Vol 2 Chapter 828: Great fun

Chapter VIII

Great fun

Substitute center!

For the current lineup of the Houston Rockets, Yao Ming is already the main center forward. With a height of 2.26 meters, a gradual increase in weight (currently 132 kg), and a soft touch, as well as the "dreamy footsteps" of Olajuwon. "Yao Ming has gradually entered the ranks of NBA's top centers. Of course, compared with super centers like O'Neal, the gap is still huge, but in today's league where centers have fallen, Yao Ming is already a rare center talent.

However, due to Yao Ming's height, too high center of gravity, and too much capacity for footsteps, according to the assessment of the Sports Injury Hospital invested by Lin Feng (a full-time service for athletes, currently only open to Houston Rockets players for free), Yao Ming has a game. The playing time is preferably 32-35 minutes. As for Olajuwon, despite his advanced age, he still has no problem playing 10-12 minutes in a game.

However, there is a problem. Once either Yao Ming or Olajuwon is injured, the Houston Rockets will have no backup center available. After all, Olajuwon is old and sick. It is very necessary to add a backup center. But at the moment, the center is already a scarce resource. A slightly better center has an annual salary that meets the mid-range clause. As a second substitute center, the annual salary of the middle-class clause is too wasteful and too extravagant. What's more, the Houston Rockets have touched the luxury tax line after signing Robert Horry. Anyone who signs a contract will have to pay "double" wages. Signing a second backup center and giving "ten million annual salary" is obviously too absurd.

Both Dawson and Morey looked helpless. Right now the NBA really doesn't have a good candidate for a backup center. For this candidate, he must have certain strength and do not require that he can score, but must be able to provide strong defense, and the annual salary requirements cannot be too high, and he is willing to act as a substitute. If these conditions are piled up, it is very difficult to find. Morey once proposed Wang Zhizhi and Battelle, two centers from China like Lin Feng. However, these two people, although the salary is extremely low, but obviously unable to meet the requirements of the Houston Rockets' second substitute.

Wang Zhizhi floats away from the basket, loves to shoot three-pointers, and his defense is an absolute weakness. As for Battelle, although his body is strong, he turns too slowly, and the whole person is relatively slow, unable to adapt to the Houston Rockets' offensive and defensive transition speed. Unless there is really no candidate, Wang Zhizhi and Battelle are candidates that do not need to be considered. Although everyone is Chinese, but without the strength, Lin Feng can't help. After all, what I build is a championship team, not an orphanage.

While thinking about it, Lin Feng suddenly thought of one person.

"Dawson, this person can definitely meet our requirements." Lin Feng's tone revealed excitement.

"Who?" Dawson and Morey's eyes lit up, staring at Lin Feng closely.

"Alonzo Mourning!" Lin Feng uttered a shocking name.

Alonzo Mourning! —Dawson and Morey whispered.

Alonzo Mourning, the last-generation American super center of the NBA, has a strong physique, a strong and domineering basket style, a dedication to rebounding, and an iron will to become a daunting defensive champion on the court. In the first season, he scored an average of 21 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.47 blocks per game, and then maintained the same data every year, which is terribly stable. Of course, these data are from 2000 years ago. Since he was diagnosed with kidney disease after winning the Sydney Olympics in 2000, everything has changed. Although Mourning regained his health through a kidney transplant, the subsequent data has fallen sharply and has also been reduced from the absolute trump card of the team to a substitute.

However, such a substitute is very much needed by the Houston Rockets. And the arrival of Mourning can enhance the Houston Rockets' defensive strength and persistence in victory. Now this Houston Rockets, there are too many young people, and they need Jordan and Mourning to support them, telling these young players what is honor, what is professional ethics, and what is persistence. Moreover, the arrival of Mourning can also teach Yao Ming a lesson, letting him know that the center needs to be tough, needs iron and blood, and needs brutality. At this point, no one is more qualified than Mourning to teach Yao Ming, who is now softer.

