Chapter 149 The Madman's Trade

In fact, Neil Olson had already decided on his team-building ideas after his acrimonious departure from Dallas.

Therefore, when the Golden State Warriors extended an olive branch to him...

This "mad scientist" agreed to the Warriors' invitation almost without thinking.

So now the question is...

As an offensive coach who is well-known in the league, is Neil Olson good at building teams?

The answer is, of course, yes.

In Su Feng's previous life, the reason why the Mavericks were able to flourish for more than ten years in the 21st century was because Neil Olson selected a war machine from Germany for them in 1998.

And during his time with the Warriors, in addition to the famous "Black Eight Miracle," although on the surface, Neil Olson seemed to be tanking in his last two seasons with the Warriors...

However, similarly, before leaving Oakland, Neil Olson also left a valuable legacy for the Warriors.

Anyone with a little common sense knows that before the start of the 2009 NBA Draft, it was generally acknowledged that it was a small draft year.

At the same time, because before the start of this draft, Stephen Curry repeatedly expressed his desire to go to the "Big Apple City"...

Therefore, teams with draft picks before the Knicks dared not gamble on this super shooter who once led the Davidson Wildcats to upset victories all the way in the NCAA arena.

However, others may not dare to gamble, but that doesn't mean Neil Olson doesn't dare to gamble.

Neil Olson, who knew Dell Curry very well, knew that Little Curry was just bluffing.

With his father's good-natured personality, Neil Olson didn't believe Stephen Curry would cause trouble like Francis.

So, from then on...

The Warriors welcomed one of their most important core players for their future rise.

It's just that compared to when he coached the Warriors in the future...

Right now in '03...

You can only describe the current situation of this Warriors team in four words.

That is:

Terrible.

Having just lost Arenas, because the Warriors' management often gave out large contracts to players whose strength and value were not commensurate when signing players, as if they were doing charity...

Therefore, it is no less than ascending to heaven for Neil Olson to complete the reorganization of this Warriors team this summer.

But...

In Neil Olson's view, it was precisely because Arenas was poached by the Wizards that he had room to maneuver.

And now, it's time to show the world his crazy side!

In August, Neil Olson, who was also the general manager and head coach of the Warriors, first made a trade with the Clippers.

In this trade, the Warriors will send out Mike Dunleavy, the third overall pick they selected in the 2002 NBA Draft, as well as Bob Sura and Chris Mills.

And they only got back the Clippers' first-round pick in the next season...

And this is still a protected pick in the top three.

Although Dunleavy performed generally in his rookie season, as a high-ranking rookie in '02, it would be a bit much to say that he has no trade value now.

And right now in '03, Sura's annual salary of 6 million is a bit high, but considering that his contract will expire after next season...

So for the Clippers, who have ample salary cap space, this is exactly the expiring combat power they desperately need for their rebuilding efforts.

Therefore, what Neil Olson really wants to get rid of in this trade is Chris Mills' annual salary of up to $6.6 million next season.

However...

Due to the fact that Mills' contract will also expire next season, no matter how you look at it, the Warriors seem to be giving Little Dunleavy to the Clippers for nothing in this trade.

Ah, this!

Is Neil Olson a great philanthropist?

Is it just to fulfill Little Dunleavy's "father-son basketball" dream that he gave Little Dunleavy to the Clippers for nothing?

No...

This is purely because Neil Olson needs space.

Because there are too many big fish in the free agent market in the summer of '03.

And now, after clearing the Warriors' salary cap space, Neil Olson has the chips to continue gambling at the gambling table this summer.

On August 2nd, because the Raptors' salary cap had exceeded the limit, the Raptors' management and Nash peacefully parted ways without considering a sign-and-trade.

And Neil Olson, who had been waiting and watching, knew that it was time for him to make a move.

As an offensive coach, after communicating with Nash over the phone, in order to win Nash's heart, Neil Olson took a special plane to Toronto the next day.

And in his communication with Nash, it was clear that Neil Olson's run-and-gun tactics filled Nash with interest.

"We will build the team completely around you. As long as you agree to join the Warriors, the Warriors will be your team from next season."

Looking at Nash, this "full-level account," Neil Olson smiled.

So just like that, on the 3rd, in this summer of constant earthquakes, Nash, a three-time assist champion and record holder for the most assists in a single NBA Finals game, officially joined the Golden State Warriors with a six-year, $104.2 million max contract.

