The Orlando Magic's ten-member scouting delegation arrived in Los Angeles on May 26, personally led by head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith. Their presence alone showed how seriously the Magic were taking Snoopy.
This year, the Magic were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals, a result that saddened Orlando fans for a long time.
After the season ended, rumors of conflict between the coach and players began to surface.
There were reports that after Game 5, Dwight Howard had confronted the team owner, pressuring him to rein in Van Gundy's temper and reduce the team's heavy training load.
But… everyone knew Stan Van Gundy was a stubborn man. As a coach, he was highly capable, but when it came to dealing with players, he lacked the finesse and art of leadership.
In Game 4 of the playoffs, this was already obvious, he listened to one sentence from Snoopy and actually pushed Snoopy out to lecture the players for him.
Fortunately, Snoopy was smart enough not to actually scold anyone too harshly, or he would have become the Magic's public enemy instantly.
The workout was arranged at UCLA's training facility, and the Magic brought in several other players as comparison pieces.
Van Gundy didn't bother testing Snoopy's physical measurements; he immediately began full-court drills. He focused on evaluating Snoopy's performance in:
screen quality, show/hedge defense, pick-and-roll coverage, transition defense and offense, passing/playmaking, perimeter ball-handler defense, rim protection, defensive rebounding, and offensive rebounding.
The workout lasted nearly two hours.
Van Gundy filled almost ten pages in his little notebook.
He was extremely satisfied. Snoopy's performance exceeded expectations and fit perfectly with his half-court "semi-circle" defensive system. Snoopy could be Dwight Howard's ideal backup, and might even share the court with Howard to build a tough interior.
In Van Gundy's evaluation system, Snoopy's screen quality, playmaking, rim protection, and defensive rebounding were all top-tier.
What thrilled him most was Snoopy's rim protection: Snoopy's short-range mobility was incredible. He gave opponents almost no chance at a dunk. The moment they jumped, he instantly moved into the best shot-blocking position, then used explosive vertical speed and frightening strength to stop them.
In addition, his pick-and-roll defense and offensive rebounding were all graded A-level or higher.
His on-ball containment was average, he sometimes lost steps while retreating.
As for transition play and perimeter ball-handler defense, those were the weakest. Snoopy couldn't seem to fully use his legs, his stride was too short even though his speed was fast.
In transition, this flaw wasn't too noticeable. But when guarding wings on the perimeter, he was clearly at a disadvantage. His positioning was smart, and opponents couldn't fool him with fakes, but if they used long strides or explosive crossovers, he couldn't keep up.
Still, for an interior player, he performed extremely well, far above expectations.
When the workout ended, Stan Van Gundy came over and shook Snoopy's hand.
"If nothing unexpected happens, this summer you'll be wearing a Magic jersey. We will work hard to trade up. Orlando needs a defensive big man as smart and mobile as you."
Snoopy smiled, thanked him for the draft commitment, and then said seriously:
"Coach, I'm actually not an interior player. My target has always been point guard. But before I gain the ball-handling ability to earn that role, I'll do the interior work first. Please keep that in mind."
Van Gundy burst out laughing.
"You're funny."
He thought Snoopy was joking.
But Snoopy swore he wasn't. His seriousness only made the Magic staff laugh harder.
Otis Smith walked over and patted Snoopy's shoulder.
"Alright, Lord Snoopy, settle down. You don't need to keep insisting you're a point guard. We won't judge you by your height, and we won't be influenced by the negative media around you. I can guarantee you will be a lottery pick this year."
"And remember, Orlando has the biggest Disneyland in the world. A Snoopy and his Princess will live a very sweet life there!"
His joke sent the staff into another round of laughter. They were delighted to have discovered a talent like Snoopy.
Van Gundy even thought: If Dwight ever pretends to be injured again, I'll just run the semi-circle system with Snoopy. If we win a few games in a row, Dwight will have to crawl back and beg.
Although the workout was secret, walls have ears. Before the Lakers even suffered two consecutive road losses, the news had already reached every NBA general manager's desk.
The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat called almost simultaneously.
Daphne explained:
"It was hard to refuse such sincere invitations."
When they asked whether Orlando had made a commitment, she answered clearly:
"Van Gundy desperately wants Snoopy and Dwight to form the NBA's No. 1 no-fly zone."
Hearing that, both teams stiffened.
Dwight + Snoopy, regardless of anything else, that combination alone would be a top-tier shot-blocking terror.
No way. They had to stop Snoopy from joining Orlando.
The Magic were already strong enough to reach the East Finals. If they added someone who perfectly fit their system, it would be like giving a tiger wings.
And if Snoopy someday developed into a two-way inside-out player, the Eastern Conference could fall under Orlando's long-term rule. After all, Dwight Howard was still years away from his prime. Two beasts roaring together would shake the entire league.
After hanging up, Pat Riley moved fast, seeking trades immediately. Miami shared the same division as Orlando; they absolutely couldn't let the Magic grow stronger.
Dallas was far away in Texas, but the Mavericks were a championship-oriented franchise. Mark Cuban didn't want to spend his life as a "Lone Ranger." When GM Donnie Nelson reported the news, Cuban immediately ordered:
"Stop Orlando at all costs."
With three teams suddenly scrambling to acquire lottery picks, the entire draft scene was stirred into chaos.
The 2008 draft had been considered a "weak draft." Teams thought of their picks as tasteless leftovers, too valuable to throw away, but not exciting either. But once bidding wars started, lottery teams became lively. Some wanted to name outrageous prices, others wanted to probe which player the contenders were chasing so they could interfere.
NBA GMs were all sharp operators. Within hours, the prices of draft picks skyrocketed.
Overnight, the entire "weak draft" narrative was overturned.