After the epic '96-97 NBA Finals, the Rockets returned to Houston the next day.

But what all the Houston players didn't expect was that tens of thousands of Rockets fans rushed to the airport to greet their heroes.

Looking at the slogan outside the bus, everyone in the rocket was very moved.

Although it was a difficult and losing series, the Rocketeers showed all the fans the toughness and tenacity of the Rockets.

"Hey, man, why do I feel like I'm going to cry." Kenny Smith said.

"I have it too, so are you still going to leave, man." Olajuwon looked at this old guy who had been fighting with him for 7 years and said sincerely.

Looking into Olajuwon's sincere eyes, Kenny Smith was silent for a long time.

Still shook his head very firmly and said: "Hakim, thank you for retaining, but I can't contribute much to the rocket now, and I'm ready to retire." I've won two championships, which is something that a lot of players can pursue all their lives and can't. I have nothing to regret, I don't want to fly around in the sky, you know, my children need my care too. ”

"Well, since this is the case, I won't force you, I will talk to the boss and ask him to prepare a beautiful retirement ceremony for you." Looking at his old friend who has made up his mind, Olajuwon is not good at forcibly retaining, so he can only give his friend a beautiful retirement ceremony.

"Hey, brother, don't be so sad, I've already told the boss about it, and the boss wants to keep me, but I didn't agree, and then the boss gave me a good job and let me be a full-time commentator for ** and TBS rockets, and you said that I helped you scold your opponent to death on the comment desk, isn't it very good." It's a bit off the line again.

"Hehe, that's very good, watching you destroy the opponent's spirit, we destroy the opponent's body, that's a very beneficial thing." After saying that, Olajuwon and Kenny Smith both burst out laughing, but the reluctance in the laughter was palpable.

Half a month later, Kenny Smith's retirement ceremony was held at the Compaq Center Arena in Houston, when all the fans who entered the stadium were free to enter, and about 20,000 Rocket fans shouted slogans such as "Kenny stays", "Kenny needs you" and "Please don't leave", hoping that the excellent outside killer in their hearts can stay.

Under the watchful eyes of many Rockets veterans and current and retired NBA stars, Kenny Smith announced his retirement.

(The real history is that Kenny Smith was traded, then seriously injured and announced his retirement, now let's give Kenny a healthy body, let him leave the NBA, salute you to that calm No. 30, goodbye guy who saved the Rockets with 7 three-pointers in a single quarter.) ）

In this way, Kenny Smith, the hero of the Rockets' two-time championship, announced the end of his basketball career.

And such a scene also made the other old courtiers of Rocket sigh in their hearts.

Just as everyone was preparing for Kenny Smith's retirement ceremony.

It's time for the '97 NBA Draft.

Looking at the spurs of the spring breeze proudly holding the champion sign.

Tiger was really unhappy in his heart.

The well-deserved draft in '97 must be the 'Stone Buddha'.

As long as you have a 'stone Buddha', then it is the basis for your team to win the championship.

What a blessing.

Think about next year's Spurs, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Tim Duncan, Avery Johnson, Sean Elliott, I can't live anymore, it's not much better than dealing with the Bulls.

With the addition of the old and strong Jazz, the supersonic that has not completely degenerated, the Trail Blazers who are getting higher, and the Lakers who are gradually recovering.

Oh my God, you still don't let the crossing man live.

If you don't want to, study it and sign it yourself.

No. 27 in the first round, very good and strong.

And then there was the 30th place, which was also very strong.

Below are the 35th, 40th and 45th places.

One first-round pick and four second-round picks.

How to choose, big head.

"Dawson, do you have a goal for this year's draft?" Tiger, who had some big heads, asked his general manager.

"There are some, do you see it for yourself or I'll tell you about it." Dawson pulled out the folder and handed it to me.

I pushed it back and said, "Tell me about it." ”

Dawson, who got the folder back, said, "Okay, I'll talk about it." ”

Clearing his throat, Dawson said: "First of all, this year's champion will definitely be the big man from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tim Duncan, this big man from Wake Forest is very good, 6-foot-11 tall, 260 pounds, cool head, solid basic skills, which makes him very different from this impetuous era." Horn is also a big man with a height of 6-foot-10, and his advantage is that he shoots accurately and his disadvantage is that he is too soft. Then there's Chauncey Billups' defender, and the reviews are still very good. Antonio Daniels is also a good defender, along with Tim Thomas, Tracy McGrady, and Derrick Anderson all high picks. ”

After hearing this, Tiger secretly thought to himself.

"Duncan, don't even think about it, you won't let people go if you kill the Spurs, and Van Horn is okay if he is not injured or sick." Flounder' is still young, very arrogant, and doesn't think about it. Daniels has also honed his skills, but it's still good to be a backup point guard. Tim Thomas and Maddie are both geniuses, but you can't have a good talent without a good attitude. Derek Anderson is not bad, he is a mediocre player, it is useless. Thinking of this, Tiger continued to ask.