Because Nash does not have Bird rights, this is the theoretical maximum salary he can get after choosing to switch teams, just like Su Feng before.

In addition, because Nash did not enjoy the benefits brought by the "Su Feng Clause" in his early years, the theoretical starting salary of this max contract will be about one skin less than Su Feng's.

And in this contract, in addition to the last year being a player option, Neil Olson also promised Nash a no-trade clause.

For Nash, who is already 29 years old this year, there is no doubt that this contract given to him by Neil Olson is full of trust in him.

After all, he will be 35 years old when this contract ends.

And in the market, although Nash and Su Feng teamed up to produce what is known as the most exciting performance in NBA history in last season's Finals G4 game...

Most experts still do not look favorably on this signing.

Because in the experts' view...

Maybe in the first two years, Nash's contract will earn back the ticket price for the Warriors.

But as time goes by, Nash's age will continue to turn this contract into a "garbage contract."

However, for Neil Olson, who has always only cared about having fun himself, regardless of what others think, this is only the beginning.

Because the Warriors had previously selected Chris Bosh in the draft...

So for Antawn Jamison, the current leader of the Warriors...

Neil Olson knew that he had to find a good place for him.

Although from a stylistic point of view, Jamison also fits Neil Olson's style of play very well...

However, because the Warriors have not changed owners at this time, in order to avoid the Warriors' salary cap from expanding in a few years, and also to allow himself to have enough space to sign some more practical players...

On the 4th, after signing Nash, Neil Olson immediately called the Suns' management.

And soon, the Suns, eager to win a championship, packaged Rashard Lewis and Yasseen Yacoubou and sent them to Oakland, in exchange for Jamison, a Western Conference All-Star forward who averaged 22.2 points in the 02/03 season.

In terms of personal strength, Jamison at this time is definitely slightly stronger than Lewis.

However, what Neil Olson values is Lewis' contract with an annual salary of only about $7 million.

In addition, Lewis' stable shooting ability on the outside is also what Neil Olson believes the Warriors desperately need next season.

As another genius high school student selected by Logo Man in the past, Lewis has shot over 40% from three-point range in the past two seasons.

And in Su Feng's previous life, Lewis, whose career three-point percentage is close to 39%, made a total of 1787 three-pointers when he retired.

Therefore, with Bosh in the paint, Lewis is undoubtedly more suitable for Neil Olson's offensive system next season.

However, Neil Olson knows that both Lewis and Bosh seem too "brittle" on the front line.

Therefore, as early as when he went to Toronto to visit Nash, Neil Olson also visited a young man in Toronto.

Stephen Jackson.

The truth proves that, except for players of Su Feng's level, whose promises are called promises...

For players like Jackson, most of the promises they can get are just toilet paper.

In the summer, after the free agent market opened, the Magic, who had previously promised Jackson a $7 million annual salary contract, signed Mike Bibby, whose contract had expired, from the free agent market with a max contract...

Therefore, at this time, where do they have the space to give Jackson a contract with an annual salary of nearly 3 skins?

"Why don't you come over and play for a year first? Although the salary is a bit less, 4 million a year is also worthy of your worth."

And for the statement given by the Magic management afterwards...

Jackson almost took a knife and killed every member of the Magic's management team in Orlando at that time.

"Alas! If I had known this, I might as well have followed Su to Miami for a year first."

After being betrayed by the Magic's management, Jackson became depressed.

As a player who values loyalty, he really can't bring himself to face Su Feng again at this time.

And at this moment, Neil Olson suddenly appeared in front of Stephen Jackson with a smile on his face.

"Steve has agreed to come to Oakland to play.

How about it, I'll give you a big contract, are you willing to work with me?" Looking at Jackson, Neil Olson smiled.

For Jackson, who was in a state of depression at this moment, the smile on Neil Olson's face instantly melted his heart like a spring breeze.

So, after reaching a five-year, $39 million contract with the Warriors, Jackson's addition instantly improved the Warriors' front line depth by a level.

And on the 9th, when Brian Witt, the Warriors' team reporter, was invited to come to Oracle Arena to interview the Warriors' star player for next season, Steve Nash...

Nash, who happened to be competing with Lewis in three-pointers at the time, immediately petrified Witt on the spot.

Because all he saw was Nash making 88 consecutive three-pointers at the top of the arc.

And Lewis was not to be outdone, making 91 consecutive three-pointers at both corners.

