Vol 6 Chapter 38: Rookie selection

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The first-round draft pick is a far-reaching term for the Los Angeles Lakers. The last round of draft picks for the Lakers goes back to the 2009 NBA draft. In the regular season record, the Lakers ranked 65th and 17th in the record. The league is second, so the Lakers finally got the No. 29 overall pick.
At that time, the Lakers just defeated the Magic in the finals to win the championship, and reached the finals for two consecutive years, so in terms of lineup, the Lakers are very neat, there is no need to adjust, a 29th overall The rookie, even if he came to the Lakers, could not play, so the Lakers simply traded with the Knicks, used this pick to choose Tony Douglas, and then switched from the Knicks to a second-round pick and millions of dollars. In fact, it means that the Lakers helped the Knicks choose a Douglas.
The Lakers like this seldom train their rookies. They are more willing to directly recruit famous superstars, mess around with high-ranking rookies and then train themselves, which is a must for the Lakers. In the first round of rookies chosen by the Lakers since the 21st century, only Bynum won the Lakers' second contract. For example, Farmar, who can stay in the Lakers for four years as a rookie, is already rare. All other first-round rookies said goodbye to the Lakers in the first two years.
Since 2010, for the fourth consecutive NBA draft, the Lakers have basically been spectators because they only have second-round picks. In order to get Gasol, the Lakers sent out first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010; then in the three-way trade between the Lakers, Rockets and Nets in 2010, the Lakers sent out the first-round draft picks in 2011 to get the veteran Joe Smith; The Lakers' 2012 first-round draft pick was exchanged from the Cavaliers for guard Sessions to replace the "old fish" Fisher; the year of forming F4, in order to get Nash, the Lakers will 2013 The first-round draft picks traded in 2015 and 2015 were given to the Suns. In the same year as the Howard deal, the Lakers also traded the 2017 first-round draft picks to the Magic.
Replacing the first-round draft pick for a superstar belongs to the team's future in exchange for the team's present. This seemed to be not a loss at the time, and many people even felt that the Lakers made a lot of money. In the calculation of Little Bass, the Lakers first set up an "F4", won the championship, and then renewed Howard. Next, Nash and Kobe retired. The Lakers used Howard as the core, and partnered with Gasol to form a double tower, and recruited another one. Superstars still have the power to win the championship.
As for the issue of first-round draft picks, as long as the team maintains a good record, then high draft picks cannot be obtained. The draft picks are not as valuable as the 20th place.
It was just that Bass played the wrong card, the Lakers did not win the championship in F4, Howard went to the Rockets, Nash was injured year after year, Kobe also reached the end of his career, then Gasol joined the Bulls, the Lakers completely reduced to a team The fish-bellied team, and the lack of first-round draft picks, lacks the chips to trade big-name stars.
However, because the rules of the league also prohibit any team from trading their first-round picks for the next two consecutive years, so one of the picks is "protected", so the team sells the picks every other year. .
Take the 2015 first-round draft pick traded by the Lakers to the Suns as an example. It is the top five pick protection, so as long as the Lakers can draw the top five, you can leave this draft pick. At that time, the Lakers had good luck and got it. Second in the list, and then decisively chose De Angelo Russell, missing the future stars such as Polbergis, Myers Turner and Devin Booker.
Although the Lakers stayed in the 2015 first-round draft picks, the Suns will not lose money. This draft pick will be postponed to 2016 and then handed over to Tai. According to the contract at the time, 2016 and 2017 were the top three protections. , 2018 is unprotected, that is to say, as long as the Lakers are in the top three picks in 2016 and 2017, the Lakers can also stay in the first round of draft picks. If they stay in these two years, then the Lakers’ first round of drafts in 2018 The power must be given to the sun.
And in 2016, because the Lakers had a bad record, good luck, and won the top spot, they retained the draft again.
However, in 2017, if the Lakers still want to retain the draft pick, they must continue to and try to draw the top three again, so as to preserve the 2017 draft pick, so the Lakers trade away the team's top scorer Louis Williams Sri Lanka, make the team worse, and strive to count down the league.
At the same time, the Lakers still owe the Magic a first-round pick in the Howard transaction, so if the Lakers can't keep the 2017 draft, they need to send another 2019 first-round pick to the Magic. The reason is 2019 instead of 2018, also because the league does not allow a team to have no first-round pick for two consecutive years, so it is necessary to avoid 2018.
...
2013 is considered a small draft year, and the upcoming 2014 draft is considered a draft year. The quality of rookies participating in the draft has greatly improved compared to last year.
Andrew Wiggins from Canada is not only the best high school student of the year in 2013 in the United States, but also elected Mr. Basketball USA. Many experts even believe that Wiggins will become the second LeBron James.
