Chinese Team to Block Yi From Bucks

[MrChug]

You gotta be fuckin kidding me...


link (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2939260)

Report: Chinese team says Bucks not best for Yi
Reuters

Updated: July 17, 2007, 1:03 PM ET
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BEIJING -- The Milwaukee Bucks' campaign to secure the services of reluctant power forward Yi Jianlian has suffered a blow after the player's Chinese club said it would block his move to the United States.


Yi, taken by Milwaukee with the sixth selection in the NBA draft last month, would "definitely not" play for Milwaukee, Tuesday's Beijing News quoted Guangdong Tigers chief, Chen Haitao, as saying.


"This is not -- as media reports have said -- because Milwaukee, as a city with very few Chinese people, is not good for Yi's commercial development," Chen said.


"Rather we want to find a team suitable for Yi's growth. That's the root of the problem," he added.


Earlier in July, Yi's Chinese agent said the unsigned player was looking to be traded to another club, despite pledges by Milwaukee officials to do whatever they could to make him feel at home.


Chen expressed concern that Yi would have trouble getting playing time with the Bucks, whose squad boasts Australian 7-footer Andrew Bogut and a number of other tall young players.


"The national team and the Olympic Games are now our key considerations ... If [Yi] goes to a team where he can't compete, that would be being irresponsible to the national team," Chen said.

[bdictjames]

Sick fucks!!!

[bdictjames]

And did Zhizhi Wang become better with the Heat? No. This is just way out of hand

[TheZackAttack!]

Who does Yi think he is, John Elway? Bucks should hold on to his rights forever

[ambchang]

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. So who would inhibit the growth of Yi in Milwauke? Bogut? Villanueva? Gimme a break! It's a great situation for Yi to develop his basketball skills, where he can go in and contribute right away.
This is embarrassing.

[dg7md]

Too bad the Vancouver Grizzlies aren't still around; well, and Golden State is another candidate for him.

[O-Factor]

Screw Yi. Bucks should trade him to the Lakers for Kobe.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Chen expressed concern that Yi would have trouble getting playing time with the Bucks, whose squad boasts Australian 7-footer Andrew Bogut and a number of other tall young players.

:rolleyes

Give me a fucking break. Everyone knows why they don't want him there - marketing dollars.

If I were Stern I'd send Yao's ass back to China as well and tell them to go fuck themselves.

[v2freak]

"The national team and the Olympic Games are now our key considerations ... If [Yi] goes to a team where he can't compete, that would be being irresponsible to the national team," Chen said.

Then sending any players over here is irresponsible because they could get injured. What liars, all of the teams they pre-approved don't have tall players? And it's not all about height, much to the chagrin of their engineers

[CubanMustGo]

Fuck him. let him rot in that excuse for a league they have over there. We don't need to be sending any more $$ to China anyway.

[O-Factor]

If we(The Association) let Yi get his way, then that will pave the way for all good Chinese prospects to think they are above the game...

[MrChug]

If we(The Association) let Yi get his way, then that will pave the way for all good Chinese prospects to think they are above the game...

Even worse than that...all international players with country ties. How can it get worse? It becomes so absurd that all rookies feel they have a choice where they play their rookie season and the draft becomes inconsequential...if even exists in 10 years AT ALL.

As soon as players play one year of college, they immediately become free agents. :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang

[monosylab1k]

fuck it, nobody really gives a shit about the whole story

[milkyway21]

"The national team and the Olympic Games are now our key considerations ... If [Yi] goes to a team where he can't compete, that would be being irresponsible to the national team," Chen said.I agree. The China team who participated in the 4-Nation Invitational team tournament in the Phils last week was not scary at all. They came 4th.
Okay it's just a warm up but if Yi won't compete China might lose. They belong to group A(dubbed as the Group of Death by some), in Japan Qualifying which will start next week. YI must lead that team if Yao chose not to participate.

This YI case is becoming ridiculous already:D. I wonder why they applied in the first place if they wanted certain cities in the U.S. where he wants to play. It's unfair to the team who chose to draft them, IMO. Milwaukee could have chosen another if they could have known Yi's status in advance.

[Switchman]

They warned the Bucks not to pick him weeks if not months in advance.

[Marklar MM]

Just to stick it to China, Milwaukee should hold his rights until he chooses to sign there.

[samikeyp]

"Rather we want to find a team suitable for Yi's growth. That's the root of the problem," he added.


Read: "somewhere that he can make us a shitload of money"!

[Pistol...2K4]

Fuck him. let him rot in that excuse for a league they have over there. We don't need to be sending any more $$ to China anyway.



:toast

I completely agree...that is what it is all about anyway

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Perhaps they should explain to the Chinese club the economic impact of their golden boy coming into the league (if he even makes it) with a monstrous cloud of negative press over his head, because that's all they are setting up here. The only person I've ever seen be marketable while most of the world was rooting against him in the league is Kobe Bryant.

I remember when Yao came into the league. He didn't set the world on fire like everyone was expecting him to straight out of the gate. However he had the saving grace of being inexplicably likeable despite being a stiff and speaking practically no english. Regardless of who is pulling the strings on this shit, they need to wake up and realize that the longer this goes on the more heat is going to be on this kid. By the time he even plays his first game there's plenty of folks who will be ready to boo him out of the building. He's got the pressure of two countries breathing down his neck, and demanding he get into a bigger market will only amplify every rookie struggle he has.

I don't expect the Milwaukee management to be able to look their season ticket holders in the eye, admit that they knew this could happen and still spent a lottery pick on this guy, but, hey, it's the principle of the matter that counts. It's probably bad for their bottom line but I hope they stick to their guns and tell them this guy is playing in Milwaukee or he's not playing in the league.

[Pistol...2K4]

you left off another attribute Yao came into the league with besides being stiff. He wasn't(and still isn't) very aggresive for a player over 7'...could you imagine what numbers Yao would put up if he had the drive of say KG?? I'll betcha he would challenge some of Wilts numbers if he did.

[StylisticS]

Just to stick it to China, Milwaukee should hold his rights until he chooses to sign there.
That would be hilarious and Milwaukee should do it and not think twice about it. You can't play in the NBA unless you play for us. :lol

[Fillmoe]

bucks should trade yi back to china where theres a huge chinese population so he can play in their shitty ass league

[milkyway21]

They warned the Bucks not to pick him weeks if not months in advance.really? well I didn't know about that. thanks for tellin' me.

Still, this player or who's around him want to create controversy or what.. they're on top of Asia right now but he's not even the best player in the World, you know. :p:

[milkyway21]

That would be hilarious and Milwaukee should do it and not think twice about it. You can't play in the NBA unless you play for us. :lol:lol

I think the Bucks shld do that.

it's kind of :dramaquee already, you know! :lol

[jbspurs]

Big city, Huge endorsement contract, etc. + Yi's contract = more money for Chinese Government. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!!!

[sabar]

Hold him forever if you're the Bucks. I see it now:

Bucks defy Chinese government

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Hold him forever if you're the Bucks. I see it now:

Bucks defy Chinese government
To be followed by:

Milwaukee Destroyed by Nuclear Blast

"Guess Yi will have to go somewhere else," says Beijing.

[sabar]

To be followed by:

Milwaukee Destroyed by Nuclear Blast

"Guess Yi will have to go somewhere else," says Beijing.So this is how WW3 will start...

[B and P Cats]

It almost sounds like like he is unsure that he wants to come. But getting on board with a team that would be good and still have the money is a little unlikely by now.

[v2freak]

Most rookies would rather play on a bad team so that they can make a name for themselves by putting up huge numbers. In the late goings, you see vets like Michael Finley sacrificing stats in order to win. Their excuse makes no sense.

And who cares what these Chinese officials warned? It means squat if they want Yi to play in the NBA. The team picks the player, end of story

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think they should just stash the sucka in china, sttop him from entering the nba or trading his draft rights, no american dollar for you

[Pero]

To be followed by:

Milwaukee Destroyed by Nuclear Blast

"Guess Yi will have to go somewhere else," says Beijing.


So this is how WW3 will start...

:rollin

[milkyway21]

[QUOTE]Report: Yi won't sign with Milwaukee Bucks

July 18, 2007

BEIJING (AP) -- Yi Jianlian has no plans to play for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Chen Haitao, owner of the Guangdong Tigers -- Yi's former team -- said the 6-foot-11 power forward will "definitely not" sign with Milwaukee and could be headed back to the Chinese Basketball Association.


