Pope of Basketball.

Summary

Nell-Olshi efficiently communicated with Yang Rui about the draft. The Bulls and Celtics had no desired players to pick, while the Trail Blazers were willing to trade their 19th pick due to Brandon Roy's retirement. They aimed to acquire a star player instead of drafting a rookie. The Clippers' Ma Xin Mi was a target for the Trail Blazers, but Yang Rui decided to trade him and renew Xiao Jordan's contract, opting to cultivate a more promising inside player. During the draft on June 24th, Yang Rui watched the proceedings from home. The atmosphere was tense, marked by fan discontent over the NBA lockout. The Kings selected Kerry-Owen first, while the Timberwolves picked Derek-William second. The Nets, under new coach Brad-Stevens, chose Enes-Kant with the third pick, despite speculation about trading him. The Suns and Wizards followed with Valančiūnas and Jan Veselý, respectively. The Heat selected Tristan Thompson, a surprising pick at sixth, while the Grizzlies, Pistons, Bobcats, Rockets, Raptors, Hornets, and Pacers made their selections, including notable players like Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard.

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