Rumor: Warriors are Yi "Approved"

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 1, 2007 6:08 PM PDT in Rumors

Well it looks like the fat lady hasn't sung yet. Just the other day I wondered out loud whether The Yi Movement was over, but it looks like instead of being over it may actually be picking up more steam. ESPN.com's Chad Ford has been hanging out at the NBA's predraft camp in Orlando and conversing with NBA execs and agents. Here's what he dropped on The Movement in his blog post today titled Rumors from Orlando:

The Yi Jianlian games have begun. Yi is foregoing the physical-only portion of the camp -- the first time I remember seeing that move by a player.

Yi is not injured and he's not in China. He's pulling out to maintain control of the process.

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.

This rejection was "approved" by Yi.

You have to wonder how long the list of "approved" teams for Yi are. Lottery teams like the Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Bobcats, and Hornets probably aren't on the list because of their diminutive market status. The Celtics play in a good sized market and are a legendary NBA franchise, but their current tank-job front office is one of the worst in NBA history and they've shown no signs of vacating the NBA's cellar. After eliminating those lottery teams, here's who might be on that "approved" list for Yi:

Golden State Warriors: Ford noted the Warriors are on the list, but let's recap the obvious positives: large market, up and coming team, best fans in the NBA, and the Bay is a cultural hot spot with a tremendous Asian population. Nellieball looks optimal for Yi as well. And of course that movement thing...
Chicago Bulls: Again, Ford said they're Yi "approved", but there's some big plusses worth noting. The Bulls could easily win the Leastern Conference with a few good moves. Chi-town is a large market and thanks to MJ the Bulls are one of the most popular and recognizable NBA teams around the world.
New York Knicks: New York is the biggest stage in the world. The Knickerbockers missed out on the playoffs this season for the second straight year in a row, but in the Leastern Conference it really isn't that difficult to move up in the standings. They have a decent young core that Yi could only add to.
LA Lakers: Assuming this Kobe drama doesn't explode and further embarrass this once proud franchise even further, the Lake-show is popular all over the world and are a global brand. They're an easy sell to free agents and draftees.
LA Clippers: The Clipped were the most underachieving team in the league this year, but assuming they can fix their point guard woes, they really aren't that far away from being a threat in the loaded Western Conference. And it's still La-La land.
Sacramento Kings: Sacrapmento's a small market, but it's still in Cali. Major changes are probably in store for them this offseason, but don't count out the Maloof's to pull off some big gamble.

It'll be extremely interesting to see whether the Warriors actually have Yi in for a workout before the June 28th NBA Draft. Yi and his crew definitely seem interested in coming to the Bay and rightfully so, but are Mullin, Nellie, and the Warrior management feeling Yi enough to make a big leap in the NBA Draft picking order to grab him? Do they even have the goods that would interest other teams in the lottery?

Let's say the Warriors did make a big jump and drafted Yi. The best case scenario is that Yi blows up big time and fits with Andris Biedrins like Voltron to form the Dub's unique 4-5 combo for the next decade plus. The worst case scenario for the Warriors is that Yi's a complete and utter bust, but puts the franchise on the map globally for a short period and is good for a huge increase in merchandise sales. One thing's for sure though, just like with Yao who took some time to adjust and blow up to first round knockout level (man, I still can't get over how Yao and TMac lost that series to the Utah Jazz), it's going to take a few years to assess Yi as an NBA player. Playing on one of the "approved" teams will make a big difference in whether his NBA run is a success or a failure.

Regardless of whether you think Yi will blow up or be a bust, will the Warriors end up drafting Yi on June 28th? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Don't sleep:

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Comments

Woohoo

This is great news for Golden State. I'd like to see if Golden State can trade up to get him and not give up too much (Mullin make the magic happen again, move Foyle's contract!)

If the Warriors can get Sun Yue with their last pick, that would be even cooler. He could play a little point-forward when Baron's on the bench so the offense doesn't become so stagnant and content with raining threes. The guy has awesome court vision.

Imagine the press and marketability of Yi and Yue on the up-and-coming Dubs and in the heavily Asian-populated Bay Area.

by jlagace on Jun 1, 2007 7:30 PM PDT reply actions

Sun Yue?