"If the Bucks insist, Yi will go back to the CBA," Chen told the Chinese-language Beijing News on Tuesday.



other reactions...

In a poll earlier this month by the Beijing-based China Daily newspaper, 68 percent of 9,000 respondents wanted Yi to join the Bucks.

Former China national team coach Qian Chenghai also supported playing with Milwaukee.

"We don't want to see Yi destroy his reputation in the NBA and return to the Chinese Basketball Association," Qian said last week. "That's horrible.":tu

rest of the story:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtgcNJzfxmtfx3rTVpwl6kS8vLYF?slug=ap-bucks-yi&prov=ap&type=lgns

what a head-scratcher YI is :lol

[Soul_Patch]

i still cant believe the bucks picked him.


why the hell waste a pick on this shit, when there were so many other options.

[Samr]

I think Yi already destroyed his marketing value fairly good. I mean, what does China think can come of this now? They're going to all of the sudden embrace him if he goes somewhere else? Yi is a lemonade stand absolutely NO ONE is going to hit up anymore.

The only difference if he went to a place like LA would be that headlines of "Chinese basketball player refuses to wear blazer" would be seen by billions, and not just the people in Milwaukee.

[TDMVPDPOY]

karma for team china

there soccer team in asian cup just got bounce out of the group stages hahahahhahaha chokers

[Thunder Dan]

The U.S. should block him from playing in the NBA. I would love to see the Bucks owner try to push this one. He is a Senator.

I bet Milwaukee doesn't look so bad when your facing an eternity in China.

[Borosai]

Although it doesn't make a lot of financial sense, Milwaukee should just shit on his draft rights and never ever ever bring him over or trade him. That would send the right message.

[CubanMustGo]

China: Run by dictator. Dictator say "Yi no play ball for NBA team unless we say OK."
NBA: Run by dictator. Dictator say "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. Enjoy the winters in Beijing and see how much money you'll get with him playing over there."

But, unfortunately, NBA dictator wants to see more fans in China, so of course he will prolly try to find some way to accommodate those losers.

[monosylab1k]

God Bless America, And No Place Else.

[Short Round]

I like Yi!

[ambchang]

you left off another attribute Yao came into the league with besides being stiff. He wasn't(and still isn't) very aggresive for a player over 7'...could you imagine what numbers Yao would put up if he had the drive of say KG?? I'll betcha he would challenge some of Wilts numbers if he did.

So an aggressive stiff could challenge Wilt's numbers now?

[TheNextGen]

Bucks fault...Yi and Agent told Bucks way in advance not to pick him cuz he wasnt interested in playing for them. Bucks shoulda chose someone else...lots of other players to chose from, why pick the guy who said "dont pick me".

Bucks is like the guy who asked the girl out on a date when the girl already told him not too.

[bdictjames]

Bucks fault...Yi and Agent told Bucks way in advance not to pick him cuz he wasnt interested in playing for them. Bucks shoulda chose someone else...lots of other players to chose from, why pick the guy who said "dont pick me".

Bucks is like the guy who asked the girl out on a date when the girl already told him not too.
Is she a pretty girl?

[TheNextGen]

Is she a pretty girl?


not even that pretty and he STILL asked her out.

[E20]

mayne, dose cuzzes best be betta stop cock blocking dat nigga from gettin his. yea!

[mardigan]

Bucks fault...Yi and Agent told Bucks way in advance not to pick him cuz he wasnt interested in playing for them. Bucks shoulda chose someone else...lots of other players to chose from, why pick the guy who said "dont pick me".

Bucks is like the guy who asked the girl out on a date when the girl already told him not too.
No, not Bucks fault, taht is why they have a draft, you pick a fucking player, he goes there. If 6th picks in the draft start pulling this shit, next you will see 10th picks and so on and so on until the entire reason they have a draft is fucked.
Its not like this guy is Elway and can go play baseball

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

The draft isn't like the Prom, it's like working at an escort service. You want to get paid, you fuck the guy who calls you.

[DarkReign]

:rolleyes

Give me a fucking break. Everyone knows why they don't want him there - marketing dollars.