Jabari Parker won the best high school student of the year in 2012, and is the fourth non-high school senior to win the award in history. The first three people are LeBron James, Greg Oden and cloth. Landon Knight. In his freshman year, Parker was successfully selected for the NCAA All-NBA team for a while. He was the only freshman player selected.
Cameroonian Joel Embiid, although he began professional basketball training at the age of 17, but his physical fitness is very abnormal, as a big man with a soft feel and good agility, was once considered a popular candidate Some experts even believe that Embiid's potential is greater than that of "Thick Eyebrow" Anthony Davis.
These three players must be the top picks in other years, but now they have come together in the same year, so for the teams that have drawn the top three picks, no matter which of them they choose, they will make no loss.
In addition, there are Dante Essam, Aron Gordon, Julius Randall, Marcus Smart, Noah Vonley, Doug McDermott, Jr. Peyton and other excellent players have also participated in this year's draft. If these few rookies are placed in the draft, they will have the strength to impact the top three.
Of course, these players are basically missed by the Lakers. They are all popular candidates in the lottery area, and the Lakers got the 21st overall pick this season.
Although the Lakers are eighth in the West, they have a record of 48 wins and 33 losses. If this record is placed in the East, it will be ranked third after the Pacers and Heat. In comparison, Eastern Raptors, Bulls and other teams have also entered the playoffs, and are ranked high in the Eastern Conference, all draft picks are before the Lakers.
However, at the level of the draft rookie, 21st pick still has a great chance to find a competent starter. Even rookies before the 40th pick can stay in the NBA.
"My dear general manager, do you have any good suggestions for our first-round draft picks this year?" Buzz asked.
"I have two options. The league has just announced the invitation list for the small green house in the draft. There are 21 players in total. They all have the potential to enter the lottery. I looked at the list of players and they are all well written. Newcomer, we happen to be the 21st overall pick, so my first option is to choose a player in the small green house." Kupchak said.
The small green house is equivalent to the "VIP room" at the draft conference. Before the start of the annual draft conference, some rookie players will be invited to enter the small green house. These invited talented players will sit in a green room during the draft, waiting for the president to call out his name. Being able to be on the list means being optimistic about many teams and a great chance of becoming a high-ranked rookie.
There are also many cases of entering the small green house but not being selected, which is more embarrassing. For example, Jordan, who was originally optimistic about entering the lottery area, was only picked up by the Clippers in the second round at the 35th pick. Selected. This thing made little Jordan unhappy for several years.
"Choosing from the small green house is indeed the most secure plan." Little Bath nodded and asked, "What about the second plan?"
"The second option is to choose an inside player, a power forward or center, which will help us renew Jordan Hill. And if the renewal of Jordan Hill fails, we also have a substitute plan." Kupchak said.
Kupchak used the old tricks of the NBA to choose a rookie player in the same position to suppress the price of the player who is about to renew the contract. Sometimes the team will also sign some free agents in the same position to reduce the price of the players who are about to renew. And some more conservative players will choose to reduce prices and renew their contracts.
For example, Jordan Hill wants a big contract. At this time, the Lakers choose an inside player, which is to tell Jordan Hill that the Lakers have found someone who can replace you. If you know it, don’t propose a high amount. digital.
Everyone in the conference room nodded their heads and stood in the perspective of the team's management. Everyone agreed with Kupchak's approach. Little Bath even asked, "Do you have any suitable candidates?"
"Among the 21 players who entered the small green house, Adrian Payne and Nurkic are excellent inside players. In addition, Mitch McGary of the University of Michigan once ranked second in the 2012 list of high schools in the United States. He is very good at rebounding and blocking shots. The only hidden danger is that he underwent a back surgery last year. O'Brien of Louisiana State University can play power forwards and small forwards. He has entered the NCAA Southeast League for two consecutive years. a team."
"In addition, Swiss player Clint Capella is a good candidate. He played in the French LNB last season, averaging 21.4 minutes, 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 Block, the best young player in the LNB league and the winner of the fastest progress award. These are our candidates." Kupchak introduced it again, and the others in the conference room looked at the documents in their hands and checked these players. data of.
Among the players mentioned by Kupchak, Zhang Guan is most familiar with Capella. He replaced Howard as the Rockets starting center after Howard left the Rockets, and achieved very good data, although Capet Pull has no offensive methods and free throws are not allowed, but as a blue collar, he is still qualified, at least he can adapt to the Rockets offensive system.
With the Lakers' 21st pick, if you choose Capella, you don't lose money. Capella is also a material to make. But the Lakers already have Whiteside, what Capella can't do, what White Circuit can do, what Capella can do, Whiteside can do better, instead of training Capella, It's better to train Whiteside to come to the bargain.
At this time, Zhang Guan suddenly remembered a name. He asked, "I know there is a Serbian inside player named Nikola Jokic. Has he also announced his candidacy this year?"
"You're talking about the star of hope in Serbia. Our scouts also paid attention to this player in the first half of the season. At that time, there was even an assessment that he would enter the lottery." Kupchak said suddenly. Then he said: "But he has not played in the United States, but has always lived in Europe. For this kind of overseas players, before they do not score, our choice will be more cautious, and generally will not give them high First place."
Kupchak said it was very euphemistic, but Zhang Guan understood that Kupchak did not think that Jitchie was a first-round pick.
For overseas players who are not grown in the United States, if they have not played decent results, even if they participate in the NBA draft, it is impossible to obtain a high ranking. For example, Ginobili was selected in the second round of 1999 in 1999 and was elected to the NBA after being elected to the MVP of the European Basketball League; for example, Scola, in the second round of 2002, was selected at the 56th pick and won After joining the MVP of the Spanish League regular season twice, he joined the Rockets. There is also Gasol Jr., who was selected in the second round in 2007 in the 48th round. It was also after receiving the MVP of the Spanish regular season that he received the Grizzlies contract.
Therefore, if young overseas players have not played in the United States and have not scored in other professional leagues, that is, they are worth a second or middle pick, the NBA team chooses them and buys lottery. almost.
And if you have already scored before participating in the draft, it will be different. In 2001, Gasol was already the star of the Barcelona team; in 2002, Yao had already ruled the CBA; in 2006, Baggnani was already the first person in the Italian league, so they can all get high ranks and even Champion.
Jokic is only 19 years old this year, and has not yet shown his prominence in the European professional league. Although he has become the star of hope in Serbia, there are too many talented young people in the United States. In the eyes of the general manager of the NBA team, Jokic is also just a "lottery", at most worth a second round. What's more, even very good European players will not be convinced when they come to the NBA.
Zhang Guan knows that Jokic should be the biggest "leakage pick" in this draft. Jokic could get 10 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie season, and the figure in the second year was increased to 16 points and 9 He scored a double-double in rebounds and had 4.6 assists, which he averaged in 27 minutes.
Jokic's efficiency value in the second year reached 26.4, which was comparable to the peak season of Love. Compared with the players in the same position, the efficiency value of the second grade Anthony Davis is 26.5, and the efficiency value of the second grade Anthony Downs is 25. Among the top picks, Jokic is only a rookie in the second round.
Only Kupchak asked, "Are you very optimistic about this Serbian?"
"Yes." Zhang Guan nodded, then said; "I think he is the most underestimated one in this draft. Zhang Guan's young man is comprehensive but flexible, he can play high offense and can also play. Offensive post, with excellent passing ability, the most important thing is that he has a good three-point shooting ability, this is a big man who can shoot three-pointers."
Zhang Guan said that he deliberately glanced at D'Antoni, and D'Antoni really showed an interesting look.
The big man who can pass the ball and make a three-pointer is obviously the person D'Antoni needs most, so D'Antoni coughed and said, "If possible, can I get a detailed scout report?"
"Yes." Kupchak nodded, and he saw that D'Antoni was quite tempted, so Kupchak then reminded: "An overseas player is really not worth us to use a first-round pick. But we You can try to trade from another team to a second-round pick, which will cost some cash."
Kupchak said, looking at Bass, apparently asking for Bass's opinion.
It is a relatively loss-making thing to spend money on the second round of draft picks. 2014 is another draft year, and the price of the pick will definitely be relatively high. The second round of the 40th pick will be worth about 2.5 million US dollars, which is quite the value of the two veterans' base salary. So unless there is really a favorite player, otherwise the team will not spend the wrong money to "buy a lottery".
Little Bass thought for a few seconds, and finally put on a posture where you were happy, and nodded in agreement. The giants like the Lakers always spend one or two hundred million dollars a year and spend two or three million to buy a lottery ticket. By the way, Zhang Guan is happy, not a loss. Anyway, as long as Zhang Guan is willing to continue to stay with the Lakers, the Lakers can earn these millions in minutes.
In terms of spending money, little Bath is quite generous.
"In this case, I will contact the team that intends to take the second round of the draft pick and listen to their offer." Kupchak said.
"The main contact is the Philadelphia 76ers. They have a pick this year, and they have the tenth overall pick, and they also have five second-round picks. That means they have seven draft picks this year. So many draft picks. Right, they can’t use it to sell it for sure.
Zhang Guan paused, and then reminded:
We only need the 39th pick in their hands.

Kupchak silently wrote a few strokes on the notebook. He originally wanted to mention a rookie named Jordan Clarkson, but since the Lakers are preparing to choose Jokic in the second round, then Kupchak also There is no need to mention Clarkson again. The defender, who was originally worth playing in the Lakers, also passed the Lakers.