On June 25, 2007, the NBA Draft was underway.
In the Knicks' lounge, Isiah Thomas — the former "Smiling Assassin" and now the Knicks' general manager and head coach — was faced with a difficult decision.
Before the draft, he had made an aggressive move: the New York Knicks traded their 23rd pick in the first round to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for the 17th pick.
The purpose?
To leap ahead of the Lakers and intercept Ohio State University freshman Li Wan, a rising talent from China.
But at this crucial moment, Thomas hesitated.
He picked up Li Wan's scouting report and carefully reviewed it once more.
---
Name: Li Wan
College: Ohio State University
Key Honors:
2006 National Four-Star High School Player
2007 NCAA Champion
Freshman Stats:
6.6 points
4.3 rebounds
2.2 assists
1.2 steals per game
Signature Moment:
Game-winning three-pointer against Florida in the 2007 NCAA Finals
Age: 19
Height: 2.02 meters
Wingspan: 2.18 meters
Weight: 94 kg
Palm Size: 23.5 cm
Shoe Size: 32 cm
Achilles Tendon Length: 14.4 cm
Strength: 84 kg bench press x5 reps; max 110 kg
Vertical Leap: 68 cm standing; 80 cm max
Three-Quarter Sprint: 3.29 seconds
Position: Wing/Swingman
Player Traits:
High basketball IQ
Strong defensive instincts
Excellent team communication
Mature beyond his years
Reliable perimeter defender
Clutch performer ("Mr. Big Shot" potential)
Weaknesses:
Undersized and underpowered for an NBA small forward
Late starter in basketball (began in junior year of high school)
Limited shot-creation and ball-handling ability
Inconsistent long-range shooter
Draft Comparison: Mickaël Piétrus
---
Based on the report, Li Wan was a player with clear strengths and notable weaknesses.
His static athleticism was elite, but his dynamic attributes were merely average. He possessed innate basketball instincts and big-game poise, yet lacked a polished offensive arsenal.
The risk was undeniable.
And Thomas? He had never been one to avoid risk.
Stephen Marbury's 5-year, $80 million deal…
Eddy Curry's 6-year, $60 million deal…
Jared Jeffries' 5-year, $30 million deal…
The Knicks were drowning in bad contracts — all signed by Thomas.
At 44, he was living well in New York. By 46, he'd realized he was far too young to understand the weight of his mistakes. With the Knicks missing the playoffs for three straight years, media and fan criticism reached a boiling point. When word broke that Thomas had traded up in the draft, New Yorkers didn't celebrate — they cringed.
Their response was unified: "Thomas is at it again…"
Under such pressure, selecting Li Wan — and risking a bust — could cost him his job.
The safer option?
Wilson Chandler — the Knicks' other target.
Though he lacked Li Wan's "spark," Chandler had the physique, polish, and defensive skill of an NBA-ready forward. Entering the draft as a junior, his body and game were mature. His mid- and long-range shooting was reliable, and his frame could handle NBA-level contact.
The downside?
He was near his ceiling — not much room for growth.
Still, for Thomas, it was a "safe" pick. Low risk, solid floor.
Change it.
After re-reading both scouting reports, Thomas, now desperate to hold on to his job, made up his mind.
He wrote Wilson Chandler on the card for the Knicks' 17th pick.
---
In the back row near the green room, Li Wan sat calmly, applauding as David Stern announced the 10th overall pick: Spencer Hawes. His hands clapped on cue, but his eyes betrayed a hint of regret.
He had never expected to go top ten…
But still — missing it stung.
Next to him, his agent Arne Tyron handed him a phone.
> "Damn. Thomas isn't texting me back. I guess the Knicks aren't taking us at 17."
Li Wan's neutral expression shifted slightly. He took the phone and typed:
> "Still a chance before pick 20 — maybe the Lakers?"
Tyron hesitated, then typed back:
> "Lakers are 50/50. You know why."
Li Wan frowned deeper and gently pushed Tyron's hand away, eyes narrowing as he focused inward.