If I were Stern I'd send Yao's ass back to China as well and tell them to go fuck themselves.


No, not Bucks fault, taht is why they have a draft, you pick a fucking player, he goes there. If 6th picks in the draft start pulling this shit, next you will see 10th picks and so on and so on until the entire reason they have a draft is fucked.
Its not like this guy is Elway and can go play baseball

:tu I say the Bucks keep the pick and stop calling his agent. Let his draft rights run out, parlay some sort of collusion among the other owners when he re-enters the draft that only Milwaukee can pick him, rinse and repeat.

But alas, we know that wont happen.

[DarkReign]

They dont call it "The Draft" for nothing. There was another event called The Draft...pulling a Yi in that draft puts your ass in prison.

You, the player, put your name on a list full-well knowing you have no control whatsoever of who is going to pick you. Dont like the system? Stay your ass in China with the other washups where you can dominate other Chinamen in the NBA equivalent of a pickup game.

[TheNextGen]

and he doesnt want to get paid...he leaves to china...bucks lose the 6th spot. So who's fault is it?...the Bucks.

[v2freak]

They will have the support of 80% of the league at least. GMs are already congratulating the Bucks' GM on his bold decision. It may be a loss now but the integrity of the league is protected

[Jamtas#2]

I'm not quite clear on this. If the Bucks drafted him and own his rights, how can he enter the draft again next year?

I don't like this situation at all, didn't like it when Ferry did it, Manning did it and so on. The draft becomes useless if players get to hold out and only go to teams of their choice. Can you imagine if Oden and Durant came out and both said they only wanted to play in LA and would go overseas and play if another team picked them?

[TheNextGen]

I'm not quite clear on this. If the Bucks drafted him and own his rights, how can he enter the draft again next year?

I don't like this situation at all, didn't like it when Ferry did it, Manning did it and so on. The draft becomes useless if players get to hold out and only go to teams of their choice. Can you imagine if Oden and Durant came out and both said they only wanted to play in LA and would go overseas and play if another team picked them?

Its actually pretty simple. If oden and durant say they dont want to play for portland. Portland can draft them and let them them go overseas (why would Oden want to do that) Or Draft them and trade them. They can not enter as free agents becuz portland owns thier rights.

The only reason why it works for Yi is that he doesnt care if he's in the NBA or not. He dont mind going to China.

What i would do is trade Yi...for someone else. And thats why i dont get why Bucks picked him knowing this was gonna happen.

[bdictjames]

The Bucks picked him because they might know that it would be good for the crowd and the sales, or that they felt he was the best player remaining in the draft.

And no, they did not pick him to piss off the Chinese government. :lol

[pwilliam]

I am a Chinese from Hong Kong. Some people in this forum blame Yi, but I can be sure that Yi has absolutely NO control over where he would be. It is the sports bureau of China that controls everything. Don't blame Yi please.

Something off topic: Yao Ming is busy with his wedding next month, but the Chinese officials still publicly criticise him and accuse him of "spending too much time planning his wedding" and reporting late to national team training. Given that Yao Ming has honored his committment to the national team over the past few years, and has developed into an NBA superstar (and also given a large part of his income to the sports bureau in China), he still gets harsh criticism from the Chinese government for planning his wedding, you should know the absolute power the sports bureau has over those Chinese basketball players.

[baseline bum]

What i would do is trade Yi...for someone else. And thats why i dont get why Bucks picked him knowing this was gonna happen.

I think it's BS. Yi will eventually sign in Milwaukee. Baron Davis pulled this exact same crap with Charlotte. The Hornets told him 'fuck you, we're not trading you to LA', and he signed after a lot of whining, and then re-signed with them as a free agent. Davis told them he wouldn't play there, but what were they supposed to do? Draft a lesser player?

I don't buy this hype that it's the Chinese government telling him he can't play there either. Yi is a prima donna. All I heard about him was that he liked partying with the rest of the Hollywood primadonnas. I think Yi's getting the government to do his dirty work for him.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Every player the Bucks passed on should light them up every time they play.

What a fucking joke. I can't believe they took this Chinese prick knowing he more than likely wouldn't play for them.

Damn I'm glad I'm not AlamoBucksFan right about now!

