After Woody trained with Stephen Curry for about a week, the '04 draft came as scheduled.

Since this year's draft pick was sent away in last year's trade to Wade, the Miami media didn't pay much attention to this draft.

Of course......

That's what they had in mind!

Now something has gone wrong:

The template for Dwight Howard, the "biggest pick" in this draft, has been called "a combination of Kevin Garnett and Smalls" by more media outlets.

When this matter was spread in the outside world, the Miami media also had to pay attention to Howard.

After all, when Woody participated in the draft last year, his template was "Kevin Garnett and Smalls".

Howard's template is the same as Woody's, do you think they can't pay more attention?

You must know that Woody made a big fuss last year, and even the "pride of the sky" LeBron James was trampled under his feet, and this rookie season directly became a "phenomenal rookie".

As a result, at the 04th draft meeting, a newcomer with the same template as Woody's candidacy last year appeared!

And......

This guy is also a high school student who chose to participate in the draft after graduation.

Many media regard him as the "second generation of Woody".

With this title, it is destined that the Miami media will pay more attention to him:

What's it, it's "Woody II"?

Can he be "the next Woody"?

Is Woody so good to have the next one?

The doubts of the Miami media drifted down the network cable to the scene of the '04 draft.

Woody watched this year's draft with Stephen Curry.

When David Stern announced the official start of this year's draft, Woody felt like he was back in time a year ago. He sat on the sidelines, nervously awaiting the moment when his fate was decided.

At that time, he didn't expect that his first season in the league could be so exciting......

"The Orlando Magic picked the first pick in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft, and the Orlando Magic chose ...... Dwight Howard! ”

As David Stern reads out the first name.

Woody's gaze was drawn back to the TV:

A dark-skinned, slender "big boy" who looked like a growing sapling stood up from his seat and hugged his excited family next to him. A guy in a suit and leather shoes who looked like an agent was constantly talking in his ear.

This is this year's "Champion" Dwight Howard!

It's not the first time Woody has seen him, and the newspapers have been full of his headlines lately.

In particular, the photo of "kissing the basket" that flowed out of the training court became popular in the entire American basketball circle.

It's rare to see a player as big and tall as him and so able to jump.

Of course, this is theoretically speaking, and the last three years have been one of the drafts.

'02 was Amare Stoudemire.

Affected by the "Three Masters of High School", Xiao Si only fell to the 9th pick in the first round.

But another reason for him is that although he is also a high school student participating in the draft, he took a year off from high school due to a leg injury, and by the time he graduated from high school, he was actually 19 years old.

As early as a year ago, when the media predicted Howard's draft pick, they gave the opinion that even if high school students participated in the draft, they could be selected with the top five picks.

Now, with Woody's phenomenal rookie performance, he has become the undisputed "champion" in the draft.

On May 13, the Magic team had just confirmed their "top pick" and immediately announced:

"Howard is our only target!"

Because of this incident, it also caused a lot of conflicts within the team:

Tracy McGrady just said, "If you choose a high school student, then trade me right away!" ”

Although the Magic's record this season is not good, Maddy has still become the ultimate "scoring champion of the season", and he is also the second player since Allen Iverson to win the "scoring title" for two consecutive years, his words......

But it still can't stop the Magic team's determination to choose Howard!

And the general manager of the Magic team, who was sitting in the backstage room at the moment, did not look relaxed or happy because the team had confirmed the selection of Howard. He knows very well that what he needs to do this summer has only just begun.

Stephen Curry watched Howard shake hands with David Stern and asked Woody next to him, "Woody, do you think he can be the next you?" ”

Woody looked at his curious expression, didn't answer, and asked, "What do you think?" ”

Stephen Curry thought about it seriously for a moment and said resolutely: "That definitely can't be!" ”

Just kidding, can such a "stupid big guy" compare to me Woodygo?

"I don't know if I'll be drafted in the first pick......" Looking at Howard, Stephen Curry unconsciously thought about his future, and his eyes began to twinkle with imagination.

Scene.

Dwight Howard, who stepped down from the center of the stage, was surrounded by a group of reporters.

The reporter's first question was similar to the one Stephen Curry asked Woody:

"Dwight, congratulations on being this year's 'champion', you should know that a lot of people think you're the next Woody, do you think you're going to be the next Woody?"

"I don't want to be the next Woody, I just want to be the first Dwight Howard!" ”

Introduction......

It sounds familiar!

His words continued: "I'm actually looking forward to my first time playing Woody, and I'm curious to know what kind of player this guy has been comparing me to him! ”

Howard's words made the reporters' eyes light up:

I didn't expect that!

As soon as this "champion Lang" entered the alliance, he did such a big job!

Howard looked at them with a look in his eyes, but it was quite refreshing.

He had been holding this breath for a long time.

It wasn't Woody who provoked him.

But......

Since last year, he has been compared to Woody by the media, especially since January this year, as long as he plays a little performance, he is called "Woody II". Anyway, he's a genius, right?

Talented...... After all, there is some heartache!

For other players, they are said to be "the next one", and the key person has only just entered the league, and he has not yet fully played his own flag, so I am afraid that there will be some competitive ideas.

Not to mention him Howard!

He has long been holding back to say this in front of the media.

Tonight I finally got what I wanted......

Woody also received a task from the system at this time:

"Genius arrogance shatters the plan!"

"The new champion Lang is obsessed with his name of 'Woody II' and tries to break the impression of the outside world, and the host should extend a 'helping hand' to help him break the impression of the outside world!"

