NBA: I'm really just an ordinary coach

After leaving Toronto, Tang Feng went to Boston and Denver successively.

In Boston, Tang Feng successfully recruited another assistant coach, Vogel.

Now Vogel is only the video coordinator of the Celtics.

In comparison, Vogel hopes to become an assistant coach of the team and participate in the team's daily training and the establishment of the offensive and defensive systems, which is also extremely helpful for his personal growth.

At the last stop, Tang Feng met the team's future core Chauncey Billups on the Denver Plateau.

After a conversation, Billups was deeply shocked by the tactical system that Tang Feng mentioned that the Trail Blazers would implement in the new season.

There was also a bit more conviction in the look he gave Tang Feng.

When Tang Feng left Denver, Billups was even a little impatient to go back to Portland with Tang Feng.

June 24, 2002.

Rose Garden Center Arena.

Head coach's office

"Tang, I have already contacted Larry Hughes and Raja Bell, and Raja Bell has agreed to sign with the team for 3 years and 2.7 million.

As for Larry Hughes, his requirements are relatively high. He wants to be one of the core backcourt players of the team. At the same time, he wants to include some incentive clauses in the new contract."

Hearing Pritchard's words, Tang Feng smiled and nodded and said,"One of the core backcourt players? That's no problem. In the new season, he will partner with Chauncey as the starting backcourt player of the starting team.

Adding incentive clauses is even better.

If he can really perform well, it is reasonable to give him more money.

As for whether he can keep this starting position, it depends on his own ability.

I think he should still have this minimum confidence."

Pritchard smiled and said,"Of course, after contacting him, I can feel that he is very ambitious, and the All-Star game should be his goal."

"It's not impossible, it depends on him." Tang Feng responded, and then continued to ask:"How is the talk with the Spurs going?"

"They don't want to give up Manu, they want to use Stephen Jackson, Steve Smith and this year's first round as a bargaining chip to get Bunchy."Pritchard said

"With just this little bit of chips, they want to get a quasi-All-Star backcourt player, and also help them free up salary space to accept Bonzi. Haha, they have a good plan."Tang Feng sneered.

"This is just the initial trial stage. I can feel that they are very interested in Bunchy. If I have some more time, I should be able to bring Manu and Stephen to Portland."Pritchard smiled and said,"No one can resist the temptation of winning the championship.

As long as Bunchy can integrate into the Spurs, they will have the capital to compete with the Lakers.

Once such an opportunity is missed, I don't know how long we have to wait.

We can wait for this deal, but they can't.

After the draft, I will try to contact other teams to discuss a deal for Bunchy.

Although Bunchy is a problem player, his personal ability is still no problem. As long as we say we want to trade him, there will be many teams interested in him.

By that time, the Spurs will be unable to sit still and will have to agree to a deal with us."

Tang Feng nodded in approval and said,"That's the best, but don't mess it up. I still say that I am determined to get Manu."

"Tang, are you so optimistic about Manu? Do you think he can make a name for himself in the NBA and become an All-Star player?"Pritchard asked curiously.

Tang Feng smiled and said,"It doesn't matter whether he is an All-Star or not. What's important is that players like Manu can raise the ceiling of a team. If I have such a player sitting on my bench, I will feel at ease."

"OK, I understand. Don't worry, I will bring Manu to Portland." Pritchard nodded thoughtfully and said

"The trade for Gerald has been finalized, this year's second-round pick and $300,000 in cash.

As for the Suns, they already have their favorites in this year's draft. If the rookie they want is intercepted, they can trade with us for this year's No. 9 pick and Joe Johnson. They want our first-round picks in the next two years, as well as Reuben and Dell. At the same time, we have to help them eat Tom's garbage contract."

"Tom?" Tang Feng raised his eyebrows and asked.

"He was the 6th pick in the first round of the 1992 draft and was selected to the All-Star team during his peak period. He was a great inside player. However, after signing a big contract with the Suns, he suffered a serious injury. Not only did his ability decline drastically, but he also became a famous glass man.

Today, Tom has three years left on his big contract."

Tang Feng shook his head speechlessly and said,"Go to hell, do you really think the Trail Blazers are a sucker!"

Pritchard smiled bitterly and said,"Tang, this is what I think, let's leave them alone for a while. As for the draft pick, we can find a team with a higher pick to trade. As for Joe Johnson, we'll talk about it after the draft."

