LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 98
Chapter 97 – It’S Not As Simple As It Seems
Zhang Jun also stood up unexpectedly, and Elizabeth gave her son a strong hug.
“Son, you finally realized your dream.”
Zhang Jun couldn’t help feeling a little emotional, Xia He squinted his eyes and looked at Zhang Jun, unable to tell what emotion it was.
Although Diana had already made such preparations, after hearing that Zhang Jun was really the No. 1 pick, she still felt a tingle in her heart.
“Taking him is definitely the beginning of CAA’s resurgence.”
Zhang Jun patted Durant standing in front of him and said, “Brother, make room, I have to go up first.”
Durant pouted, not to mention how ugly his face was.
“It doesn’t make sense, I lose to you every time.”
Zhang Jun took the peaked cap, put it on, and walked up to the front desk. There was immediately warm applause at the scene.
Oden, who was also sitting in the first row below, looked even uglier than Durant. His agent patted him on the shoulder and said comfortingly.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s not impossible to lose to Zhang Jun. He is really outstanding, but you must be the second place.”
David Stern shook hands with Zhang Jun gently, and whispered: “Bless you young man, you will start a great career with the Trail Blazers.”
Faced with the well-meaning blessings, Zhang Jun responded: “I will work hard to make the NBA start a better chapter.”
Um? !
David Stern has presided over the draft conference for so many years, is this the first sentence heard by a rookie on stage, for the league?
Where did the previous rookies say these things, especially Kobe, whose first sentence on draft night turned out to be: I’m ready to conquer the NBA.
If David Stern hadn’t known that Kobe in high school had such a fearless temperament, he would have misunderstood that the implication of the other’s words was to conquer himself.
Looking at Zhang Jun now, David Stern nodded again and again.
“This kid can handle it.”
The draft continues.
Durant was selected by the Sonics with the second overall pick, and Oden unexpectedly fell to the third overall overall. This scene undoubtedly shocked everyone’s jaws.
After the draft, David Stern took a group photo with the rookies.
Zhang Jun is in the middle, and on both sides of him are Durant and Oden, whose faces are not very good-looking.
This is the 2007 draft.
………
After the event, Zhang Jun met with the management of the Trail Blazers.
The emotion on Steve Patterson’s face couldn’t tell whether he liked it or not. He put a coin in Zhang Jun’s palm.
“I’ve never thrown heads three times in a row. Maybe you really are the better one.”
“The team will arrange for you to go to Portland tomorrow to complete the subsequent signing ceremony and press conference. The team’s head coach Nate McMillan will hand over to you about the summer league.”
“You can prepare in advance.”
Zhang Jun nodded.
Before they left, Glider Drexler pinched Zhang Jun’s shoulder and said friendlyly, “We’ll talk in detail after you report to the team.”
Diana reminded: “Steve Patterson doesn’t seem to like you a little bit. Of course, it may not be aimed at you specifically, or it may be for other reasons.”
Zhang Jun didn’t care much about the reason for Steve Patterson, but he really didn’t have the ecstasy after he was chosen.
“I can’t guarantee that everyone likes me, and I won’t try to make everyone like me.”
“My responsibility is to play on the court. When the new season starts, he will know that I deserve this No. 1 pick.”
Diana is obsessed with Zhang Jun. As long as Zhang Jun says there is no problem, she believes that there will be no problem. Even when he said that there is no guarantee that everyone likes me, Diana still wants to raise objections.
He is handsome, rich right away, and plays in the NBA, who wouldn’t like him.
Xia He said arrogantly: “When our business map starts to take off and you gradually become the hottest star in the United States, he will not treat you with such an attitude.”
“I bet, how arrogant he is now, how much he will lick dogs in the future.”
“Lick the dog?!” Diana heard the word for the first time.
Zhang Jun also looked at Xia He with a dazed expression. He didn’t expect this little girl to know this word. I really don’t know what kind of atmosphere there is at Harvard University to teach such a student.
The four left the Madison Square Garden Theater. They were supposed to walk, but Elizabeth insisted on going to the underground garage.
How many people don’t know, so they still go.
At the door of the underground garage, a car was covered by a black cloth, and it just appeared in front of Zhang Jun.
“This is?”
Zhang Jun said curiously.
Elizabeth took Zhang Jun’s hand and walked to the front of the car.
“Son, mom doesn’t have much culture, and I can’t give you more things like those rich families, but we don’t steal or grab, we don’t take things that don’t belong to us, we do what we like by ourselves , what can be done.”
“This is your adult gift, go and see if you like it.”
Hearing this, Zhang Jun’s eyes were red. He didn’t know how Elizabeth, who was working two jobs and barely making ends meet, relied on her perseverance to buy this car, but he knew that the other party must have worked very hard.
“Mom…” Zhang Jun couldn’t help hugging this short, dark and fat mother.
The new car is a Hummer H2, bought by Elizabeth with a loan of 50,000 US dollars, and given to Zhang Jun as an adult gift.
………
June 29.
Zhang Jun went to the Portland Trail Blazers to report and attended the press conference at the same time.
On the way to the press conference site, there were already several long rows of fans standing on both sides.
“Zhang Jun, you are the one we are waiting for!”
“Portland can’t wait to see what you do on the court.”
“You’ll be a superstar like Drexler!”
“Zhang Jun, lead us forward!”
“We’re ready to go crazy for you!”
Portland fans are very excited about the arrival of Zhang Jun.
Zhang Jun stretched out his hands and gave two rows of fans a high-five. He was still not used to this strange city, because these fans had other feelings.
Zhang Jun’s first contract is the standard contract of the NBA No. 1 pick, and there is no room for negotiation or option.
According to regulations, the contract is four years, and the next two years are team options, with a total amount of 22 million for four years.
Diana explained the terms of the contract in detail for Zhang Jun, and it is especially important to note that there is an extension clause from August 1st to October 31st after the third season~www.mtlnovel.com~ Both parties agreed on the amount and number of years of the new contract may be extended thereafter.
Even if Zhang Jun does not agree to the extension, the Trail Blazers also have the right to match. No matter which team offers Zhang Jun a contract, the Trail Blazers can choose to match and forcefully keep Zhang Jun.
Moreover, due to the constraints of the Bird clause and the league’s protection of the player’s home team, the amount that other teams can offer contracts is often not as high as the team’s offer.
In other words, if there are no accidents, Zhang Jun will play in the Trail Blazers for at least 6-8 years.
This is really a bit of a strong buy and sell.
“No wonder Daly told me before that players are nothing more than a commodity to the league, and your destiny is often not decided by yourself.”
This kind of feeling makes Zhang Jun very uncomfortable. He is a person who is used to being free and unrestrained. He is not used to being restrained by others.
After signing the contract, Steve Patterson took Zhang Jun to visit the Blazers’ training hall and the Moda Center, and introduced other top executives of the team.
But when he was leaving, Glider Drexler looked at Zhang Jun meaningfully and said: “I believe you have seen the fanatical fans here, they are very hungry, and can’t wait to witness the team’s success.” progress.”
“So you’d better help the team make the playoffs next season. Maybe other teams can tolerate rookies making mistakes in the first or second year and give them enough patience to wait for him to grow slowly.”
“But with the Trail Blazers, you only have the first year.”
Zhang Jun heard the seriousness of this passage, and knew that it was a kind reminder from Drexler. He didn’t know why the other party said that, but the situation in the Trail Blazers, at least from the present, must not be as it seems. Simple.