Yi meets with Harris, Krystkowiak
Las Vegas - Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian had his first direct meeting with Milwaukee Bucks officials yesterday when he spoke with Bucks general manager Larry Harris and coach Larry Krystkowiak at the team's hotel.
The Bucks' first-round draft choice is playing in the NBA Summer League with Team China, which opens its schedule tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sources indicated today that Yi spent about an hour meeting with Harris and Krystkowiak. The only other people present were Yi's interpreter and an interpreter used by the Bucks officials. The meeting was characterized as positive.
According to sources, Harris told Yi the Bucks have no intent to trade him and will give him a major opportunity to fit into the team's young frontcourt, which includes Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva.
Harris hand-delivered a letter written by Bucks owner and Sen. Herb Kohl, asking the Guangdong Tigers player to visit Milwaukee. No date has yet been established for such a visit.
The Bucks picked Yi with the sixth overall selection in the June 28 draft, but Yi's representatives have sought a trade to a larger NBA market and one with a larger Asian-American population.
Yi and the Chinese national team will compete against NBA teams in the expanded summer league, which includes 21 league clubs. No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers and No. 2 selection Kevin Durant of the Seattle SuperSonics also will be playing in the summer league. Seven of the top eight lottery picks are participating.
Bucks officials have made plans to watch Yi in three games this weekend in Las Vegas. The Bucks summer league entry, including point guard Lynn Greer and forward David Noel, will open play on Sunday against a Los Angeles Lakers squad.
Is that promising? I don't know.
1 comment:
Yes, it's promising for several reasons. One, he met with them. There was the possibility that they'd completely avoid the whole situation, which would have indicated an impossible situation.
Second, and probably more importantly, there doesn't appear to have been an agent or "handler" present, which is HUGE. The 2 Larrys probably got things completely straightened out.
Great post!
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