The approximate task is divided into two aspects:

It makes the media feel that he is overestimated, and it makes Howard feel that he is "climbing"!

This is not only convincing the media, but more importantly, convincing Howard......

This summer's motivation to practice the ability to hold the ball in singles has been added!

He has to play even more explosive stats in the new season, or how can he make Howard correctly realize how honored he is to be able to use Woody as a model!

Early the next morning, Howard's remarks were also immediately "out of the circle", and major media rushed to report them, and many of them caused a sensation.

Orland Multimedia is naturally supportive, praising Howard for being "ambitious" and "ambitious".

The Miami media ridiculed Howard for "eyes above the top":

"I just became the champion, and I didn't prove myself in the NBA, you know, there are parallel goods in the NBA champion!"

"Don't want to be the next Woody? You want to be the next Woody! Is this what you say you want to be? ”

"When you can lead the team to the Eastern Conference Finals like Woody in the new season, and win the best second team and the best defensive second team, it's not too late to say that, right?"

……

As for those media outside of Miami Media and Oran Multimedia, there are those who are optimistic about Howard and those who are skeptical of Howard.

But whether you are bullish or questioning Howard, there is one point that is the same;

It's not easy for Howard to play like Woody in his rookie season!

Not to mention whether he has that ability or not, Tracy McGrady's style of play is bound to affect the Magic's Howard team building. In addition, the NBA will cancel the "hand touch" rule in the new season, and outside players will usher in their own "spring full day". With Maddie in their possession, they believe few managers will abandon the strategy of having Maddie at the heart of their team.

So......

If the Magic team doesn't send Maddie away, I'm afraid that Howard will start from a "blue-collar insider" in the new season!

Although Woody's rookie season is almost a "blue-collar" style of play.

But the "blue-collar" style of play is very different from the "blue-collar" style of play.

Let's talk about the final end of this fast break!

Most of the Heat's team was finished by Woody.

In that aspect alone, Woody scored six or seven points per game.

If Maddie is still on the Magic team, can Howard get this score?

And that's just one aspect......

The conversation has apparently affected the relationship between the Magic and Maddy.

In just two or three days, news broke that Maddie and his team had submitted their request to Magic management, hoping that the team could trade him this summer. I heard that the word "unbearable" was used when we met.

The news is like a breeze before the storm.

Soon it turned into a gust of wind!

It's not just the Magic's side that has rough waves.

Dallas, Cuban and Nelson Sr., the "old partners" who have worked together for many years, are also having a very heated discussion.

Last summer, the "five-core offensive system" run by Kuban finally "failed in scientific research." But this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Kuban businessman, on the contrary, he became more and more frustrated, and wanted to do another big job this summer.

And among them, he had serious disagreements with Nelson Sr. on the issue of Steve Nash's contract extension.

Old Nelson means to sign resolutely, no matter how much money it is, you have to renew the contract.

Cuban only wanted to give a 5-year contract of 28.25 million, and also shouted at old Nelson: "It's still for your brother's face!" ”

Originally, the old Nelson was holding back the fire in his heart because of this guy's indiscriminate interference in the intra-team transaction last year, and when he saw that his beloved apprentice was only worth so much money in the eyes of this guy, he stopped doing it at that time, patted the table and said directly: "If you don't renew Steve's contract, then my coaching career with the Mavericks will end here!" ”、

These words frightened Kuban for a moment, but he was only stunned for a moment, and Kuban still gritted his teeth and insisted on his opinion for the big blueprint in his heart: "Nash, it's only worth so much money!" ”

And in Staples, general manager Kupchak also made the first call to Shaq O'Neal's agent team after the finals.

With the season coming to an end, Shaq O'Neal has only one year left on his big contract.

A superstar of his magnitude, naturally he had to discuss the renewal of the contract earlier!

After all, if you talk about it, you can maintain the stability of the team for the next four or five years; If we can't get along, of course, there will be more time to deal with this matter and ensure that the Lakers will not be affected too much.

Shaq O'Neill's team gave a two-word answer to the contract extension:

Maximum salary!

Kupchak also gave a two-word reply:

Negotiable......

The call ended quickly, and there was no argument on either side.

But after the call, Kupchak's expression became serious.

The current atmosphere is here, their first phone call is actually a temptation between the two sides, and now that the temptation is over, Shaq O'Neal's attitude is very clear, they want to renew the contract with a maximum salary.

Supposedly, Shaq O'Neal's dominance under the basket is not too much.

But the problem is that Shaq is already 32 years old.

Even if he can still be worth the top salary in these two years, what about another two years?

The core problem now is that the "OK" group has not won the championship for the second year in a row.

Shaq O'Neal's injuries on various aspects of his toes are also a concern.

Combined, these make the Lakers dare not gamble on another contract with a maximum salary......

Of course, there is another important reason:

It is said that Shaq O'Neal won the "three consecutive championships" for the Lakers, even if he is not "biological", he was brought over by the "stepmother" Magic team, and it is normal to give a large contract with a maximum salary.

But who made him have a bad relationship with Kobe?

The next "popular spicy chicken" in Los Angeles is Kobe Bryant!

The thinking vision of the "wealthy" will always be in the future......

So Shaq O'Neal's maximum salary contract, Kupchak will definitely not agree.

The reason for the interview was to try again one last time and renew Shaq O'Neal at a slightly compromised price.

If it's not that expensive, then it's a little risky, and you can still try for another two years!

(End of chapter)