A few days later, the 2007 NBA Draft was held as scheduled at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The Portland Trail Blazers, holding the first overall pick, didn't hesitate for a second, decisively selecting "The Emperor" Oden as the top pick in the first round.
At the Draft. The moment Oden was announced as the number one pick, Kevin Durant, who was also a strong contender for the top spot, immediately applauded and praised him from the bottom of his heart. This was because the New York Knicks had already given Durant a verbal commitment during the earlier tryout phase. So, naturally, Durant wanted to wear a Knicks jersey more than he wanted to be the first overall pick. After all, playing for the Knicks meant Durant would have more opportunities to "drink the bathwater" of New York-born Scarlett Johansson, thanks to being close by.
"KD! KD! KD!"
With the second pick in the first round, Durant was selected by the Knicks as he wished, erupting in waves of cheers from the crowd. This was a rare highlight for the Knicks' front office in recent years. Donnie Walsh, who replaced "Isiah Thomas" as the Knicks' general manager, chuckled in an interview: " 'KD' is absolutely a gift from God to New York."
Additionally, on draft day, the Knicks also completed a trade with the Cavaliers. They sent Allen Iverson, the "great hero" who led them to the second overall pick last season, to Cleveland in exchange for the Cavaliers' second-round pick this year and Shaquille O'Neal.
As one of the more reliable Knicks general managers in the 21st century in Zack's memory, Walsh knew that if he was going to build a team around Durant, he had to give him time to grow. So, to prevent Iverson from affecting Durant's development, Walsh had already contacted the Cavaliers' management beforehand.
The Cavaliers' front office, who had just suffered a devastating loss in the Finals, felt as if joy had fallen from the sky. Although Iverson was already 32 years old, "AI" still averaged "26+7" in the 2006-07 season. Last season, just Mo Williams alone showed the Cavaliers' front office how well James meshed with an attacking perimeter guard. So, how much more so with the famous Iverson?
And for the Knicks? Just as in Zack's memory, Walsh, noticing that most of the "Golden Generation of 2003" had opted for "3+1" contracts during their early extensions, had already set his sights on the 2010 free agency market. O'Neal's current contract was set to expire in the summer of 2010. In Walsh's view, this aging superstar center could not only help the Knicks successfully execute their tanking plan, but as an inside player, O'Neal wouldn't even compete with Durant for ball-handling duties.
Undoubtedly, this was a win-win trade for both sides. The Cavaliers found a "good samaritan" willing to take on O'Neal and acquired a superstar teammate in his prime for James. The Knicks sent away Iverson, who could potentially hinder Durant's growth, and officially began their rebuilding plan. ESPN, for a rare change, gave both teams involved in this trade an A-minus rating.
The only slight downside was that upon learning he was traded to Cleveland, a heartbroken Iverson wished he could have broken his own leg. Even if he didn't show any sadness over O'Neal's departure in an interview, James, knowing Iverson was about to arrive in Cleveland, stated: "Allen Iverson has always been my idol and role model; I'm eager to team up with him."
Iverson was also very reluctant to wear that Cavaliers No. 3 jersey. This was precisely the long-standing dilemma the Cavaliers always faced when recruiting help for James. If the Knicks hadn't drafted Durant and decided to tank, they wouldn't even have been worthy of acquiring a star in the final stages of his career like Iverson.
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### Draft Surprises and Hornets' Gamble
With the third pick in the first round, the Celtics, despite having the worst record in the league, only managed to secure the third pick and selected Al Horford, who had been "psychologically traumatized" by Zack in college. The Celtics, benefiting from this turn of events, drafted a hidden gem. Horford, who made multiple All-Star appearances later in his career, was a modern big man skilled in both offense and defense. And even with an incredibly attention-grabbing wife, Horford proved his self-discipline through his long career, playing in the NBA until Zack's transmigration.
Next, with the fourth pick in the first round, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Mike Conley. In Zack's memory, he was a tough player who could go "toe-to-toe" with all the superstar guards of his era. Conley, with his unflashy, steady playing style, was also a hidden gem. The 2007 draft truly lived up to its reputation as a great draft class. Because of the top four picks this year, besides Oden, the other three all had extremely long prime careers in Zack's memory.
With the fifth pick in the first round, Jordan, still scarred by the chair tryout incident, did not choose Yi Jianlian. Instead, after selecting Jeff Green, he traded Green along with Matt Carroll, Sean May, and a future draft pick to Portland for the troubled youth, Zach Randolph.
Last season, Randolph averaged "24+10" for the "Portland Penitentiary." Unfortunately, despite putting up All-Star forward numbers, Randolph couldn't get any exposure in the league. This was because ever since he entered the league, Randolph's off-court behavior made it hard to believe he was an NBA player. Buying illegal firearms, assaulting teammates, drunk driving, even possessing drugs... Due to these reasons, the Trail Blazers wanted to trade away the "number one criminal" of the Portland Penitentiary while he still had value.