:lol

[pwilliam]

I don't buy this hype that it's the Chinese government telling him he can't play there either. Yi is a prima donna. All I heard about him was that he liked partying with the rest of the Hollywood primadonnas. I think Yi's getting the government to do his dirty work for him.

You think Yi has the power to force the Chinese govenment to do anything for him? This is the government that bans (former NBA player) Wangzhizhi from playing any basketball for failing to report to the national team. This is the government who gets most of Yao Ming's income and still criticises him for "spending too much time on planning his wedding". China may have a partially free economy, but there is still abolute control over politically sensitive issues (yes, a sport athlete going to foreign country is a serious political matter). No Chinese basketball player has control over this fate. :rolleyes

[ploto]

They are even mad that Yao took time to make appearances for the Beijing Olympics. It is a big deal that they have publicly reprimanded him.

[AlamoSpursFan]

This is the government that bans (former NBA player) Wangzhizhi from playing any basketball for failing to report to the national team.

Yeah...that's the reason he's not in the NBA.

:lmao

[MWILL]

None of this would be happening if the Bucks would just F*#king listen.
There was plenty of players to choose from at the #6 pick besides Yi.
I agree with AlamoSpursFan I'm glad i'm not a Bucks fan either.

[Jamtas#2]

Its actually pretty simple. If oden and durant say they dont want to play for portland. Portland can draft them and let them them go overseas (why would Oden want to do that) Or Draft them and trade them. They can not enter as free agents becuz portland owns thier rights.

The only reason why it works for Yi is that he doesnt care if he's in the NBA or not. He dont mind going to China.

What i would do is trade Yi...for someone else. And thats why i dont get why Bucks picked him knowing this was gonna happen.


No, I meant how can he re-enter the draft next year as I have heard some people say? Wouldn't the Bucks own his rights until they either trade or sign him?

[pwilliam]

Yeah...that's the reason he's not in the NBA.

:lmao

Maybe you didn't know the Chinese government banned Wang Zhizhi from playing in the national team and even the Chinese basketball league before he issued a humiliating apology. :lol

As a Chinese in Hong Kong, I have more knowledge of the Chinese government than you do. Trust me. :rolleyes

[milkyway21]

Maybe you didn't know the Chinese government banned Wang Zhizhi from playing in the national team and even the Chinese basketball league before he issued a humiliating apology. :lol

As a Chinese in Hong Kong, I have more knowledge of the Chinese government than you do. Trust me. :rolleyesthanks for telling us China's stance about those NBA players entering the NBA. I think I already have the idea why. Because they trained them while they're still young for your national team that's why, right? So it's hard for these players to just bolt from their teams.

BTW, ARE those two YI & Yao will be playing in the FIBA-Asia next week in Tukoshima, Japan? I heard they'd be re-inforcing your national team because of their poor showing in Manila.

[milkyway21]

don't bother to answer, Yao is definitely playing.

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10260447

SHANGHAI, China -- China's official sports association has issued an unprecedented public criticism of Yao Ming for reporting late to national team training.


The Houston Rockets star was faulted for taking too much time off to recover from the NBA season, as well spending too much time planning his wedding and making appearances for the Special Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"No matter how lofty public welfare activities are, they can't be allowed to take first place in a player's life," the China Sports Daily, a newspaper owned by the government's All-China Sports Federation, said in an article Tuesday.

"No matter how sweet personal life is, it can't be compared to the exultation of capturing glory for one's nation," the article said.

Chinese websites later said Yao reported for national team training on Wednesday.

The article quoted the national basketball center director Li Yuanwei saying the team's Olympic preparations were built around their major star. Li said he hoped Yao would join the team later this month in the Stankovic Cup.


Helping out at a hoops clinic for Special Olympians ... Geez, what was Yao thinking? (Getty Images)
"Without Yao Ming, a warmup competition is far less valuable," the article said.

Throughout his three seasons in the NBA, Yao has largely escaped criticism from China's official media and the government by honoring his national team commitments.

Yet Tuesday's article carried echoes of the bitter accusations hurled at former Dallas Mavericks player Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in the NBA, who refused to return to play with the national team. Wang was labeled an immature ingrate and suffered an five-year estrangement from Chinese basketball that ended only last year after he made a humiliating apology.

