The Portland Trail Blazers are unlucky. Clifford Robinson was poached by the Bulls last season, leaving only Drexler. The 33-year-old Drexler has entered the later stages of his career. In the past two years, he has suffered from tibia and knee injuries.
Due to injuries, his condition has declined from his peak and does not meet the Blazers' reconstruction requirements, so the Blazers are preparing for reconstruction.
In 1983, the Trail Blazers selected Drexler with the 14th overall pick in the first round and valued his potential very much.
Even in the second year of the draft, because they already had Drexler, they selected center Sam Bowie with the second pick instead of Jordan. In fact, Jordan was ready to play in Portland at that time.
preparation.
Jordan, Drexler, and Wilkins, these are three guys who can be called flyers in this era of the league, because they are all people who fly above the basket and play.
But because of the Blazers' choice, when Jordan met Drexley later, he would violently abuse him to prove that the Blazers' choice was wrong.
Although Glider is suffering from injuries now, he can still play and has not completely aged. Last season, he averaged 34 minutes per game, 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals. He is still the team's number one scoring point. This season, his form has not diminished.
In several games, he averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
Just like the Suns traded Barkley, the Trail Blazers wanted to trade him while he was still able to play without the glider to lay a foundation for the team's reconstruction. Their goal was a first-round draft pick.
This season is the last year of Drexler's contract, and his annual salary is only 1.58 million. Compared with his data, this annual salary is definitely cost-effective. Many ball rights have contacted the management, hoping to trade the glider.
For example, the Mosaic team hopes to get Glider to make up for its shortcomings on the outside, and has promised Glider the main position.
Although Glider is unhappy that the team wants to trade him, he is very willing to go to Houston. He doesn't have a ring yet and wants to get one in Houston.
Moreover, Dameng was his college teammate, and he really wanted to join forces with Dameng. Dameng also personally called and invited him, hoping that he could go to Houston to help.
Unfortunately, Mosaic did not have the first-round pick in 1995 and 1996 that the Trail Blazers wanted, and could only offer a pick in 1997. The Trail Blazers believed that 1997 was too long and was not conducive to reconstruction. Although they did not directly reject Houston, they did not directly agree.
The two sides are still talking.
As soon as Colangelo arrived in Portland, he contacted the Blazers management and he also wanted a glider.
Now AC Green and Thorpe both want to leave, and their agents are giving him trouble every day, urging him to trade. He also has a headache. Since he can't keep them, he has no choice but to trade.
At least one needs to be traded. Although the remaining one won't get the main position, but can get guaranteed playing time, he should be able to stay.
Now that the Blazers are rebuilding, they just give him a chance. If they can get the glider, although the substitute lineup inside will suffer a lot, the strength on the outside will be strengthened.
Old K has always been dissatisfied with Robert Horry's open shooting percentage. Glider Drexler is the swingman. If he is used to replace Horry, the strength of the Suns' main lineup will be greatly enhanced.
Old K, Danny Manning, Drexler, Dan Marley, Kevin Johnson, the five main players are all All-Stars.
Among them, the first three are still serious All-Stars. Although the last two are no longer All-Stars, this main lineup is still an All-Star lineup.
They will completely destroy the main lineup of the Mosaic team, and they will be very competitive even against the Bulls. There is no problem if the substitute lineup is weaker.
Thinking of this, he was very excited.
However, there is a big weakness in forming this lineup, which is that the average age of the main lineup will increase.
Glider is old, Danny Manning is prone to injury, and he is 29 years old. Kevin Johnson and Dan Marley are both old. One is young and the other is old. The average age is close to 30. This lineup is actually not suitable for rebuilding the team.
Team building principles, typical veteran combination.
In the afternoon, he negotiated with the Blazers management.
When the Trail Blazers received Colangelo's call, they were very happy because they knew that Mosaic's first-round picks in 1995 and 1996 were all in the hands of the Suns. Plus their own, there would be at least four first-round picks in the next two years.
Round lottery.
They opened an offer sheet for Otis Thorpe and the Mosaic's unprotected first-round pick in 1996, but did not ask for the Suns' own pick.
The Blazers management knows very well that if the Suns acquire Drexler, its first-round pick next year will become worthless.
