Yi Jianlian Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Jianlian, McCullough, Draft

April 2nd, 2015 at 10:35pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Chris McCullough plans to enter this year’s draft despite tearing his ACL in January, but the player is confident he can sell NBA teams on his commitment to rehabilitating the injury, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports writes. “This is the kind of injury that players come back strong from all the time in basketball now, and the process has gone good so far,” McCullough told Wojnarowski. “I’m working hard at the rehab, trying to eat the right foods. I’ll be back on the court later this year.” In 16 games for Syracuse this season, McCullough averaged 9.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per contest.

Here’s more from around the league:

Wizards guard Will Bynum thinks that 2007 Bucks lottery pick Yi Jianlian has improved his game and could play in the NBA once again, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post tweets. Bynum played with the big man in China this season. Jianlian’s last NBA action came during the 2011/12 season when he appeared in 30 games for the Mavs. His career stats are 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 22.2 minutes per night.
Kentucky could lose as many as seven players to the NBA draft this season, an NBA scout tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. “I think all seven leave,” the scout said to Zagoria. “If they win it all, there’s no doubt in my mind all seven of them leave. No doubt. The only ones who would stay [if they lose] would be a Trey Lyles, maybe a Devin Booker. The rest of them are all going, I don’t care if they win or lose. I think if they lose there’s maybe a moment [of pause] by Lyles or Booker. Those are the only two that I think may pause at all.” The other five players whom the scout believes will declare for the draft are Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson, Andrew Harrison, and Aaron Harrison.
Knicks GM Steve Mills says that the franchise has already received calls from two opposing teams that are interested in obtaining New York’s first round draft pick, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. The Ted Stepien Rule prevents the Knicks from trading this year’s pick, but New York could make the selection for another franchise and trade the player’s rights after the draft.
Team president Phil Jackson says the Knicks won’t solicit offers for their first-rounder, but admitted that they would “sit back and see what comes to them,” Begley adds in another tweet.

Yi Jianlian Signs Two-Year Deal In China

September 14th, 2013 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

Former No. 6 overall pick Yi Jianlian won't be returning to the NBA anytime soon. The athletic big man has signed a two-year deal with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The deal, according to the club, does not contain an NBA-out clause.

Jianlian had scouts drooling over his athletic ability and vertical leap during the 2007 draft and he wound up going No. 6 to the Bucks. However, the Chinese sensation came with a ton of question marks, not the least of which being his age. The big man listed his birthday as October 27, 1987, but it's more likely that he was actually born in 1984, meaning that he is on the cusp of his 30th birthday today.

Over the course of five NBA seasons with the Bucks, Nets, Wizards, and Mavericks, Yi averaged 7.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG in 22.2 minutes per contest. Statistically, his best season came in 2009/10 for New Jersey where he put up 12.0 PPG and 7.2 RPG.

To keep up on the latest international player movement, be sure to check out the brand new Hoops Rumors tracker.

Eastern Links: Randolph, Jay-Z, Maxiell, Casey

April 9th, 2013 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

After a very productive year in China, Shavlik Randolph is playing some of the best ball of his NBA career for the Celtics, but as he tells Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, he's not about to take his current role for granted.

"I’m not the kind of player who can even think about relaxing," Randolph said. "I’m not really gifted enough or talented enough to relax and still go out there and perform. Some guys are, but I’m not. And, look, this can all change in any game. Washington played big (in Sunday’s win by the Celtics), so we needed size. Maybe that got me more time. But I’m going to be ready whatever my role is."

Here's more from around the Eastern Conference:

Jay-Z has begun the process of selling his small share of the Nets in order to be able to become a certified NBA agent, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. According to Wojnarowski, rival agents are anxious about the rapper's ability to attract top prospects and current stars, given his cultural standing.
With Jason Maxiell facing unrestricted free agency this summer, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press suggests that the forward has likely played his last game with the Pistons. Maxiell, an eight-year veteran, has spent his entire NBA career with the club.
One of basketball's newest Hall-of-Famers, Gary Payton, tells Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun that he thinks it's unfair to consider Raptors head coach Dwane Casey as on the hot seat. "I think he shouldn’t be under fire, but that’s just the way business goes," Payton said. "I think he understands that and I think he’ll be fine. Give him one more year, ’til you let Rudy [Gay] be there for a whole year and see what happens."
In his latest piece for the Sporting News, Sean Deveney names the Bucks, Hawks, and Cavaliers as a few teams that could be hunting for a new head coach this summer.
Writing for SheridanHoops.com, Jon Pastuszek of NiuBBall.com wonders if Yi Jianlian could help a playoff-bound NBA team, listing the Celtics, Pacers, and Knicks among the potential fits.

