By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News, 2024-06-18 15:58:17
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州 - 6 月 17 日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(Derrick White)身穿 9 号球衣，在 2024 年 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿以 106-88 战胜达拉斯独行侠后庆祝胜利。比赛于 2024 年 6 月 17 日在马萨诸塞州波士顿的 TD 花园球馆进行。
七年前的夏天，马刺队差点做了一件非常不像马刺队的事。他们被 2017 年选秀大会前几顺位的潜力新秀所吸引，开始接洽交易电话，想要通过大交易向上移动顺位。
一些谈话变得严肃起来，谈判一直持续到选秀日。但在最后一刻，马刺队做了他们通常会做的事。他们坚持自己拥有的东西，并相信他们的球探能够找到其他球队所忽视的价值。
他们没有追求超级巨星，而是做出了许多人认为是无聊、安全的选秀。
周一晚上，那个无聊、安全的选秀成为了 NBA 冠军。
当德里克·怀特的前东家在考虑他们在这个可能让他们想要轮流交易的选秀大会中的选择时？
马刺队可以做的比让历史重演要糟糕得多。
对于那些痴迷于在今年选秀大会上用两个前十顺位签选出未来的联盟 MVP 和常年全明星球员的不切实际的梦想的人来说，获得下一个怀特的想法可能听起来很平淡无奇。然而，事实是，他正是他们需要的球员，如果 2024 年的第八顺位能像 2017 年的第 29 顺位一样出色，他们会欣喜若狂。
凯尔特人队从主教练乔·马祖拉(Joe Mazzulla)到 NBA 总决赛 MVP 杰伦·布朗(Jaylen Brown)都称怀特是波士顿夺冠之旅中不可或缺的一员，这是有原因的。而这也是为什么许多在圣安东尼奥的长期工作人员和老队友在周一晚上观看怀特庆祝时感到无比高兴的原因。他让周围的人变得更好，他们也因此爱他。
在第五场比赛的决胜局中，怀特为了争夺一个球而磕掉了牙齿，这肯定让马刺队回忆起往事。四年前，他在佛罗里达州的 NBA 泡泡为圣安东尼奥效力时，在一次拼抢中遭遇了同样的糟糕伤病。
在这两次牙齿意外事故之间，发生了一次 2022 年 2 月的交易，这笔交易非常罕见，因为双方都对结果感到满意。凯尔特人队获得了一名球员，他成为了布朗、杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum)和朱·霍勒迪(Jrue Holiday)的完美补充。马刺队获得了一揽子交易筹码，包括布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)、2028 年的首轮签交换权和四个次轮签，但更重要的是，怀特的离开让他们赢得了维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)的彩票。
冠军球队需要像怀特这样的球员。重建的球队不需要。这就是为什么，尽管与怀特分道扬镳是合理的，但马刺队仍然渴望找到下一个怀特。
是的，情况与 2017 年不同。那个夏天，马刺队刚刚打进了西部决赛，拥有第 29 顺位选秀权。在进入选秀大会之前，他们与包括萨克拉门托国王队和菲尼克斯太阳队在内的球队讨论了交易拉马库斯·阿尔德里奇(LaMarcus Aldridge)以获得更高的选秀权的可能性。
你可能还记得，那是塔图姆、迪亚伦·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)和劳里·马卡宁(Lauri Markkanen)这些未来的全明星球员都排名前十的年份。但你可能已经忘记了，那一年马克尔·富尔茨(Markelle Fultz)在另外两名乐透秀弗兰克·恩蒂利基纳(Frank Ntilikina)和丹尼斯·史密斯(Dennis Smith, Jr.)之前被选中，成为状元秀。
马刺队与太阳队讨论过的第 4 顺位，太阳队选择了乔什·杰克逊(Josh Jackson)，他在 2022 年后就再也没有在联盟中打过球。国王队将第 10 顺位交易给了开拓者队，而不是马刺队，开拓者队选择了扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)。
最终，在第 29 顺位，马刺队选择了一位年龄更大、名气更小的后卫，而他后来成为了那届选秀中最具生产力的球员之一。当时，马刺队意识到，有 28 支球队放弃这位在二级联盟打了四年，又在科罗拉多大学打了一年的球员是有原因的，他并没有展现出通常吸引所有选秀大会关注的疯狂运动能力。
但他们喜欢他的攻防两端表现。他们喜欢他的竞争力。他们相信他会融入球队。
马刺队选中怀特的那个晚上，时任助理总经理布莱恩·赖特(Brian Wright)做出了一个预测。
“他擅长做的事情——运球、投篮、传球、做出正确的决定——这些都是每支球队都能用到的。”赖特说。
下周，作为总经理，赖特可能会像七年前的 R.C. 布福德(R.C. Buford)一样打一些同样的电话。凭借两个乐透签，马刺队可能会考虑向上移动以锁定前三顺位的球员。