According to Witt himself, the nets at Oracle Arena at that time were as crisp and melodious as if you were skipping stones on a lake.

Therefore, shortly after returning to the editorial department, Witt officially gave Nash and Lewis this outside combination a nickname in his subsequent report.

"splash.Brothers".

Literal translation in Chinese:

——"Shui Hua Brothers". (Water Brothers)

…

"Shui... Shui Hua Brothers!?" (Water Brothers)

And in Miami, when Su Feng saw this news, he almost spit the taco he was eating on LeBron's face.

"Brian Witt? Isn't this the guy who gave Klay and Stephen their nicknames in the future?"

Looking at the reporter's name on this report...

Su Feng felt...

Maybe this is the legendary fate!

Just in terms of three-point ability, for people who have not seen the world in this era, Nash and Lewis do deserve such a nickname.

However, after noticing that Nash and Jackson had both joined the Warriors, Su Feng vaguely felt that this Nash had chosen a path similar to his in the invisible.

Starting from a bottom team, starting from scratch, and starting a family again.

Just talking about the lineup, this Warriors team, apart from Nash, Lewis and Jackson are still some distance away from being All-Star players at this time...

And Bosh is even more of a rookie.

But based on Nash's passing skills at this time...

Even if these three are fed into the All-Star bench by him next season, Su Feng would not be surprised at all.

Moreover, once this Warriors team makes a breakthrough under the leadership of Neil Olson...

Then at that time, in the competition for the MVP, Nash will have the capital to compete with him.

"Sure enough, we still have to study the sewers to find a way out!"

That day, looking at Odom and Milicic, who were practicing three-pointers in the training hall, Su Feng silently sighed.

And in August, in addition to the Warriors completing their reconstruction work, the Suns, who had previously exchanged Jamison from Oakland, also showed the world their determination to compete for the championship in the 03/04 season.

Because the Suns will not trigger the super luxury tax until the 04/05 season...

So isn't it just money?

Only for one season...

As long as they can win the championship...

In the free agent market, the Suns, who still have a mid-level exception in their hands, have placed their choice target on the center position.

After all, in the West...

If you don't have a center like the Timberwolves, then even if you can make it to the Western Conference Finals, you will most likely be ravaged to death by that fat-headed fish.

Unlike the Eastern Conference teams that have been living in the shadow of Su Feng and Duncan in the past few years...

You must know that O'Neal has never missed the Finals in the past five seasons.

And in Detroit, another coach from the Raptors system...

Rivers also took Ben Wallace, whose contract had expired, from Toronto according to his original plan.

As in Su Feng's memory, because Hamilton and Billups only have a combined annual salary of 13.5 million after their contract extensions...

Therefore, in the summer, after clearing two mid-level contracts, even if Rasheed Wallace's contract is as high as 17 million US dollars at this time, the Pistons still have enough space to sign Ben Wallace.

In addition, as a coach from the Raptors, in fact, Rivers had been eyeing Ben Wallace as early as when he left Toronto that year.

Therefore, in the past two years, when renewing the team's main substitutes, Rivers has set their contracts to the summer of '03.

And in this way, Rivers can ensure that the Pistons can still use their Bird rights to complete the renewal of other players by using the salary cap space between the salary cap and the luxury line after signing Ben Wallace first.

And so far...

Although the Detroit "F5" in this life have all experienced different encounters...

But in the summer of 2003, they still gathered in the Motor City.

And in Detroit, Ben Wallace will also receive a six-year contract worth 98 million US dollars.

The salary increase in the last few years of Ben Wallace's contract is slightly lower than Nash's, but in the market, this is also the theoretical maximum salary he can get.

I have to say that the disintegration of the Raptors has brought about a huge butterfly effect this summer.

Because after the Toronto supermarket opened, there were suddenly three more strong teams in the league.

Especially the East...

Looking at the lineup of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics, and the Pistons...

Su Feng always felt that his successor's life was a bit too hard.

Because when he was in the East, he only hammered the "Fifty Greats" of the twilight years at most...

However, LeBron, what he is going to hammer...

This Nima is four cosmic teams!

And each of them has his nemesis!

Under the premise of controlling his weight at 135 kilograms, the current Yao Ming's ability to defend pick-and-rolls is not as anxious as the Yao Ming under Van Gundy's hands.

And the Celtics are not to be said...

Although they will most likely let Artest go this summer...

But you must know that Duncan at this time is also a mobile fortress with super rim protection ability.

And as for the Pistons...

Emmmm!

To be reasonable, if LeBron James, this unlucky kid, had not met him in the summer of 1997...

Then, based on his reckless style of play at this time in his previous life, just these three teams alone could hammer him into the autism room and never come out.

However, while feeling sorry for LeBron James, Su Feng felt an increasing sense of urgency when he saw the various coquettish operations of these teams...

Because...

The road to leading Miami to the peak...

Now it seems that the difficulty has been quietly maxed out.

…

In August, the NBA free agent market can be said to be constantly experiencing earthquakes.

And it is worth mentioning that this summer, after his contract with the Celtics expired, Hu Weidong also officially embarked on his journey back to China.

Because Hu Weidong is already 33 years old at this time, he cares about the people of Jiangsu, so in order to leave a CBA championship trophy for the Jiangsu fans before the end of his career...

At the same time, considering that his age has reached the stage where he needs to play health-preserving basketball, Hu Weidong rejected the base salary contracts offered to him by many NBA teams this summer.

"My current state, playing in the NBA again, doesn't make much sense, it's better to go back home and realize my early dreams.

Moreover, in this way, with me backing you up, you can continue to stay in the United States for training in the summer." Before bidding farewell to the NBA, Hu Weidong said to Su Feng.

And hearing this, Su Feng was very clear that Hu Weidong's decision to return to China this summer was mainly because the Asian Championships this summer were related to the qualification for next year's Olympics.

Therefore, in order to give those comrades who are fighting in the NBA more time to level up, in Lao Hu's view, for competitions like the Asian Championships, it's not a matter of grasping it with his Asian first point guard leading the team?

And Su Feng also expressed his support for Lao Hu's idea.

In this life, Hu Weidong, who has played in the NBA for six seasons, has played a total of 403 games in the NBA, including 59 starts.

He averaged 8.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 44.5%, a three-point percentage of 37.6%, and a free throw percentage of 81.5%.

In addition, as the first Chinese player to win a championship in NBA history, Hu Weidong and Su Feng also left a myth for the later Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and others in the NBA, that every NBA championship team since the 97/98 season will have Chinese players.

"Next year should be my last year in the national team, so Xiao Su... I'm counting on you for next year's Olympics!

And I'll take care of the Olympic tickets!"

After returning to Jiangsu, Hu Weidong was treated like a hero.

And now...

After being separated for six years, the Jiangsu team has finally returned to the CBA championship series again.

"Damn! Why did this Hu Weidong run back!"

And in the Bayi team's summer training camp, when he learned that Hu Weidong had officially returned from the NBA, Liu Yudong, who was receiving physical therapy at the time, was extremely anxious.

As a teammate on the national team, Liu Yudong knows very well what kind of existence Hu Weidong will be after returning to the CBA.

In Su Feng's previous life, Hu Weidong, who could still score 50+ wildly in the CBA at the age of 35, was the Asian first point guard of this era, without exception.

And shortly after Hu Weidong returned to the Jiangsu team...

As Su Feng expected, the Celtics were forced to let Ron Artest go this summer.

The Pacers took the defensive悍将 from Boston with a contract worth 40.8 million and with a total term of six years.

And as for whether Bird is retaliating against Ainge for the love-hate relationship between his teacher Auerbach...

Su Feng has no idea.

However, even if Artest leaves, the Celtics, who will still enjoy the benefits of Randolph's remaining rookie contract, are still the number one favorite to win the championship next season.

And in August, something else happened in the free agent market that made Popovich jump up and down with anger.

Because after Mourning returned after a kidney transplant...

Without even thinking about it, he, whose contract with the Spurs had expired, returned to Riley's embrace.

Riley, who had been holding the Heat's mid-level exception in his hand, quickly struck, thus completing the world in which only Popovich was injured.

You must know that after Su Feng joined the Heat...

Even if people are not optimistic that the Heat can enter the championship series in the short term...

But what is the value of the Heat's 04 first-round pick that was used to trade for Ginobili's signing rights?

Don't be kidding, based on the potential that Ginobili showed in the 02/03 season...

How good does Popovich have to be to find someone stronger than Ginobili with that draft pick, which will most likely be in the 20s in the first round?

And affected by the Spurs' poor record in recent years, this summer, Presti, another big shot in the Spurs team who will be famous in the future, also left the Spurs.

In Su Feng's previous life, it was under the suggestion of this gentleman that the Spurs selected Parker in 2001 with their draft pick.