"So what's the good player in the first round and the second round."

"It's hard to say, at the end of the first round and the second round we fancy a few good players, Mark Jackson this kid and our Mark Jackson are not alone, this is also a big man with the potential to be a good interior blue collar, Anthony Johnson is a good backup guard, Stephen Jackson plays with passion, but he throws too much and has a hot temper. Chris Crawford is a good white shooter, and Mark Blunt has a good mid-range shot, which is a handicap. ”

Tiger, who looked down and thought, thought that these players in the second round were also a little less than ideal.

Slowly pondered: "Mark Jackson will be a relatively good blue-collar interior line in his later life, but now our interior line is still good, Anthony Johnson seems to have made a name for himself in the Pacers and Hawks later, and it is still good to be a substitute, just as Kenny is retiring, Cassel has not said anything about renewing his contract so far, and Mark also needs a good substitute." Stephen Jackson, this old boy is a knife, it depends on how to use it. That Chris Crawford don't think about it, dude's bunch of pitchers. Mark Blunt, his brother is still a substitute, what position can he have. ”

After thinking about it for a long time, Tiger said: "The first round of the lottery, you look at the selection, the second round of the lottery, you sign Anthony Johnson, Stephen Jackson is done, you look at the rest, Anthony Johnson stays on Mark as a substitute, Stephen Jackson sends me to Europe to play for 2 years, and you can sign the rest." ”

"Okay, boss, I'll arrange it. However, there is something I would like to inform you of. Dawson's face was a little bad when he said this.

"Something." Tiger is weird.

"Sam, I want to leave." Dawson looked very bad when he said this, after all, Cassel was chosen by himself.

Hearing this, Tiger was stunned.

Then he asked.

"Why do you want to leave, is it a matter of salary, I have already offered him 19.5 million for 6 years, how much more do he want." Tiger's first reaction was the issue of salary.

"No, no, no, boss, you also think too much of Sam, he wants to leave not for money, but for his position." Dawson hurriedly explained.

"Position, position, hey, yes, we don't really have Sam's place on the team." Tiger said with a long sigh.

"yes, owner, the Rockets make the kind of team that goes on the half-court offense, and our point guard is the traditional pass-oriented point guard, and Sam is the kind of player who is very self-aggressive, and he needs to carry the ball," Dawson explained why Sam is leaving.

"In addition, Sam already has two championship rings, what else can he ask for, I'd rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail, the rocket is strong, but who doesn't want to be the boss." Tiger dissects Kassel's psychology at a deeper level.

"Forget it, let him go, where he wants to go." Tiger let him go with a wave of his hand, but he was prepared for it, because Cassel's prevarication on the contract extension has already said all this.

"Well, he wants to go to the Timberwolves, Maxwell is doing very well there, and if you want Kassel to go over, the Timberwolves will give you a salary of 22 million for 5 years." Dawson said he wanted the team in Kassel.

"Hehe, okay, let's not put up obstacles, let him go." Tiger said with a smile.

"Okay, there's nothing wrong with the boss, I'll go first." Dawson got up and said goodbye and left.

Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window of his office, Tiger looked out at the Houston night and thought to himself, "Sam, you've lost an opportunity to build a future with a great team." ”

According to Tiger's plan, the Rockets were very low-key in the '97 draft.

With No. 27 in the first round, Jacques Vaughn was selected.

No. 30 in the second round, Mark Jackson was chosen.

No. 35 in the second round, Anthony Johnson was chosen

No. 40 in the second round, Stephen Jackson was chosen

No. 45 in the second round, Mark Blunt was chosen.

After the draft, Mark Jackson, Stephen Jackson and Mark Blunt were all sent to the Rockets to hone in at satellite clubs in Europe.

Only Anthony Johnson and Jacques Vaughn were retained by the Rockets as substitutes for Mark Jackson.

Looking at the few people who were sent to Europe for training, they looked very reluctant, and the general manager of the Rockets promised that as long as they performed well, they had every chance to return to the NBA to play.

However, after a few days, a few people looked at the salary that was not inferior to the NBA salary level, and happily went to Europe, because they also knew that they were second-round rookies and would be laid off if they did not perform well.

The Rockets can give them a chance to play, and they also guarantee that if they play well, they will be recalled.

The Rockets are the team that played a great series against the Bulls this year, so what are they not satisfied with?

So I grabbed my check, packed my luggage, and headed straight for Europe.

So far, the Rockets, like the Bulls and other strong teams, have maintained the basic stability of the team, laying the foundation for next season's games.

Although, the departure of Kassel and the retirement of Kenny Smith have caused some problems for the Rockets' guard line.

Thankfully, Mark Jackson was still in his prime.

In addition, Bodiroga can also play point guard.

This has largely alleviated the Rockets' guard deficiencies.

Tiger Jones, who solved the draft problem, was not idle.

Hehe, how can you let go of the good opportunity to make money this year.

;