Yi in Town

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 18, 2007 4:40 PM PDT in NBA Draft Comment 11 comments

The Warriors are bringing in Yi Jianlian of The Yi Movement fame for a workout today. It would be a draft day shocker if Yi fell to the Warriors at #18, so this suggests a few things:

Yi hasn't received a promise from any team thus far that they'll select him.
The Warriors are thinking about trading up to get Yi.
Yi's feeling the Warriors.
Nellie and Mullin are going to woo Yi and make him a promise that he can't refuse. In turn he and his camp will send out a warning to any potentially interested ballclub not to draft him a la Steve Francis.
Just like guys like 7-foot-5 Russian center Pavel Podkolzin from several years ago, Yi's high draft projection is purely media hype and GMs around the league are bluffing. Maybe Yi will actually be around the late-teens of this loaded NBA draft.

According to Chad Ford the other teams Yi has worked out for include the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, and LA Clippers. Jonathan Givony has a good deal of Yi insights on his latest Draft Express podcast that you should definitely give a listen.

Yi's workout might include some pull-ups on the rim.

Out of the Warriors, Bulls, Celtics, Hawks, Kings, and Clippers, which team is the best fit for Yi?

More GSoM fun with Yi:

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Warriors - Best Fit

Warriors, Bulls, Celtics, Hawks, Kings, and Clippers

Wow, that's not much of a choice for Yi (if it only came to these teams)

The Warriors would be the best fit if Yi can live up to his billing with his shooting and athleticism. The biggest question is if Yi can rebound better than Harrington. The Warriors offense will suit Yi fine. He just needs to keep his end of the bargain. The other plus is the Warriors have established players in place. Yi doesn't have to be a super star. He just needs to contribute.

The same could be said of the Bulls who have a pretty solid overall team.

The other teams all have needs and probably want Yi to be an immediate impact player. I'm not sure Yi can do that yet.

by coach41 on Jun 18, 2007 8:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Atlanta

According to Jonathan Giovanni of Draft Express, Yi has not worked out for Atlanta (unless I missed it). Check out Draft Podcast #3 on draftexpress.com, linked by GSoM article above.

I highly doubt any team takes Yi without working him out, so that limits the possible destinations to:

Boston
Chicago
LA (both)
Sac
GS

Boston is looking for immediate help and will probably deal the pick to a team that hasn't worked him out (like Minnesota), so he won't be gonig #5.

Chicago is a threat, but I imagine they'd want a more established, low post presences like Hawes or Noah.

Sacramento is a threat, but they are a smaller market than us. The problem is at 10...it'll be hard to leap frog them.

The Clips have no where to play Yi and already blew one pick on a foreign player, Karoslav or wutever his name was. And they already have a PF in Brand.

The Lakers pick after us and don't really have much bait to be moving up since they'll want to hang on to what commodities they have for rebuilding.

So basically we just gotta hope Yi slips past #9 and #10, I'm betting none of the 11-17 teams take him.

by OptionZero on Jun 18, 2007 9:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Yi is impregnating that basketball

by Feedusfetus on Jun 18, 2007 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yi is impregnating that basketball

Yeah, he's got a ball fetish problem. that's why China wants him out of the country, they've got a one ball per family policy.
Seriouly though he seems to have trouble getting off the rim after a dunk which makes me think he's not as co-ordinated as he should be? I think he'll turn into an NBA bust after a couple of years.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 19, 2007 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah but...

dont you think one of these teams or one of the 11-17 teams would take him even if they didn't "need" him? He could be valuable trade bait.
There is no way on god's green earth he slips to #18 with all the hype surrounding him.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Jun 18, 2007 11:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

chicken

It would be a game of chicken.

Taking a foreign prospect you've never seen in person, never worked out, who probably doesn't even want to be there and might never play a game for you (ala Fran Vazquez)...with a mid/upper first rounder in the 11-17 range, with no pre-arranged deal with a team that does want Yi...thats a pretty big risk, since any team is unlikely to leverage much out of GSW except #18 and, what? POB, Sarunas, a future pick, Pietrus s/t? I dunno, it seems a lot of downside for a deal that hasn't been worked out before hand, just to screw with us.

If you want to get specific:

#11, Atlanta: They're taking a point guard here...right?

#12, Philly: Honestly, they could use a PF. Sure, maybe they'll grab Yi just to dick with us (or the Lakers), but really, there must be better ways for them to use this pick since known college players like Al Thornton or Jeff Green or Julian Wright might be around this range.

#13, New Orlean/Oaklahoma: David West, Tyson Chandler, Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons. Yeah.

#14, Clippers: A threat, since Yi worked out for LA, they have the market. However, PG is a very large need for them, while PF is not. I'd probably be a little worried about them, since they're pissed at us already for "stealing" a playoff spot (LOL! Suckas).

#15, Detroit: Yi in Detroit? Not unless they blow up the team, ditch Rasheed, and want to risk another Darko fiasco. They need backcourt help in a big way.

#16, Wizards: Do need a PF, but one that plays in the post and defends. They also did not work out Yi.

#17, New Jersey: Same as above.

by OptionZero on Jun 18, 2007 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Word..

There is a lot of hype over China's mystery man, but given the scenarios listed, it seems possible that he could drop (crossing fingers of course). Gerald Green dropped pretty major a few years back even when touted him as having McGrady-like game. Perhaps some of these GMs post top 5 will have their Orientalist imaginings and pass on him.. haha.

by dj fuzzylogic on Jun 19, 2007 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yi Yi!!!!

Although I'm very intrigued by his talent and stature, we REALLY need an inside/defensive presence who can run the floor and I don't think he fits the bill. I still think we should make a push for Pau.

We Believe!!!

by crossphaded on Jun 19, 2007 12:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

UPDATE: Atlanta in, LA out?

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/46581/20070619/yis_camp_trying_to_get_him_to_warriors_haw ks_celtics_or_bulls/

According to that article, Yi's camp is targeting ATL, CHI, BOS, or GSW. Bear in mind, this is a local newspaper, not a more established source like Ford or Draft Express.

Note that there's no mention of LA, which would mean we no longer need to worry about LAC, or LAL...but it will be much more difficult to leapfrog ATL because they have both the #3 and the #11. Man, that'll be tough to beat.

ATL's defying logic here...I can't imagine why they don't take Horford and Conley with their two picks.

If ATL insists on taking Yi at #3, then we're out, we can't beat that.

by OptionZero on Jun 19, 2007 11:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs