Chapter 100: There Must Be a Conspiracy!

At the draft, there were several instant trades. Other teams made minor moves, but the only notable one was the Raptors trading Marcus Camby for Jermaine O'Neal and cash.

Both were first-round picks in 1996, and with some cash, the salaries matched. However, looking at their stats, this was a completely uneven trade.

Camby and his agent, Rick Kaplan, both believed the Trail Blazers were a good fit for his development and were very happy.

Trail Blazers center Sabonis averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists last season, but at 34 years old with injuries in both knees, everyone knew he was nearing the end of his career. Even if Camby wasn't immediately utilized, he had a good chance of stepping up in the future.

Moreover, the Trail Blazers were a strong team, worlds apart from the bottom-dwelling Raptors.

The Trail Blazers' management was even happier, as the team's bench depth improved, making them look like championship contenders.

Leaving the arena, Jerry greeted Vince Carter and his mother, Michelle, and invited them to a late-night snack with Glenn to build rapport.

Michelle supported her son's basketball career, never missing a college game. Today, she came to see her son get drafted and cried with joy, her eyes still red.

Reflecting on his past life, Carter felt like crying too. He had a poor childhood and later lived in an average family. Soon, he would become wealthy.

It's said that about 70% of African American families in the U.S. are single-parent households, with one-third of African American men having been incarcerated. African American neighborhoods are characterized by "inner-city" conditions, segregation, single-parent households, and female-headed households.

Carter grew up in such a harsh environment. In second grade, his father abandoned him and his mother. It wasn't until he had a stepfather that his life improved, making his journey to this point very difficult.

Michelle, who was about 5'7" and unremarkable in appearance, was very enthusiastic, constantly praising her son. "Jerry, you're about the same age as Vince. You two will definitely become good friends. Please give him more plays in the new season; he can definitely do it."

Glenn wanted to laugh on the side, thinking it was funny that the coach and the rookie were about the same age and could bond over that.

"I will. That's why the Raptors picked him," Jerry smiled.

"Really?" Michelle tugged her son's arm. "Hurry up and thank Jerry."

Carter quickly nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I can promise you'll be the team's primary focus next season, so be prepared. The new season will be challenging. If the lockout extends the break, don't slack off on your training," Jerry knew Carter wouldn't slack off but still reminded him.

This made the mother and son even happier. Carter wasn't the top pick, and his college stats weren't outstanding, so getting such a promise was overwhelming. Few rookies in the NBA received such high treatment.

Carter excitedly asked, "What should I focus on training this summer?"

"Focus on your three-point shooting. I'm good at designing three-point plays," Jerry paused. "Did you play on-ball or off-ball in college?"

"Off-ball," Carter replied.

Jerry immediately understood why Carter's college stats weren't great. Jamison handled the ball, and without off-ball screen plays, it was hard for Carter to get good stats.

Even Ray Allen and Allan Houston couldn't get wide-open shots without teammates' screens. Every team had good defenders, and good players knew how to fit into the offensive system.

"If possible, also practice your drives this summer. With the Raptors, you'll need to handle the ball and attack, at least in one-on-one situations during fast breaks," Jerry said seriously.

If Carter mainly relied on catch-and-shoot, he'd just be Reggie Miller's successor, lacking popularity.

Not just Carter, but other Raptors rookies also needed to practice isolation plays because Jerry planned to run a fast-paced offense with lots of one-on-one situations.

The four of them chatted over drinks and snacks for over an hour before heading back to the hotel.

Jerry told Carter, "Vince, if you trust me, don't rush to sign a shoe endorsement deal this summer. Even if a company offers a high price, don't agree easily."

"Why?" Carter needed money, so it would be hard to refuse a company offering cash.

Jerry explained, "I guarantee that as long as you stay healthy, there's a high chance you'll win Rookie of the Year next season. Your value will increase throughout the season. If you sign a deal now, brands will only consider your potential and college stats, not offering a top-tier contract. Signing a long-term deal now will cost you a lot of money. Wait until after the regular season, and I think Nike and Adidas will bid for you."

"Uh... is that possible?" Carter wasn't confident, as he was only the second option on his college team.

"I believe in you, and you should believe in yourself too," Jerry smiled. "You'll be the leader of a team in your rookie season, so you should sign a contract that matches your status."

Jerry had said enough; it was up to Carter to decide.

In his previous life, Carter signed with Puma and released signature shoes upon entering the league, producing three models. After an injury, Carter blamed Puma and eventually terminated the contract, with Nike paying a penalty fee.

Puma's honeycomb cushioning technology was more suited for running shoes and was too soft for basketball shoes. After terminating the contract with Carter, Puma exited the NBA market, focusing on track and field and racing.

As the saying goes, "Jack of all trades, master of none." If Carter signed with Puma, which wasn't good at making basketball shoes, he was bound to regret it.

Later, due to dissatisfaction with his agent, Blake, Carter terminated his contract with Blake's company in 2000, leading to a lawsuit. Blake sued Carter for breach of contract, demanding $14 million in damages. The court ultimately ruled that Carter had to pay Blake $467,560 in economic losses.

Regardless of what happened, Jerry wouldn't make any money from it. He was concerned that long-term disputes with Puma and the agent would affect Carter's performance, thereby affecting the entire Raptors team.

The next day, Canadian media reported on the draft and the day's trades, with Toronto fans generally expressing dissatisfaction with the Camby trade, putting a lot of pressure on Glen Grunwald.

"How could they trade Camby for a trash player like Jermaine O'Neal? There's definitely something shady going on!"

"With this lineup, the Raptors will definitely be at the bottom again next season. The only thing to watch is what kind of stats the new guy Carter will put up. I heard he's a great dunker."

"With management making such reckless moves, how can the team have a future?"

"It's over. Jerry Yang got screwed. No coach can win with such a lousy team. He only signed a one-year contract; won't he get fired soon?"

Jerry didn't give any interviews and flew back to New York to enjoy his vacation. He didn't care about the fans' doubts; the season would reveal everything.

Other major media outlets didn't report much on the players. People were more concerned about the labor negotiations.

Everyone realized that a lockout was inevitable.