David Stern took the Knicks' envelope and read it aloud: "The 20th pick in the 1999 draft, the New York Knicks chose Andrei Kirilenko from Russia!" ”

"Wow, there's another foreigner in New York!"

"The Knicks are really addicted to international players!"

"What kind of character is this Kirilenko, how come I have never heard of it?"

The fans chattered.

Li Wei ignored others, but walked out of the box and prepared to go to the bathroom.

At this time, he suddenly heard someone behind him: "We are ready to use the first-round pick to select Manu Ginobili!" ”

Li Wei was startled, Huo Ran turned around, and saw Popovich smiling at him!

"Haha, I guessed right, your Knicks' target is also Ginobili!"

Li Wei shook his head, this guy is really too old and cunning, he actually used this method to deceive him!

Popovich leaned over and said, "David, let's talk casually, what kind of player do you think Ginobili is, is it worth our first-round pick?" Don't say you're not optimistic about him, I know you're addicted to international players, and Downey (old Nelson) was deceived by you last year! ”

Li Wei sighed. Since he was cheated, it is useless to deny it, it is better to be generous, so he said: "I think Ginobili is the top three players this year." ”

"Phew!" Popovich gasped, "That's too exaggerated, since you're in the top three, why don't you pick in the first round?" ”

Li Weidao: "I think he should fall to the second round, so I didn't worry." ”

Popovich thought for a while and said: "Actually, I'm not very optimistic about him, since you're so optimistic, then I'll use the first-round pick!" ”

The cunning Popovich is not not optimistic, but also optimistic. Of course, Ginobili hasn't played yet, and he doesn't think the opponent can reach an All-Star level, he just thinks that this kid has the potential to be a qualified role player.

If the team didn't have any interest in Ginobili, he could certainly wait until the second round to pick up, and now that the Knicks want, he can only pay a first-round pick.

The Spurs can't be like last year's old Nelson, playing clever, and finally losing his wife and losing his army.

Li Wei chuckled and said, "Bobo, you are too easy to be fooled, what if I deliberately lied to you?" ”

Popovich said: "We are friends, I believe in friends, and you can trust the eyes of international players!" ”

"Well, trust me." Li Wei shrugged.

His original plan was to pick Kirilenko in the first round and Ginobili in the second round, but the Spurs used the first-round interception, and he couldn't help it.

Then again, the Knicks already have Houston and Maddy, and Ginobili doesn't have much use for coming, and if you can't choose it, there's no need to force it.

On Popovich's side, although everyone is an opponent in the finals, but in private, they get along quite well, since the draft plan has been recognized, let's be calm, repeatedly pretending to be too petty, not Li Wei's style of acting.

"Your second-round pick is the first pick?" Popovich asked.

"That's right." Li Wei nodded.

The Knicks traded the Grizzlies' first-round pick from the Lakers last year, and since the Grizzlies have the lowest record in the league this season, this pick became the first pick in the second round. In addition to that, they have a second-round pick of their own.

Popovich said: "I recommend Croatia's Gordon Girisek, but his picks may not be too high, and the talented high school student Leon Smith is also good, Donnie is very optimistic about him, and he wants us to help him get this guy." ”

Li Wei was a little speechless.

This Popovich is really cunning to say cunning, and honest enough to say honest. In his previous life, he drafted Leon Smith with a first-round pick and then traded with the Mavericks to get Gordon Girisek.

However, Li Wei really had no interest in Leon Smith at all, this genius high school student had a very low psychological quality, and he could take 250 aspirin tablets in one go, and then shouted loudly, claiming to be an explorer from India, Jingcha was stunned by him.

After being treated in a psychiatric hospital, the kid only played his first game in the NBA in '02, when he signed a short-term contract with the Hawks for a few days and played badly. Another year later, he signed another short contract with the SuperSonics, played only one game, and said goodbye to the NBA forever.

The team chooses this kind of person, it's just nothing to do!

Popovich looked at Li Wei's expression and said curiously: "You are not optimistic about them?" So who do you want to choose? ”

Li Weidao: "Let's be honest, we only want to choose Ginobili, and the management of other teams is not interested at all. ”

Popovich said: "In that case, you can trade the draft pick to me, I want to pick Leon Smith and give it to Donnie, if it's too late, I'm afraid I won't be able to grab it." ”

Li Weidao: "We'll send you directly, it's just a second-round lottery anyway." ”

The general managers have a bright vision and very few missing pearls, so compared with the priceless lotto lotto, the gold content of the second-round lottery is very low, and only a handful of people can become qualified role players in the second-round show every year, and the others have to be eliminated if they can't play a few games.

