With the selections of Jokic and Dinwiddie, the Pelicans' draft this year was basically a success.
Dempsey was still working hard to trade for another draft pick, because Tang Tian had another suggested player: Jordan Clarkson, a scoring point guard.
This time, he didn't succeed, and Clarkson was eventually taken by the Cavaliers.
However, it's impossible for everything to be perfect, and the Pelicans have already done very well with what they've gotten.
As soon as the draft ended, Dempsey, on Tang Tian's advice, called Tyler Johnson and immediately offered him a two-year non-guaranteed contract.
For undrafted players, what they need most is recognition. The Pelicans offering a non-guaranteed contract instead of a training camp contract right away made Johnson feel fully recognized and respected.
He basically decided to join the Pelicans after finishing the call with Dempsey.
With Tyler Johnson settled, the Pelicans had a very fruitful draft.
Tang Tian was in a very good mood. Compared to the past two years of just watching at the Spurs, it felt so much better to have a say in the Pelicans.
He even felt that choosing the Pelicans was a really wise move.
Otherwise, in places like Houston and Los Angeles, he didn't know how long it would take to have a say in management.
With the draft over, fans were buzzing.
Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid were the most frequently mentioned names.
But besides these three, there was another person who was also talked about a lot.
Tang Tian.
The news of Tang Tian entering the Pelicans' draft office was quickly revealed by related media.
The haters reached a climax in an instant.
"Damn, this is blatant interference with management? Not even trying to hide it!"
"So Tang is just another LeBron!"
"More outrageous than LeBron, right? This is actually operating the management!"
"Turned from fan to hater, I hate this kind of privileged player the most!"
"The Pelicans are done for, their management has gained the Cavaliers' management experience card!"
……
After the draft, the free agent market was about to open.
Tang Tian and Dempsey were discussing signings and renewals.
When he saw these comments, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
These haters were really everywhere, as long as there was any point, they would seize it and go all the way black, and they were eloquent and silver-tongued.
But he didn't care at all, because he knew very well that these were helping the Pelicans become stronger.
Getting hated on a bit, wasn't that just proving that he was popular?
Tang Tian didn't care, but the media wouldn't let go of such an opportunity.
He was at a training camp in New York, and a reporter actually found him by all means.
Being found, refusing an interview would only make him seem guilty, so he accepted the interview calmly.
"There's a lot of talk outside saying that you're interfering with the team's management decisions, what do you think about that?"
This was a reporter from Fox Sports, and he had obviously prepared thoroughly to find him here.
"Me? That's a very interesting way to put it."
Tang Tian replied with a smile.
"Interesting?"
The reporter looked at Tang Tian suspiciously, Tang Tian's way of answering was a bit unexpected.
He thought Tang Tian would definitely deny it, or at least defend himself.
But Tang Tian didn't do anything, instead, he said it was interesting?
"Don't you think it's interesting? I'm a second-round pick, in my third year, do you think I can interfere with management?"
Tang Tian asked back with a smile.
The reporter was stunned for a moment, that seemed, to make a bit of sense.
Even James, it was only in the later stages of his time with the Cavaliers that he influenced management.
After all, players and management are two groups, labor and capital, and it takes a lot of influence to affect each other.
Tang Tian had only finished his first year with the Pelicans, and even though his performance last season exceeded expectations, it wouldn't be that fast.
"Are you saying that the Pelicans' choices in the draft had nothing to do with you?"
But this reporter was also an old hand, and he quickly reacted and asked in a different way.
This way of asking was obviously much more advanced than before.
If Tang Tian affirmed it, then if it came out later that he had lied, his image would be greatly damaged;
But if Tang Tian denied it, it would be equivalent to admitting interference in management.
"It's related, they asked me who I liked, and I gave the answer."
Tang Tian's answer was very refreshing and unconventional.
Interfere with management? I didn't!
They asked me who I liked! I can't not answer!
As for who they choose, it has nothing to do with me, I'm just a third-year student, how can I have so much say!
Tang Tian's answer was fine, but Fox Sports reporting it was another matter.
"The Pelicans chose them because Tang likes them."
Tang Tian shook his head speechlessly as he looked at the title.
The nature of the media has always been like this, really, whatever has a gimmick is what they go for.
But this also made him refuse interviews with other media afterwards.
Anyway, it's the same whether he speaks or not, and he's too lazy to waste his breath.
And you have to say that I'm interfering with management, right? Then I'll interfere properly!
Before the free market opened, Tang Tian and Dempsey met again in New York.
This time they were going to discuss the next moves in the free market.
In the Pelicans' 15-man roster last season, Little Rivers and Darius Miller had been traded away earlier.
Of the remaining 13, Metta World Peace, Evans, Aminu, Morrow, and Jason Smith's contracts were expiring.
The Pelicans had team options on Cole's ($2.03 million) and Ajinca's ($980,000) contracts.
The remaining 6 all had guaranteed contracts, ranked by salary in order: Gordon ($14.89 million), Holiday ($9.90 million), Ryan Anderson ($8.49 million), Davis ($5.60 million), Tang Tian ($5.40 million), Jeff Withey ($810,000).
If they didn't exercise the options on Cole and Ajinca's contracts, the Pelicans' total salary would be $45.09 million.
The league previously announced that the salary cap for next season would be $63.065 million.
That is to say, the Pelicans had $18 million in salary space, which was enough to sign a max player.
Considering the Pelicans' performance last season, they would be very competitive in the free market.
Even if they got a player's commitment, they could trade Gordon and Anderson away, which would even give them the opportunity to sign two.
You have to know that this year's free market has a lot of big fish.
Top tier: James, Anthony.
Tier 1: Wade, Bosh, Nowitzki;
Tier 2: Luol Deng, Lowry, Pau Gasol;
In addition, Lance Stephenson, Turner, Ariza, and Gortat were also very capable players.
Of course, there were also a number of outstanding restricted free agents such as Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, Chandler Parsons, Monroe, and Avery Bradley.
The Pelicans' lineup in their first year was patched up, but this summer they could really make a difference.