The only suspense is whether Mourning's kidney disease can support him to fight on the court. —This is what Dawson and Morey have been worried about. Since kidney disease, Mourning's stats have become 20+10 per game, severely dropping to 10+8, and a game can only be played for about 20 minutes, or even less. Moreover, this disease may endanger career at any time.

Lin Feng was not worried about what Dawson and Morey were worried about. Because Lin Feng knew that Mourning played until the 07-08 season before officially retiring. Prior to this, although the data was relatively mediocre, the iron-blooded defense he provided was the most desired and needed by the team. What's more, his salary requirements are not high, and he is willing to act as a substitute. What he desires is a championship. At this point, today's Houston Rockets are more suitable for Mourning.

Things went as smoothly as Lin Feng expected. After receiving the invitation from the Houston Rockets, Mourning only gave it a little consideration before readily agreeing to join the Houston Rockets. Signed with the Houston Rockets for four years and $16 million.

When the Houston Rockets announced a four-year $16 million contract with Mourning, the entire league was astonished. They all bluntly said that the Houston Rockets were crazy and bought a sick ghost for a big price. Although these remarks are a bit hurtful, but the truth is. It is not easy for people with kidney disease to live a normal life, not to mention having to participate in the world's most competitive ball game with the most intense physical collisions. This is simply a joke of life.

In response to the voice of doubt from the outside world, Lin Feng stood up and said a word-I believe he will stand up because he is Alonzo Mourning!

Lin Feng's remarks naturally aroused cynicism from the outside world, thinking that Lin Feng was deceiving himself. But it completely subdued Mourning's heart. After suffering from kidney failure, Mourning, despite the hard work, stood up again, but also returned to the NBA arena. However, he has been questioned on and off the field constantly, doubting his ability and career life. Lin Feng is the only one who believes in him and trusts him so far, and Lin Feng dares to stand up for himself in the midst of doubts from the outside world. Speaking, just in this favor, Mourning identified Lin Feng and the Houston Rockets.

"Boss, rest assured, I will not let you down. I must let those guys see if Alonzo Mourning will be knocked down by injury!" Mourning's eyes flashed with a strong and unyielding fighting spirit.

Jordan in the distance nodded secretly. A man with such a pair of sharp eyes will never be knocked down by injuries!

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"Mourning, come on, let us fight side by side, the goal-the championship!" Jordan walked over and stretched out his right hand to Mourning.

"Goal-championship!" Mourning patted Jordan's palm heavily.

After resolving Mourning, Dawson and Morey also targeted point guard candidates. This should be the top priority of the team, but unfortunately, given the current requirements of the Houston Rockets, point guards are not easy to find. It requires a certain amount of defense on the field, but also willingness to substitute, and at the same time a low salary ($2-3 million annual salary). This is not easy to find, or trade or look for veterans. But there are not many suitable veterans, either because the level is not good enough, or the salary is too high to sign. If you trade, judging from the current lineup of the Houston Rockets, the trade hurts everyone.

However, if you do not sign a qualified substitute, this will definitely have a fatal impact on the Houston Rockets' journey in the new season. Once Billups falls ill, the Houston Rockets will be unavailable. Of course, both Hughes and Wade can play point guards, but these two are by no means suitable point guard candidates. The Houston Rockets must sign or trade a proper replacement point guard.

"Forget it, let's trade!" Lin Feng thought for a while. At present, the team is also signing a suitable backup point guard without a salary. In the NBA, the center is a scarce resource, and the point guard is also a scarce resource. It's really difficult to sign a backup point guard who wants to hit the championship with $2 to $3 million.

"Deal!" Dawson murmured. At present, the Houston Rockets have only this possibility. But who to trade? In detail, the only positions the Houston Rockets can trade are small forwards and shooting guards. At the small forward, Prince is a very suitable candidate. With James and Josh Howard, Prince is no longer so important. As for shooting guards, only Hughes can be traded, but the versatility shown by Hughes is really disappointing. But also because of this, if you trade Hughes, you can get a good bargaining chip. For example, a future first-round pick and a good point guard. As for the vacancy on the shooting guard after Hughes left, Jordan can play for 2-3 years now, and Wade is the first substitute. If Jordan is injured or reserves physical strength for the playoffs, Josh Howard can also score. The guard, in this position, can handle it.

