevant. Teams in the NBA often used the second round to show goodwill towards other teams.
The Kings were cashing in on this goodwill. They took a second-round draft pick from the Clippers. From the perspective of the Clippers, it was worthwhile to use a second-round draft pick to gain favor with the Kings.
The first, second, and all the other top draft picks were concluded. It was as the media had predicted. In fact, on the day of the draft, the top three picks had already been determined and the teams wouldn't risk choosing anyone else.
Starting with the sixth-round draft pick, teams started to deviate from what the media had predicted they would do. Gradually, players outside the green room were selected. This meant that there would be players in the green room who fell out of the lottery.
In the NBA drafts, there was a so-called ”green room.” It was not really a green room. It was a privilege given to certain rookies. Players who had been selected to be in the ”green room” could be accompanied by relatives and friends to watch the draft. In general, the NBA invited at least 14 rookies into the green room. These rookies were basically in a lottery.
After the top 19 rookies were selected, it was finally the Clippers' turn to choose.
”I heard that the head coach of the Clippers is very interested in Kelz-Kumar from the University of Utah. I think the Clippers will definitely choose him!”
”That's not necessarily true. Kumar was predicted to be picked at either the end of the first round or the beginning of the second. It's a bit wasteful to choose him with the 20th pick.”
”I think the Clippers spread the rumor that they were interested in Kumor to lower Ronny's contract renewal price. Both Ronny and Kumar are frontline players after all.”
”I heard that Ronny asked the Clippers for $150 million for five years. He is really daring. He sees himself as an all-star.”
”Yeah, if I were the Clippers, I would not agree to that price. That price will scare other teams away from offering him a contract. If he asked the Clippers for $150 million for five years, then other teams would have to offer him a four-year salary of 120 million to recruit him. In that case, it would be better to recruit an actual all-star player.”
There were a lot of discussions. Kelz-Kumar was there. He had a nervous expression on his face. From time to time, he looked at the Clippers. He was worried that they might not choose him.
Finally, the President of the NBA, Adams, came to the stage and announced their pick.
”The 20th overall pick from the Los Angeles Clippers is Kelz-Kumar!”
When the applause rang out, Kumar stood up excitedly, took the Clippers' hat from the staff, and put it on his head. He jumped onto the stage and shook hands with Adams.
The general managers and coaches of every team started to talk again.
”The Clippers really chose Kumar. Is this a front?”
”It's really a waste to choose Kumar with the 20th pick. After all, there are still a lot of good forwards who are better than Kumar that have not yet been selected.”
”The Clippers are bent on lowering Ronny's contract renewal price. I don't know if Ronny will insist on the $150 million for five years after hearing this news. This is going to be entertaining to watch.”
...
Hawaii.
Ronny was on vacation in Hawaii. Due to the time difference, the NBA draft began in the afternoon in Hawaii. Ronny was enjoying the sun, the sea breeze, and the delicious fruit.
Bikini-clad girls walked around the beach and made Ronny happy and relaxed. He even started to think about whether to approach a hot girl to buy her a drink.
His mobile phone started to ring. It was a call from his agent.
”The results of the draft came out. The Clippers really chose Kelz-Kumar,” the agent said straightaway.