The same is true this year, where valuable players are basically selected in the top 10 picks, and Li Wei was able to pick up a Kirilenko in the second half of the first round, because he is only 18 years old, his level is not up to the level of the NBA, and he is an international player.

After that, with the exception of Ginobili, another underrated international player, everyone else can be a rotation player. If the Spurs had selected Ginobili ahead of time, Li Wei would have no favorite.

Of course, there are three or four of the remaining players who can be developed into role players, but the Knicks really don't have the time to do that.

Rashad Lewis has been watching the water cooler for a season, and every day he pitifully hopes that Li Wei will squeeze a little garbage time for him, at this time you ask Li Wei to choose a newcomer with average qualifications and the team's genius to grab playing time, is it possible?

Popovich is a coach with a lot of potential, and if he can stay with the Spurs, it won't be a bad thing for the two to get on good terms. Send a second-round lottery, make a friend, and you can use it in the future, Li Wei feels that this deal can be done.

Popovich said: "I can't ask for your signing for nothing, that's too cheap, what are your plans for the summer?" ”

Li Weidao: "There are no big plans, the Knicks are talented now, but there are more young people, just sign a veteran who can liven up the atmosphere in the locker room and bring newcomers." ”

Popovich said: "It's best that the veteran can shoot three-pointers and have championship experience!" ”

Li Wei laughed and said, "You know me so well! ”

Popovich said: "We just have one such veteran in our team, so let's give it to you, this time I suffered a loss!" ”

Li Wei's eyes widened and said, "You mean Steve Cole?" ”

After the league shutdown ended, the Spurs used their middle-class exception to sign the Bulls' treble hero Steve Kerr. However, Kerr's defense is too poor and he is a colander on the court, so Popovich gives him less and less playing time.

At present, Kerr's biggest role is to bring newcomers in the locker room, but the Spurs have no shortage of veterans with newcomers, four of their starting five Tigers have played in the league for more than 10 years, and the remaining one is named Tim Duncan, but this guy who has grown up against him no longer needs to be bred.

For the Spurs, Kerr has some chicken ribs, can't play, and has to take up salary space. However, for the Knicks, Kerr is really in urgent need, after all, Herb, Buck and others have retired, the team is too young, and an experienced veteran can give more guidance to young people.

In addition, Li Wei also took a fancy to Cole - he belongs to Phil Jackson's lineage!

The most terrifying opponent of the Knicks in the future must be the Lakers under Phil Jackson!

In the 00 playoffs in the previous life, why were the Portland Trail Blazers able to play seven games with the Lakers in the West?

Li Wei feels that this is not how smart Trail Blazers coach Dunleavy is, but that they have Scottie Pippen on the team!

For the triangle offensive routine, Scottie Pippen is probably more familiar than all the players of the Lakers, such an internal should be in the Trail Blazers, the Lakers are really difficult to win!

Steve Kerr can also be such an internal response, if the Knicks have this guy, the Finals will be against Phil Jackson's team in the future, and the winning chance will definitely be higher!

Li Wei said: "Cole, I really admire him, so let's do it, this year's two second-round picks for our team have been given to you!" ”

"Haha, you seem to be very generous, even if you give me two second-round picks, it will be my loss. But you're welcome, friend! Popovich smiled, "I heard you want to get the draft pick that the Pistons got from the Grizzlies?" ”

Li Wei said in surprise: "You really know everything!" ”

In the previous life, the draft pick that the Pistons got from the Grizzlies finally became the list pick in 03, and Li Wei felt that it would not be too low in this life, so he asked the Pistons if they were willing to trade.

The Pistons Lions opened their mouths and asked for Nash and Big Ben as chips, but the Knicks refused.

Many transactions in the NBA are like this, the other party wants to rob, and you don't want to be robbed, so you can only refuse.

Popovich smiled: "Haha, we have a chance to get that sign, but I'm hesitant and reluctant to change." ”

"What, can you get?" Li Wei blinked.

The art of war says that the truth is false, and the virtual is the truth, and he said what he thought in his heart, Popovich may not take it seriously, but if he hides it, he will see the flaws.

So he said half-jokingly: "Give you a suggestion, this suggestion is worth a Duncan, if you listen to it, you will have to remember my favor for half your life!" ”

Popovich said: "Then you can say it, I will listen to it!" ”

Li Weidao: "In addition to Duncan and Ginobili, you can use other chips of the Spurs to exchange for this draft pick!" ”

"Isn't it? You're so unoptimistic about the grizzly bears? Popovich was surprised.