Pat Riley simply smiled without speaking.
It wasn't as if he hadn't considered that crazy possibility before. But judging from the current situation, there was no way any team in the top ten would take the risk of selecting him early.
After all, his height was a natural disadvantage. His perimeter skills were close to nonexistent, and in the hyper-competitive NBA, he was still someone who couldn't contribute inside or outside.
But on the court, Brook Lopez could clearly feel Snoopy's growth. Last time they matched up, that damned pup didn't move nearly this fluidly. He didn't know how to spin off contact and seal him on his back, he only knew how to brute-force his way through without technique.
But just now, when Lopez had pinned him behind, ready to rise up and deliver a huge chase-down block on Derrick Rose, Snoopy suddenly slipped around him with a smooth wrap-around spin, evaded the box-out, and sealed Lopez behind him instead. All Lopez could do was helplessly watch Derrick Rose twist midair and throw down a flashy reverse dunk.
"Nice one."
On the way back on defense, Derrick Rose bumped fists with Snoopy. He finally understood the massive gap between Joey Dorsey and Snoopy.
Meanwhile, Anthony Randolph slapped O.J. Mayo on the backside, reminding him:
"Next possession, you HAVE to get me the ball. I'm dunking on that kid's head."
Truthfully, O.J. Mayo didn't like Randolph's rude gestures or commanding tone. But back in the locker room before the game, he'd promised Randolph this opportunity.
As the de facto leader of this temporary team, O.J.'s leadership style was the opposite of Snoopy's. His method was to promise every teammate a chance to shine, grant their wishes so they'd follow him.
For example, Anthony Randolph wanted to showcase his physical tools and dunk over Snoopy, who was guarding the paint.
Jerryd Bayless wanted to show off his passing and pull-up jumper. Brook Lopez wanted to display his full arsenal of post moves. Brandon Rush wanted a few clear-out drives.
O.J. Mayo had agreed to all of it to cement his authority.
This was his way of leading, motivating others with benefits.
So, once they crossed half court, Jerryd Bayless passed the ball to O.J. Mayo, and Westbrook immediately pressured him relentlessly.
Westbrook was already an elite defender, and with superior athleticism to Mayo, his aggressive pestering forced Mayo backwards again and again.
General managers on the sidelines watched some nodding, some shaking their heads.
The nods praised Westbrook's defense. The headshakes worried whether Mayo could handle NBA-level defensive intensity.
Anthony Randolph rushed over to set a screen but his screen wasn't solid.
But Mayo, a prodigy since youth, only needed the briefest moment of relief. He burst past the defense and attacked the basket.
Westbrook chased at full speed. At the same time, Randolph sprinted toward the paint. Snoopy was battling Brook Lopez inside, neither giving an inch in the paint.
In the blink of an eye, Mayo was at the rim. Snoopy spun quickly, once again sealing Lopez behind his hip.
In terms of small-area explosiveness, Snoopy had surpassed Brook Lopez.
Now Mayo faced four choices:
Option 1:
Quick change of direction, using Lopez's left-side screen for a layup.
Option 2:
Lob it to Lopez for a point-blank finish. Given Snoopy's position, he'd have trouble contesting a Lopez layup, the height gap was simply too large.
Option 3:
Kick out to Brandon Rush in the corner.
Option 4:
Dish it to the trailing Anthony Randolph.
The difficulty increased with each choice…
Yet Mayo chose the fourth.
Within milliseconds, he spun and shoveled the ball to Randolph in stride. Randolph caught it without hesitation.
He gathered with one step, BOOM, exploding upward.
His bounce was tremendous.
Ball in both hands, he rose high, arcing through the air toward the rim.
As he soared in, Snoopy quickly retreated a step, positioning himself directly under the basket.
Randolph came down with a vicious, full-force dunk attempt.
But just before he hammered the ball through the hoop, Snoopy exploded upward, one right hand shooting from below, clamping the ball midair.
Randolph was already in his downward motion, all his weight and power focused into one point.
By all logic… it should've been an unstoppable dunk.
But Randolph's "logic" was too small.
"GET DOWN!"
Snoopy roared, muscles surging, wrist bending, ripping the ball backward out of Randolph's grip.
Randolph couldn't control his body. The ball slipped from his hands, and he staggered backward like a leaf blown by the wind.
He stumbled three full steps before finally regaining balance.
The ball, once clutched in his hands, was now firmly in Snoopy's. Snoopy immediately launched a long outlet pass.
Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook bolted forward like two golden retrievers unleashed. Bayless had barely crossed half court when they left him behind.
Westbrook caught the pass, stormed the lane, reverse spinning dunk!
The crowd erupted.
Dwyane Wade grabbed his head dramatically.
"Man… that strength is insane."
Snoopy had literally pinned the ball out of Randolph's hands mid-dunk.
How big was his hand?
How strong was he?
GMs gasped.
But Pat Riley remained calm, tapping the training camp measurement sheet:
"Randolph only weighs 96 kg. He only got three reps on the 84-kg bench press. So let's not exaggerate the strength factor."
"What you should be amazed at is his timing. His sense for blocking shots, that's the real elite gift."
Riley's words didn't draw much reaction, every NBA team had its own data models. The same player could be rated completely differently depending on the numbers a team valued.
But one thing was certain: This block would raise Snoopy's draft value by at least one or two spots.
After all, Anthony Randolph wasn't just some nobody. He had received the official "Green Room" invitation, meaning he was recognized as a strong lottery pick candidate.
"I know you wanted to boost your draft stock by dunking on me,"
Snoopy said with a smile to the frustrated Randolph.
"But too bad, looks like I'm the one boosting mine today."
Randolph hated hearing it, but he couldn't deny it. It was simply the truth.
He looked to O.J. Mayo, hoping for another chance.
But O.J. shook his head and told him clearly:
"I'll help you get it back later."
Snoopy heard this and couldn't help but smirk. Blocking a lottery pick wasn't the same as blocking a potential No.1 pick.
And O.J. Mayo and his crew were the ones who most wanted to use Snoopy as a stepping stone.
It was time to wake them up.