Initially, the Grizzlies, who learned that the Trail Blazers were shopping Randolph, also wanted the young forward, but... Jordan, who believed Randolph was child's play compared to Rodman, ultimately offered a higher bid.
On TNT, Charles Barkley rationally analyzed this trade: "I bet 100% that Michael saw Zach Randolph as valuable because, over the past two seasons, Zach was one of the few players who didn't fall short when facing the Messiah."
"Master Jordan interpreter" Barkley was absolutely right. Jordan spared no expense, even sending the highly promising talent Jeff Green to Portland, precisely because he valued Randolph's ability to consistently hit impressive shots against Zack, even with all his excess weight.
ESPN only gave the Bobcats' trade a C-plus rating. They commented on the potential new talent and team owner for the upcoming Bobcats season as follows:
A center consistently plagued by back injuries (Okafor).
A criminal who could blow up the locker room at any time (Randolph).
A future team star with a gangster background (Roy - note: this is likely a misidentification in the original text, as Brandon Roy was drafted by Minnesota in 2006 and traded to Portland. The original intent might have been a different player or a subtle jab given his "Jordan" connection, as the "Roy" mentioned here is ambiguous).
A scumbag owner who is proficient in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, and has nothing to do with being a good person (Jordan).
Small Charlotte, gathering so many "social elites" overnight... It's hard to judge Jordan's team-building philosophy without a God's eye view. However, considering that this Bobcats team also had Felton and Wallace, from Zack's perspective as a transmigration, he actually thought that Boss Jordan, by accident, had put together a very competitive roster.
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### Yi Jianlian and Other Picks, Plus Free Agency Frenzy
Next, with the sixth pick in the first round, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Yi Jianlian. Although he was immediately sent to the "bitter cold" northwest upon entering the league, Yi Jianlian's agent, Fegan, did not cause any trouble like in Zack's memory. This was because the Timberwolves, lacking big men, could not only provide Yi Jianlian with the playing time he wanted, but also... in terms of developing big men, Minnesota was definitely a blessed land for them. Historically, whether it was Al Jefferson who further developed in Minnesota, or Kevin Love, or Karl-Anthony Towns who proved that modern centers should play a "fight and retreat" style – in short, you can question everything about the Timberwolves, but you can never question their ability to tailor the most suitable growth paths for each young big man based on their characteristics. Before the draft began, Yi Jianlian's team really wanted him to be drafted by the Timberwolves. Therefore, this was a mutually desired selection.
And then, several other well-known first-round picks in Zack's memory—Joakim Noah, Spencer Hawes, Nick Young, and Wilson Chandler—were selected by the Bulls, Kings, Wizards, and Heat, respectively.
The Warriors selected Josh McRoberts from Duke University with the 30th pick in the first round. The Lakers, who had already acquired Pau Gasol through a trade, learned early on through Pau that Marc Gasol was willing to buy out his contract with his current European team to join the Lakers. So, at the recommendation of the Lakers scouts, the Lakers' front office, who had long been closely following Marc Gasol, decisively traded for a pick and selected Marc Gasol with the 25th pick in the first round. There was no way the Warriors' management could have obtained the inside information that Marc Gasol would be able to play in the NBA next season. And from the perspective of hindsight... the Warriors, who could at most trade for the 27th pick from the Pacers on draft night, would have found it difficult to "hijack" the Lakers, who wanted to unite the "Gasol brothers" bond.
Phil Jackson had been pressuring Kupchak multiple times since the middle of last season, stating that the Lakers needed a center. Plus, Pau Gasol could convince Marc Gasol to buy out his contract with his team by paying himself and join the NBA early. Additionally, Kobe, who was currently "deeply in love" with Pau, also pressured the Lakers' front office before the draft began: "I trust Pau; his brother will definitely be worth every penny, just as he says." Thus, with all these factors combined, Kupchak, who had extensive connections in the league, effortlessly secured a first-round pick for the Lakers that ensured they could select Marc Gasol. This was the foundation of a powerhouse that Jerry Buss had painstakingly built over decades for the Lakers.
However, Zack, who had already prepared himself for missing out on Marc Gasol, felt no regret. In the second round, after the Lakers unsurprisingly selected Sun Dasheng (Sun Yue), Zack turned off the TV and began enjoying his decadent vacation. He just wanted to peacefully enjoy his time off before starting his annual off-season special training.
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Time quickly moved to July. The NBA free agency market officially opened. If last year, the Western powerhouses were stirring up trouble, this year, it was the Eastern Conference teams' turn to show the world their ambition.
To honor the late "Red Auerbach," the "Red Head Coach," with a championship ring, Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge, with his eloquent tongue, first convinced Vince Carter, who was to become a free agent this summer. Carter was moved by the beautiful blueprint Ainge laid out. And most importantly, Ainge and Pierce both promised him that Tim Duncan had agreed to join the Celtics.