但这又是很不马刺的。更可能的做法是在第 4 顺位和第 8 顺位使用他们的两个签位，也许用后者选择一位年龄更大、全面发展的大学后卫，他并没有让球探眼前一亮，但人们却将他比作一位特定磕牙的凯尔特人球员。据许多报道，普罗维登斯大学的德文·卡特(Devin Carter)符合这个条件。
或者马刺队可能已经有了其他人选，就像七年前一样。如果他们最终又做了一个无聊、安全的选秀？
如果有一天看到他像怀特周一那样庆祝，与一支对他低估但宝贵的贡献心存感激的球队一起庆祝，这并不奇怪。
这一次，他将穿着马刺队的球衣。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州 - 6 月 17 日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特身穿 9 号球衣，在 2024 年 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿以 106-88 战胜达拉斯独行侠后，在更衣室里庆祝胜利。比赛于 2024 年 6 月 17 日在马萨诸塞州波士顿的 TD 花园球馆进行。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州 - 6 月 17 日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特身穿 9 号球衣，在 2024 年 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿以 106-88 战胜达拉斯独行侠后，抱着他的儿子亨德里克斯·詹姆斯(Hendrix James)庆祝胜利。比赛于 2024 年 6 月 17 日在马萨诸塞州波士顿的 TD 花园球馆进行。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州 - 6 月 17 日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特身穿 9 号球衣，在 2024 年 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿以 106-88 战胜达拉斯独行侠后，抱着他的儿子亨德里克斯·詹姆斯(Hendrix James)庆祝胜利。比赛于 2024 年 6 月 17 日在马萨诸塞州波士顿的 TD 花园球馆进行。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州 - 6 月 17 日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特身穿 9 号球衣，在 2024 年 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿以 106-88 战胜达拉斯独行侠后，抱着他的儿子亨德里克斯·詹姆斯(Hendrix James)庆祝胜利。比赛于 2024 年 6 月 17 日在马萨诸塞州波士顿的 TD 花园球馆进行。
波士顿凯尔特人队的朱·霍勒迪(Jrue Holiday)身穿 4 号球衣，拥抱克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯(Kristaps Porzingis)身穿 8 号球衣，德里克·怀特拥抱助理教练查尔斯·李(Charles Lee)，比赛进入下半场结束阶段，2024 年 6 月 17 日周一在波士顿举行的 NBA 总决赛第五场比赛中，波士顿凯尔特人队对阵达拉斯独行侠。 (美联社照片/迈克尔·德怀尔)
点击查看原文：As Derrick White celebrates a title, will Spurs add his successor?
As Derrick White celebrates a title, will Spurs add his successor?
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Seven summers ago, the Spurs almost did something very un-Spurs-like. Enamored with the prospects they saw near the top of the 2017 draft, they started making phone calls about a big, bold trade to move up.
Some of the talks became serious, and negotiations lasted well into draft day. But at the last minute, the Spurs did what they usually do. They stuck with what they had, and they trusted their scouts to find value other teams overlooked.
Instead of swinging for a superstar, they made what many considered to be a boring, safe pick.
