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Chapter 920 - 387._2

Chapter 920: 387._2

The management wasn’t particularly concerned about this. Mayo had already proven in previous multiple tryouts that he was currently the most individually capable of all the draft candidates.

Their concern about Mayo’s future lay in the fact that he’d lose his cool and play erratically after being taunted a couple of times, showing worrisome mental resilience.

That training camp made the genius make the final multiple-choice question right.

When Beasley walked onto the stage, Zhang Yang once again felt Mayo’s gaze...

By the second pick, Harden mumbled, "Can’t see me, the fridge can’t see me," making Zhang Yang chuckle beside him.

Zhang Yang and Pelinka both thought the Timberwolves team was a quagmire, and Harden trusted their words. Since he wasn’t the top pick, the position wasn’t so important; where he went mattered more.

Zhang Yang thought the Timberwolves wouldn’t pick a guard. All the popular guards this year were ball-handling players, and the Timberwolves already had Randy Foye, Telfair, and Jaric — three ball-handling guards. The ball was never enough to go around. Even if the fridge’s operational skills were poor, it was still better than the Kings.

But...

"...The Minneapolis Timberwolves select... James Harden from North Carolina!"

After Stern announced the Timberwolves’ choice, the Compton trio cursed in unison.

Harden looked at Zhang San: How could this happen?

Zhang San: I dunno! Daluo, what do you think?

Daluo: I dunno either!

Pelinka was also surprised. To avoid getting picked by the fridge, they hadn’t even gone for a tryout with the Timberwolves. But he quickly reminded Harden to go up and shake hands and take photos with Stern.

No matter how much you don’t want to go to the Timberwolves, you can’t show that mindset when you’ve been picked. Offending the new employer isn’t good.

Just as Harden lifted his butt off the chair, the lights on the sub-stage lit up, and the host announced a recently completed trade!

The Knicks Team, through a multi-party trade, sent out Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, and the 5th pick, to get back the newly-selected second pick Harden from the Timberwolves, and a sign-and-trade deal for Stephen Jackson from the Warriors.

The trade involved four teams: Baron Davis sign-and-traded to join the Clippers, Maggette sign-and-traded to join the Timberwolves, Jamal Crawford joined the Warriors, Randolph joined the Clippers, and the Timberwolves got the 5th pick...

After the host announced the trade, the site erupted in surprise.

This was the first large-scale trade after the end of the 07-08 season, quite shocking, involving multiple top-tier and higher-level players switching teams.

In this trade, the switch of the second and fifth picks didn’t seem that important anymore.

Harden tilted his head in confusion for two seconds, looked at Daluo, Zhang San, his agent, and his mom, with a questioning look: Should I still go up?

DeRozan couldn’t hold it any longer and pushed Harden toward the stage.

Harden dashed onto the stage, and at this point, it wasn’t important which team hat he wore to take a photo with Stern. The important thing was... he was staying in Big Apple City!

Stern was also shocked by such a sudden big trade, but he was professional, his expression unchanged, warmly handing the Timberwolves hat to Harden to wear, shaking hands and taking photos.

For once, the audience cheered.

Finally rid of the two rotten fish, Crawford and Randolph!

The New York fans recognized their abilities, but the former was lone and flashy, and the latter a team disruptor. Crawford had been scolded for years, and Randolph had been scolded his entire year with the Knicks Team.

Now, with these two cancers removed, they got back the new MOP Harden and acquired Stephen Jackson, who had been playing for strong teams and helped the Warriors rise over the past two years!

...

The trade was a sensation, the venue was buzzing, and debates were rampant on TV and online wanting to explore the trade’s details.

But the draft proceedings went on unaffected.

The SuperSonics Team took Derek Rose with their third pick.

The Clippers selected Russell Westbrook with their fourth pick.

The Timberwolves used their acquired fifth pick to select Kevin Love.

After several tens of seconds of their old teams choosing, Harden finally figured things out after analyzing with his fingers for more than ten minutes, excitedly telling Zhang Yang and DeRozan: "This trade didn’t shortchange our Knicks Team at all! It looks like we got rid of two players who averaged 20+ points, but the team structure is much better. With Randolph gone, Lee will have more playing time and can start. With Crawford gone, I’ll have more opportunities! It’s a pity we didn’t take Curry along."

DeRozan: "..."

Was this guy thinking about this all the while? Isn’t this good management apparent at a glance? Didn’t he hear New York fans cheering for this trade?

Zhang Yang: "James, you’re quickly assimilating into a Knicks Team player?"

Harden: "Of course, this is the Knicks Team! New York! I thought I’d end up like you, playing in a small city, or at best joining the Clippers to be a sideshow for the Lakers. This is such a surprise!"

Zhang Yang felt a little salty, forcing a smug expression: "Wherever I am, that’s a big city with a market!"

Harden sensed something off with Zhang Yang, but after thinking a bit, he agreed: "That’s right, you’re the player with the highest commercial value, able to make a new team in the Carolina region so popular. Our university felt the threat and proactively cooperated with your team to compete against Duke’s market. But I’m different from you; I don’t have such popularity, so it’s certainly better to play in New York than in a small city."