The '98-99 season was a very unfortunate one for David Stern, with the league shutting down, the season shrinking, the retirement of his signature superstar Michael Jordan, box office crashes, ratings plummeting, and deficits everywhere.

The only consolation in the darkness is that the Knicks won the championship and New York won the first championship in the post-Jordan era.

As a New Yorker, he couldn't be prouder!

On the other side, Li Wei had just recovered from the joy of winning the championship when he discovered an extremely cheating thing.

Due to the shrinking season and the fact that seven finals were played, the Knicks only became champions on the night of June 29, and June 30 was the day of the draft!

He and the Knicks' management didn't have time to catch their breath and rushed to Washington!

Also sad is this year's overall runner-up Spurs, other teams can negotiate a trade after they are out, the Knicks and Spurs' season is just over, and there is no time to connect to the phone!

On the eve of the draft, two big deals were made regarding lotto draws.

The first deal was a multi-party deal reached by the Mavericks, Suns, 76ers and other teams.

Nelson Sr. didn't pick Nowitzki last year, the basket was empty, and it was useless to keep his big tractor, but he was later traded to the Bucks in exchange for Larry Hughes, who was drafted by the Bucks with the No. 9 pick, and Pat Garrity, who was drafted with the No. 19 pick.

This season, Hughes is playing well, but Nelson Sr. doesn't like him, he wants a big man who can shoot, grab rebounds, and preferably shoot threes.

To put it bluntly, he still has a crush on Nowitzki.

However, the Knicks said that Nowitzki was not for sale, and Nelson Sr. could only find another replacement, so Big Z came into his sight.

Big Z's biggest problem is the hidden danger of injury, his foot has been broken twice, and no one can say whether there will be a third time. What's worse is that the 76ers signed a contract with him with a maximum salary before this season, and if he can't play, it will take up too much salary space.

Larry Brown has been frowning when he sees the team doctor's assessment, but he can't think that old Nelson wants to take over, and he jumps with joy.

The Mavericks' record is terrible, and the team's most valuable asset is this year's No. 9 pick, and the elder Nelson believes that in a small year of the draft, the No. 9 pick can't pick a cornerstone player, and Big Z can be the cornerstone, so he doesn't lose.

However, the Mavericks are willing to trade draft picks, but the 76ers are unwilling to ask for it, don't you want Larry Brown to develop a rookie?

There is no way, they can only pull the Suns and other teams as a third party, the Mavericks get Big Z, Big Mom Johnson, the Suns get the Mavericks' No. 9 pick, and some players with equal salaries, and the 76ers get some chips that Larry Brown thinks is valuable.

Li Wei saw that Big Z was traded to Mavericks, so he could only silently bless him.

In his previous life, Da Z's foot was injured five times in a row, except for his rookie season, which was still complete, and almost all of the next few seasons were reimbursed without playing a few games. By the time he was no longer injured and late in his career, he was almost unable to move due to a long period of injury.

It can be said that Big Z is a rookie that is a player at the peak, if there is no injury, it is really hard to imagine what kind of height he can reach!

Li Wei hopes that the big Z in this life will not be so calamitous and difficult, and the two major injuries are enough. Nelson Sr. should know how to use Big Z better than Larry Brown, and may he have the best of luck in the Mavericks.

Another lottery deal occurred between the Hawks and the Warriors.

The Eagles' general manager, Pete Babcock, is very bullish on this rookie, and this year is another draft year, and he feels he can trade for a lottery pick!

It's a pity that the team with the top nine picks heard his trade request, all of them said "hehe" and hung up.

Xiao Nian's draft pick is not so easy to do!

It wasn't until the 10th pick that Warriors general manager Gary San Jean got the slightest interest: "What do you want our lottery pick for?" ”

Babcock said: "Our chip is Murch Blaylock!" ”

The Hawks have always been a strong team in the league, with a third-place record in the East this season, but unfortunately they were swept 4-0 by the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs, just as miserable as the 76ers who were swept on the other side.

The reason why the Atlanta Hawks have a good record is because they have one inside and one outside, and two gates!

This team is the best defensive team in the NBA, they rank first in the league in terms of limiting opponents' scoring, even the Heat and Spurs, who are known for their defense, are slightly worse than them, and in terms of defensive efficiency, they are second in the league, second only to the Spurs!

The big gate on the inside of the Eagles is naturally the winner of the best defensive player in consecutive years, DiCambe Mutombo, and the big gate on the outside is the organization guard Muqi Blaylock!

Murch Blaylock not only defends well, but also has three points organized, won two steals, has been selected as an All-Star, and has been a member of the All-Defensive Team since '94, and has never been selected, two of which have been in the first line!

Warriors general manager St. Jean raised an eyebrow: "Just a six-time All-Defensive Team member, an All-Star, you want to trade for the No. 10 pick?" Too whimsical, right? ”

Babcockden burst into tears.

"Big brother, the sign in your hand is only a No. 10 pick, and it's not the top five, I used the team's pillar, the super point guard who was selected to the best defensive team for six consecutive seasons to exchange with you, why did I insult you? You open your eyes and see, look at the whole league, who can offer better terms than me? ”

St. Jean said: "I'm not interested, it's almost as good as you add another Mutombo!" ”

Babcock almost fainted.

This is the status quo of the NBA, it is difficult not to be slaughtered by actively asking for a trade, anyway, this is a complete seller's market, and what others want is the greatest value!

And the lotto signing, as long as the other party wants, you can shout a sky-high price!

Babcock said that the Hawks and the Warriors reached a deal, and the Hawks sent their own super point guard Murkey Blaylock, and took the No. 21 pick in the first round of this year to get the No. 10 pick from the Warriors, in addition to eating two garbage contracts with the Warriors.

The deal was real in a previous life, as the Hawks, who lost Blaylock and Steve Smith, immediately fell from the clouds to the dust, and the lottery lasted every year until nine years later before reaching the playoffs again, which was already a matter of fact.

However, the Warriors did not take advantage of it, Blaylock was injured there, and after recovering from the injury, his form began to decline, and he continued to be injured for the next two years, and finally retired in disgrace.

The Knicks are not seeking a draft pick trade, and the existing talent is good enough to win a championship, and there is no reason to send it to the door for someone else to slaughter.

Li Wei brought in his private jet, and the team's plane took the players back to New York, and he and the team management took his own private jet to Washington.

Although Washington is very close to New York, it doesn't take much trouble to make a trip, but he is too lazy to stop halfway, let's sit separately, anyway, we are not short of money!

David Stern is here to take a ride, oh no, he's coming to take a ride, and he's going to rush to Washington to preside over the draft. Also on the plane were the Spurs' vice president, general manager, and head coach Popovich, as well as the team's assistant general manager RC Buford.

"Hey David, who's your target for this year's draft?" Popovich asked.

"Uh......" Li Wei hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I can't see through it for the time being******* Povich chuckled: "Tell me what you're afraid of, our priority is behind you, and we can't snatch your people!" ”

Li Weidao: "Forget it, I'm afraid that if you say it, you will trade draft picks upwards and then rob people!" ”

Popovich said: "You are living the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain!" ”