After a brief discussion, Dawson and Morey began to work separately. Negotiate deals with each team about Prince or Hughes. After several days of frequent contact, the Houston Rockets eventually exchanged Hughes from the Chicago Bulls for the No. 7 rookie Kirk Hinrich selected by the Chicago Bulls this year and a first-round pick next year.

For this transaction, the league once again felt deeply puzzled. In the previous 4 years, 16 million signed Mourning, although the risk, it is worth it, after all Mourning is a super center who has proven himself. But now with a player who averages 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and can contribute 1.3 steals, to change a rookie plus a first-round pick, this is a bit weird. And Hughes is only 24 years old this year, only 2 years older than Kirk Hinrich. But Hughes is black and Kirk Hinrich is white. Therefore, the age of these 2 years is completely negligible.

In terms of physical fitness, style of play, and experience, Hughes completely outperformed Kirk Hinrich, and Hughes was rated as "Pippen II" by the outside world. It is really unbelievable for such a person to exchange for a rookie. solution. But no longer understand, the Houston Rockets have already exchanged, and as the owner of the Houston Rockets, Lin Feng is very satisfied with it, quite satisfied.

Although Kirk Hinrich is currently a rookie, he will be the league's top point guard in the future, and he is more than enough to serve as a substitute for Billups. Of course, what makes Lin Feng more satisfied is another point, getting the Chicago Bulls' first-round pick next year. This year is the draft year, but next year's rookie quality is not bad.

"Superman" Howard, Okafor, Ben Gordon, Harris, Iguodala, Kevin Martin, jr-Smith and others are also stars, although not as high as the overall quality of the 2003 draft, they are also It's a draft year, and it's really worth it to be able to trade for a first-round pick!

After this transaction, the Houston Rockets' lineup will be able to compete with the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, whether it is a starter or a substitute.

Center: Yao Ming (), substitute Mourning, Olajuwon.

Power forward: Rodman (), substitute Boozer, Robert Horry.

Small forward: LeBron James (), substitute Josh Howard, Prince.

Shooting guard: Michael Jordan (), substitute Wade, Josh Howard (guest).

Point guard: Billups (), substitute Kirk Hinrich, Wade (guest).

Looking at the list of 13 people, in the eyes of head coach Tomjanovich, it can only be described as perfect. This lineup has three generations of old, middle and young players. After Jordan and others retired, Yao Ming, James and others have fully grown up. At that time, the Houston Rockets will be stronger than they are now!

The next ten years will belong to the Houston Rockets! —Tomjanovich firmly believes this.

While other teams in the league were still wondering how to reinforce them and how to save salaries, the league’s super strong teams have completed all their replenishment plans. Los Angeles' "f4", San Antonio Spurs' "Championship Lineup", Dallas Mavericks' "Long-range Artillery Corps", and Houston Rockets' "Future Dynasty". The entire league is speculating about the prospects of these four teams in the new season. , And compare it with other teams in the league, but no matter what, in the entire league, no team can compare with these four teams.

Of course, the most promising is the Los Angeles Lakers' "f4", followed by the San Antonio Spurs' "Champions Lineup", the Houston Rockets' "Future Dynasty" ranked third, and the Dallas Mavericks' crazy "Long Range Artillery Corps" Because it is too slant, too extreme, and its head coach is too crazy, such a team is smooth, and the world is invincible. If it is not smooth, no matter how weak it is, it will dare to lose!

The 03-04 season, the NBA will be the world of these four teams. -This is the consensus of everyone. But what makes all fans crazy and makes all Western teams jump is that these four teams are all Western teams, especially the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks are all teams in the Southwest Division.

Now, the fun is great!