China's other players were "flinging sweat like snow" while Yao recovered from the season, said the article, which also criticized Yao's handlers for not realizing his market value drew largely from his uniqueness as a Chinese player.

China will face an All-Star team from the NBA Development League in the Stankovic Cup at home, where the host team will include recent draft pick Yi Jianlian.

The Milwaukee Bucks picked Yi with the No. 6 pick in the NBA Draft, but he hasn't committed to playing for them because his agent hoped he would be drafted by a team in a market with a larger Chinese population.

Chinese fans and the former national coach have urged Yi to sign with the Bucks, but the owner of his former team in China, the Guangdong Tigers, recently suggested the 7-foot power forward's NBA career could be over before it even begins.

"If the Bucks insist, Yi will go back" to the Chinese league, Chen Haitao was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Chinese-language Beijing News.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[v2freak]

None of this would be happening if the Bucks would just F*#king listen.
There was plenty of players to choose from at the #6 pick besides Yi.
I agree with AlamoSpursFan I'm glad i'm not a Bucks fan either.

Can you explain to me why you think it was the fault of an organization that had every right to draft whatever player it wanted? Maybe the Bucks chose him anyway thinking that Yi's superiors would mature just a little

[freedom&justice]

It was made clear beforehand that Yi would only be allowed to play for a select number of teams; the bucks shouldn't have pushed it. heck, they should have gotten the hint when they weren't granted permission to watch the guy work out. Seriously - at number six, there were a lot of better players they could've picked who wouldn't have caused such an uproar.

As for Yao - jeez, give the guy a break.. it's not like he's never gonna report for the national team. If it were the U.S, he'd have been given permission to take this particular tourney off. Talk about controlling.

[TheNextGen]

Can you explain to me why you think it was the fault of an organization that had every right to draft whatever player it wanted? Maybe the Bucks chose him anyway thinking that Yi's superiors would mature just a little

Teams have the right to draft him, but players have the right NOT to play for them. Just like we have the right to chose our employers. Most players will play for any team just as long as they are in the NBA. As for Yi, he can careless. He rather play in China then the Bucks.

Once again, it was just stupid for the Bucks to pick a player at that position knowing he doesnt want in.

Also, choosing him "thinking" his superiors would mature a little bit is very risky especially for the 6th pick...that would be a bad business decision.

[BacktoBasics]

The draft isn't like the Prom, it's like working at an escort service. You want to get paid, you fuck the guy who calls you.Best line in the thread.

[v2freak]

Teams have the right to draft him, but players have the right NOT to play for them. Just like we have the right to chose our employers. Most players will play for any team just as long as they are in the NBA. As for Yi, he can careless. He rather play in China then the Bucks.

Once again, it was just stupid for the Bucks to pick a player at that position knowing he doesnt want in.

Also, choosing him "thinking" his superiors would mature a little bit is very risky especially for the 6th pick...that would be a bad business decision.

Who's looking like the bad guy here? The Bucks or Yi/his superiors?

[MWILL]

Can you explain to me why you think it was the fault of an organization that had every right to draft whatever player it wanted? Maybe the Bucks chose him anyway thinking that Yi's superiors would mature just a little

I understand your point, but my problem is why would you pick a player KNOWING that Yi's agent (or whatever) doesn't want his client playing for the Bucks. Hell, they were not allowed to see Yi's workout for crying out loud. Wouldn't that tell you something?

Now what's being said about Yao is really Fk'd up to me.

[SpursFan0728]

No, not Bucks fault, taht is why they have a draft, you pick a fucking player, he goes there. If 6th picks in the draft start pulling this shit, next you will see 10th picks and so on and so on until the entire reason they have a draft is fucked.
Its not like this guy is Elway and can go play baseball
fucking bucks r stupid..they shouldn't even have picked Yi.
Yi has every rights to request a trade or sth
Tons of players in NBA does the same thing Yi, for ex. ZO who wouldn't even wear raptors uniform.

u can't realli blame Yi

[ducks]

Beijing newspaper stands by Yi story; club says it's false



By STEPHEN WADE, AP Sports Writer
July 19, 2007

BEIJING (AP) -- A Beijing newspaper on Thursday was investigating a story it published this week, quoting Chen Haitao -- owner of the Guangdong Tigers basketball club -- saying forward Yi Jianlian would "definitely not" sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Yi was drafted No. 6 two weeks ago and is expected to be the fourth Chinese to play in the NBA.

