Yi's reperesentatives have sent Herb Khol and the Bucks an ultimatum...."trade Yi to a town with a respectable sized Chinatown, or we will stay in China and play. We are not going to get used to bratwurst, cheddar cheese or purchase a snow blower". Well I added the last part.

At any case, it seems a few teams are ready to get back into the sweepstakes. Don Nelson likes Yi so much, he is willig to part with Wright and some other goods.
There are still free agents and malcontents that want to new homes. Stay tuned.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2956930

China's top basketball official to try to end Yi-Bucks stalemate\

BEIJING -- China's top basketball official will travel to the United States to try and end the standoff between the Milwaukee Bucks and their top draft pick Yi Jianliang, state media reported on Tuesday.

The seven-foot power forward is reported to have snubbed a move to Milwaukee despite being the overall sixth choice in June's draft and faces a year away from the NBA if he cannot resolve the dispute or secure a trade.

Yi is currently playing for China in the Stankovic Cup in his home province of Guangdong but an expected visit by Bucks' officials to discuss the stalemate has not materialized, the China Daily reported.

"I will go to the United States in the coming days to help Yi solve the problem," China Basketball Association (CBA) chief Li Yuanwei was quoted as saying.

"I will have a talk with Yi at the Stankovic Cup to see what he thinks.

"The Bucks side didn't send their officials to China this time as they promised, so I will take some time to get this resolved."

Yi, listed as 19 despite many in China believing him to be up to four years older, has not signed a contract with the Bucks and his agent Dan Fegan has been seeking a trade over the last month.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chinese GOVT are trying to fool the american public into thinking that there's actually something to negotiate. Every team offers their draft picks the full 120% of rookie scale, and if the players are foreign, the full 500k contract buyout that they're allowed to offer. I can promise you that the Bucks have offered Yi this like any team would.

There's nothing more that the Bucks can offer according to NBA rules. Nothing. So don't tell me that the Bucks need to go over there and negotiate, or that somebody needs to come over here to talk to the Bucks. Either Yi will accept the maximum that NBA teams are allowed to offer, or he won't. When they say "negotiate," they obviously mean negotiate a trade to another team, because they certainly don't mean more money.

Tell China America doesnt bow down to them and YI can enjoy China forever.

Posted by COSSUCKS:

Tell China America doesnt bow down to them and YI can enjoy China forever.

yes, let's make this an "us vs them" discussion... tell those damn commies they can go to hell!

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47443/20070802/does_yi_think_he_wont_find_a_girlfriend_in_milwaukee/

Journal Times -
There is a new reason why Yi Jianlian may not want to play in Milwaukee.

Said Ma Jian, a former Chinese basketball star: "Of course, definitely, CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) and Yi’s agents would prefer that he play in cities with large Chinese population. It will benefit both CBA and Yi; it will help promotion. And it will guarantee him better restaurants and perhaps better looking Chinese girlfriend."

I'm sorry but if theres a holdup because of the selection I bolded, I got some real problems.

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 08-02-2007 1:55 PM]

Better restaurants and girlfriends. News flash a nba rookie can fly his girl friend in from anywhere. I'm sure Yi will be able to find some food.

Posted by nyk4ever:

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47443/20070802/does_yi_think_he_wont_find_a_girlfriend_in_milwaukee/

Journal Times -
There is a new reason why Yi Jianlian may not want to play in Milwaukee.

Said Ma Jian, a former Chinese basketball star: "Of course, definitely, CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) and Yi’s agents would prefer that he play in cities with large Chinese population. It will benefit both CBA and Yi; it will help promotion. And it will guarantee him better restaurants and perhaps better looking Chinese girlfriend."

I'm sorry but if theres a holdup because of the selection I bolded, I got some real problems.

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 08-02-2007 1:55 PM]

don't hate the player, hate the game my brotha.

Posted by COSSUCKS:

Posted by TMS:

Posted by COSSUCKS:

Tell China America doesnt bow down to them and YI can enjoy China forever.

yes, let's make this an "us vs them" discussion... tell those damn commies they can go to hell!

I didnt make it that way. The Republic of China is making it that way. If this was Yi saying this than I would say YI.

I think any rookie trying this bs should be stood up to. I stopped being a Giants fan when we helped Gomer blackmail the NFL. Since then Gomers Karma has killed our team while SD has done much better.

i didn't realize the Chinese gov't was making an international case of this with the US gov't... i wonder why George W or Congress hasn't made any mention of it?

this is purely a financial ploy to get their man into the right situation to maximize his marketing potential... this is routinely done by players & their agents when negotiating contracts... why is this such a problem for you? because he's Chinese & should know his place in an American society? because he's a rookie & should keep his mouth shut? was this a problem for you when other rookies that were drafted pulled the same thing such as Steve Francis & Eli Manning? why the constant references to Yi's nationality in your arguments is what i have a hard time with here... money is a universal color... this whole thing is motivated by the almighty dollar... nationalities, country alliances, & racial issues really have no relevance to this issue other than Yi's camp's desire to place him in a Chinese populated market.

[Edited by - TMS on 08-02-2007 2:30 PM]

Posted by TMS:

i don't know how that comment was made... it could have been made in gest... i'd have to hear it to really make a fair judgement... if it was a serious pre-requisite for Yi's camp, it's obviously ridiculous, but if that's what they want, it's what they want... some players negotiate silly perks into their contracts like having a couch by their lockers in the lockerroom or not having to pay for food on road trips, etc. i'm sure... if Yi wants quality Chinese food & hot Asian chicks available to him, i can't say as I blame him... i'd probably want the same thing.

Haha I wouldn't either. I hope for Yi's sake its not very high on his list of pre-requisites, it reminds me of ARod and the demands he made to the Mets; his own office and plane.

It's be interesting to see where Yi ends up.

i don't know why MIL just doesn't trade him to GS for say, Biedrins & a protected 1st round pick, or maybe Brandon Wright & Bellinelli?... that would seem more than fair to me... i'm sure GS would benefit as well from the increase in ticket sales... why the hold up is what i wanna know? is MIL being unreasonable in their trade demands & trying to hold up GS for an obscene return on a player that doesn't want to play for them to begin with? is GS trying to get Yi on a lowball offer? i don't get it.

Posted by COSSUCKS:

TMS I already said it was a problem for me with Elisha. Thats why I stopped being a Giants fan after Decades. Elishas diva like karma killed the team.

The peoples republic of China are putting themselves in the issue but whether its Elisha, Yi, the Republic of China or Joe Schmo he entered the draft that was agreed to by the players and owners cba. He did not enter the rookie free agency. There were 30 players drafted. None of the other 29 are trying to blackmail their team or league. Do you think Oden wants Portland over the Lakers? Do you think Durant wants Seattle? Either you have a draft or you dont have a draft. You cant say 1 guy is above everyone else and gets to pick where he goes.

Oden i'm sure wants to play in a bigger market, but in his case it's completely different being the #1 overall pick... that carries tremendous prestige as well as a guaranteed rookie scale pay that's higher than other 1st rounders... what he may lose in marketing appeal, he'll make up for in being the 1st overall pick... after he's established himself in the league, Oden will be able to gain a huge payday from the market team of his choice & collect on any missed out endorsement opportunities later... Yao's camp never objected him going to HOU for the same reasons... now he's built up a solid AND has collected on his marketing opportunities, but if he was say a #6 or #7 pick, things may have been different with him as well. (I can't speak for the Chinese population in Houston though because I don't know how many Chinese live in that city).

for Yi, he's looking at playing in a small market with a small Chinese population... American endorsements are not likely coming his way as they went to Yao, as he was more of a curiosity due to his height & the fact that he was the first real Chinese superstar to make it big in the NBA... Yi's camp realizes this, & it concerns them that he won't be maximizing his earning potential playing in MIL... i'm sure you'd be concerned about it too if you were in his situation... we all would love to say we'd play the game for free if we could, but you know if you're that talented & highly touted, you'd be trying to get the absolute best possible money earning situation you can & maximize your earning potential as well... it's business, nothing more, nothing less.