"I have been in contact with the Cavaliers. They have this year's sixth pick.

Although the new season has not yet started, their goal is very clear, that is, to play badly and strive to get the first pick next year.

They are also very interested in our first-round pick next year. After all, getting our first-round pick is also a double insurance.

However, they do not want this first-round pick to have any protection. In addition, they also want one person, Zach Randolph."

Hearing this, Tang Feng frowned slightly.

It was expected that the Cavaliers were willing to trade this year's No. 6 pick to the Trail Blazers. The current Cavaliers are the bottom team in the league.

A small-market team like the Cavaliers has zero appeal to superstars.

The best way to rise is to select a superstar in the draft.

This year is recognized as a weak year for the draft.

The No. 6 pick in a weak year for the draft is not very valuable.

But next year will be different, as many superstars may appear in next year's draft.

It is normal to use this year's No. 6 pick to exchange for next year's first round and bet on next summer.

Of course, it doesn't mean that any team that takes out next year's first round pick can exchange it for the Cavaliers' No. 6 pick this year.

In the final analysis In the eyes of the Cavaliers management, the turbulent Trail Blazers will even have a hard time making the playoffs next year.

A lottery pick in a big draft year is very valuable.

What surprised Tang Feng was that the Cavaliers management wanted another Zach Randolph.

As last year's No. 19 pick, Randolph did not get many opportunities in the Trail Blazers last season, but Tang Feng knew clearly how high Zach Randolph could grow.

This is also the reason why he did not put Randolph on the shelf immediately after he took over the Trail Blazers.

After a little thought.

Tang Feng said:"It's not impossible for them to want Zach, but they need to pay this year's second-round pick, and at the same time, let them eat Sean's contract as much as possible. For this, we can give them some other additional chips.

For example, next year's second-round pick, or one of Derek, Reuben, and Dell."

Pritchard pondered for a moment, and said slowly:"Tang, I know that Derek, Reuben, and Dell are not in your consideration, but last season, they were all important rotation players of the team, and their data was also very good. Such players are good supplements for those teams that are aiming to win the championship or are only one step away from the playoffs.

Give me some time, I promise that I can bring better chips to the team.

As for the Cavaliers, I am sure I can convince them to agree to our demands."

When he said this, Pritchard paused slightly, leaned forward, and said mysteriously:"Tang, I found a good thing, a training video about Zach.

This is a 1V1 video of Zach and Rashid, and Zach and Rashid completed mutual explosion.

Although Rashid did not go all out, the low-post skills shown by Zach were enough to make them tempted."

Tang Feng nodded slightly and said:"Getting Zach, even if our first-round pick next year is not worth much, they will not suffer."

In my vague memory, the Cavaliers didn't do much in this year's draft.

In other words, the Cavaliers management made a mistake and picked a dud with the No. 6 pick.

If you calculate it this way, the Cavaliers did not lose money, and it can be said that they made a big profit.

However, when this first-round pick fell into his hands, the result was completely different.

In the future, when people mention this deal again, they will only think that the Cavaliers lost money....

The fact is indeed as Pritchard said.

That night,

Pritchard convinced the Cavaliers management.

The Trail Blazers offered next year's first-round pick, Zach Randolph, and a��’Shawn Kemp, known as the"Big Three", got the Cavaliers' sixth and 34th picks this year.

This is just a trade intention. When the trading day opens and the trade is reported to the league, in order to make the salaries of both parties equal, the Trail Blazers will also get a 13.7 million trade exception.

Tang Feng, who got the news, was also excited.

As long as there are no accidents, the Little Overlord will be the first player he selected in the draft, and will also become the team's starting center in the new season.

The starting center is there.

The starting power forward is Rasheed Wallace.

As for the small forward, it will most likely be Gerald Wallace.

Add to that the backcourt composed of Larry Hughes and Chauncey Billups.

Such a starting lineup, as long as it is well-matched, is enough to surpass the starting lineups of most teams in the league.

The only drawback is that there are no superstars like the Big Shaq, Tim Duncan, and Garnett sitting in, lacking the ability to turn the tide and make the final decision at critical moments.

"There will be bread and milk. As long as we get through this most difficult starting phase and wait for the new players to start playing, all problems will be solved."

With a firm self-talk, Tang Feng slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.