Heavenly Dynasty Basketball Expert Visits America, Only for Li Fei!

"It won't be easy for us to secure the first overall pick this year."

On the other side, in Milwaukee.

Within the Bucks' front office, General Manager Mike Dunleavy narrowed his eyes as he crunched the numbers: "I hear Scott Layden is unhappy; Dallas intends to lose every single game for the remainder of the regular season."

This year, the Bucks and the Mavericks were the two kings of tanking. The Bucks had only won 17 games this year, which was already an explosive level of futility.

But the Mavericks next door were even more extreme, nearly dipping below the 10-win mark.

"Mr. Manager, even if we don't get the first pick this year, it won't be a disaster. We can at least land either Li Fei or Jason Kidd."

For the remaining regular season games, the Bucks were also prepared to lose every one.

Based on the current standings, they had a slim chance of landing the first pick and a much higher probability of securing the second.

Unless their luck was completely exhausted, they wouldn't fall any lower than that.

Therefore, in this year's draft, the Bucks were guaranteed to get at least one of either Kidd or Li Fei.

However, Mike Dunleavy shook his head.

"I think, if we have to make a choice, Glenn Robinson is the most correct option."

"Glenn Robinson!"

The assistant manager looked stunned: "Mr. Manager, did I hear you correctly? That guy didn't even make it into the Sweet 16."

"A single-elimination game doesn't prove anything. What I care about is his consistent output of 32 points per game. In his first season in the NBA, his scoring average will absolutely not be lower than 15 points."

"Furthermore, his development potential is extremely high. Calling him the next Michael Jordan might be a stretch, but even if he's just the next Drexler, we've still come out ahead."

Although the assistant manager held a contrary opinion, he expressed his understanding.

The Bucks were currently well-stocked in their center rotation.

They had the 6'10", 240-pound power forward Frank Brickowski, who could contribute 15 points and 7 rebounds per game. This European interior player had a well-rounded skill set and decent playmaking ability.

At the center position, they even had the young rising star Vin Baker!

Last season was Vin Baker's rookie year, yet he already averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds. He was full of talent, versatile, and arguably not much inferior to Chris Webber.

Therefore, they had no real need to develop another center who carried injury risks.

What they lacked were perimeter scoring threats and playmakers.

Kidd had been within their scope of consideration, but Kidd's individual scoring ability was severely lacking.

Glenn Robinson, on the other hand, could directly solve the Bucks' perimeter scoring issues.

It was just a pity that neither of these two was the perfect answer for the Bucks.

One could facilitate but not score, while the other could score but not facilitate.

And a player who could both facilitate and score...

"Grant Hill?" the assistant manager realized suddenly.

However, Mike Dunleavy shook his head: "I'd rather just take Big Dog, who can at least score."

"A player who is a jack-of-all-trades is actually very difficult to find, and there is a high probability they will just develop into a versatile role player."

"Then this is too difficult, Mr. Manager." The assistant manager shook his head: "In this draft class, when it comes to players who can both score and facilitate, I only remember Grant Hill."

"Who says it has to be a young player from the draft?"

Mike Dunleavy puffed on his cigar: "As far as I know, the Jazz are very interested in Li Fei, and Karl Malone has even publicly praised him."

"If we can use Li Fei to trade for John Stockton, it will directly solve all of the team's pain points."

???!!!

What?!

John Stockton!

"That's crazy, Mr. Manager!"

"If I recall correctly, John has won six consecutive assist titles and is highly likely to top the list again this year!"

"He is also the top perimeter defensive specialist in the NBA!"

"His scoring ability is also severely underestimated!"

There was no need to elaborate on the level of John Stockton.

With six consecutive assist titles, there was no questioning his ability to organize and control the game.

As a five-time All-Defensive team selection, he was the best defensive point guard on the planet.

His scoring ability was also severely underestimated.

Although his average stats this season were only 15 points and 13 assists, that was because the team had scoring threats like Karl Malone and Hornacek, which diluted Stockton's scoring share.

But if you opened up Stockton's resume in the playoffs, you would find that Stockton's scoring was not weak in the slightest.

His playoff scoring average was always significantly higher than his regular-season average; in the 1989-90 playoffs, Stockton averaged 27 points and 13.7 assists per game.

He was exactly the type of big-game player who performed consistently better in the playoffs than in the regular season and could handle high-pressure situations.

"John is indeed a perfect fit for us, but the problem is... would the Jazz let him go?"

"How will we know if we don't try?"

Mike Dunleavy transformed into a human scientist testing the limits: "If we can acquire Li Fei, we can make a direct offer to the Jazz for John."

"I think the Jazz would find it very hard to resist the temptation of an interior duo of Karl Malone and Li Fei."

Li Fei had not yet entered the NBA.

But rumors regarding his draft and potential trades were already spreading like ink in water among NBA front offices.

Back in China.

Accompanied by a constant barrage of newspapers, magazines, and sports news.

Li Fei's popularity was skyrocketing alongside the progression of March Madness.

However.

Domestic fans and experts could only learn about Li Fei through a few video replays and magazine articles.

Their knowledge base was still too limited.

But broadcasting NCAA games live in 1990 seemed rather impossible.

Regarding this Chinese figure who was highly likely to enter the NBA in the future, and perhaps even become the number one overall draft pick.

CCTV-5 had already convened a meeting, and after intense discussion, they reached a staggering consensus.

"If Li Fei truly becomes the top pick and makes waves in the NBA."

"He is very likely to become the next figure on the level of Bruce Lee."

And for such an international titan in the world of sports.

They decided to dispatch commentator Sun Zhengping, analyst Xu Jicheng, and reporter Su Qun.

These three, the most professional basketball-related practitioners in 1994, formed the "Basketball Trio" and set off for Los Angeles, USA, to conduct an on-site interview with Li Fei.

They were tasked with bringing back the most intuitive and accurate reports and insights regarding Li Fei.

With the takeoff of a Boeing 747.

The Basketball Trio, carrying several stacks of prepared drafts and the expectations of all Chinese fans, embarked on their journey to Los Angeles.

Looking through the cabin window, the trio gazed at the bustling life of old Beijing.

This journey felt, in a way, like Li Hongzhang's historic visit to the United States.

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