Odds & Ends: Yi, McGrady, Turkoglu

March 23rd, 2013 at 5:47pm CST by Ryan Raroque

A handful of players have joined the NBA after finishing their season in China, and Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops wonders if Yi Jianlian could attract some attention after dominating in the CBA thus far. The former NBA lottery pick has averaged 24.9 PPG and 10.5 RPG while shooting 59.4% from the field and 40.7% from long distance for the Guangdong Southern Tigers this year, and is currently playing in the CBA Finals. We've got several more links to share with you this evening:

In that same piece, Sheridan says that former NBA superstar Tracy McGrady is mulling a return to the Qingdao Flying Eagles for another season.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel says that it's "highly likely" the Magic will part ways with Hedo Turkoglu during the offseason. The 34-year-old forward doesn't appear to fit into the team's long-term plans, and only $6MM of his $12MM contract next year is fully guaranteed.
Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles report that Lakers reserve Antawn Jamison will play through pain after suffering a slight tear in his shooting wrist during Friday night's loss to the Wizards.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson thinks that Jason Kidd could "absolutely" play two years after this one (Ian Begley of ESPN New York tweets).
Despite all the media attention converging onto Miami nowadays, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel doesn't think that the Heat approaching the NBA's all-time winning streak has created any unneeded pressure.
Marc D'Amico of Celtics.com examines Jeff Green's performance against the Heat last Monday, calling it a game indicative of a potential superstar.

Odds & Ends: T-Wolves, Yi, Arroyo, Rockets

September 25th, 2012 at 5:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few of today's odds and ends from around the Association….

The Timberwolves ultimately signed Louis Amundson to a minimum-salary deal to bolster their frontcourt, but were also seriously considering Sean Williams and were close to signing Yi Jianlian, tweets Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500. Yi ended up signing in China, where he presumably received a larger guarantee.
Two and a half months after urging management to make roster upgrades, Kevin Love says he's happy about the changes and is optimistic about the Timberwolves' playoff chances, according to an AP report (via NBA.com).
According to a Primera Hora report (Spanish link), longtime NBA point guard Carlos Arroyo is still debating whether to join an NBA team's training camp or play in Turkey.
The Rockets announced a series of coaching and basketball operations hirings and promotions today, including a pair of assistant coaches.
There has been so much turnover in New Orleans in recent years that Jason Smith, who joined the team almost exactly two years ago, is now the longest-tenured Hornet. Smith spoke to Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com about the club's offseason acquisitions and his expectations for the coming year.

Agent Says Yi Jianlian Will Play In China

September 23rd, 2012 at 10:56am CST by Chuck Myron

Agent Lu Yu says former lottery pick Yi Jianlian will play for the Guangdong Tigers in the Chinese league this season, according to the Chinese-language website NetEase (translation via HoopsHype). Lu said last month that his client's first choice was to remain in the NBA, but it appears an opportunity to do so did not materialize after his inconsistent performance for the Chinese Olympic team reportedly turned off NBA scouts.

Yi drew interest from Spain's Real Madrid earlier this summer, but Yi's request of two million euros appeared to be out of the team's price range. He spent last year with the Mavs after signing a minimum-salary deal shortly after the regular season began, but appeared in only 30 games and averaged career lows in minutes (6.8), points (2.6) and rebounds (1.6) per contest. He was the sixth overall pick of the 2007 draft by the Bucks, but never came close to delivering on his promise except for his 2009/10 season with the Nets. That year, starting 51 of his 52 games played, he averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds with a 12.3 PER.

It's the second straight year that Guangdong has landed a 2007 NBA first-round pick, as 26th overall selection Aaron Brooks spent last season with the team before signing this summer with the Kings.

Yi Jianlian

Free Agent Notes: D.J. White, Whiteside, Yi

September 21st, 2012 at 10:32am CST by Luke Adams

As teams continue to fill out their training camp rosters with free agent signings, Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld takes a look at which clubs still have cap space or various cap exceptions. Pincus' piece is worth checking out for an update on where your favorite teams stands, financially, and it also provides one important reminder: When the season begins, sign-and-trade deals are no longer permitted. Given the rule changes coming next summer, these next few weeks will be the last opportunity taxpaying teams will have to conduct sign-and-trade deals under the current CBA.