Monday night, that boring, safe pick became an NBA champion.
And as Derrick White’s former franchise contemplates its options for another draft that might tempt them to wheel and deal?
The Spurs could do a whole lot worse than having history repeat itself.
To those enchanted by unrealistic dreams of finding both a future league MVP and a perennial All-Star with two top-10 selections in this month’s draft, the thought of acquiring the next White might sound underwhelming. The truth, though, is he’s exactly the kind of player they need, and they’d be ecstatic if the No. 8 overall pick in 2024 turns out as well as the No. 29 pick in 2017.
There’s a reason every Celtic from coach Joe Mazzulla to NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown called White integral to Boston’s championship run, and it’s the same reason so many longtime staffers and old teammates in San Antonio were overjoyed to watch White celebrate Monday night. He makes the people around him better, and they love him for it.
That White chipped a tooth diving for a loose ball during the Game 5 clincher had to give the Spurs flashbacks. Four years ago, while playing for San Antonio at the NBA bubble in Florida, he suffered the same ugly injury taking a charge.
In between those two dental emergencies came a February 2022 trade, and it’s a rare one in that both sides remain happy with the outcome. The Celtics got a guy who became the perfect complementary piece beside Brown, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday. The Spurs got a package that turned into Blake Wesley, a 2028 first-round pick swap, and four second-rounders, but more importantly White’s exit allowed them to win the Victor Wembanyama lottery.
Winning teams need guys like White. Teams trying to start over don’t. That’s why, as much sense as it made to part ways with the last White, the Spurs would love to find the next one.
Yes, the circumstances are different than they were in 2017. That summer, the Spurs were coming off a trip to the Western Conference finals, and had the No. 29 overall pick. Heading into that draft, they had discussions with teams including Sacramento and Phoenix about the possibility of trading LaMarcus Aldridge to acquire a higher selection.
That, you might remember, was the year future All-Stars Tatum, De’Aaron Fox and Lauri Markkanen all went in the Top 10. But what you might forget is it’s also the year Markelle Fultz went first overall, ahead of fellow lottery busts Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith, Jr.
With that No. 4 selection the Spurs discussed with Phoenix, the Suns took Josh Jackson, who hasn’t played in the league since 2022. With the No. 10 pick the Kings traded to Portland instead of San Antonio, the Blazers took Zach Collins.
And way down at No. 29, the Spurs settled for an older, less-heralded guard who in retrospect became one of the most productive players in the draft. At the time, the Spurs realized there were reasons why 28 teams passed on a guy who played four years at a Division II college, another season at Colorado, and didn’t exhibit the crazy athleticism that typically attracts all the draft-combine attention.
But they liked the way he played both ends of the floor. They liked his competitiveness. And they were confident he’d fit.
The night the Spurs took White, then-assistant general manager Brian Wright made a prediction.
“The things he does well – dribble, shoot, pass make good decisions – that’s something every team can use,” Wright said.
Next week, as general manager, Wright probably will make at least some of the same kinds of calls R.C. Buford did seven years ago. With two lottery selections, the Spurs might consider moving up to target someone in the Top 3.
But again, that would be un-Spurs-like. A more likely approach would be to make both of their picks at No. 4 and No. 8, perhaps using the latter on an older, well-rounded college guard who hasn’t dazzled scouts but has drawn comparisons to a certain chipped-tooth Celtic. By many accounts, Providence’s Devin Carter fits that bill.
Or perhaps the Spurs have someone else in mind, the same way they did seven years ago. And if they wind up making another boring, safe pick?
It wouldn’t be shocking someday to see him celebrate the way White did Monday, with a team grateful for his underrated, invaluable presence.
While wearing Spurs colors this time.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in the locker room after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics holds his son Hendrix James after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics holds his son Hendrix James after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics holds his son Hendrix James after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday (4) hugs Kristaps Porzingis (8) as Derrick White hugs assistants coach Charles Lee as time runs down late in the second half in Game 5 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News