NBA draft/Bucks-Yi discussion

[PKBadger]

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This isn't some poor guy that wants to start making money, this is a guy that has a government calling the shots for him...he's got plenty of leverage.

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The only reason they're calling the shots for him is because they want to make money off him by marketing to Chinese-American fans. It has nothing to do with how good he is at basketball.

 

The man had a pre-draft workout against an inanimate piece of furniture. This isn't Yao Ming. There are plenty of 6'11" guys out there. Not too many are 7'5". This is why Yao was a coveted prospect (along with the NBA's desire to tap the Asian fanbase).

 

He's played against subpar competition in China and as much as GM's fawn over "upside", I can't see sitting out a year as a good career move.

 

If Yao = Ichiro, Yi = So Taguchi.

[Mike Felder]

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The man had a pre-draft workout against an inanimate piece of furniture. This isn't Yao Ming. There are plenty of 6'11" guys out there. Not too many are 7'5". This is why Yao was a coveted prospect (along with the NBA's desire to tap the Asian fanbase).

 

He's played against subpar competition in China and as much as GM's fawn over "upside", I can't see sitting out a year as a good career move.

 

If Yao = Ichiro, Yi = So Taguchi.

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Thank you. In my mind, Yi has the biggest "bust potential" of anyone in the draft this year. I was rooting against them taking Yi even before all the rumors about him not playing in Milwaukee surfaced...I just don't think he'll be that good.

[patrickgpe]

at least one website is reporting that yesterdays report that almost every outlet in the US took and ran with is false.

 

nbadraft.net/draftbuzz072.asp

[Chio151]

The East coast SPorts Network could care less if the report was true. The potential to create controversy and rip into a smaller market is just so enticing.

[olliegjw]

This is bad news since the season starts next week. Oh wait, the season doesn't start for 3 months. It's all just posturing and wanting attention at this point. Yi will be in a Bucks uniform this season. Can I find Vegas odds on this somewhere?

[molitor fan]

Snippets from the article that was linked above.....ESPN really needs to get some competition - it has really fallen into the sewer as a sports information source.

 

 

 

Draft Buzz - Yi Jianlian Still Likely to End Up in Milwaukee

 

By Aran Smith, NBADraft.net (nbadraft.net/draftbuzz072.asp)

7/18/07

 

A bogus news story was released in China on Tuesday that Yi Jianlian's Chinese agent and Guangdong Tigers chief Chen Haitao said that Yi would "definitely not" play for the Milwaukee Bucks. The report has been denied by Chen himself plus a Guangdong Tiger's VP who responded with two words - "BS".

 

Most amazing is that the report was picked up by numerous AP news sources all over the web and and was given credibility when in fact the story is unsubstantiated. The public opinion is that he is being greedy and should just go to the club that selected him and be gracious about his opportunity to make millions playing in the NBA. But his decision to hold out and not to go to Milwaukee should not be blamed on Yi, but on his handlers.

 

Milwaukee Bucks fans are already have built up a negative impression of Yi, after he did not report to the city after the draft, so the longer he holds out, the more negative the reaction will be if and when he finally reports to the city.

 

Despite all of the media reports to the contrary, Milwaukee remains the likely destination for Yi. And with such a whirlwind of negativity building around him, an announcement from Yi deciding to end the controversy and join the Bucks could come sooner than expected.

 

 

 

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[jaybird2001wi]

The Chinese Basketball Federation is turned into a total witch hunt for any Asian players in the NBA. Now they are bashing Yao Ming for showing up late to their camp because they said "he was too busy being personal."

Ming

[Roscoe Chill]

The only reason they're calling the shots for him is because they want to make money off him by marketing to Chinese-American fans. It has nothing to do with how good he is at basketball.

 

Well that may be, but that doesn't mean he (they) doesn't have any leverage in this situation. If playing for the Chinese National team is considered "professional" then, yes a lot of that leverage is gone. If not, he can easily sit out a year when he's backed by the government of China...that's leverage.

 

And he's perceived as good enough for a team to pick him as the #6 pick in the draft even though he said he didn't want to play for that team...that's leverage.

 

Whether or not he ever lives up to any hype whatsoever doesn't matter as far as this situation is concerned. "Letting him rot" may be detrimental for Yi, but it's DEFINITELY detrimental for the Bucks.

[PKBadger]

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If not, he can easily sit out a year when he's backed by the government of China...that's leverage.

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I see your point, but I can't see any NBA teams picking him as high next year.