This price is very expensive, especially for an unprotected first-round pick in 1996, which was a big draft year.
Because Glider is about to turn 33 years old, no one knows how long he can maintain his current status.
Colangelo's original plan was to hope that Mosaic would collapse in the 1995/96 season. Of course, this was the best case scenario. If not, then he planned to use his first-round pick and Mosaic's first-round pick to trade up to try to get it.
A lottery pick.
The Suns had four first-round picks in 1995 and 1996, and they could trade for one or two high-ranking picks no matter what.
Now using this pick to select a veteran is actually not in line with the principle of team reconstruction. It will not work after one to two years, and it is a waste of a first-round pick.
However, Green and Thorpe pushed too hard, and he had to speed up the transaction, so he couldn't care less.
In the end, he agreed to the Trail Blazers' offer, but it was not the 1996 signing, but the Mosaic team's 1995 signing.
Considering Drexler's age and the fact that there were some good rookies in 1995, the Trail Blazers agreed to the offer.
Before getting off work, the two teams reported it to the alliance, which was approved quickly. At 4:40, the transaction was completed.
At the Trail Blazers training base, the team has just completed afternoon training and returned to the locker room, where the players are changing.
"Clyde, just now, Lakem informed me that you were traded to the Suns and the transaction was just completed. Congratulations, Clyde, you will play for the Suns tomorrow night. They are no worse than the Mosaic team. You are the same."
There is a chance to win the championship.”
This is when Drexler, the core of the team, received a call from his agent and was shocked.
"What?"
He didn't realize it. Didn't he go to Mosaic to find Da Meng? Why did he go to the Suns? He was practicing the Suns' tactics with the team just now.
He really wanted to go to the Mosaics because he was from Houston, which was his hometown team. In the 1983 draft, he hoped to be selected by the Mosaics. Unfortunately, the Mosaics' lottery pick that year was too high.
The No. 1 pick selected Ralph Sampson, and the No. 3 pick selected Rodney McCray, who was selected by the Trail Blazers at No. 14.
"Bang!"
At this time, the locker room was pushed open and Blazers general manager Jace Lakem walked in.
He glanced at Drexler, who was still in a daze holding the phone, and said, "Clyde, do you understand?"
Everyone looked over, wondering what happened.
Drexler nodded blankly and said nothing.
"Clyde, thank you very much for your efforts here..." Lakem said politely with a sincere expression and tone.
"..."
There was some heat in Drexler's eyes. This is his home team. He has been working here for 11 seasons and is now in his 12th season. But today, he was traded, and the team traded it without any nostalgia.
.
"By the way, there's you, Tracy."
Lakem turned to another player and said.
Also being traded was Tracy Murray, a 24-year-old forward, the 18th pick in the first round of 1992, but with little ability. His annual salary this season was 1.16 million, which was used to match the transaction.
Murray doesn't have as many feelings as Drexler. He is a marginal player. He just needs to play with the ball, no matter where he plays.
The Suns also notified the trade.
Thorpe is both satisfied and dissatisfied. He is dissatisfied because at his age, joining a rebuilding team means being a cornerstone.
What is satisfying is that there are many opportunities for rebuilt teams, especially for teams like the Trail Blazers that have just begun to rebuild. He can have more playing time, produce better data, and strive for a bigger contract in the future.
After Robert Horry learned about this transaction, he lamented in his heart, now my main position is going to be gone, but what should I do?
But he doesn't have the qualifications of Thorpe and Green, and no one cares about what he thinks.
Wang Tiejun and other other main players are very happy. With one more capable teammate, their chances will be greater this year.
AC Green was a little anxious when he saw that Thorpe's transaction was completed. At this time, Colangelo called him over and had a detailed discussion with him.
Colangelo said sincerely: "AC, you are 32 years old this year. Even if you go to other teams, you will not have a fixed starting position waiting for you. Why don't you consider staying?
The coaching staff will make a certain balance in terms of playing time. Danny Manning can only play 30 minutes a game, and Old K's time will be kept at about 35 minutes. The remaining time for him and Old K is yours.