One physically weak Chinese player is enough

by Zig on Jun 2, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Do the Warriors have any pieces

they're willing to give up and that the other teams ahead of them in the draft want?

Reading over all the draft scenarios around here in regards to trading up don't seem too likely.

I do not see Yi Jianlian being drafted by the Warriors at the end of the month.

by back2back51s on Jun 1, 2007 7:41 PM PDT reply actions

this is probably stupid

but how about the warriors trading their first pick this year, one of their second round picks, and next years first pick to the grizzlies for the 4th pick

by llamalimbo1 on Jun 1, 2007 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

Let the Yi-volution begin...

Watching the clips of him against inferior competition, you may not be able to see his potential as a traditional PF, but man you can't deny that this kid is agile as heck for his size. It's like watching a SG/SF playing in a midget league. His movement is so fluid. Not even Yao was that fluid in the CBA. You can't help but wonder what would happen if Nellie managed to get his hands on Yi. Sweet jumper, great footwork, runs the floor well, great bball IQ. The bay area could have our very own Nowitzki. East meets West..

Personally I believe Yi will be a success in the league. He's already ahead of the curve in terms of getting acclimated with US culture. He's pretty much fluent in english. he's been taking English lessons for awhile and does not need a translator. It seems like he's way more prepared entering the league. Kinda like how Lebron really absorbed the experiences of KG/kobe/Tmac and the high schoolers and really learned from the experiences. I'm definitely not comparing him to any of those players. It just seems to me that he knows what he's getting into.

by ThermoElectro on Jun 1, 2007 7:55 PM PDT reply actions

He doesn't shoot like Dirk

I only worry about his physicality. Can he guard a PW in the NBA? This guy is nowhere near the build of Yao and even Yao has a weak upper body for his size

by Zig on Jun 2, 2007 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

The best I can do is to get us to #13, New Orleans

A top 10 pick would require shuffling Ellis and/or J-Rich, and deals involving that sort of talent is much harder to work out.

So here's what I came up with:

Sarunas Jaskivicius' expiring contract
#18

for

Rasul Butler (3 years left)
Pargo's expiring contract
#13

We move up 5 spots in exchange for eating Butler's contract. New Orleans wipes off $4M in salary for next offseason and sacrifices 5 spots. They could still be in range of a swing man there to play with Stojakivic.

I figure only the Bulls, Clippers and Lakers are threats picking ahead of us. Not much we can do about the Bulls. The Clippers have no where to play Yi with Brand, Kaman, and Tim Thomas rotating at the 4/5. The Lakers are likely to deal the pick with Odom and Bynum to get Jermaine or Kidd or some veteran, and New Jersey or Indiana ain't gonna take Yi.

It's a smaller, simpler deal and much easier to make than a blockbuster, and it's a compromise. Yi only has to drop from 5 to 13, we only move up from 18 to 13. Meet halfway.

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jun 1, 2007 8:04 PM PDT reply actions

I'd buy that for a dollar

I'd love to see Yi in a Dubs uni. I'm hoping that whatever deal we can make is worth it; meaning, not giving up too much. We all know how costly giving up too much for potential alone can be.

by mojo X on Jun 1, 2007 8:05 PM PDT reply actions

obviosuly give up #18

and what else? This guy is goin to be a top 5 pick am I right?

by djchuckdeez on Jun 1, 2007 8:10 PM PDT reply actions

Depends on how enamored the GM's are with

the college prospects coming out this year...What would be ideal is that he somehow comes down with some kind of flu or something and has a poor showing at all the pre draft camps combined with the other big men really wow'ing the other GM's, causing his stock to plummet down to 18...If only that could happen..

by ThermoElectro on Jun 1, 2007 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions

or....

if he pulls a steve francis and asks to only play on the W's....I can only dream...

by ThermoElectro on Jun 1, 2007 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions

That's the thing

With this rumor saying Yi will only workout with certain NBA teams, it makes it improbable that a lottery team will use their coveted lottery pick on a player they won't get to see much. Yi's getting closer and closer to striking distance of the Dubs making a deal and moving up and "meeting halfway", like someone mentioned before.

by jlagace on Jun 1, 2007 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions

All I can say

dont get your hopes up on drafting this guy! If he lands in GS, HORRAY!!!

Let's try and sign Rashard Lewis or try trading for Jermaine Oneal and maybe try developing our top pick last year Patrick Obryant???? (Why draft him that high if you aint gonna play him? He isnt that bad!)

by ballin on Jun 1, 2007 8:14 PM PDT reply actions

Rashard Lewis?

We don't need Rashard Lewis

Look at how Championship NBA teams are built. Its not about getting the 5 best scorers you can at each postion

by Zig on Jun 2, 2007 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I really doubt

I definitely don't think he's going into the starting lineup over Harrington.

But he's a big man we can use off the bench. Right now we have NONE. And the type of big men that Nellie will use is a rare breed, this guy fits it.

by jlagace on Jun 2, 2007 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Lot of money for a bench player

Lewis is gonna be asking for $12-$15 mil a year. There's no chance in hell he's gonna sign with a team that plans on using him off the bench.

by ivanbe on Jun 3, 2007 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions

will the Warriors end up drafting Yi?

I certainly hope not! We don't need him and I don't like his attitude. If we did get him who'd we have to get rid of to pay him? I don't see the upside of getting another soft big guy when we've already got plenty of outside shooters. We've got more pressing needs than another foreign project. We need a homegrown NBA or sweet16 thug! If Yi was Yao then I'd be interested but he's not!

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 1, 2007 8:20 PM PDT reply actions

dude

they say hes better than yao. He can shoot, run, and rebound. If you leave him the starting lineup for 1 season he can probably average 18 points-10 rebounds.

by ballin on Jun 1, 2007 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

they say hes better than yao.

don't know who "they" is but apparently theyz full oshit! Yao is 7ft6 and 300lbs, Yi is 7ft0 and 230. Yao is a unique player who can hold his position against almost anyone. Yao can play back to the basket inside. Yao would be usefull to the warriors. Yi plays outside like a tall dunleavey or Sjax or harrington, we already got those skills. If we were to draft him we'd just be trading a know commodity for an unknown. We don't need a 7ft tall small forward, we need a real power forward. I'm getting tired of watching our guys stall out because we don't have a post up big to go to when the game is on the line, all the chinese league highlight dunk videos in the world won't help solve that situation.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 1, 2007 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Dude

How many rookies averaged 18/10 this season? Oh yeah, zero. None were even close.

And who's this mysterious "they" who say he's better than Yao? He seems to be more athletic. He's also, as far as I know, not 7'6" with a virtually unstoppable post game.

The operative phrase here being: "as far as I know." He could be a fabulous player, but no one knows for sure -- not you, not me, not Atma, not Chad Ford.

Sorry to be a party-pooper -- I just don't want people to put unreasonable expectations on the kid. A 10 pts/7 reb Bargnani-type rookie season, with solid defensive effort, good energy, and a few highlight reel moments, is about all anyone could hope for.

A question for you, ballin: is there anyone you don't want on the Warriors? Not that I'm keeping track, but it seems like any time a new prospect or trade target gets brought up on this site -- which is to say, like every five minutes -- you leap right on board. Yi, Randolph, O'Neal, KG, Kobe, Jefferson ... bring 'em all on!!! I thought a was a whore for rumors involving talented players, but man, you are constantly open for business! ;-P

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 1, 2007 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

He is Chinese and other than that I can't

see why he is compared to Yao. Yao is a 7'4 back to the basket center

by Zig on Jun 2, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

He's 7'6"

You under-rated him ;p

by ssmokinjoe on Jun 2, 2007 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

IMO

If the Lakers are on that "approved" list then Yi would probably wanna go to L.A. From what i've read he seems to be in sync with the hip generation and his girlfriend is already somewhat in the entertainment industry.

Yi's going Hollywood. That's what i think.

by ssmokinjoe on Jun 1, 2007 8:50 PM PDT reply actions

Western Conference

I think Yi will end up on a Western Conference team, which suits his game more than the defensive-minded Leastern Conference. His strengths include playing in an uptempo type of game, which gives the Ws even more hope. If he really wants to play for the Ws, I say welcome to the Bay Area Yi!

www.TRACKjams.com

by MANUTEs BOLs on Jun 1, 2007 9:30 PM PDT reply actions

Don't rule out...

a draft and trade. Picks are sometimes valued more than the players. So the Warriors could strike a deal with a "non-Yi approved" team to trade for him if he's available at their pick. I think this is more likely than an move up in the draft.

