hotmtlnovel Chapter 25 Portland Prison Team
Chapter 25 Portland Prison Team
On stage, NBA Commissioner David Stern began by saying:
The Boston Celtics selected Hanson Lee from the University of Arizona with the 16th pick.
Celtics?
Upon hearing that it was the Celtics, Li He and his agent Dan Feigen's first reaction was, "Not bad."
Applause erupted from the audience, and Hansen Lee's ranking was almost exactly as predicted.
But when Li He stepped onto the stage, Stern said again:
"We have a deal to announce."
"The Celtics traded their 16th overall pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the 23rd pick and some cash."
These words elicited gasps of surprise from the audience.
Even Li He himself was a little stunned, but then he realized what was going on.
He was traded on draft night.
And it's the Portland Trail Blazers.
It wasn't even on the team's plans, and I didn't even go to this team for a trial!
Why would the Trail Blazers target them?
Is it because of the general manager's unique vision?
When the news of Li He's trade to the Trail Blazers was confirmed, the crowd below the stage gasped in surprise.
"Oh...Hanson Lee went to Portland."
"Hmm, his personality might actually be quite suitable for the team's style..."
Some even clasped their hands together and prayed for Li He...
None of the players in this draft class wanted to go to the Trail Blazers.
They all agreed that even going to Motor City was better than going to Portland.
Danfegan was struck dumb upon hearing the news.
Before Li He went to the draft, they had discussed privately which teams he couldn't go to.
First, there's the Pistons. Coach Larry Brown has no trust in rookies, and going there is a complete waste of their early careers, creating a vicious cycle.
Secondly, there's the Portland Trail Blazers.
This Trail Blazers team is so bad that even their own fans don't support them.
They even have a resounding nickname—the Portland Prison Team!
Take another look at the players on the team.
Zach Randolph;
Ruben Paterson;
Little flying squirrel Stoudemire;
Bonzi Wells;
And then there's the infamous "Roaring God" Rashid Wallace!
These problematic players, if taken out individually, would be a headache for any team.
God knows how the Portland Trail Blazers managed to get them all together!
Finished!
This is completely over!
The worst option has emerged: a small market team, and a team full of scoundrels, which is not suitable for rookies to develop at all!
Dan Fagan's head was buzzing with worry for Li He's future.
Hansen Lee was indeed a troublemaker in college, with a bad temper, boastful, and chaotic private life, which sounded terrible.
Compared to the players on the Portland Prisons, these are simply advantages—pure good kids!
If the Trail Blazers' players only had the problems mentioned above, the fans and management would have been celebrating with champagne!
Their problems are getting more and more serious!
Li He, who had already returned to the audience, immediately noticed Dan Fagan's concern.
"Dan, what's going on? Isn't 16th pick a good pick?" Li He said with a relaxed expression.
"Hansen, the Trail Blazers are absolutely terrible, how could you have drafted them!"
"Dan, relax, I don't care at all." Li He tried to comfort his manager, "Talent shows are inherently dramatic, just like life."
Dan Fagan sighed: "But you got the worst script ever!"
He's already thinking about how to negotiate with the Trail Blazers' management; he absolutely has to get Hansen Lee a better deal.
Is it possible for the management team, which has gathered so many problematic players together, to communicate in a normal way?
Li He shrugged: "There's an old Chinese saying: 'Since you're here, make the best of it.'"
Dan Fegan pursed his lips: "You have no idea how awful this team is! Forget about playing on the court, just getting along with them is enough to drive you crazy. I hope you don't go insane from all that."
"Isn't it just Zack Randolph, Ruben Paterson, Little Flying Squirrel, Bonzi Wells, Rasheed Wallace, and the like?"
Li He added, "Let me think, shouldn't we also include Eric Barkley and Quintel Woods?"
"Oh right, there's also the old Shawn Kemp, but he was just bought out by the Trail Blazers last year."
Dan Fegan was quite surprised to hear Li He's detailed explanation. He was astonished that Hansen Lee was so familiar with the Portland Trail Blazers, even knowing about a fringe player like Quintel Woods who averaged 2.4 points per game.
Dan Fagan sighed and said, "Hansen, I think we need to change our strategy. Maybe when we get to Portland, we need to keep a low profile and then look for opportunities to prove ourselves."
Li He laughed and said, "Dan, look at you, so cowardly. You're completely different from the rumors. It's me who's going to play, not you. What are you afraid of?"
"...That depends on what kind of situation they're facing. Are you kidding me with the name of the prison team?" Dan Fagan thought to himself.
Dan Fagan said frankly, "To be honest, I'm afraid you'll get beaten up."
Li He smiled with relief.
I wondered what Dan Fagan was thinking.
Beaten up?
nonexistent.
With a maxed-out [Boxing] skill and AC Green's body template, it's really hard to say who would beat whom!
……
The draft night concluded smoothly, and the media were all vying to interview the rookies. Undoubtedly, LeBron James's team was generating the most buzz.
This prodigy, already famous throughout the United States, had signed a massive 7-year, $9000 million contract with Nike before the draft, shocking the entire nation.
Now, with his selection as the number one draft pick, his playing for his hometown team, and Michael Jordan's retirement announcement, all the right timing, favorable circumstances, and the paving of the way by capital have made LeBron James an instant sensation upon entering the league.
There were also many reporters interviewing players like Darko Milicic (second overall pick) and Carmelo Anthony (third overall pick).
In contrast, Li He, who fell out of the lottery zone, looked quite miserable.
Jason Quick, currently a beat reporter for the Portland Trail Blazers for The Oregonian, will definitely be there in person during such an important year as the draft to interview the players selected by the team.
To Jason Quick's surprise, the team actually made a trade on draft night and selected Hansen Lee.
Hansen Lee's name was already a household name some time ago. This talented player from China conquered the American audience in just three games.
This is a super shooter!
only……
Hansen Lee's boastful remarks in front of the media, his knockout of a teammate with a single punch, and his chaotic private life involving a late-night rendezvous with three women severely damaged his draft prospects, ultimately causing him to fall out of the lottery.
But then I thought about it again.
This version of Hansen Lee seems to fit the team quite well?
Jason Quick asked:
"Hansen, congratulations on being selected by the team. Is there anything you'd like to say to your teammates and fans?"
Li He has been interviewed many times and is now quite adept at it.
He smiled at the camera:
"Hansen Lee sends his greetings to everyone."