Chương 5: Chapter 5: Summer League lineup
"Nowak's defense is very poor. He can't play at an NBA level at all. In contrast, Millsap is very strong," Van Gundy remarked.
"Defense can be trained," Andrew replied. "If successful, he could become the next Peja Stojakovic for the Rockets."
Andrew and Van Gundy had their own opinions, and a small argument was brewing. As an assistant coach, Andrew Tang felt helpless. Even though it was a second-round pick, his voice didn't carry much weight.
Dawson interrupted the two, clearly hesitating.
Andrew's mind raced. He knew that if they hesitated any longer, Dawson would side with Van Gundy, the head coach.
"I have an idea," Andrew said quickly.
Both Dawson and Van Gundy turned to him.
"I think the Timberwolves have two second-round draft picks, 36 and 37. Can we try to trade with them?" Andrew suggested.
Dawson nodded. Trading down—exchanging one pick for two—was a solid proposal.
Van Gundy didn't protest. If Novak or Millsap got picked before their turn, they would just consider it bad luck.
In the NBA, teams are assigned booths for communication and discussion. Dawson picked up the phone and called the Timberwolves directly.
Soon after, Dawson hung up the phone with a smile. "Hahaha..... Nailed it."
The Timberwolves, who had struggled in recent seasons, were eager to move up in the draft to select more talented players. Before the second round began, the Rockets and Timberwolves finalized a deal: the Rockets sent their 32nd pick and some cash to the Timberwolves in exchange for the 36th and 37th picks.
The Timberwolves chose Craig Smith with the 32nd pick. Andrew had some memory of the player—Smith played well in Minnesota and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.
With the 36th overall pick, the Rockets selected Steve Novak. With the 37th pick, they chose Paul Millsap.
Both Andrew and Van Gundy were pleased with the selections.
Dawson was in high spirits as well. Since the 2004 trade for Tracy McGrady, the Rockets had struggled, largely because of underperforming role players. Now, with Shane Battier and two promising rookies, the future seemed bright. Dawson also appreciated Andrew's contributions as the team's new assistant coach—he had ideas and knew how to think strategically. Dawson felt Andrew would be a huge asset to the team in the upcoming season.
The draft ended, and the NBA teams got busy once more.
Although it was the offseason and most players were on vacation, for the teams, the new season began right after the draft. As the Rockets' lead assistant coach, Andrew would guide the team into the summer league.
The NBA Summer League is one of the most critical events for teams in the offseason. It's a stage for rookies, draft picks, and even some fringe players to showcase their talent.
Andrew was joined by Thibodeau as his assistant coach.
Andrew had made a strong impression during his interview with Van Gundy, and Thibodeau respected Andrew's abilities, despite his young age. Andrew had trained Yao Ming, and that earned him even more trust from Thibodeau.
"This is a list of players we can consider," Thibodeau said, handing Andrew a thick binder.
The Rockets were short-handed, and many players were eager to join. Andrew flipped through the list quickly and noticed a few familiar names.
Chuck Hayes, a favorite among Rockets fans, had gone undrafted in 2005. He had played in the Development League for a year on the Vipers, the Rockets' affiliate.
Will Bynum, like Hayes, went undrafted in 2005. Bynum played in the D-League, where he averaged 24 points per game. He later became a solid backup guard, averaging 8 points and 3 assists per game, and even played alongside Allen Iverson.
Jose Barea caught Andrew's eye as well. Although he had gone undrafted this year, Barea would go on to help the Dallas Mavericks win a championship. Andrew was familiar with him.
After reviewing the rest of the list, Andrew handed the binder back to Thibodeau.
"I'll choose these three: Hayes, Bynum, and Barea, along with the rookies Novak and Millsap. You can fill out the bench with a few others."
"These guys are short," Thibodeau commented with a frown. Shorter players often struggle in the NBA. Andrew had already picked the undersized Millsap, and now he wanted three more. Did he have a preference?
"Short guys have their advantages," Andrew replied with a smile. Most NBA managers thought like Thibodeau, but because of that, Andrew believed these shorter players could turn into underdog success stories.
Thibodeau didn't argue. After all, Andrew had only picked five players, leaving ten more spots to fill.
The invitations went out, and as expected, all the players accepted.
At the Toyota Center, Andrew Tang prepared for his first training session as a coach.
As he walked into the training facility, he greeted the players: Millsap, Hayes, Barea, Bynum, Novak...
Compared to his memories, these players looked so young and raw.
Each player had talent and potential, but they were in the developmental phase. Even though Andrew knew many would go on to have strong careers, if not trained properly, they could easily fall short of expectations.
As the players saw that their coach was a young Asian man, some of them exchanged doubtful and dismissive glances.
"I'm your coach, Andrew Tang," he introduced himself. "You can call me Coach Tang."
Some players stood lazily, while others chatted quietly. This group was a mix of rookies, fringe players, and seasoned Development League veterans. They clearly didn't take a young coach seriously.
"I have three rules for this team," Andrew said, raising his voice to command attention. His eyes swept across the players' faces.
"First, you must be on time for every training session. Second, you will follow the coaching staff's instructions without question. Third, during the summer league, no gambling, drugs, or any other distractions. If you can't follow these rules, you can leave right now."
The murmuring stopped, and all eyes were on Andrew. His sternness caught them off guard.
"Who do you think you are?" a voice challenged from the back.
Andrew turned to see the speaker: Qyntel Woods, the 21st overall pick in 2002. Woods had a reputation as a problem player, with a history of drug use and fights. He had gone from a top prospect to a journeyman, teetering on the edge of the league.
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