Chapter 32: Lakers General Manager Cook: That's Him!
"Today's tryout was very successful."
After the tryouts concluded that day, Thomas smiled at Wade in the hotel and said, "Jerry West, the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, is very pleased with your tryout results. They have the 13th pick in the first round. As long as they're willing to choose you, everything will be smooth sailing!"
Wade wasn't interested when he heard this.
As the NCAA champion and MOP (Most Outstanding Player) winner, Wade had been the talk of the town in the previous tournaments.
But when it came to the actual draft, few were optimistic about Wade due to his age (born in January 1982), the risk of injury from his meniscus removal, and his awkward height of just 1.93 meters for a shooting guard.
Although he had anticipated this situation, Wade still felt disappointed.
He worked so hard, yet he couldn't even break into the top ten in the draft? Is this the gap between talent and hard work?
Seeing Wade's low mood, Thomas patted him on the shoulder and consoled him: "The draft pick is just a way to measure a player's potential and development prospects. It doesn't mean other players aren't good enough. You should know that Kobe Bryant was also the 13th pick in the first round, but now he has three championship rings and is an All-Star starter. I believe you can achieve the same!"
"Besides, the Grizzlies' current lineup isn't bad. They have an excellent inside player like Pau Gasol, but they lack strong perimeter players. If you join the Grizzlies, you'll definitely be seen as a key developmental target, and you won't have to worry about ball possession."
Wang Chong listened from the side without saying a word.
He knew very well that Wade wouldn't end up with the Grizzlies because the Miami Heat's general manager, Pat Riley, would intercept Wade in the draft and use the fifth pick in the first round to select him.
However, Wang Chong chose not to reveal this information. On one hand, there was no need to; on the other hand, if Wang Chong mentioned it and it actually came true, he wouldn't be able to explain the reason to Wade and Thomas. He couldn't say he was a time traveler who already knew their fate—including Wade winning three championships but later being ruthlessly discarded by Pat Riley, moving to Chicago at the end of his career, and eventually returning to the Heat on a minimum salary. He couldn't mention how Wade's reputation would suffer in his later years due to a number 9, nor could he talk about how, at the most crucial moment of his career when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, a certain "brother" never showed up to offer congratulations...
This topic could go on forever.
More importantly, Wang Chong was concerned about his own tryout situation.
As if Thomas had noticed Wang Chong's attention, he looked at him with a smile.
"Wang, your tryout results were also very impressive. They caught the eyes of many team scouts. Several teams have reached out to me, so it's almost certain you'll be selected in the first round. It's just uncertain which position you'll end up in."
Wang Chong understood what Thomas meant.
Although many teams in the league were interested in Wang Chong due to his outstanding talent, it was still just interest. Many teams still had concerns about Wang Chong.
Could a seven-foot-tall small forward with questionable physicality really become a team's core player?
To be safe, they were more inclined to select their original candidates, whom they had been observing for longer.
"In this case, we'll just have to showcase our skills in the final joint tryout game."
The joint tryout game is the last event of the NBA's combined tryouts. Players actively sign up, and then league officials screen and select fewer than 30 players to participate.
Many draft-eligible players hope to participate in this game to demonstrate their abilities to everyone. Of course, some players prefer not to participate because a poor performance could lower their value in the eyes of certain teams.
Players like James, Anthony, Bosh, and others who were destined for the lottery zone didn't register for the game. After all, playing or not playing wouldn't affect their draft rankings.
Initially, Wade also had no plans to participate in the game.
Although his draft projection was below the top prospects, he was still considered one of the top players in the 2003 class. With the Grizzlies as a backup plan, he was a guaranteed lottery pick.
Moreover, Wade's performance in the March Madness tournament was already at a textbook level, so he didn't need to rely on this game to improve his draft stock.
But Thomas suggested that Wade and Wang Chong participate together, mainly to support Wang Chong.
Thomas had some connections, so getting Wang Chong and Wade on the same team was no big deal.
The two of them had great chemistry and could cover for each other on the court, ensuring a strong performance.
His judgment was spot on.
In a game without James, Anthony, Bosh, and others, Wade and Wang Chong stood out far more than the other players, including their old rivals from the championship game, Hinrich and Collison, who were no match for them.
In the game, Wade was willing to play a supporting role for Wang Chong. He frequently drove to the basket to draw defenders, then passed the ball to Wang Chong on the perimeter. Wang Chong didn't waste the opportunities Wade created for him.
Throughout the game, Wang Chong made 14 of 21 shots, went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, and scored 32 points, along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Wade finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 15 assists, and 4 steals.
Together, they led the visiting team to a victory over the home team in the scrimmage.
The entire game was watched by team management and scouts in the stands, and their attention was naturally focused on Wang Chong and Wade—especially Wang Chong.
Unlike when he played center at Marquette University, Wang Chong finally played as a small forward in this competition, which made everyone realize just how potent a seven-foot-tall player who plays small forward and is proficient in mid-range and long-range shooting can be on the offensive end!
"That 's him!"
Somewhere in the stands, Lakers general manager Mickey Cook's eyes lit up as he stared at Wang Chong.
Just a few days ago, the Lakers were eliminated by the Spurs 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs, missing their chance to defend their title, and their dream of a four-peat was completely shattered.
While suffering a crushing defeat, the Lakers' issues were laid bare.
As Shaquille O'Neal ages, his dominance has started to decline due to accumulated injuries. Moreover, his vulnerability to the Hack-a-Shaq tactic makes O'Neal not as unstoppable as he seems.
Although Kobe Bryant demonstrated incredible scoring power in this series, averaging 32.2 points over 6 games, apart from Kobe's 32 points and O'Neal's 25 points, only point guard Derek Fisher averaged double digits with 10 points per game.
The Shaq-Kobe combination was isolated on the court and desperately needed more help!
End of this chapter
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