Jiang Lin's Decision

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if Jiang Lin were to join the draft combine this summer with his current form, he wouldn't just be confident about getting picked in the first round; he could potentially even be in contention for a top pick. His physical attributes were solid, and with his explosive individual offensive skills, he was the type of high-potential rookie the NBA loved.

Looking at this year's draft class, the competition was fierce. The first overall pick, Anthony Davis, was a fan favorite, and following him were talents like Bradley Beal, Dion Waiters, Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers, and Evan Fournier—all formidable players. Given such a star-studded draft year, it was no wonder he went undrafted...

But now Jiang Lin knew he was definitely not inferior to these players. As long as he continued to train, he would keep getting stronger, and he would eventually experience a qualitative leap. So, training was his top priority from now on.

He had booked a ticket to New York, where the NBA's fitness and rehabilitation center headquarters were located. His primary goal was to create a training plan tailored to his physical condition, identifying areas for improvement. With the season already underway, he didn't want to waste any time training on things that wouldn't benefit him.

During this period, he would also apply for tryouts with several teams.

Who knows what might happen this season? In the West, teams like the Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, and Clippers were all vying for dominance. In the East, the Heat were dominating, and veteran stars were all pushing for a championship. The NBA was truly thrilling to watch during this era, unlike a few years later when everyone knew the Warriors with their five All-Stars would win the title. Just thinking about being in this era made Jiang Lin's blood boil.

He wanted to lead a team and compete with these basketball giants!

...

The next day.

A plane landed in Miami, and the unparalleled King James, LeBron James, dressed in Nike gear, entered his private car. 

In the car was Heat President Pat Riley, who asked about the interview. Did LeBron think Jiang Lin was a good player?

LeBron, with his explosive muscles, took off his sunglasses and expressed his concerns. He said Jiang Lin was very fast and admitted he felt he couldn't defend him one-on-one.

After hearing LeBron out, Riley immediately dismissed the idea. He pulled out the scouting report on the undrafted player. During the tryouts, Jiang Lin's three-point and mid-range shots were inconsistent, with his shooting percentage plummeting under high intensity. He relayed Coach Spoelstra's opinion that such a player, once targeted and left to shoot, would be cutting off his own wings.

Riley had actually given up on the idea of signing Jiang Lin but wanted to discuss it with LeBron. The Heat already had three ball handlers, so a guard without a reliable three-point shot was unnecessary.

LeBron nodded in agreement.

"His departure from the Lakers is bad for us. Just don't let him join a competing team in the East."

After playing against the Lakers, LeBron knew they weren't a threat. The Lakers' players were all individualistic. Even if Nash returned, he might not be able to connect the team. But if they had a player like Jiang Lin to connect the bench, it would certainly be a significant threat.

"Alright, a few Western teams seem to want him."

...

Two days later.

New York.

Before Jiang Lin could reach out to teams, phone calls started coming in one after another.

The first call was from the Mavericks' president, Mark Cuban. He started by complaining about how hard it was to find Jiang Lin's contact information. The Lakers wouldn't give it, so he had to go through the Chinese Basketball Association to get in touch.

At this time, the Mavericks hadn't yet renamed themselves the Dallas Mavericks, and their championship-winning roster that had defeated the Heat's Big Three was dismantled. This season, they were struggling and might not even make the playoffs.

Jiang Lin had a good impression of Cuban. He had always treated Chinese players well, having given Wang Zhizhi a contract and later attempting to sign Ding Yanyuhang. A president calling him directly showed great respect.

After some pleasantries, Cuban got straight to the point. The Mavericks saw potential in Jiang Lin and wanted him to come to Dallas. However, the offer was for their D-League team, similar to the Lakers' idea. Cuban wasn't aware of the Lakers' intentions. He directly said that if Jiang Lin could develop his shooting in the D-League, they would definitely give him a contract the following year.

"No tryout?" Jiang Lin asked.

Cuban laughed, "The regular season is underway. Most teams don't have time for rookie tryouts. We're basing our decision on your CBA, recent games, and scouting reports."

From Cuban's perspective, a 20-year-old Chinese kid would benefit greatly from a year in the NBDL. It would be enough time to grow, and he would be more familiar with the NBA's style the following year.

During internal discussions, Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle had carefully studied Jiang Lin's scouting report. He didn't like guards without a reliable shot, so he wanted Jiang Lin to develop one.

Jiang Lin said he understood and would give Cuban a call once he made a decision.

"Young man, sometimes opportunities only come once," Cuban was taken aback. He had been quite direct, but Jiang Lin still wanted to consider it?

"That's because there might be better opportunities. Thanks, Mr. Cuban."

Jiang Lin rubbed his head. No time for tryouts? That was troublesome. But it was true; every team was flying around for games. Who had time to schedule a tryout for a rookie?

How could he showcase his skills if they only saw the weak version of him in the scouting reports? Even he didn't want to watch his CBA highlights.

Honestly, if he was willing to wait a year, the Mavericks were a good option. After a rough 13-season, the Mavericks came back strong in 14-season, almost upsetting the Spurs and becoming the only team to push the Spurs to seven games in the playoffs!

Then came calls from the Rockets, Jazz, and Spurs. The Spurs' offer was the most enticing...

"This is a tough decision," Jiang Lin thought as he stepped onto the treadmill, put on his headphones, and pondered this life-changing choice.