And in the future, during his time with the Thunder, Presti personally selected three MVPs for the Thunder.

In addition, there are also players with good strength such as Ibaka and Jeff Green.

After resigning from the Spurs, Presti obtained a position as assistant general manager with the Nets.

And in mid-August, after letting go of Bibby, Mavericks owner Cuban, who had been criticized, quickly shut up those Mavericks fans who had been scolding him.

Because with Kidd...

Why do the Mavericks need Bibby?

Since the loss in last season's Finals, Kidd, who had been disappointed with the Lakers and Jackson, has been waiting until now to make his decision...

Mainly because, after observing the situation, Kidd found that...

Staying with the Lakers, his hope of getting a championship ring seems to be the highest.

However, helplessly...

Because the Lakers' total salary has exceeded the luxury tax line in the past three years, Old Buss does not want to bear that terrifying super luxury tax.

In addition, because O'Neal promised him that he had persuaded Malone and Payton to join the Lakers with base salaries...

Therefore, since he can win the championship by getting it for free, why should Old Buss spend those unnecessary money?

So, in mid-August, after Cuban came to see him in person, Kidd decisively made his choice.

"Oh my goodness, if Dirk can complete his training in strong attacks in advance, then wouldn't this Mavericks team smash the heads of this group of Western Conference teams?"

In Su Feng's previous life, in the future when Kidd returned to Dallas, even though he was nearly 40 years old at that time, his ability to control the court was still one of the best in the league.

And now...

The early return of Prime Kidd will undoubtedly make this Mavericks team full of competitiveness in the next few years.

It's just that...

If Cuban didn't hire Avery Johnson, who retired this summer and was rushed into the hospital by Barkley with a meat egg onion chicken in the airline center stadium incident, to coach, then in Su Feng's view, this Mavericks team would be perfect.

In Su Feng's original timeline, after retiring in the 03/04 season, Johnson took over the Mavericks' coaching position in the 04/05 season.

And as a coach who can't even pick peaches, the memories that Johnson left for the Mavericks fans can be said to be unspeakable.

Especially in the 06/07 season, he had Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Stackhouse, Devin Harris, Jason Terry and a bunch of bench bandits, and he was actually blacked out by the Golden State bandits led by Neil Olson in the first round of the playoffs.

Although the Warriors did play very well in that series, based on the Warriors' performance in the semifinals when they were beaten out by the Jazz, if you "umph" that the Warriors' overall strength was above the Mavericks, then Su Feng has nothing to say.

In Su Feng's previous life, as a coach who was even more persistent than Larry Brown, even though the Warriors' run-and-gun tactics had reached his doorstep, Johnson still did not forget his original intention and only knew to let the Mavericks, who had extremely strong offensive firepower at the time, slowly grind the position with the Warriors.

And the most amazing thing is...

That Mavericks team, which had countless shooters, never had more than 18 three-point attempts per season under Johnson's coaching.

In fact, in the Western Conference semifinals, the stubborn Jerry Sloan told Johnson the correct way to defeat that Warriors team.

Heh... Isn't it just run-and-gun?

Isn't it just running?

For his team that only attacks and does not defend, if you run and fight him, what are you afraid of?

The result proved that the Jazz, whose overall strength was far below the Mavericks that year, exposed the Warriors' weaknesses of insufficient overall strength and poor shooting selection after running with the Warriors.

And even a stubborn faction like Sloan understands how to adapt...

You can know how stubborn Johnson is.

In the future, after people saw Johnson's coaching talent clearly, as a "young" coach, no team was willing to invite him to coach after 13 years.

"Hiss... If Steve happens to take a Western Conference eighth while raising his child, and then the Mavericks take a Western Conference first with their current overall strength, wouldn't Neil Olson replay the scene of avenging his old team next season?"

Looking at Kidd, who was refreshed during the interview after returning to Dallas...

Su Feng suddenly became somewhat期待 to see the scene of the Mavericks and Warriors playing against each other in the game next season.

And on this day, in Miami, Su Feng was also eating melons and making new breakthroughs on his "child-rearing" journey.

…

ps: 7400-word chapter delivered! After resting for two days, Qiao will try to burst out a wave tomorrow! The main thing is that this plot really needs to control a lot of details, and Qiao has to look up information in the outline! In addition, the lineup and salary structure of all the major teams in '03 will be released for free after this summer. Continue to beg for subscriptions and monthly tickets!