Chapter 18

(New book, seeking recommendations and collections)

Since officially joining the Jazz's rookie training camp, Lin Han has become the absolute star of the camp, especially after he completely outshone Evan Myers, a rookie with NBA potential, on the first day. However, what makes Lin Han somewhat awkward is that although he now has a significant presence in the Jazz's rookie training camp, few people are willing to hang out with him. These rookies mostly revere him like a deity, which directly led to many talented shooting guards leaving the camp over the following period.

According to others, after Lin Han arrived, they basically had no chance of making it into the Jazz. It would be better to try out for other teams while there was still time before the draft on June 30, 1993, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Therefore, the player turnover in the training camps organized by NBA teams is quite significant.

Of course, due to Lin Han's arrival, those who left also included Evan Myers, who challenged Lin Han on the first day and was thoroughly defeated. This guy was almost a dominant player in the camp, and after his defeat, he could no longer stay, so he left in disgrace.

However, what slightly comforted Lin Han was that although the players here were somewhat排斥 him, a 'hot prospect' rookie, after three days in the camp, the team welcomed a new rookie player who was very familiar to Lin Han—his teammate from the天才训练营, Aaron Williams.

This big man, after completing his tryout with the SuperSonics, came to the Jazz. According to Aaron Williams, although the SuperSonics are short-handed in the frontcourt, they already have a clear target, and he has no chance of being selected by the team. Just like the shooting guards who left the Jazz, a rookie with 'dominance' like Lin Han also appeared in the SuperSonics' training camp. So, when Aaron Williams heard from his agent that the Jazz were looking for quality frontcourt players, he was also excited to come here.

"Lin, you've really become the first among us to rise to the top. The Jazz have already focused all their attention on you. Even Van Exel can't compare to you."

In the Jazz's training camp, Aaron Williams was passing the ball to Lin Han. Watching Lin Han repeatedly make near-perfect Jordan-like jump shots, Aaron Williams said with a sigh. To be honest, among their group of teammates from the天才训练营, Lin Han's future is the brightest.

Of course, this does not include Penny Hardaway, who is in a different league. Apart from Hardaway, among the other four, Lin Han has become the Jazz's key focus. After two days, Aaron Williams could clearly feel that the assistant coach, Phil Johnson, was focusing his efforts on Lin Han. Although the head coach, Jerry Sloan, rarely came to the team, whenever he did, he only paid attention to Lin Han, seemingly ignoring the others. This also gave Aaron Williams a bit of a boost. If everything goes well, Lin Han doesn't even need to worry about whether he can make it into the NBA; the Jazz might even use a first-round pick to select him.

Apart from Lin Han, among the others, Van Exel is in the best situation. This toxic point guard seems to have caught the eye of the Lakers' general manager, Jerry West, and is currently being evaluated by the Lakers. As for the other big man, Antonio Harvey, who is also a door-knocker like him, he is almost as ignored as Lin Han, still looking for teams to try out. Based on current trends, it seems unlikely that this big man, who shares a similar fate, will be selected. After all, although there are still about 20 days until the draft, 20 days is not a long time, and they don't have as much time as they might think.

"Being highly regarded is also a troublesome thing."

After Aaron Williams finished his sigh, Lin Han once again shot the basketball in his hand. Whether in terms of posture or movement, Lin Han's jump shot was still very much like Jordan's, which made the Jazz's general manager, Scott Layden, and assistant coach, Phil Johnson, who were observing him, extremely excited.

Lin Han's arrival indeed received the full support of the entire Jazz organization, from the head coach, Jerry Sloan, to the general manager, Scott Layden, and the assistant coach, Phil Johnson, as well as the other trainers, all of whom paid close attention to Lin Han. Even Lin Han's first professional training plan was designed by these guys after many days of deliberation. It can be said that these guys really treated Lin Han as one of their own.

Of course, the Jazz's support for Lin Han is not without conditions. They hope that Lin Han will stay with the Jazz and not try out for other teams. They even promised to select him in this year's NBA draft, and try to use a first-round pick to select him. Even if they don't use a first-round pick to select him, the Jazz's general manager, Scott Layden, assured that they would still give Lin Han the treatment of a first-round rookie.

What is the treatment of a first-round rookie? It is a guaranteed contract. In the current NBA, the starting salary for a first-round rookie, even the last pick, is $600,000. So, even if Lin Han doesn't try out for other teams and the Jazz don't have a pick to select him, leading to him going undrafted, he will still receive a guaranteed contract from the Jazz with an annual salary of $600,000.

For Lin Han, this is a significant incentive. After careful consideration, Lin Han ultimately decided to agree to the Jazz's request. Although he couldn't go to the Lakers and trick Jerry West, if the Jazz are willing to pay such a price for him, it is also a good deal.

Don't think that an annual salary of $600,000 in the NBA is a very low number. Even the great Michael Jordan's annual salary this year is only $4 million, and Scottie Pippen's is $3.5 million. Even the Jazz's two stars, Karl Malone and John Stockton, have salaries of $2.85 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and the third star, Jeff Malone, has a salary of $1.95 million. The current salary cap for each NBA team is only $14 million.

So, the Jazz's guarantee that Lin Han's annual salary will not be less than $600,000, while not a lot, is also not insignificant. Moreover, the Jazz did not say that Lin Han would only have a $600,000 salary. If the Jazz use their 18th pick to select Lin Han, his average annual salary would be $800,000.

Of course, although the Jazz have given Lin Han very good treatment, it has also brought him some trouble. For example, recently, many of the Jazz's regular players have been disturbing Lin Han, especially those who are gradually losing their positions in the team, such as the team's backup guard, John Humphries. This 1984 draft class guard's performance in the playoffs this season was abysmal, averaging only 5 points with a shooting percentage of just over 30%. This former Bucks player used to average 15 points in the playoffs with a shooting percentage over 50% when he was with the Bucks. After signing a three-year, $5.5 million contract with the Jazz last season, he completely fell apart. His annual salary ranks fourth on the team, just below the three stars. It can be said that after the Jazz made it to the Western Conference Finals last year, they brought him in at a high price to try to advance further this season, but he disappointed everyone.

However, fortunately, although John Humphries wanted to cause trouble for Lin Han, after seeing Lin Han's performance in the team's scrimmages, this 1984 draft class guard ultimately backed down and did not take any real action.

Of course, as Lin Han settled into the Jazz, the time for the NBA draft was drawing near.

The 1993 NBA Finals concluded on June 20, with the Chicago Bulls, despite facing strong resistance from the Suns led by Charles Barkley, ultimately winning the series 4-2 with a game-winning three-pointer by reserve guard John Paxson with 3.9 seconds left. The Bulls successfully defended their title and established their first dynasty.

As for Barkley, the new regular-season MVP, although he performed well in the Finals, his luck was just too bad, and he ultimately failed to win the championship.

After the NBA Finals ended, the 1993 NBA draft officially began.

---

(End of page)