You will be the first substitute at position 4 or 5. With Thorpe leaving, your playing time is guaranteed and will not be less than 30 minutes. If you enter the substitute lineup, your shots will be more guaranteed than in the main lineup. One
Ordinary main players are not more prestigious than the team's sixth man. Why does the league set up a separate sixth man award? Because he is very important."
Under Colangelo's sincere persuasion, AC Green felt that it made sense. After all, he was not too young and his condition was declining. The Suns paid him the highest salary in the team, and Thorpe left, and his
With his playing time guaranteed, the role of sixth man is not unacceptable.
He said that he would discuss it with his agent. Colangelo was very happy and did not refuse directly, which meant there was hope.
Thorpe is gone, and Green doesn't want to let him go. Green's playing style is similar to that of Danny Manning. He is good at long shots and is a good match for Old K. He will not crowd out Old K's space in the penalty area like Thorpe. He is a
A very suitable interior substitute.
Moreover, if Green leaves again, the team will have no internal substitute, and its original strength will directly become a weakness.
As long as Green stays, with Green on the inside and Horry and Danny Ainge on the outside, it won't be too bad.
Generally, the resources of a strong team are concentrated on the main lineup, and the substitute lineup is not very good. The Suns' substitute lineup is not bad.
After sending away AC Green, Colangelo joined the coaching staff to discuss the next team's lineup and tactical issues.
The team brought in Drexler, and the third position, which had never been strong enough, was reinforced, and everyone was excited.
But Colangelo raised a question. With Lao K, Danny Manning, Drexler, Dan Marley, and Kevin Johnson as the starters, this lineup can actually build four cores.
Point, because except for Dan Marley, the other four players all have the ability to become the core of the team. So the question is, do we really need to build four cores?
Head coach Westphal shook his head and said: "It is absolutely impossible to have four cores, then the field will be chaotic. And if they all become the core, our locker room will be chaotic."
Colangelo nodded and said: "And this lineup is only a transitional lineup, because except for Old K, the age of everyone else does not meet our reconstruction requirements.
With this lineup, we have the same strong ability to compete for the championship as last season, and we are even stronger than last season.
But it is really just a transitional lineup, we must get more rookies and slowly complete the real reconstruction."
Westphal nodded, looked at Colangelo and asked: "Boss, what do you mean?"
Colangelo said firmly: "Continue to use Old K as the core, and during this period when Kevin Johnson is gradually aging, continue to strengthen the core and leadership status of Old K, and create a true traditional center team. We cannot
The introduction of Danny Manning and Drexler changed our established rebuilding requirements."
Westphal didn't think too much about it. Whatever the boss said was what he said. He just asked with a strange expression: "Then if we win the championship this season, what if some people seek a higher status in the team?"
Colangelo was right. Just like Barkley before, he could tolerate Old K taking away part of his core position before winning the championship, but not after winning the championship. This situation may also occur in the future.
Thinking of this, he also looked weird and said: "If any of them are not convinced, then trade them and use them to complete our reconstruction."
…
After the deal was announced through the media, it immediately caused a sensation and heated discussion.
The most obvious one is that ESPN immediately adjusted the Suns' championship probability overnight, directly rising from 10% to 31%, which is higher than the Mosaics, becoming the team with the second highest championship probability in the league, second only to the Bulls.
The reason given by espn is that the addition of Drexler has made up for the Suns' outside strength. The Glider's 36% three-point shooting rate this season has also further increased the Suns' outside ability.
Conducive to the development of low singles tactics.
Then Drexler's breakthrough ability also made up for the negative impact of Kevin Johnson's decline.
At the same time, Danny Manning is in good condition. This lineup has an advantage against the Mosaic, so the Suns' championship probability can surpass the Mosaic.
"Patterson, didn't you say you would bring Clare to Houston? How did you do it? Are you fooling me?"
After Dameng learned the news, he was dumbfounded and a little desperate. He called General Manager Steve Patterson and asked him questions in an almost roaring tone.
It's no wonder he's so angry. Barkley is seriously injured. It's been a few months since the offseason and he hasn't come back yet. Now the rival Suns have snatched away the glider. Isn't this killing him?
"Hakeem, we have no leverage. Trading Barkley has overdrawn our potential, you know this."
