Is The Yi Movement Over?

by Atma Brother ONE on May 31, 2007 1:24 AM PDT in NBA Draft Comment 26 comments

Back in the summer of 2006, we began The Yi Movement here at Golden State of Mind calling for the Golden State Warriors to take Yi Jianlian in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The ongoing Yi saga at GSoM:

At that time things were especially dark for the Warriors. They appeared to be heading into the 2006-2007 NBA season going nowhere x13. Here's a sample of the many lowlights from last summer:

After two brutal seasons it looked like Mike Montgomery, probably the league's worst coach at the time, was staying on as the head coach of the Warriors.
Murph-leavy's charmin soft production was on the books for several more years at the going rate for star players in the NBA.
Chris Mullin and Rod Higgins had shown no evidence that they could run a competent NBA front office. They made one foolish decision after another and created the league's biggest old boy network in the Warriors' front office.
Baron was cranky and broken parts.
Adonal Foyle... well, we all love the guy, but not for anything he does on the court or his awful contract.
The Warriors selected Patrick O'Bryant with the 9th pick in the draft despite already having a roster saturated with projects (Ike Diogu, Andris Biedrins, Monta Ellis, Chris Taft- shoot even Mike Dunleavy and Adonal Foyle). This season Project O'Bryant had the notorious distinction of being the first ever NBA lottery pick to be demoted to the D-League.
The Dubs took Kosta Perovic with their 2nd round pick over Bay Area favorite Leon Powe. Perovic played the same number of minutes for the Warriors this season as Gilbert Arenas' jersey number.
Calbert Cheaney was retiring. Okay that's a joke, but thankfully Sarunas Jasikevicius stepped up big time in the cheerleading department this season to replace C-double.
Chris Cohan was (and still is) the worst owner in all of professional sports.

The Bay Area needed something to root for in this sorry Warrior bunch and the Warriors' front office needed some major help scouting and drafting. At the time it looked like the only thing that could save us from Chris Cohan's toxic waste dump x13 was something big, something major.

We needed The Yi Movement.

They call him... DUNK-SHAKER!

Seriously:

If the Warriors couldn't scout prospects well, we were here to help them.
If the Warriors were going to make random, ill-advised draft picks at least select a Chinese balla that would be wildly popular in the Bay Area even in the unlikely scenario he was a bust.
The GSoM community was bumping in the Bay Area, but it was time for us to go global. Another billion new GSoMers would be fun!

But as you all know things didn't exactly go suck x13.

First and foremost the Warriors didn't suck. They had a season for the ages. I know I'll never forget it.
Nellie returned.
Monta was awarded the NBA's Most Improved Player.
The curse was ended.
The Dubs shocked the world and convincingly beat the team many pinned as the best in the entire league.

And with that late season and playoff bang the Warriors bowed out of the NBA Draft Lottery. It was about time!

Yi's Moving On Up
Since that original July 5, 2006 GSoM Yi manifesto, our little secret here at Golden State of Mind has blown up like Charles Barkley's waistline post-retirement. Yi Jianlian has moved up the charts faster than talentless rappers from the South on the Billboard sales in the 2000's. ESPN.com's Chad Ford (the NBA's version of Mel Kiper) even dedicated a full scouting report to Yi on the worldwide leader's website:

Where Yi lies on the Greg Oden - Kevin Durant continuum:

Yi is a top prospect and he's 7 feet tall, but he's not a center like Yao. In fact, as draft prospects go, he's more like Kevin Durant than he is like Greg Oden.

Yi's hoops influences:

Yi represents a new generation of Chinese players more influenced by Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady than by Yao Ming.

Yi's sweet J:

After a brief warm-up, Yi began his shooting drills. He rarely missed. He got great elevation on his picture-perfect jump shot -- high release, elbow in, nothing but net from both inside and outside the 3-point line.

Nevada's Nick Fazekas, a draft prospect known for his shooting stroke, followed suit on the set shots, but started to lose ground to Yi once the players moved to shooting off the dribble. For Fazekas, the accuracy started to waver a bit. The needle didn't move for Yi.

Yi's handles:

Yi handled the ballhandling drills with the same aplomb. He got low to the ground, showing impressive balance and control on spin moves to the basket.

Yi's got hops:

As Yi finished at the rim, his elbow was often at or just below the rim.

His elbow.

Whether he kissed the ball high off the glass or finished with a dunk, his explosion off the floor was impressive. Not impressive like Tyrus Thomas, mind you. But for a 7-footer, he could really explode.

