Indazone
06-07-2008, 09:07 AM
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8966
You knew all along that Yi Jianlian would wind up in California, right? The large Chinese population in the San Francisco area was the focus of China's desire when they decided to allow Yi to come to America, though then-GM of the Bucks Larry Harris did a great job of selling them on Milwaukee. Though Yi was arguably the best pick left on the board when the Bucks went on the clock with the #6 overall pick last summer, his failure to perform at the level many hoped he would achieve had something to do with the fact that Harris is no longer the GM.
A very good case could be made that Al Thornton was a better pick, but seven other teams missed that boat, as well.
All of that said, the Warriors continue to be interested in Yi Jianlian - if nothing else for the tremendous amount of fan interest he would draw. Certainly Yi has an upside, and should continue to improve as Yao Ming did when he first came over to join the Houston Rockets. Yao adjusted much more quickly, but it took him several seasons to really find his comfort zone in the NBA, culturally as well as physically.
One rumor has the Warriors offering Brandan Wright and the #14 pick to the Bucks for Yi, though that doesn't seem as likely to get Milwaukee's attention as a move that might bring Mikael Pietrus or Matt Barnes to beer country. The predominant thinking is that the Bucks are going to move Michael Redd, and they certainly don't need another power forward with Charlie Villanueva ready to start. Wright could potentially back him up, but the Bucks still have no shortage of big men to throw out there. Then again, there have been a plethora of rumors surrounding a potential move for Villanueva, as well.
One way or the other, it's clear the Bucks are going to be very active in the trade market this summer - probably beginning on draft day.
Yeah I know it's Hoops World but there's also a supporting story by ESPN
Look for the Golden State Warriors to pursue Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian strongly in the coming weeks. During last year's draft, the Warriors agreed to trade Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 8 pick, with the hope that Yi would fall to the Bobcats at that spot.
The team was shocked that the Bucks, for whom Yi refused to work out, took him at No. 6. The Bobcats took Brandan Wright and traded him to Golden State. While Wright played well for the Warriors toward the end of the season, they still covet Yi, according to sources.
If the Warriors were to offer Wright and the No. 14 pick for Yi, that might be too much for the Bucks to pass on. The team is in rebuilding mode and might be ready to accept a two-for-one deal. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftNotes-080605&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fdraft2008%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumni st%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftNotes-080605
You knew all along that Yi Jianlian would wind up in California, right? The large Chinese population in the San Francisco area was the focus of China's desire when they decided to allow Yi to come to America, though then-GM of the Bucks Larry Harris did a great job of selling them on Milwaukee. Though Yi was arguably the best pick left on the board when the Bucks went on the clock with the #6 overall pick last summer, his failure to perform at the level many hoped he would achieve had something to do with the fact that Harris is no longer the GM.
A very good case could be made that Al Thornton was a better pick, but seven other teams missed that boat, as well.
All of that said, the Warriors continue to be interested in Yi Jianlian - if nothing else for the tremendous amount of fan interest he would draw. Certainly Yi has an upside, and should continue to improve as Yao Ming did when he first came over to join the Houston Rockets. Yao adjusted much more quickly, but it took him several seasons to really find his comfort zone in the NBA, culturally as well as physically.
One rumor has the Warriors offering Brandan Wright and the #14 pick to the Bucks for Yi, though that doesn't seem as likely to get Milwaukee's attention as a move that might bring Mikael Pietrus or Matt Barnes to beer country. The predominant thinking is that the Bucks are going to move Michael Redd, and they certainly don't need another power forward with Charlie Villanueva ready to start. Wright could potentially back him up, but the Bucks still have no shortage of big men to throw out there. Then again, there have been a plethora of rumors surrounding a potential move for Villanueva, as well.
One way or the other, it's clear the Bucks are going to be very active in the trade market this summer - probably beginning on draft day.
Yeah I know it's Hoops World but there's also a supporting story by ESPN
Look for the Golden State Warriors to pursue Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian strongly in the coming weeks. During last year's draft, the Warriors agreed to trade Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 8 pick, with the hope that Yi would fall to the Bobcats at that spot.
The team was shocked that the Bucks, for whom Yi refused to work out, took him at No. 6. The Bobcats took Brandan Wright and traded him to Golden State. While Wright played well for the Warriors toward the end of the season, they still covet Yi, according to sources.
If the Warriors were to offer Wright and the No. 14 pick for Yi, that might be too much for the Bucks to pass on. The team is in rebuilding mode and might be ready to accept a two-for-one deal. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftNotes-080605&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fdraft2008%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumni st%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftNotes-080605