Steve Patterson was very annoyed by Dameng's attitude, but he suppressed his anger and explained helplessly:
"We applied for the first-round pick in 1997 and wanted to take a chance, but the Trail Blazers refused. They didn't want the 1997 pick, they only wanted the past two years, and the Suns have our first-round picks from the past two years.
sign."
"Bang!"
Dameng was so angry that he immediately hung up the phone.
After thinking for a while, he was unwilling to call Drexler again: "Clyde, what's going on? Why did you go to the Suns? Didn't you promise to come and help me?"
At this time, Glider was having dinner. Although he was traded by his home team, joining the Suns was a good choice. He had a chance to win the championship, so he was not in a bad mood. Hearing this, he explained helplessly: "This is a transaction by the management.
Hakim, I can’t decide anything.”
"Damn, they traded Thorpe and our first-round pick for you, that's too much!" Dameng complained.
Regarding Dameng's hooligan attitude, Drexler could only express his helplessness. They gave you Barkley, but didn't they just take your signing for nothing?
After hanging up the phone, Dameng was silent for a long time. He suddenly hated his own management. All the people who were about to get it were snatched away by his enemies. This must be the stingy Alexander who was reluctant to give more chips. He said angrily with some self-indulgence.
: "If this continues, if I can't win the championship, I will leave."
He is not joking, he played with the team in 1992.
In March of that year, after defeating the Clippers and facing the Lakers, he suddenly announced that he was injured. He said he had a strained hamstring in his left leg and would be out for two games.
Of course, he actually thought the salary was too low. His annual salary that year was US$3.17 million. Although it was good, he felt that it was not in line with his worth as a super center. His contract was about to end, so he wanted to use this opportunity to increase his salary.
his bargaining chip.
At that time, the Mosaic team was rushing into the playoffs and was at a critical moment in competition with the Lakers. That game was very important. If the Lakers won, they would enter the top eight. The management immediately arranged for several expert consultations. The results were shocking. He was healthy.
.
The team asked him to play, but he and his team refused. The boss at the time was Charlie Thomas, who believed that Dameng was a fake injury. He was very angry and directly ordered him to be suspended indefinitely.
In the end, Dameng returned after being suspended for five games, but the team had already left the playoff ranks. Mosaic did not make the playoffs that year, ranking ninth in the Western Conference.
The comeback dream also announced that he would leave Houston and was put on the shelf for a while. In the end, the deal was not negotiated and he stayed at Mosaic.
Then the team changed owners, Charlie Thomas stopped playing with him, and Alexander became his new club.
However, he did not expect that this Alexander was as stingy as he could not even get a glider. He was so disappointed that he began to think about leaving Houston again.
The news about the glider is not only a headache for the Mosaics and Dreams, but also for several teams.
The Spurs and Admiral David Robinson had great hopes for this season. After receiving this news, everyone from top to bottom was very disappointed.
Especially David Robinson, who was unable to deal with the thorny Rodman within the team, and now the old rival Suns outside has strengthened his team, making him so anxious that smoke is rising from his throat.
In the east, the same goes for bulls.
Although the Bulls are still very strong, Grant's departure still caused a slight loss in the team's strength.
Toni Kukoc's performance is very good, his scoring ability is not inferior to Grant's, and his assist ability is better, but the Bulls lack Grant's cutting ability and rebounding. Kukoc is not as good as Grant in these aspects, and Grant is also better defensively.
After receiving the news that the Suns had strengthened their outside line, the Bulls reacted cautiously.
Head coach Phil Jackson immediately analyzed what impact this change would have on the Suns and Bulls.
This analysis made him very frightened, because the Suns' main lineup with Old K., Danny Manning, Drexler, Dan Marley, and Kevin Johnson was not weaker than the Bulls at all. If the Bulls were
Meeting the Suns in the finals, the outcome was unpredictable.
Jordan is the same, even more cautious.
He wants to defend his title this season, and then complete three consecutive championships next season to create a dynasty and era that belongs to him. Now everyone is saying that this is his era, but without a dynasty, his era is not bright enough.
However, the Suns' reinforcements cast a lingering shadow on his title defense.