> "System."
A virtual interface blinked into view — one only Li Wan could see.
---
Host: Li Wan
DOB: October 11, 1988
Height: 2.02 meters
Wingspan: 2.18 meters
Palm: 23.5 cm
Shoe: 32 cm
Achilles: 14.4 cm
Weight: 95 kg
---
Current Attributes / Potential:
Upper Body Strength: 45 / 70
Lower Body Strength: 65 / 77
Core Strength: 60 / 72
Explosiveness: 50 / 62
Speed: 64 / 68
Agility: 68 / 69
Stamina: 50 / 65
> System tiers:
90–100: Superstar to All-Time Great
80–90: All-Star to Superstar
70–80: Starter to All-Star
60–70: Rotation to Starter
50–60: End of Bench to Rotation
Li Wan was a decent athlete by NBA standards — borderline rotation-level. His potential? Respectable, but not explosive.
---
Skill Attributes / Potential:
Court Vision: 85 / 90
Ball Handling: 35 / 50
Passing: 31 / 75
Mid-range: 34 / 45
Three-point: 30 / 44
Driving: 40 / 55
Layup: 50 / 60
Post-up: 19 / 50
Dunk: 30 / 60
Offense IQ: 50 / 60
Cutting: 66 / 84
---
Off-ball Movement: 70 / 83
Isolation Defense: 65 / 79
Help Defense: 75 / 85
Lateral Quickness: 65 / 70
Defensive Rebounds: 50 / 60
Offensive Rebounds: 30 / 60
Blocks: 45 / 55
Steals: 56 / 80
Positioning: 58 / 84
---
These values painted a painful picture: offensively limited, defensively promising. Even with maximum growth, he'd top out as a defensive role player — a blue-collar grinder, not a star.
In short:
Michael Pietrus with slightly more vision.
---
But the system wasn't just a talent dashboard — there was one more tab: Evaluation.
It had been locked since he first crossed over four years ago. He suspected the evaluation would trigger after the draft — and that his draft slot would impact it.
Which is why, despite his disappointment after the top ten, he had held out hope for the Knicks.
But now?
---
> "With the 17th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select…"
Li Wan leaned forward.
Thomas' words of encouragement echoed in his ears.
> "…Wilson Chandler, junior forward from DePaul University."
Reality hit like a brick.
It wasn't him.
---
Wilson Chandler stood up to the sound of David Stern's announcement. His agent hugged him, the crowd applauded, and Chandler turned to look at Li Wan with a winner's smile before stepping onto the stage.
He had won the battle for the 17th overall pick.
"F**k!" Arne Tyron cursed under his breath, patted Li Wan on the shoulder, and hurried out of the arena.
There was only one team left before the 20th pick that was still in contact: the Los Angeles Lakers. He had to make every effort to ensure Li Wan got selected there.
But the Lakers…
"Will they choose me?" Li Wan muttered softly.
The man who had made him a promise was Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.
However, this year, the Lakers' head coach Phil Jackson was also actively involved in the draft process. Reports from Los Angeles media had suggested that Jackson and Kupchak held very different opinions. The "Zen Master" preferred selecting a big man — someone to fill the power forward or center position.
Li Wan's expression grew tense. If he really dropped to the 20th pick or lower, the system's evaluation of him could turn out terribly.
---
"Boss, the Knicks didn't pick Li Wan…"
Backstage in the Lakers' war room, Kupchak, seeing Chandler walk across the stage, quickly called team owner Jerry Buss.
"Then we pick him," came Buss's firm voice over the phone. Choosing Li Wan was his idea from the beginning.
Kupchak hesitated. "But didn't we agree to let Phil decide…"
"That was if the Knicks took him. They didn't. So that agreement doesn't apply anymore."
There was a pause. Then Buss added, "Just make the pick. Phil will deal with it afterward."
Kupchak knew then: he was going to be the scapegoat again. But what could he do? He was just an employee.
---
Meanwhile, Arne Tyron returned, frustration written all over his face.
"The phone's dead!" he hissed, clearly upset.