I'd really like to see him come to the W's. And I can only imagine Nellie's mouth is watering just watching this guy play. Nellie's a draft maverick and I predict they will make this happen, even if they give up a little more than they/we would like.

Does anyone know if we can trade Pietrus or the rights to him before or after the draft?

J.cob -greatest accomplishment: coming up with the Golden State of Mind name.

by jdotcob on Jun 1, 2007 10:29 PM PDT reply actions

I hope we get him

If he goes to the warriors im probably gunna be the first person to buy his jersey. Ne acually isnt that soft and has a good playing game just like bosh or even a durant. I would love to get him.

We are the LOUDEST crowd in the NBA..

by GSwarrior on Jun 1, 2007 10:34 PM PDT reply actions

from what i've seen

i'm not sold on the guy, but if nellie, after working him out, is, then he's probably eventually going to be legit.

by the evil monkey on Jun 1, 2007 10:59 PM PDT reply actions

Too tired to come up with any trade ideas

but I could definitely see Yi Jian Lian in a Warriors uniform next year.

Not only is the guy a very good athlete, but he'd be the perfect compliment to Biedrins, who gets anxiety attacks when the word "outside" is even mentioned. Yi would be an ideal fit in our frontcourt and would give us a formidable inside/outside tandem when paired with AB.

Mullin scouted Yi in China and I wouldn't be surprised if the Warriors are genuinely interested in obtaining him. From a financial standpoint, Yi makes more sense than Darko and with our sizable Asian population ticket sales could definitely go up.... (Robert Rowell are you reading this?)

Yi probably won't make a huge impact right away, but I still think that his size and athleticism have to be intriguing to Mullin and company.

by Byron Houston We Have A Problem on Jun 2, 2007 12:26 AM PDT reply actions

Man we need this guy

Imagine the type of matchup problems this guy presents, Nellie must be frothing at the mouth. He'll blow by any center off the dribble or shoot the J if the center doesn't come out, and he just has too much length to be guarded by a forward. This is the type of athletic spread-the-defense fast-breaking big man of Nellie's dreams.

by jlagace on Jun 2, 2007 3:55 AM PDT reply actions

well said

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense for Mullin and Nellie.

by Byron Houston We Have A Problem on Jun 2, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget that Nellie's considering retirement.

Picking up a guy like Yi, would be more than enough to sway Nellie towards coming back.

by ThermoElectro on Jun 2, 2007 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions

He looks like a guy we need...

Especially in Nellies system, he looks like the ANSWER. Rebounds blocks shots, runs the floor, athletic, great compliment to AB. I say you make a trade with Boston for the number 5 pick. Give up harrington, rooney sign and trade pietrus and the number 18 for the number 5 (and fillers).

Lets face it the Celts need a point guard who is consistent and while Rooney didnt fit in our system he is great on the pick and roll. Harrington gives them a 3 point shooter to put around pierce. Celtics are looking to trade the #5 pick for immediate help and I think we could steal it with that package.

by dallaswarrior on Jun 2, 2007 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

oh and if we draft him our lineup looks like this.

bd
jr
jax
Yi
AB

with off the bench:
Monta
(boston fillers)

by dallaswarrior on Jun 2, 2007 10:45 AM PDT reply actions

No.......HELL NO!

We don't need another soft big man we already got Al to fill that spot

He's not a good rebounder nor does he play defense and he will not produce right away he's a project

If we're going to trade up in the draft we better end up with Horford or Noah

by Town Bidnezz on Jun 2, 2007 10:45 PM PDT reply actions

dude

dude you dont know what your talking about

We are the LOUDEST crowd in the NBA..

by GSwarrior on Jun 3, 2007 12:11 PM PDT reply actions

Really?

Well correct me where im wrong

Because the post above where your comparing him to Bosh and Durant is straight comedy

He is NOT as quick, can't rebound, nor can he play with his back to the basket like Durant and Bosh

And my argument is not based on Youtube clips where it only shows his mediocre bright side I've seen him play in the Summer Olympics

by Town Bidnezz on Jun 3, 2007 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope

that Yi is in a Dubs uni next year but reality hits me and I really think that at our position if we don't do any "big" moves to move up the draft were getting Tiago (mini version of Yi)