Bishop of the Devil

Many reporters rushed to the trade conference with the Timberwolves...

When I heard that Richard sold three rookies with great potential in the Trail Blazers, they exchanged them for the Timberwolves' scoring leader Leder, plus Ben Wallace...

The reporters were completely confused...

Could it be that Richard expected Leder to lead a group of newcomers to the playoffs? !

But Ryder obviously doesn’t have such ability...

This is a super problem player. If he really has such ability, would the Timberwolves be willing to sell him?

As for recruiting Big Ben, this reporter can understand it. After all, Big Ben has played under Richard for two years and is easy to use. It is not difficult to understand if he is selected with a pick early in the second round. things...

…

He also told Ben to report to the team on July 10th and participate in the summer league...

The new O'Neal has already been notified!

Since then, Richard's lineup for the coming season has basically been determined!

Big Ben, O'Neal Jr., Rasheed, Kobe, Clifford Robinson, Sabonis and the remaining players on the team who are under contract!

As for Leder, who was just acquired from the Timberwolves, he was actually not in Richard's team building plan at all!

Ryder is a difficult boss, full of troubles. Being in this team with many newcomers, he may cause some shitty things, so Richard has already determined to sell him...

After all, Richard's talent reserve system task is still short of a first-round pick and a second-round pick!

The second round of signing is easy, and you can buy it with cash when the time comes. It’s no big deal.

As for the remaining first-round pick, this one can only be exchanged for Leder...

However, it is definitely impossible to trade for draft picks that are determined to ruin the team. These teams are guaranteed to have top five draft picks...

It is unlikely that people will be willing to use a top-five pick to trade for Leder...

But Richard doesn’t care, as long as it’s a first-round pick!

…

After replacing Leder, Richard's lineup also faced a problem!

That’s the lack of backcourt players…

Regarding Kobe, regardless of whether he is a shooting guard or a point guard, among the remaining players in the entire Trail Blazers team, only Kobe can do it in the backcourt...

However, Richard is not in a hurry. In fact, he has already anticipated this situation and already has a solution in his mind!

Although this solution is definitely not the most perfect one, it is enough for Richard to spend his first coaching season in the NBA comfortably!

…

July 10th at two o'clock in the afternoon!

All the young players of the Trail Blazers have gathered at the Rose Garden Arena...

First-year Ben, Kobe and O'Neal, second-year Rasheed Wallace, Gary Trent, Randolph Childress!

It is worth mentioning that Trent was the 11th overall pick in the 1995 draft. After the draft, the Trail Blazers spent a lot of money to acquire it from the Bucks...

Childress' situation is similar to that of Trent. He was also a rookie in the 1995 class. He was the 19th pick in the first round and was acquired by the Trail Blazers from the Pistons...

These two players made Richard feel helpless about the vision of the Blazers management...

It’s no wonder that Paul Allen would personally invite Richard. If Richard had been with the Trail Blazers in the 1995 season, he would never have allowed the team to spend a lot of money in exchange for two useless newcomers...

The value of these two together may be only half that of Finley, who is about the same pick.

In addition to these six people, Winfield, a marginal third-year player in the team, was also arranged by Richard to join the summer league team.

"Okay, young boys, in the next half month, you will be led by Coach Carlisle to participate in the Southern California Summer League!"

"Perform your abilities well. Even though I'm not here, any performance you perform will reach my ears through Coach Carlisle!"

"If you can't even perform up to standard in the summer league, then I can tell you responsibly!"

"There will be no place for you in the future of the Trail Blazers!"

Richard's expression was extremely serious, which made the young people at the scene a little quiet and chatting, except of course, Da Ben...

Although Richard is actually not much older than these young players, he has already gained a reputation. Even Larry Brown, the veteran coach in the league, almost suffered a heart attack from him...

Anyone who dares to disobey Richard among these young players in front of him will probably end up in a miserable situation.

Especially Kobe, he has an unspeakable fear of Richard...

…

In fact, Richard really wants to lead his team to participate in the summer league this season...

Mainly because this year's summer league will feature the Chinese national team for the first time, which is consistent with Richard's memory...

In 1996, the Chinese national team, represented by Hu Weidong, played in the Southern California Summer League. There was even a classic episode between Hu Weidong and Kobe Bryant on the schedule...

When domestic media recall this period of history, they usually describe it as Hu Weidong beating Kobe...

The 26-year-old Hu Weidong faced Kobe, who was under 18 years old. Hu Weidong scored 30 points, while Kobe only had 22 points. The word "blow up" is definitely not very appropriate to describe it, but Hu Weidong has the advantage. This is true. .

Although Kobe is not playing for the Lakers now, the Lakers also played in the Southern California Summer League, so Kobe will definitely meet Hu Weidong this time.

Although such a classic game is only a summer league, Richard is still very interested in watching it live...

But Richard really can't go...

Generally, summer leagues are led by assistant coaches. It is rare for a head coach to lead a team to play in summer leagues. That would be a bit embarrassing...

After all, it’s not a serious event…

Secondly, Richard has to contact the buyer in the next few days and try to find Ryder's next home before the transaction freeze period ends in July.

Selling Leder should be done sooner rather than later. There's no telling what ridiculous thing this guy will do in the offseason, which will plummet his trade value...

Therefore, Richard could only regretfully stay in Portland and miss the opportunity for Hu Weidong to play against Kobe...

…

Carlisle had just taken his players to the Summer League, and Zhang Weiping had arrived in Portland.

"Teacher Zhang, welcome to join the Portland Trail Blazers!" Richard took Stevens and made a special trip to Portland International Airport to pick him up.

"Hey, what kind of teacher is not a teacher? You are the head coach and I am a part-time worker. Just call me by my first name!" Zhang Weiping, who is forty-six or seventeen years old, is nothing like the Teacher Zhang in Richard's impression. The difference is that he looks very easy-going and talks funny.

"Let's call her Teacher Zhang, be more friendly..."

"It doesn't matter. You are the boss anyway, so no matter what you call it, it makes sense!"

Hearing the word reasonable, Richard almost stumbled over. Is it reasonable so soon...