Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 421 - 140: Draft Conference, The New Big Three! (Daily update of 11,000 words, begging for subscription and monthly tickets)

Chapter 421: Chapter 140: Draft Conference, The New Big Three! (Daily update of 11,000 words, begging for subscription and monthly tickets)

A few days later, the 2007 NBA Draft was held as scheduled in the theater of Madison Square Garden.

With the first overall pick in hand, the Portland Trail Blazers made no hesitation in decisively selecting "The Great Emperor" Oden with their first pick in the first round.

At the draft site.

At the moment Oden was chosen as the number one pick, Kevin Durant, who was also a top pick favorite, instantly offered his applause and praise from the heart.

Because as early as the trial phase, the New York Knicks had already made a verbal promise to Durant.

So, compared to becoming the number one pick, Durant certainly wanted more to wear the Knicks jersey.

After all, being able to play for the Knicks...

It also meant that Durant, being so close to the water, would have more opportunities in the future to drink the bathwater of Scarlett Johansson, born in New York.

"KD! KD! KD!"

With the second pick in the first round, Durant was chosen by the Knicks as he wished, causing waves of cheers at the scene.

This was a rare highlight moment for the Knicks’ management team in recent years.

Donnie Walsh, who succeeded the "Smiling Assassin" Thomas as the Knicks general manager, said in an interview with a smile: "’KD’ is definitely a gift from God to New York."

Additionally, on the day of the draft, the Knicks also reached a trade with the Cavaliers.

They traded "great hero" Allen Iverson, who led the team to the second pick last season, to Cleveland and received a second-round pick for the Cavaliers this year and Shaquille O’Neal from Cleveland.

As a relatively reliable Knicks general manager in the 21st century, Walsh knew well that since building the team around Durant, he must give him time to grow.

So, to avoid Iverson affecting Durant’s growth, Walsh had contacted the Cavaliers management in advance.

Regarding this, the Cavaliers’ management team, who had just experienced a crushing defeat in the finals, felt joy falling from the heavens.

Even though Iverson was already 32 years old, "AI" still averaged "26+7" per game in the 06/07 season.

Last season, just Mo Williams alone allowed the Cavaliers’ management team to see how well James and such outside attacking guards could fit.

Not to mention the famous Iverson?

And the Knicks?

Just as in Qin Yue’s memory, noticing that most of the top talents from the ’03 class chose a "3+1" contract when renewing early, Walsh had long focused his attention on the free agent market in 2010.

O’Neal’s current contract happens to expire in the summer of ’10.

In Walsh’s view, this past-prime super center could not only help the Knicks smoothly complete their tanking plan, but as an inside player, O’Neal would also not appear to compete for the ball with Durant.

Without a doubt, this was a mutually beneficial trade for both sides.

The Cavaliers found a "great benefactor" willing to take O’Neal, and exchanged James for a superstar teammate in his prime.

The Knicks sent away Iverson, who could potentially impact Durant’s growth, and officially started their rebuilding plan. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

ESPN very rarely graded both teams in the trade with an A-minus rating.

The only blemish is...

Upon learning he was traded to Cleveland, a sorrowful Iverson wished he could break his own leg.

Even in an interview, without feeling a bit sad for O’Neal’s departure, James, knowing Iverson was about to arrive in Cleveland, said: "Allen Iverson has always been my idol and role model, and I long to team up with him."

Iverson was also very reluctant to wear that Cavaliers #3 jersey.

This is the dilemma the Cavaliers have long faced when recruiting help for James.

If not for the Knicks selecting Durant and deciding to tank, they might not even qualify to enjoy a star like Iverson in the twilight of his career.

With the third pick in the first round, even with a bottom league performance, the Celtics had the third pick and selected Al Horford, who had been traumatized by Qin Yue at college.

Out of bad luck, the Celtics chose a treasure player.

Horford, who had been selected for the All-Star team multiple times in later years, is a modern inside player who excels both offensively and defensively.

And even with a highly eye-catching wife, Horford proved throughout his long career until Qin Yue’s time traveling that he was extremely disciplined.

Then, with the fourth pick in the first round, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Mike Conley.

In Qin Yue’s memory, Conley was a tough player who could hold his own against all super guards of his era.

Known for his unembellished playing style and stable game style, Conley was also a treasure player.

was indeed worthy of being a draft year.

Because in the first four picks this year...

Aside from Oden, the other three in Qin Yue’s memory all had extremely long career peak periods.

With the fifth pick in the first round, Jordan, always haunted by the test with a chair, did not choose Yi Jianlian from China.

Instead, after selecting Jeff Green, he traded him along with Matt Carroll, Sean Mei, and a future draft pick to Portland in exchange for the troubled youth Zach Randolph.

Last season, Randolph was able to average "24+10" for the Portland Prison.

Unfortunately, even with star forward numbers, Randolph couldn’t gain any exposure in the league.

Because since entering the league...

Randolph’s off-court actions really made it hard to believe he was an NBA player.

Buying illegal firearms, assaulting teammates, drunk driving, and even possessing drugs...