 

The reason I brought up Bo Jackson earlier is that he was so awesome that he could basically tell Tampa Bay to go to hell, knowing full well that he would be picked in the same slot the following year. And it happened.

 

Why give up the money that goes along with getting picked #6?

 

And the argument about the Chinese about him not getting playing time in Milwaukee is laughable. Does he really expect to be the first option off the bench for an NBA team? He's going to be playing limited minutes (see: Darko Milicic, 2004) wherever he ends up.

[Roscoe Chill]

The reason I brought up Bo Jackson earlier is that he was so awesome that he could basically tell Tampa Bay to go to hell, knowing full well that he would be picked in the same slot the following year. And it happened.

 

Actually Bo Jackson was picked first overall by the Bucs, went and played baseball, and then was drafted by the Raiders in the 7th round before he took up his "hobby."

 

But I understand what you are saying. I'm just saying some basketball player from the US might go somewhere they don't necessarily want to go because otherwise they aren't going to getting paid, Yi with the Chinese government doesn't really have that worry does he?

 

And the difference between pick #6 money and pick #14 (out of the lottery) money in the NBA's rookie scale is only around

$2 millon over three years. It's not at all similar to the NFL where Brady Quinn lost millions when he slid to #22.

[trwi7]

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Thank you. In my mind, Yi has the biggest "bust potential" of anyone in the draft this year.

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I would say that belongs to Brandan Wright. A 6'10 200 pound PF is going to get abused in the NBA.

[DHonks]

remember, our owner is a prominant senator. I'm fairly sure that simply on principle, he won't allow Yi, China, or anyone else to tell his Bucks to deal the player.

[qrk10000]

I would say that belongs to Brandan Wright. A 6'10 200 pound PF is going to get abused in the NBA.

 

I personally hope that crown belongs to Joakim Noah. I want nothing more than for that guy to fall flat on his face.

 

This whole Yi story is getting more and more laughable. Larry and Herb are doing the right thing by being silent and respectful. In the end, I still think that Yi will be in a Bucks uniform and the whole team will be eating egg rolls by October.

[trwi7]

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I personally hope that crown belongs to Joakim Noah. I want nothing more than for that guy to fall flat on his face.

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Oh I completely agree but I think he'll be Dan Gadzuric with a basketball IQ (which isn't a bad player) where Wright could just be a total bust because of his frame.

[PKBadger]

NDOG, I humbly stand corrected.....for some reason I thought Bo was a 1st round pick both times.

[patrickgpe]

www.realgm.com/src_wireta...e_request/

 

 

yi confirms that he doesn't want to play for the bucks

[don1481]

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yi confirms that he doesn't want to play for the bucks

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And, honestly, that's too bad. Stern should make it very clear that a player cannot hold a team hostage simply because he does not want to play for that team if that team drafts him.

 

Here's my dream scenario if Yi opts to sit out:

 

1. Yi is declared ineligible to re-enter the draft and therefore ineligible to be signed by any other team. If the Bucks choose to relinquish his rights, he may re-enter the draft only at that time.

2. The Bucks are awarded a "compensatory" first round pick (#6A) in the 2008 draft.

3. Stern sets up consequences for players who refuse to sign their contract with the drafting team including making #1 above official: Any player drafted in the first round that refuses to sign with that team and re-enter the draft by sitting out a year is still considered to be under the jurisdiction of the team that drafted him ad infinitium.

[aracko]

Does anyone think a package of Mike Redd and Yi Jianlian would be enough to bring in Kobe Bryant?

 

The Numbers would work. Would LA be interested? I dont know exactly, but I have heard rumors of Kobe being traded in the past.

 

With the senator being around I dont think it would happen, but if there were a way for Milwaukee to acquire the best player in the league, that would be pretty exciting.

 

I think Kobe would like the trade if for no other reason then it gives he and Lebron many more games against eachother.

[Chio151]

It would have to be Yi, Redd, a Couple 1sts, and another player -- but I'd still do it.

[hauser42]

I stated this the second they picked Yi, bad choice. Don't know you it is but for some reason it is going to be a tough sell getting him to play in Milwaukee. Agent , Yi, or the chinese are just making this way to tough.

 

Should have taken Brewer who can play the 3 and clamp down on defense than a project that has a mob of people giving him information.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

Shortly after the draft there was a rumor which had Mo Williams/Danny G/Yi going to LA, Kobe to Dallas, and Devin Harris/Josh Howard coming to Milwaukee.

[davego]

That would be a very good deal for Milwaukee.