Yi Jianlian

Alongside Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, probably the most interesting player in this year's draft is Yi Jianlian -- a seven foot tall Chinese perimeter player whose abilities are basically impossible to evaluate since nobody knows much about how to project based on performance playing in China. At any rate, he and his team are acting oddly:

Both his agent, Dan Fegan, and the Chinese government want to make sure Yi lands on the "right" team. So Yi will work out for only a few select teams.

Yi's Orlando maneuver means that the other teams in the league won't even have the results of a physical to look at, which might further discourage them from draft Yi.

Don't be shocked if Golden State or Chicago finds a way to move up and grab Yi. They seem to be the two "approved" teams most interested.

There's obviously a certain logic to this, but I'd really hate to see this sort of thing become standard operating procedure for top draft prospects. Already, I feel like the league is full of players complaining about their situations who need to learn that it's not possible for everyone to be on an elite team.

Comments

I bet it's not "elite team," it's "city with a sizable Chinese population." They made the same claims about Yao.

Posted by SomeCallMeTim | June 1, 2007 5:10 PM

I'm on labor's side.

Posted by sherifffruitfly | June 1, 2007 5:10 PM

I agree totally. I hate the "trade me to a winner" mindset. It's your job, if you're an elite player, to make your team a winner.

Posted by Freddie | June 1, 2007 5:10 PM

What is wrong with his coach, that he has a 7-footer playing on the perimeter?

Posted by Nicholas Beaudrot | June 1, 2007 5:13 PM

All I've seen are grainy YouTube clips of this guy working out by himself, but I want to see him play NellieBall. I wonder what it would take to move the Warriors into the top 5.

Posted by too many steves | June 1, 2007 5:14 PM

This guy REEKS of bust.

APS

Posted by Ape Man | June 1, 2007 5:19 PM

I agree that it is likely a "large Chinese population" city that this agreement is about. That said, I don't know what Chicago does with another player like that. From what I have seen his closest analogy is Nowitzki, and what was Dirk's issue this spring? No post game to go to when he is stopped from using his off the dribble game. The Bulls biggest need is post scoring (and sorry, I just don't believe they are going to get it from Spencer Hawes, even if ESPN's Chad Ford thinks that's where they are going).

Posted by JonnJonzz | June 1, 2007 5:23 PM

How does Chad Ford still have a job? Or Marc Stein, for that matter?

Posted by SomeCallMeTim | June 1, 2007 5:25 PM

The Bulls are trading for Randolph, dammit. Please. Please.

Posted by Freddie | June 1, 2007 5:34 PM

I think Yi should try to get the job he thinks will make him happiest. I guess Matt is arguing that Yi should try for the job that will make basketball fans happiest. Heh.

Posted by Gary Sugar | June 1, 2007 5:37 PM

Wait, is Matt claiming that the Warriors are an elite team that has an unfair advantage in getting players? My Golden State Warriors? The ones that just made the playoffs for the first time in Matt's lifetime? Color me skeptical.

I think that it's pretty clear that what's going on here is that Yi's handlers are trying to get him onto the team that is the best fit for him personally and professionally. This is likely a combination of coaching, team style and team location. Yes, teams that have good coaches are going to be better than teams that lack them, but it's not like he's demanding to go to San Antonio or Detroit.

And if Nellie retires, watch how quickly Yi runs from my bad luck GSWs.

Posted by mxh | June 1, 2007 6:22 PM

I can't really blame players for trying to game a draft system that has no parallel anywhere else in the civilian economy. But the crystal ball is sometimes cloudy; recall how adamant Eli Manning was about not playing for the San Diego Chargers (14-2 last year).

Posted by kth | June 1, 2007 7:09 PM

How much of this has to do with the odd contracts of Chinese basketball players? I am under the impression that a lot of Yao's contract goes somewhere other than Yao, although I wouldn't be surprised if this is an urban legend.

Posted by Klug | June 1, 2007 7:12 PM

recall how adamant Eli Manning was about not playing for the San Diego Chargers (14-2 last year).

If Eli Manning had played for the Chargers last year, they wouldn't have been 14-2, so maybe he had a point . . .

Posted by rea | June 1, 2007 7:20 PM

"it's not possible for everyone to be on an elite team."

This may be true for any given year, for a top player, but should not be true for an entire (average length) career. In other words, if a top player is prepared to sacrifice income to get on an elite team (reasonably defined) then the league should be able to work something out. For example, if Kobe said I will take a pay cut (arbitrable amount) to get on an elite team, I have no doubt the league could set something up. I just do not see lots of players wanting to put their bling on the line to get on elite teams (as opposed to wanting owners - like Buss - to dole out owner bucks to bring new new elite players to the prima donna's team).

Posted by cfw | June 1, 2007 8:04 PM

For example, if Kobe said I will take a pay cut (arbitrable amount) to get on an elite team, I have no doubt the league could set something up

Not true. The union wouldn't let that go through.

Posted by SomeCallMeTim | June 1, 2007 8:08 PM

The union wouldn't let that go through.

Nor should they.

Posted by Antid Oto | June 1, 2007 8:10 PM

to reiterate: the CBA explicitly bars renegotiating contracts.

Posted by dtah | June 1, 2007 8:36 PM

Kobe had a chance to take a pay cut to go to a better team three years ago. The extra 35 million he could get if he resigned with the Lakers was too good to pass up.

Posted by Rambis Youth | June 1, 2007 9:41 PM

My Golden State Warriors? The ones that just made the playoffs for the first time in Matt's lifetime?

Dude, I think that Matt is older than 13.

However, I would love to see Nellie get a good big man with the Warriors. I'm still cringing from remembering Webber playing center in the "Point Spre" line-up (from that last playoff year).

Posted by Samba00 | June 2, 2007 1:45 AM

Bill Simmons has a funny post about Yi:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070523

I'd stay away from him. All this crap about them lying about his age and not actually letting anyone see him play is ridiculous, especially in a draft this good.

Assuming I can't get Oden or Durant, I'd take Brandon Wright, Corey Brewer, and two or three other forwards before Yi.

Posted by matthew c | June 2, 2007 4:01 PM

祝阿联好运！good luck for him!

Posted by timberscorpio | June 8, 2007 2:35 AM