The Chinese-language Beijing News said it stood by its story, but a top Guangdong club official said it was untrue and the club had not talked with the newspaper.

Wang Jin, chief sports editor with the newspaper, told the Associated Press on Thursday that its story was accurate. He said the reporter involved conducted a telephone interview with Chen, who was quoted saying Yi might return to the Chinese Basketball Association.

Wang said it was unclear why club officials deny having talked with the newspaper.

Liu Hongjiang, a club vice president, said club officials had not talked with the newspaper.

"The reporter never interviewed anyone at the club," Liu told the Associated Press. "The reporter used second-hand information he heard somewhere."

Liu said he spoke later with the reporter and "expressed strong anger."

"The club supports Yi playing in the NBA and is very willing to work with the Bucks," Liu said. "We are waiting for any chance to cooperate with the Bucks."

Liu said he believes Milwaukee is "not a suitable team for Yi, but this is not the same thing as saying he will not play with Milwaukee."

Tuesday's report in the Beijing News was picked up widely by foreign reporters, including the Associated Press. The story was one of several in the Chinese media since the June 28 NBA draft suggesting Yi did not want to play for the small-market Milwaukee club.

Basketball has a big following in China, where Yi is expected to approximate the stardom achieved by compatriot Yao Ming.

A 2.13-meter (7-foot) power forward who played last season with Guangdong in the CBA, Yi had his first meeting earlier this month with Bucks general manager Larry Harris and coach Larry Krystkowiak.

His agent, Dan Fegan, has pushed for a trade and wants Yi in a city with a large Asian influence -- or at least a larger city.http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AiBXZLnaS.dyUhBz8ghowda8vLYF?slug=ap-bucks-yi&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Cry Havoc]

We should put an embargo on future Chinese players. Don't want to play by our rules? Fine. You don't need any players in the NBA.

[TheNextGen]

We should put an embargo on future Chinese players. Don't want to play by our rules? Fine. You don't need any players in the NBA.

Problem is, there is no rule about having to play with the team that drafted you.

[spurscenter]

This Is All Because Of What Happen To Wang

[some_user86]

Teams have the right to draft him, but players have the right NOT to play for them. Just like we have the right to chose our employers. Most players will play for any team just as long as they are in the NBA. As for Yi, he can careless. He rather play in China then the Bucks.

Once again, it was just stupid for the Bucks to pick a player at that position knowing he doesnt want in.

Also, choosing him "thinking" his superiors would mature a little bit is very risky especially for the 6th pick...that would be a bad business decision.

Then why even have a fucking draft if players can demand who they want to play with?

[Cry Havoc]

Problem is, there is no rule about having to play with the team that drafted you.

Perhaps not.

However, players cannot pick and choose their teams as they see fit and still earn a spot in the NBA. Don't like the team that drafted you? Fine. Get lost. This league pays you tens of millions of dollars for a lottery choice, so if that's not good enough for you, you probably shouldn't be here anyway.

[TheNextGen]

Then why even have a fucking draft if players can demand who they want to play with?

Cuz most players want to be in the NBA so bad that they dont bust a Yi.

[TheNextGen]

Perhaps not.

However, players cannot pick and choose their teams as they see fit and still earn a spot in the NBA. Don't like the team that drafted you? Fine. Get lost. This league pays you tens of millions of dollars for a lottery choice, so if that's not good enough for you, you probably shouldn't be here anyway.

Cant argue with that. Thats the mentality of the draft. Unfortunately, there are just some cases where some players think they are bigger than the NBA.

[v2freak]

fucking bucks r stupid..they shouldn't even have picked Yi.
Yi has every rights to request a trade or sth
Tons of players in NBA does the same thing Yi, for ex. ZO who wouldn't even wear raptors uniform.

u can't realli blame Yi

Or you could blame every player that does that, like most of the people who are condemning Yi's officials have been doing. No player should do that, especially draft picks and especially, especially international players who have the opportunity to make more money in the US than they could ever dream of. I bet at least 80% of us would love to play for a horrible team in the NBA. You'd still be famous and filthy rich.