Yi's fine taste in movies:

Yi is already independent. He drives on his own in L.A., finds his own restaurants and hits the nightlife, including red-carpet walks for the movie premieres of "Spider-Man 3" and "Shrek The Third.

Yi! MTV Raps:

He listens to hip-hop music and jokes around with American players. He plays video games and dresses like a young star, with the requisite Sean John jeans and Jumpman shirt.

Also check out these lines on Yi from Bruce Jenkins [SFGate]:

The draft's great mystery is Yi Jianlian, the 19-year-old 7-footer from China. Working out in L.A., he has stunned observers with his shooting range (inside and out), his textbook form, his ability to shoot off the dribble, his body control, his speed and his jumping ability. As an athlete, he seems far superior to Chinese predecessor Yao Ming, who has marvelous skills but can barely jump over the Sunday paper. Some have questioned Yi's toughness, though, and there's no way a set of drills can replicate trying to drive the lane against three angry NBA players. It appears that Yi will be taken among the first 10 picks -- but who actually pulls the trigger?

Movement Over?
Now that the entire hoops world has stopped sleeping on Yi and the Warriors are slotted for the 18th spot in the 1st round of the 2007 NBA Draft it looks like there's a slim to none chance that Yi will be coming to the Bay as a True Warrior this summer.

We Believe Playoff and that actually did happen, so let's stay positive. We Believe Yi.

Most importantly so do the Warriors according to Chad Ford [ESPN]:

A number of teams, including the Warriors and Lakers, have their eyes on Yi. To get him, they'll have to find a way to trade up in the draft -- but given his potential, you can't count them out.

Here's a few ways the Warriors could defy the odds and fulfill The Yi Movement and bring Yi Jianlian to the Yay Area:

Don Nelson works his magic with Yi, China, and his agent Dan Fegan (yes, that same agent who punked the Warriors into handing Troy Murphy and Erick Dampier those ridiculous contracts and who will be representing Matt Barnes this summer) and works out a pre-draft day deal. Chris Mullin worked out such an agreement with Andris Biedrins a few years back.
The Warriors trade Monta Ellis to the Atlanta Hawks who need someone to man the point for the #3 pick and nab Yi.
The Warriors fleece the Celtics in a draft day deal and snag the #5 pick. Hmmm, how about a blockbuster deal involving Adonal Foyle and Paul Pierce as the main parts? (Yes, I do believe the Celtics' "braintrust" Danny Ainge is just that dumb. In Boston GM = General Moron.)
Yi, his family, his agent, and the Chinese government realize that for international players making the jump to the NBA it's all about fit (e.g. Yao's situation with the Rockets vs Darko's with Larry "Drama Queen" Brown and the Detroit Pistons). There's no better fit for Yi than the Bay Area and the Golden State Warriors with this hyphy edition of Nellieball. Yee! Yee! (By the way, there's no worse fit for Yi than the Boston Celtics. An incompetent front office + a location that's not exactly a multicultural hotspot on par with the Bay Area + an obnoxious, whiny local media + unreal expectations + losing culture + a young kid from China learning the ropes = disaster.)
The hoops gods realize that the GSoM community's been showing the man love since day one. Straight up, we can't wake up to Yi in the Bay like rest of NBA nation- we were NEVER sleeping.

You just never know might happen come June 28th...

Do you see any possible way the Warriors can fulfill The Yi Movement or is our fun hypefest over?

Are we saying goodbye to The Movement?
Say it ain't so!

Some notable recent Yi talk from around the web:

Two days with Yi Jianlian, the lottery's mystery man [ESPN Insider]
Where will Yi land? [ESPN Insider]
China's Rock Star [ESPN]
International Man Of Mystery [CelticsBlog]
Yi Jianlian [NBA Draft Blog]
Draft Preview Picks: Yi Jian Lian [Hooplah.. Nation]
Yi is 22? [CelticsBlog]
Yi Jianlian Is Chad Ford's New International Crush [Fanhouse]
How Old is Yi Jianlian? [Fanhouse]
To Yi or not to Yi, That is the Hawks Draft Question [Impending Firestorm]
Maybe This Will Work Out [RedsArmy]
With The 5th Pick.... [RedsArmy]
In Orlando: Source Says C's Sold on Yi Jianlian [HoopsWorld]
Movin' On Up? [Depressed Fan]

Will this GSoM web pin be the equivalent of a Penny Hardaway or Vince Carter Warriors' jersey?

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Well......

As they say in the bay.................

YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!

by jtoj on May 31, 2007 1:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The only way to fulfill the Yi movement

Is to blow the '07 team up and start a youth movement.

Put the "We Believe" year behind us (giving it its due place in our hearts and in Warriors history, naturally). "Sell high" on Baron after his amazing playoff performance by trading him to Boston for something like Rondo, Green, Ratliff, and their #5 pick. Pierce is united and with his old LA pal, and happy that the Celtics have made a ballsy, GFIN move. They get a potential Eastern Conference finals core of Baron, Pierce, and Jefferson. Meanwhile, we draft Yi with the #5 and Thaddeus Young or Rudy Fernandez with the #18.

Monta
JRich
Harrington/Jackson
Yi
Biedrins
----
Rondo (pretty much perfect for Nellieball)
Green
#18 pick
Kelenna
Ratliff (a little backup defensive help, and an expiring contract)
2nd round pick (Sean Williams or Dominic McGuire?)

We'd probably suck for a year or two, but we'd still be pretty fun to watch; and more importantly, we'd have a nice 5-6 year window of opportunity, rather than the risky, "Baron-or-Bust" plan we have now. And if two or more of those young studs really blew up, we might have a serious Championship contender.

Personally, I'd rather go for it now, roll the dice on Baron's shaky knees, and trade all our assets not named Baron or Biedrins for Wallace or Artest and (if possible) Kobe or Garnett.

But I think I'd rather go with the "blow it up" plan than just stand pat with the guys we have and give Baron his absurd 5 year/$100M extension. That's just a recipe for another 13 years of futility.

by Sleepy Freud on May 31, 2007 2:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that sounds like a good idea

boston would be the only team dumb enough to get a guy who just destroyed his whole lower body jjust to help us this year. i say this is perfect because to me we have gotten the best out of baron before his legs start to shatter into pieces like barbaro in the kentucky durby

by 24k state fan since 87 on May 31, 2007 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a sucker for...

a "young up and comming team". I could enjoy watching those guys for a few years. Plus our second unit would feature the "deadly" Rondo to Kabuki combo that we saw so much of in those kentucky clips nykeedunks posted.

by olympicmike on May 31, 2007 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Only Way

To get Yi is to trade for a top 5 pick. Trade AL Harrington, Josh Powell, and Sarunas to the Celtics for their 5th pick.

by ballin on May 31, 2007 8:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Click (sound of Ainge hanging up phone).

by Sleepy Freud on May 31, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude seriously

i hope you're just running a continuous joke or something becuase you have by far the worst most idiotic trade proposals on the site

by AJC3317 on May 31, 2007 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hypin in a vacuum

what did you expect gsom? are we 12 year olds on myspace who think only our friends look at our pages? you're supposed to hype guys you don't want so that they fall to you. trading baron is an interesting idea, but are you crazy? we call out stupid emotional moves that mully has made, but you want Yi just because he's a big AZN?

and, why the hate for cohan after this season. kick him when he's down, fine, but must give props after his part delivering that fine season. there are much much worse owners in sports. all this guy does is trust his gm to make decisions and write checks. when it doesn't work out, and he's got a blink decision-maker like nellie, he rolls the dice on guys like sjax. how many other owners trade choirboys that could date his daughter for a gun-totin' self-defenser? maybe we need to flesh out this debate on cohan, atma. i just don't understand what this guy can do to turn you around on him.

by eshock on May 31, 2007 8:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How about reading carefully?

No one wants Yi just because he's Asian. Folks want him cause he's good, looks to be a great fit for Nellieball, and would be wildly popular in the Bay Area.

And where did I ever suggest trading Baron to get Yi? That's completely foolish.

Last I checked Cohan was still batting 1 for 13 and that's awful. Nellie basically rescued Cohan this year. But Cohan did have a good season- wait for his report card.

If you think he's a good guy, well you haven't done your homework on lawsuit Cohan. The Warriors would be infinitely better off if he sold the team.

Also, let's not play into the stereotypes that Dunleavy and Murphy were choirboys. They had no voice or impact in the locker room. They were apathetic. They had less hunger than Jax has in his index finger.

by Atma Brother ONE on May 31, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't just give me a kneejerk reaction

Yi is still an unknown. I think he's got the stuff to be an MVP candidate because he's got more upside than Dirk. And, maybe Nellie knows how to get more out of the mismatch, but Dirk let his team down against us. Would Yi fare better in his playoff career? He doesn't dominate like Durant or Oden consistently have in NCAA.