At this point, Duncan wanting to leave San Antonio was no longer a secret. Although the Spurs' coaching staff, led by Popovich, would publicly state every now and then that they were confident they could keep Duncan, for Duncan, who still couldn't get over last season's Western Conference Semifinals, he was no longer resistant to a new environment to continue his career.
However, before planning the future with Carter, Ainge clearly hadn't officially contacted Duncan yet. This was because only by securing Carter first could Ainge take Carter's contract to San Antonio to persuade the "Big Fundamental."
"Tim, now we have superstar players like Vince and Paul, and limitless potential in young players like Al Horford. If you're willing to join us, we'll definitely be able to create great things together!"
"Mmm."
"Tim, don't believe the flowery words of the San Antonians anymore. Given the current Western Conference landscape, the Spurs' roster simply can't satisfy your ambitions!"
"Hmm?"
"Tim, if the Spurs could really strengthen their current roster, then why haven't they? Think about it, in the past few years, when did the Spurs ever not think about chasing a championship with the least possible cost?"
"Mmm."
"Tim, do you really want to sink with the Spurs? You only have three championship rings right now, and one of them is even what Shaquille O'Neal called an 'asterisk ring.' You know, your junior has already proven with two consecutive championships and two well-deserved FMVPs that he is the sole candidate for the greatest power forward in NBA history. Tim, don't you want to defeat your smug junior head-on, leading a strong Celtics team while you're still in your prime?"
"Hmm!"
After Carter joined, the Celtics already possessed the championship-contending roster Duncan desired. Ainge's grand vision also deeply moved Duncan. Of course, most importantly, Duncan, who didn't know how to face Zack for the rest of his life, indeed wanted to use a clean and straightforward contest to continue the classic big man versus modern big man debate with Zack.
However, to acquire Duncan, the Celtics could only do so through a sign-and-trade. This meant Duncan first exercising his player option in his original contract, and then the Celtics trading for him by matching salaries. The reason the Celtics had to operate this way had nothing to do with doing Duncan a favor and leaving a "spark" for the Spurs. It was simply because they had to operate this way to absorb Duncan's contract.
On July 10th. Greg Popovich, knowing the Spurs were destined to lose Duncan, instantly broke down. "We raised an ungrateful wolf cub." A completely disheartened Popovich did not participate in the ensuing trade between the Spurs and Celtics. Duncan's imminent departure was like a heavy punch, hitting Popovich's chest hard.
Although Popovich wanted to confront Duncan and ask why he had to leave the city he had served for ten years, Duncan refused to meet with any member of the Spurs' coaching staff. "I have dedicated my most precious and beautiful years to San Antonio. Now, I just want a change of scenery to continue my career."
Duncan didn't want to live the rest of his life in guilt and avoidance. In the face of cold reality, to continue competing with his junior, who already wore the GOAT halo... the Spurs' roster not only couldn't satisfy Duncan's ambitions, but also... Duncan wanted to answer Zack's soul-searching question from last season in his own way.
Thus, after the Celtics agreed to send out Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and "White Mamba" Brian Scalabrine to match Duncan's salary, this trade, which shook the entire Eastern Conference, was officially completed.
This was definitely the most celebratory day in the wild West. Duncan's departure would inevitably push the Spurs out of championship contention. Zack, too, was extremely shocked when he learned that Duncan had left the Spurs via trade. But immediately, he opened a bottle of champagne for himself and his senior.
Zack opened champagne for himself because, without Duncan, he could now completely let go of his psychological burden and go after the Spurs for revenge. The reason for opening champagne for Duncan was that Duncan, no longer wanting to be bound by the Spurs, had proven with his actions that he was still the same Duncan from three years ago. Zack was really looking forward to this Celtics team, composed of Duncan, Carter, and Pierce, shaking up the Eastern Conference and facing them on the court.
However... for James, who had just acquired his idol Iverson's assistance, the "Stone Buddha's journey east" was definitely not good news. In James's view, the Celtics, now with a Big Three for the new season, had far surpassed the Cavaliers in overall strength.
And just as James was feeling anxious about his team's roster, ESPN suddenly broke the news: "After a difficult choice between Mo Williams and Anderson Varejão, for salary cap considerations, the Cleveland Cavaliers will not match the Chicago Bulls' 5-year, $38 million offer for Anderson Varejão."
James was silent upon learning that the Cavaliers had given up on re-signing Varejão. Although for the new season, even without Varejão, the Cavaliers' total team salary would still be as high as $81 million, far exceeding the Lakers, Warriors, and Supersonics, and second only to the Knicks. But James, who was never satisfied with his team's roster or the number of his helpers, still couldn't understand why the Cavaliers wouldn't pay a little more luxury tax for him. In James's view, the Cavaliers' management's previous promises of strengthening the team were nothing but deception and trickery towards a young king who was inexperienced in the ways of the world.
It's all business. James realized that in this league, other than himself, there was no one he could truly trust.
And before the annual off-season special training began... one day, Zack also received both good and bad news from Artest's agent.
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