Here's the latest on a few free agents still looking for work:

ESPN.com's Marc Stein passes along "word from China" suggesting that the Shanghai Sharks are strongly pursuing unrestricted free agent D.J. White (Twitter link). We heard earlier this week that White was drawing interest from Israel.
GM David Kahn and the Timberwolves have been doing extensive due diligence on Hassan Whiteside, says Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500, who believes the big man is a good bet to join the T-Wolves (Twitter links).
Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside looks at whether Yi Jianlian's NBA window could be closing, and wonders if the former lottery pick would give the D-League a shot if it provided the best path back to the NBA.
Matt Dickey, who went undrafted out of UNC Asheville, is hoping to join the D-League for the coming season, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside.

Washburn On Grant Hill, Ben Wallace, Yi Jianlian

September 9th, 2012 at 10:55am CST by Chuck Myron

Grant Hill is telling new Clippers teammate Blake Griffin not to rush back from the medial meniscus tear he suffered in his knee over the summer, as Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. Hill reflected on the surgeries that threatened his life and career, and said he'll spread the knowledge he's gained about preserving his body to his new teammates. “Blake’s a great kid, and I said, ‘Look man, take your time. If I learned anything, take your time,’ ” said Hill, who turns 40 on October 5th. “He wants to get back so fast. “I said, ‘I need you in June, I don’t need you in October.’ So he’s a great kid and got a great career ahead of him, and hopefully I can share a little about the highs and the lows and the things that I’ve gone though.’’

Washburn has more on Hill, and toward the end of his lengthy piece that rounds up news from the last week or so, he has a couple of noteworthy tidbits:

Hill compared the Clippers' rivalry with the Lakers to the dynamic between Duke and North Carolina, and marveled at his own longevity. “To be turning 40 and having teams that are contenders trying to get me to play for them, it is humbling," he said. "It’s a great feeling and I’m glad that I am blessed and fortunate to continue to do it.”
Washburn says Ben Wallace is looking for a new deal, but if he gets one, it's unlikely to come from the Pistons. Wallace has been waffling about his retirement this summer, and if he returns, it's been widely assumed he would do so with Detroit.
Scouts were "spooked" by Yi Jianlian's up-and-down performance for China in the Olympics, Washburn hears. They believe the 7'0" free agent lacks a true position and isn't tough enough to play in the paint.

Yi Jianlian Still Seeking NBA Contract

August 21st, 2012 at 8:44am CST by Luke Adams

An unrestricted free agent, Yi Jianlian is reportedly drawing interest overseas — we heard yesterday that Real Madrid was giving him a look. However, Yi's preference would be to continue his NBA career, says Jon Pastuszek of NiuBBall.com, translating a NetEase report. According to Pastuszek, Lu Yu, one of Yi's representatives, has said that he views Europe as a secondary option for the Chinese big man.

"For now, we’re not considering playing in Spain," said Lu. "I can only say that Yi’s first choice is to return to the NBA."

As Pastuszek points out, Yi's performance in Dallas last year, combined with the strained MCL he suffered during Olympic play, has likely cooled any interest from NBA teams. Based on Yi's reported salary request of two million euros from Real Madrid, it's unlikely the Spanish team could afford him anyway, says Pastuszek.

While reports yesterday suggested that Real Madrid was eyeing both Yi and Darko Milicic, various outlets have suggested today that the chances of signing either player are dwindling. Pastuszek passes along word from French outlet BasketNews that Real Madrid have cut off negotiations with Yi, while HoopsHype translates a Kosarka 24 report that suggests Darko has passed on the team's offer.

Real Madrid Looking At Yi, Darko

August 20th, 2012 at 10:41am CST by Luke Adams

Real Madrid has already landed one NBA veteran this summer, inking Rudy Fernandez to a three-year deal, and it appears they're eyeing a few other NBA free agents. According to an Encestando.es report (translation via HoopsHype), Real Madrid could be eyeing Yi Jianlian and Darko Milicic. Yi is said to be asking for a contract worth about two million euros annually from Real Madrid, while the Spanish club is also believed to be "tempted" by Darko.

Both Jianlian and Milicic are former lottery picks whose NBA careers have been underwhelming to date. Still, while neither player has lived up to expectations, both still appear to be serviceable NBA bench players. Yi has a career PER of 11.2 in 272 games, while Darko has posted a 12.3 PER since being drafted second overall in 2003.

Yi is coming off a one-year contract with the Mavericks, while Darko was amnestied earlier this summer by the Timberwolves, so both players are free agents. If Real Madrid is willing to meet the salary figure Yi is reportedly requesting, it would undoubtedly be more than he'd make in the NBA, so seeing him head overseas wouldn't be a surprise. Darko's agent has suggested his client isn't eager to leave the NBA though, and since he's still being paid by the T-Wolves, Milicic has less incentive to seek a higher offer overseas.