The Pope of Basketball Community

Chapter 327 [14 players, track and field team]

After Yang Rui joined, the Wizards began to sign signings in the free market.

The process went very smoothly. When they saw that Yang Rui was with the Wizards, Rafe Alston, Raja Bell, and David Wesley were all willing to join. They were all unable to be reused by their original teams and thought this was an opportunity.

The first two are both with basic salaries, and Wesley signed a mini-middle-class salary.

The Wizards management's approach made Yang Rui a little unhappy. He hoped to sign Alston and Bell for a longer period of time. Manager Unseld disagreed, thinking it was risky, and seriously explained to Yang Rui that marginal players couldn't sign like this.

Judging from the previous signing records of the two, this is like Lei Gong Tai Chi teaching Tai Chi to Zhang Sanfeng. It is easy for people to have the urge to press him to the ground and beat him.

However, Unseld has the support of other management personnel. After all, he worked for the Wizards in the 1980s and is a veteran with connections. If you are not afraid of opponents who are like gods, you are afraid of teammates who are like pigs. This is the situation. Once the two perform at a high level this season, it will not be easy to renew their contract.

There are too many new players inside, lack of playoff experience, and they are still not strong enough. After consideration, Yang Rui recommended another free agent, forward Donyel Marshall.

Marshall is 206cm tall and weighs 100kg. He is well-educated both internally and externally. He was selected by the Timberwolves with the 4th overall pick in the first round of 1994. He has played in the league for 8 seasons and has rich experience.

At his peak, he averaged 14.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game with the Warriors. Last season with the Jazz, he averaged 30.2 minutes per game, 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks.

Marshall's biggest advantage is his ability to pull out and shoot three-pointers, and he can occasionally get winded.

In Yang Rui's previous life, on March 13, 2005, when the Raptors played against the Philadelphia 76ers, Marshall scored a career-high 38 points in 28 minutes and hit 12 three-pointers in a single game, tying an NBA record. It wasn't until November 8, 2016 that he was surpassed by Stephen Curry's 13 three-pointers.

Unseld contacted Marshall's agent, Andy Miller.

Andy refused. "Sorry, I have been contacting the Bulls for Tangyere before. They are willing to provide a full mid-level contract, and the negotiation is almost complete."

After hanging up the phone, Andy thought for a while, called Marshall and told him about the Wizards invitation. If Marshall prefers the Wizards, there may be conflicts between them.

As a result, Marshall was excited. "What kind of contract can the Wizards offer? If he is also in the middle class, I am willing to go to the Wizards."

"Why? The Wizards had a poor record last season, and the Bulls are on the rise. With two stars, plus you, they can win the championship in the new season, and Chicago's location is better." Andy was puzzled.

Marshall replied: "Because the Bulls are coached by Tom Thibodeau and the Wizards are coached by Jerry Young. Don't you realize that Jerry is an amazing person? He can lead a bad team like the Raptors to win two championships and four consecutive championships." Entering the Eastern Conference Finals this year, maybe the Wizards can become a strong team and win the championship in the 2003-2004 season."

"You do it for him?"

"What else? Even if he doesn't play well next season, it's time for Jordan to retire. The Wizards don't have big-name stars, so my status will definitely be high. In the Bulls, I can only serve as a substitute for Brand." Marshall analyzed the Bulls lineup. There are too many stars in the field, and he wants to join for the championship.

Marshall has played in the NBA for eight years and has signed a good contract. It cannot be compared with the All-Stars, but it is enough to last a lifetime. He values ​​​​the record more.

Andy thought about it, Marshall is only 29 years old, and playing as a substitute now is really not conducive to future development. "The news says that Jordan often scolds his teammates and has a bad temper. Can you bear it?"

Marshall was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone and said with a smile: "Jerry Young is a smart man. If the Wizards have serious problems, he will not join. Just ask, if the Wizards are willing to give it to the mid-level, I will go."

Andy complied with his request and called Unseld back. The back and forth only took 5 minutes. Unseld was about to explain to Yang Rui and ask him to find someone else.

Unseld did not hesitate and immediately agreed to give the Marshall middle class. Judging from the data and tactical effects, the price is not high. Marshall earned 4 to 5 million with the Warriors in the 1990s, and his annual salary with the Jazz last season was 6.51 million.

The two parties reached a verbal agreement and were just waiting for the official signing. Unseld called Yang Rui and told him the good news.

On July 10, the Wizards quickly completed their reconstruction under Yang Rui's plan and currently have a confirmed lineup of fourteen players.

Center: Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Haywood, Edon Thomas, Christian Laettner.

Power forward: Carlos Boozer, Donyel Marshall, Gerald Wallace.

Small forward: Michael Jordan, Corey Maggette.

Shooting guards: Richard Hamilton, Laga Bell.

Point guards: Tyronn Lue, Rafe Alston, David Wesley.

Yang Rui is quite satisfied with this lineup. Although there are no superstars, the offensive power of Jordan, Hamilton, Maggette, Marshall, Wesley, Stoudemire, and Boozer cannot be underestimated.

Score more points, you can win with quantity, and these seven people include various styles.

Hamilton is good at running without the ball, does not occupy the ball, and is accurate in mid-range shooting. Last season, he averaged 20 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, and his three-point shooting rate was 38.1%. He can shoot three-pointers, but he takes fewer shots currently.

Maggette is good at attacking with the ball and has outstanding one-on-one ability. In Yang Rui's previous life, he has always been a seriously underestimated player, with high scoring efficiency and beautiful statistics. He was not selected as an All-Star just because he played too ugly.

Throughout his career, Maggette never averaged more than 15 shots per game in a season. At his peak, he scored 22.2 points, 6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 14.9 shots.

In other words, the 2009-2010 season was Maggette's peak, because the efficiency was so terrifying. He averaged only 29.7 minutes per game, took 12.7 attempts and made 6.5, with a field goal percentage of 51.6%. He took 0.7 three-point attempts and made 0.2. His field goal percentage was low but he didn't make many shots. He made 7.9 free throws and 6.6 free throws, shooting 83.5% from the field, scoring 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Among players in the league who average about 20 points per game, Maggette often takes the fewest shots and has a strong ability to draw fouls.

Marshall's physical fitness is not bad either. He can rebound, defend pick-and-rolls, pull out on the offensive end to shoot three-pointers, and can break through with the ball. His style is similar to the Warriors' Antoine Jamison.

Yang Rui is very optimistic about Marshall, knowing that his condition can be maintained for a few years. In the 2007 season, he helped James reach the finals with the Cavaliers.

The combination of the Wizards' guard lineup is also reasonable. Tyronn Lue is agile, can shoot, has poor confrontation, and can be a surprise player; Alston has the best ball control, can shoot three-pointers, and can help the team as a starter or substitute; Wesley is the most critical, Yang Rui will arrange three-point tactics for him, and Hamilton will run the most, disrupting the opponent's defense.

Even if the team fails to sign Matt Barnes in October, Yang Rui is confident that he can lead this Wizards into the playoffs, with outstanding players on both offense and defense.

Of course it's better with Barnes here. The Wizards can rotate in the new season. Whoever gets tired can rest for one or two games, with Barnes on top.

The only player in the Wizards who has poor athletic ability and whose body is below the league level is veteran center Christian Laettner. Yang Rui believes that this "track and field team" will surprise people in the new season.

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