Chapter 699

They held grand banquets, letting all the participating Dragon Country basketball players, led by Su Yan and Yao, eat, drink, and play for a full half-month.

Arranging them clearly.

With this wave of gold medal winning, if the Basketball Association operated a bit more, who knows how much they would earn.

This bit of reward was just a small kiss.

Besides that.

The Basketball Association also rewarded Su Yan with 10 million, Yao with 2 million, and the other participating players with bonuses ranging from hundreds of thousands to a million.

This was what they deserved.

And Su Yan only played for less than a week before making up an excuse to leave; there were too many people, and some players he wasn't familiar with.

Playing with everyone was always a bit lacking.

It was better to choose a day to call Yao, Wang Zhizhi, Pippen, and others to play alone; with fewer people, and all familiar, that would be truly enjoyable.

Of course.

He left early for another reason.

Coach Skiles, while congratulating him on leading the Dragon Country men's basketball team to win the championship, hoped he could find time to come back.

For one, the time was approaching early September, and they were about to enter the stage of preparing for the next season.

For another, the team's newcomers also wanted to see Su Yan, see this team leader, see what kind of person this "double MVP" champion senior was.

Newcomers?

Yes.

After winning the championship this year, before the Olympics arrived.

The 2004 NBA Draft was held as scheduled.

The Magic selected Dwight Howard, known as "Superman", with the first overall pick as this year's "No. 1 pick".

The second pick was Emeka Okafor, selected by the Bobcats.

And Ben Gordon, who should have been selected by the Bulls with the third pick, was eventually selected by the Wizards.

The Bulls' record was too good, and they didn't deserve such a high first-round pick.

However... the Bulls had obtained this year's first-round picks from the Rockets and 76ers in several trades last year.

During the lottery.

Using the 76ers' first-round pick, who were eighth in the East, they had good luck and drew the ninth overall pick.

Using the Rockets' first-round pick, who were first in the West, they drew the 18th overall pick.

And the Bulls, who were first in the East, drew the 25th overall pick.

And before selecting players, the Bulls' management asked for Su Yan's thoughts, after all... the selected players should ideally be compatible with Su Yan.

That would be the most perfect.

Thus.

Manager John Paxson, after a detailed introduction and giving all the information on the participating players to Su Yan.

Su Yan used his memories from his previous life.

To give suggestions, which were directly adopted.

Eventually... the Bulls used the 76ers' first-round pick to select the future "Little AI" Andre Iguodala with the ninth pick.

Uh...

Now it seems, it should be the future "Little Su Yan".

Then they used the Rockets' first-round pick to select the future "Nerve Knife" JR Smith with the 18th pick.

Finally, they used their own first-round pick to select Tony Allen, who would be on the All-Defensive First Team for several consecutive years in the future, with the 25th pick.

Those three newcomers were: Iguodala, JR, and Tony Allen.

Everyone knows Iguodala's ability and talent, and the reason Su Yan chose him was... the Bulls lacked a small forward who could both attack and defend.

Pippen was ultimately too old.

Him lasting this day was already the limit.

Theoretically, he would retire next year, but because of winning the championship and Su Yan's existence, he would likely play for at least one more year.

But he definitely wouldn't be a starter anymore.

So the starting lineup lacked a small forward, and Iguodala was a good candidate.

Selecting JR with the 18th pick also met the expectations for the pick, and the team also lacked a best sixth man, so JR Smith was just right.

Key.

Now everyone didn't know that JR Smith possessed the "Nerve Knife" attribute, didn't know that when he was "divine", he was like Jordan.

Otherwise... the 18th pick wouldn't be able to get him.

As for Tony Allen.

When Su Yan wanted him, Manager John Paxson was actually a bit confused, after all... the current Tony Allen was still quite ordinary.

He hadn't grown into a first-team-level defensive master yet.

But.

When he grew up, wanting to select him with the 25th pick in the first round would be impossible, and at that time, they would only have to pay a higher price.

It was better to take him now.

In short: the arrival of these three newcomers would definitely make the Bulls more powerful next season, and if they grew for a few more years.

The Bulls' overall strength would become very terrifying!!! ===== CHAPTER 701 =====