Chapter 33: The Only One Who Can Defend Against Durant is Westbrook!
Cook had a grand plan: to leverage the appeal of the OK combination to attract veterans eager for a championship before retiring. However, he also needed to keep an eye on the Lakers' development of young talent. The growing conflicts within the OK combination over ball distribution had made it clear that it was only a matter of time before O'Neal and Kobe would go their separate ways.
Whether the team kept O'Neal or Kobe, another young, promising player was crucial for supporting the team.
On this note, the team owner had hinted that acquiring a player who had both strength and popularity would be ideal.
Cook understood what old Buss was hinting at.
Last year, the Rockets used the No. 1 pick to select China's top prospect, Yao Ming, opening up the lucrative Chinese market. In just one year, they had secured numerous business partnerships with Chinese companies and made a substantial profit.
Old Buss, the poorest team owner in the entire NBA, was clearly envious.
Even though the Lakers had O'Neal and Kobe—two of the most popular players in the NBA—there was always a desire for more. Especially in China, a market still ripe for development.
Cook initially thought Buss was dreaming. Players like Yao Ming are rare, especially given the state of basketball development in China. It seemed almost miraculous that a talent like Yao Ming emerged in recent decades. Finding another player of such caliber seemed improbable, especially given that the other two Chinese players in the league were barely seeing playtime.
Cook was taken aback when Wang Chong appeared before the draft.
Although Wang Chong is a Chinese American, his Chinese heritage and physical traits—yellow skin and black hair—made him stand out.
This alone made Wang Chong a player Cook had to pay special attention to.
Wang Chong, playing as a small forward, boasted top-tier static talent, a height of seven feet, a wingspan of 2.26 meters, and reliable mid-range shooting skills.
Wasn't this exactly what the Lakers needed in a small forward?
In recent years, the Lakers' starting small forward had been Rick Fox. At 2.01 meters tall, Fox's performance on the frontline had been merely average.
During the Lakers' three consecutive championships, Fox's average stats were around 9 points and 4 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 42% and a three-point shooting percentage of just over 30%.
Unlike Derek Fisher, who, despite poor offensive skills, contributed defensively, the Lakers had long sought to find a replacement for Fox.
However, with O'Neal earning more than 20 million dollars a year and Kobe earning 12 million, the Lakers' salary cap was almost maxed out, leaving them unable to acquire the players they wanted in the free market. They had to rely on Fox as their main small forward.
In this year's playoffs, Fox was injured after four games in the first round and did not return. In the second round against the Spurs, the Lakers had to use Robert Horry as their small forward.
Horry averaged 1.8 points on 7 shots in 6 games, with a shooting percentage of 26.2%, contributing only 4.3 points per game for the Lakers.
After the defeat in San Antonio, the Lakers' primary recruitment target for the offseason was a forward.
To Cook, Wang Chong's appearance was like finding a pillow when you're sleepy.
The only issue was that the Lakers' draft pick was 24th in the first round, and Wang Chong's impressive physical tests and 32-point performance had likely boosted his draft stock.
Cook suspected that even if Wang Chong didn't make it to the lottery picks, he would certainly be selected between 15th and 20th. Therefore, it was unlikely the Lakers would get him. Moreover, with Wang Chong's current ability and potential, a lottery team might take a risk on him.
Cook pondered for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed a number.
The joint tryouts were over, and the draft was just days away. During this time, each team invited the players they valued for final assessments.
Wade received invitations from many teams but, due to time constraints, chose to visit only several lottery teams: the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and his hometown Chicago Bulls.
In contrast, Wang Chong received fewer invitations, with only the Washington Wizards, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies showing interest.
What surprised Wang Chong was the tryout invitation from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Was it surprising that the Lakers were interested?
Considering the Lakers' need for a key forward and Buss's ongoing obsession with the Chinese market, it made sense. In 2007, Buss had selected Sun Yue in an attempt to tap into the Chinese market, and before that, he had tried to acquire Yao Ming through trade.
Although Sun Yue did not make a significant impact in the NBA, he had garnered attention and support from Chinese media, with some Chinese fans discovering Kobe through Sun Yue.
Given that Kobe had the largest fan base in China, it was hard to ignore this connection.
However, Wang Chong had not considered the Lakers seriously.
Firstly, the Lakers' 24th pick in the first round was not ideal for Wang Chong's goal of entering the lottery zone, which was crucial for accessing the system's generous task rewards.
Secondly, the glory days of the OK combination were over, and the team had entered a period of decline.
In the 03-04 season, the Lakers were defeated in the finals, and internal conflicts between O'Neal and Kobe led to their eventual split. The Lakers chose to build around the younger Kobe, and while O'Neal went to the East, Kobe struggled in the West until Gasol's arrival in 2008 revitalized the team.
Wang Chong wasn't concerned about the Lakers' record but about ball distribution. Kobe, known as one of the greatest solo players in league history, had a tendency to take numerous shots, sometimes more than 40 in a game.
When Durant left the Thunder, many joked that Durant couldn't handle Westbrook's ball-hogging tendencies, which led to his departure.
In some ways, Westbrook and Kobe were similar in their recklessness when excited.
There was a saying in the league: "The only one who can defend Durant is Westbrook."
Wang Chong didn't want to become the next target of this adage.
Thus, after careful consideration, Wang Chong declined the Lakers' tryout invitation.
End of this chapter
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