Lawsuits happen in business. Nelson is in arbitration with Cuban right now for $6M in deferred money, right. What's worse, Cuban seems to be fucking with Nelson as he has no case in the dispute. (Like the English dude on Entourage willing to spend $100M to prevent honoring his $20M buyout of Ari.)

Anyway, its really easy to villify Cohan and blame him for 12 forgettable seasons, but recent history (Muss era and forward) he has not failed us. Mullin has. But, oh, for learning on the job, and accepting the help of people you trust. We got Baron and Nellie and did well developing Monta and Biedrins. I'm thankful for an owner that doesn't meddle. Doesn't call out his players for under-achieving. Just sign the checks and provide us with entertainment.

If you have more ammo to prove Cohan is the "worst owner in sports," I'd love to hear it. But, I'm not convinced.

Choirboys? As much as I hate Dunleavy, a friend in the W's organization told me that when Mike showed up for his first practice, he went out of his way and introduced himself to everybody on the staff.
They're all like, dude, we know all about you, just ball. He didn't live up to the 2nd part. And Murph, are you kidding me? Dude is as nice and respectful as they come. No act.

I hate to call you out on your own site, because I like the work of the GSOM crew a ton. I just think you might respect that some contributors can disagree. And, we do have the ability to "read carefully"

by eshock on May 31, 2007 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt

If we all had the same ideas and opinions this would be a boring place, but we don't and it isn't. I appreciate your comment.

I agree- virtually everyone in this draft is an unknown aside from Oden and Durant. I don't think the Warriors have any shot at getting those two, but might at grabbing Yi. I see talent, I see upside, I see a great fit. That's all I'm saying. There's a ton of guesswork involved in NBA drafts. Yi's my best guess and best option.

Doesn't seem like good business to me: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/02/10/SP74259.DTL

Post-Muss the Mullin, Higgins, and Monty hires were just publicity stunts. At that point none deserved their respected NBA-level jobs and were poor hires. Nellie saved Mullin, Higgins, and Cohan big time this year.

If you have more ammo to prove Cohan is the "worst owner in sports," I'd love to hear it. But, I'm not convinced.

That's a good discussion for another time. The report card's coming...

No doubt, I'm not saying either of these guys are necessarily mean, but the implication that Jax and Harrington aren't decent guys or that Dun and Murph were great "team players doesn't seem right. By all accounts both guys are much more loved by their teammates then Dun and Murph ever were. Also, all reports that I've read have said that both guys have been very nice to the local media and Warriors staff. (If you've read or heard something else, definitely post it). But you're right, taking on Jax with his pending trial and past issues was risky.

I questionedy your original reponse because of your assertion that I called for trading Baron Davis for Yi (which I never did) and that I wanted the Warriors to draft simply because he's a "big AZN" (which is just a shallow reading and missing out on the hype).

by Atma Brother ONE on May 31, 2007 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please explain something to me

I thought trades had to have financial equivalancy, more or less. So how do you trade contracts that have large cap consequences (as you suggest) for someone (Yip Yi) yet unsigned and who would be paid "relatively" little for his first four years in the NBA? Are salary/parity considerations not in effect if you trade for a draft pick?

by commish on May 31, 2007 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just throwing out some possible broad ideas

Other players will obviously have to be added to make the deals work.

by Atma Brother ONE on May 31, 2007 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not sold

Was that video supposed to be an endorsement of his skill set? I will say he has a nice athletic build, but blowing past the chinese bball league and blowing past Marcus Camby are two wildly different things. Judging from the brief off-the-dribble highlight, his first step looks awfully slow. Then again, Dirk's first step is nothing to write home about. Then again, we dominated Dirk. Hahaha...

Either way, I'm not at all on the Yi bandwagon...I'd really need to see him in some scrimmages before I'd make my decision. The Warriors need a rebounder not a brunette dirk nowitski (except without the polish or ability to help the team NOW).

by GameSix on May 31, 2007 9:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The video's for fun

The scouting reports are the real endorsements of his skillset.

Remember the guy's been playing against international competition for years. That's arguably just as telling as college hoops experience. Unlike guys like Biedrins or Skeeta, Yi's actually played meaningful minutes in high level competition before coming to the NBA. Remember he dropped something like 13-7-4 against Team USA (many of the league's best players).

by Atma Brother ONE on May 31, 2007 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has played a bit against

international competition but mostly against the weak Chinese league

AB played in a much more competitive league

by Zig on May 31, 2007 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too skinny and his feet flop around

like they belong on El contusion!
If we're gonna give Monta to the Hawks we should get Josh Smith instead.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 31, 2007 9:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hummm....

