Chapter 748 - 673: No Such Talent in History

Chapter 748: Chapter 673: No Such Talent in History

Oden’s test results were perfect.

The underlying issue with his uneven leg length was completely resolved.

"You’ve already wasted a year. Once you’re back at school, work hard and improve your skills. You have talent, but you also need to put in the effort." This was Chen Yu’s final instruction to him.

Oden was tall and big, with a fierce appearance, but his personality was actually quite gentle, and he was smart.

He was well aware that it was Chen Yu who had changed the trajectory of his life.

Otherwise, there was no way he could have afforded a multi-million dollar, unbelievable surgery at his age to completely eliminate the hidden problems with his body.

Therefore, no matter what he achieved in the future, when he looked back at the beginning, he knew he had Chen Yu to thank.

"Dr. Chen, I will be forever grateful to you." Oden opened his arms and hugged Chen Yu.

Chen Yu patted his back and smiled. "Get ready. I’m throwing a party for you tomorrow, and then you can be officially discharged."

Oden nodded.

His family had already arrived in Phoenix, and he could be officially discharged tomorrow.

Just then, Ewing, who had been responsible for playing against Oden during the tests, walked over.

"Chen, Greg is really good. His talent is enviable." It was rare for Ewing to praise someone.

"That’s for sure."

Chen Yu smiled. Barring any surprises, he was sure to be the number one pick in ’07.

Even with a bunch of studs like Durant.

After all, he was a center.

For the management of many teams in the league, a center was still the undisputed cornerstone for building a team.

Look at Yao Ming, look at Milicic, and then look at Howard.

After letting O’Neal go, once Yao Ming developed, he immediately led the Lakers back to the Finals.

It was the same with Milicic. After just one year of rebuilding, the Pioneer immediately pulled off an eighth-seed miracle.

Then there was Howard, who took the Magic one step further and fulfilled their dream of winning a championship.

So, they were still in high demand.

Ewing thought for a moment and said, "Don’t you and Brian have any ideas about trying to get him?"

Although he had spent many years with the Nicks, he ultimately fulfilled his dream with the Suns.

So in Ewing’s heart, he considered himself half a Sun.

Seeing a promising young player like Oden, he couldn’t help but think about his own team.

"How could he not have ideas? He was just pulling me aside to talk about it." Chen Yu shook his head slightly. "It’s just that getting him won’t be easy. And even if we did manage to get the number one pick, I’m actually..."

Chen Yu didn’t finish his sentence.

’Even if we get lucky in ’07, lucky to the point that God himself smiles on us, and we get the number one pick again, I’d actually be a bit torn when it comes time to choose.’

’There’s also Durant.’

Oden was great, of course, but Chen Yu had a faint feeling that the winds of the league were changing.

’Centers might not be so sought after anymore.’

And looking at it from another angle, a talent like Oden’s wasn’t unique.

Historically, there were plenty of inside players with more talent than him, like O’Neal, Duncan, and Ewing, to name a few.

He was just a competent center with number-one-pick-level talent.

That was all.

But Durant was different.

He possessed a type of talent that had never been seen in the league before.

To be that tall and still have the agility of a guard was simply incredible.

And such a player, because of his rarity, was precious.

’If I had the choice, I really don’t want to miss out on him.’

But then again, ’I’m getting way ahead of myself. Nothing has even happened yet and I’m already daydreaming.’

The next day, Oden left.

For the next period of time, Chen Yu didn’t leave Phoenix.

The Five Major Leagues were about to start their seasons. The wealthy, like clubs such as Real Madrid, and those willing to invest, like Moratti, would all bring their players to the United States to have Chen Yu perform a preseason physical.

This was to ensure the players’ bodies were in optimal condition.

In their own words, they couldn’t fully trust anyone else’s diagnosis besides Chen Yu’s.

In the past two years, the skill level of the team doctors in the Five Major Leagues had improved considerably, but they were still far from Chen Yu’s level. After all, they had learned from him.

The Suns’ summer operations were still ongoing.

Before, the main focus was on re-signing and retaining players.

This year, there were two players to re-sign: Tyson Chandler and Kwame Brown.

Chandler had height, athleticism, was a defensive stalwart, and had the skill to finish easy baskets under the rim.

A player like that was highly sought after in the current market.

Because it was hard to find a replacement.

If that weren’t the case, the Pioneer wouldn’t have pursued him before.

He, of course, was personally willing to stay with the Suns.

The Suns were a powerhouse, a three-title dynasty, a big market, received a lot of media attention, and were always a championship-contending team.

Not to mention having the miracle doctor, Chen Yu, on the team, so they never had to worry about injuries.

Going to another team really might not be as good a fit as staying with the Suns.

After some back-and-forth, the Suns ultimately kept him with a 6-year, $62 million contract.

With a starting salary of $9 million.

The term was a bit long. Logically, with the Gugliotta disaster as a precedent, Brian shouldn’t have dared to offer such a long contract.

But Chen Yu gave him the confidence to do it.

Besides, as long as Chandler stayed healthy, a player like him would be very easy to trade in the future.

Next was Kwame Brown.

The Suns offered him a three-year, $22 million contract.

This former number one pick had already tanked his own value with the Wizards, being relegated to a defensive, blue-collar type of player.

So Brian didn’t dare give him too long of a contract either.

He knew what was good for him and obediently completed the contract extension.

After the extensions were done, including Almi Johnson, the Suns had a total of 10 players under contract.

Inside, there were Chandler, Brown, and Almi Johnson.

At power forward, Nowitzki and Mo Ke.

On the wing, Marion and Poseidon.

In the backcourt, that left Hardaway, Ben Gordon, and Livingston.

And for the next season, the payroll had unknowingly reached a terrifying $71 million.

Once again triggering the luxury tax threshold.

It could only be said that to maintain a championship-contending roster, you had to be willing to invest.

With the salary cap locked in, Brian’s room to maneuver was limited. His only significant asset was the $5 million mid-level exception.

He planned to split it and use veteran’s minimum contracts to fill out the 15-man roster.

The current 10 players—or rather 9, excluding the rookie Almi Johnson—were already enough for the season’s rotation.

The remaining players would just be benchwarmers.

Back during the Five-star Phoenix Suns era, the lineup was so stacked, it was almost excessive; you wished every single person could get into the rotation.

The current situation was the normal standard for other teams in the league.

Therefore, one person was the first to enter Brian’s sights.

Clifford Robinson!

This famous iron man of the league, an important rotation player during the Suns’ first championship run, was now 39 years old.

He was truly made of iron. Last season, after drifting to the Warriors, he still played a full 71 games.

He could still contribute 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

He still had some fight left in him.

And he himself wasn’t willing to retire yet, so when the Suns extended an invitation, he responded without hesitation.

Even though he was traded away mid-season during their championship year, he still received a Championship Ring as a member of the Suns, bringing his career to a full circle.

Secondly, besides the Pioneer, the Suns were the team he had spent the most time with.

He himself had said that as long as the Suns needed him, he was willing to keep playing and then retire as a Sun.

On a veteran’s minimum contract, the Suns signed him to fill the gap at the number four spot.

Mo Ke wasn’t good enough yet to step up.