Marco Belinelli had just been selected 18th overall and was already shaking hands with David Stern.
Next up: the 19th pick.
Time was running out.
With an apologetic expression, Tyron leaned in and whispered, "Sorry, Li."
From his experience, Kupchak, like Thomas, had probably changed his mind. Otherwise, he would have answered the phone. He had seen this kind of thing happen too many times during draft nights.
Li Wan said nothing, his eyes locked on David Stern. He leaned forward again.
Until the final moment, hope remained.
---
Under the arena lights, an assistant carried out the next envelope — the 19th card of the night.
David Stern adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses and pulled the card from the envelope. The name printed on it made the corners of his mouth curl up noticeably.
Even he seemed pleased with this selection.
Li Wan's eyes, fixed on Stern, were more focused than ever.
> "With the 19th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Li Wan, a freshman from Ohio State University!"
---
He got it!
Li Wan shot up like a spring, exhaling in relief. The 19th pick — thankfully — was his.
"Sorry, man, I couldn't get the best outcome for you," Tyron said, still stunned by the twist. He hadn't expected Kupchak to follow through.
Though he still regretted missing out on the 17th pick, they had pulled it off in the end.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Though Li Wan wasn't a household name in the U.S. just yet, his buzzer-beater in the NCAA Finals had made headlines. He shattered Florida's repeat title dream and became a Cinderella-story hero.
The arena's big screen replayed that iconic three-pointer, drawing another round of roars from the fans.
---
"Congratulations, man!"
His college teammate Daequan Cook stood and hugged him. After embracing Tyron, Li Wan turned to Cook.
> "You're next, Daequan!"
As he passed the "green room" section where many top prospects sat, members of the Florida Gators team gave him sharp, resentful looks. Joakim Noah even let out a loud snort:
> "Tch, what a lucky break."
Florida's "Five Tigers" had stayed an extra year in college to repeat their title run. But Li Wan — who only averaged 6.6 points and shot 30% from three — had dashed their hopes.
Especially Noah.
Li Wan's game-winning shot had come right over him.
> "Yeah, I'm lucky. Didn't you hear?"
Li Wan's pointed glare made Noah clench his fists.
---
"Dude! I knew you'd do it!"
A towering figure wrapped him in a bear hug, beaming with pride. The deep lines on his forehead made him look far older than he was — Greg Oden, Li Wan's Ohio State teammate and the #1 pick in this draft.
Next to Oden was another excited teammate, Mike Conley. Standing beside Greg made him seem smaller, but he had been drafted 4th overall, the top guard in this year's class.
Li Wan knew firsthand how hard it had been playing alongside such gifted players all year.
---
"Welcome to the NBA, Li Wan."
David Stern's voice had the tone of a kindly uncle — though his pace in reading names often made it sound mechanical.
Li Wan knew, to Stern and the league, he was just another foreign prospect — another investment.
Still, he smiled and thanked him politely.
---
As he walked off the stage, reporters swarmed him.
> "Congratulations, Li! You were selected 19th overall by the Lakers. How do you feel?"
The first question came from a black reporter with an ESPN badge glinting under the lights.
Tyron had prepped him for this one. He answered smoothly:
> "I'm really happy, of course… but I'm a little disappointed I couldn't break into the lottery. I also wish my parents could've been here to witness this moment."
That part was genuine.
More questions followed — light and celebratory — until a blonde female reporter raised her voice and silenced the others.
> "We've heard that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and head coach Phil Jackson disagreed sharply over the 19th pick. Reports say Jackson preferred a big man. Do you think the Zen Master didn't want you?"
Li Wan frowned at the question and at her eager eyes.
Judging from what just happened… Kupchak had indeed gone against Jackson.
And that might not bode well for his future.
It wasn't ideal to enter the league already on the wrong side of the head coach.
But this was the draft — he had no control over it.
Now that he was a Laker, all he could do was earn his place.
After a short pause, he answered calmly:
> "What I can do now is try my best… and let my performance speak for me."