I like this trade idea. I don't think the salaries will work out but Smith's bad ass imagine would fit in nicely with Jax and Dizzle.

"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 31, 2007 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually looks a like...

Beans in a couple of those highlights. Eh, he'll really need to use that speed/first step, be able to create his own shot; it'll be interesting how he progresses in this.

"The Dunk"

by orangino on May 31, 2007 10:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

random

his girl's kinda hot =)

by nativeson on May 31, 2007 10:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Two things

I thought in Boston stood for Giant Moron, cause even a general moron wouldnt have created the mess that is the Celtics.

Second thing, how about a deal with Memphis?
TMNTH and #18 for #4, since hopefully the hawks are looking PG at #3. Add appropriate salaries to make that thing work out.

by FoyledAgain on May 31, 2007 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yo Atma, I got one for ya

No mention of the Memphis pick made me play with the RealGM trade checker a bit.

To Memphis:
Richardson (4 years remaining)
Sarunas (1 year left if he exercises the option)
#18

To GS:
Mike Miller (3 years remaining)
Damon Stoudamire (2 years remaining)
#4

Memphis gets the best NBA player in the deal but the biggest contract; #18 is payment for assuming the extra salary. Sarunas gives them an immediate expiring contract to save some money in the short term. He could also be spun in another deal if they want as he's a good trade chip, or, he could simply be retained as a backup to Kyle Lowry. Last year they ran Atkins at the point, so ...yeah...they need help.

Warriors get two shorter deals, although it does not actually help our Ellis/Biedrins situation, we do pick up #4. That pick is B. Wright, Horford, Brewer, or of course, Yi Jialian.

Mike Miller gives us a ridiculous 3 point shooter that also boards and assists and can play both SF and SG. He's what Mike Dunleavy and Luke Walton wish they could be.

Stoudamire is there to make the money work and that's it. I hope he retires and we pocket the cash savings.

The only problem I have...I'm sold on Yi's potential, but I'm not sold that he's better than Horford, Wright, or Brewer. Couldn't really complain about either, but if we're makin such a deal, Nellie better do his homework first.

by OptionZero on May 31, 2007 1:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Miller = JRich

Or close to, anyway. You could make a case for either being a better player. Either way, there's no way Memphis gives up their #4 for our #18 to make up for whatever minuscule talent gap there is between them.

If we really want to move up into the Top 5 picks, we're going to have part with Biedrins, Monta, or Baron. Suggesting we use Harrington to move up is just insulting to other teams. Suggesting JRich is marginally less insulting, but still not very realistic.

by Sleepy Freud on May 31, 2007 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I love Miller

But remember, he's coming off a career year last year. He got more minutes and touches in a faster paced offense, all of which contributed to better numbers pretty much across the board.

I have my beef with J-Rich's game (lazy with the ball, poor handle, poor decision making, low FG and FT%). If you look at Miller's career numbers and recent seasons, his pt/rebound/ast numbers start to look like Mike Dunleavy with significantly better percentages (notably 3pt shooting, 9 percentage points better!). That makes him a slightly above average small forward, while J-Rich is probably a second-tier shooting guard thanks to his rebounding.

That leads to my next point: J-Rich is a better SG than Mike Miller. Put Miller at the 3, and he's fine, but you have Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick there, even Stromile Swift might spot minutes at the 3. For "fit", J-Rich makes more sense to the Grizz than Miller.

Then you have ticket sales. The Grizz could use a sexy publicity move, and bringing in a 2 time dunk champion probably doesn't hurt there.

Think of it as J-rich + Saras's expiring contract and backup PG role for the #4, and dumping Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire's contracts for the #18 and the values get a bit closer.

If we start talking Ellis +18 to the Grizz, then they better start talkin about taking Adonal Foyle back.

Playing around with that a bit...

To Memphis:
Foyle
Sarunas
Ellis
#18

To GS:
Swift
Miller
#4

by OptionZero on May 31, 2007 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not convinced at all

So some weak dunks in Europe and China and Chad Ford hyperbole and now this guy is a superstar? I am very skeptical. There is excellent finesse in ball outside of America, but they don't know how to play tough (except maybe the spanish). Yi will make a great roleplayer but I wouldn't bet the farm on him at all. His vertical is not that impressive (though it is for a 7-footer) and he isn't all that explosive.

At this point, it's all hype.

by walkerp on May 31, 2007 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs