Deep Sixer

With the uncertainty surrounding Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian and his situation with the Milwaukee Bucks, there have been plenty of e-mails coming in asking if the 76ers can get back into the picture.
To review, the Sixers tried very hard on draft night to trade up for Milwaukee’s No. 6 pick in the draft, with the express purpose of selecting Yi.
Yi and his handlers have balked at going to Milwaukee, creating the feeling that teams such as the Sixers could get back into the picture.
Anything is possible, but as we wrote more than a week ago, don’t count on it. It appears as if Milwaukee holds all the cards.
The only way Yi can re-enter the drat next season is if he doesn’t play this year. And that is very unlikely considering that the Olympics are going to be in China next summer. Other than Yao Ming, Yi is the second best player on the team, and it’s doubtful that the Chinese Basketball Association will want Yi sitting out the season leading up to the Olympics.
And from talking to Bucks officials, they appear adamant about not trading Yi. The Sixers and other teams no doubt are keeping up with the proceedings, but if Milwaukee would begin to negotiate with another NBA team, then it would truly show a sign of raising the white flag.
And the Bucks appear to be in this for the long haul.
Another factor in allowing the Bucks to hold their ground is that they are a potential playoff team with or without Yi.
And then there is the factor that the NBA officials don’t want an unproven player such as Yi to dictate where he will play, undermining the purpose of the draft. It will be interesting if commissioner David Stern, who is following the developments closely, decides to flex his muscles in this situation.
The final factor is that Yi is far from a finished product. While he looked great in his first game playing for the Chinese National Team in the Las Vegas Summer League, his other four appearances were below standard.
Still, it says here that he has the makings of being an excellent NBA player, but it won’t happen by Nov. 1.
There will be growing pains and he will have to get used to playing against top-notch competition every day in practice and every game in the NBA.
His development would be helped immeasurably by playing for the Bucks and he wouldn’t have to be the savior. That would take a lot of the pressure off somebody who by his account is only 19-years-old (although there continue to be suspicions that he is older).
The Bucks realize all this and continue to hold their ground. That is why Sixers fans shouldn’t hold their breath that something could break their way concerning Yi.