Two days with Yi Jianlian, the lottery's mystery man

The closer the draft comes the more I want this guy... the Hawks... how do we get that pick!? They'd want Ellis, dammit. Argh... err... maaaaybe?

But then I'd have to change my handle. I'd have to be Baronman, or Alman. I don't want to be Alman.

 

maybe Yiman

 

Chad Ford just reported today that Yi has declined going to Orlando for the predraft measurements. He's reportedly doing it to limit teams' information on him so he, his agent Dan Fegan, and the Chinese government can better dictate what team he goes to.

According to Ford, the two teams that are most interested, and are approved destinations by the Chinese government are: Chicago and Golden State. Now, don't get your hopes up, because Chicago's got the #9 pick and enough young pieces to easily move up a few more spots to get Yi, so they'd be the heavy favorites to land him. But, just like Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber, we're being told we have a chance...

Two questions:

1. What would you give up to get Yi?

2. If Zarko were completely healthy, would he be an acceptable poor man's version of Yi in your eyes?

My "haven't thought it through but will answer anyway" answers:

1. Not Biedrins, Ellis, Baron, or Richardson. Giving up the #18 pick and possibly one of the second rounders is a given. Would also give up Harrington or O'Bryant. I think those would be two of the most likely targets. Pietrus would be another player I'd give up in a sign and trade. How much the Warriors give up would depend on where Yi is rumored to go. The tricky part about this draft is that after the top two guys you have eight guys that could all go #3 or #10. I don't ever remember a draft that was as deep with second tier talent.

2. The more I think about Zarko, the more I wonder about him. I have no idea how much his not playing last year was related to his back injury and how much was related to Nelson not thinking he could play. If Nelson DOES think he can play, then he should theoretically be a perfect fit for Nellie ball, and he's got a similar game to Yi.

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Interesting news coming out of the Orlando Draft Camp regarding Yi & the Warriors.



Source: Chad Ford's Insider Blog

Yi's agent and the Chinese government want to dictate where he ends up.

Does Dan Fegan's name ring a bell? Because it should, he was Gilbert Arenas old agent. He's also the agent for Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson, and ex-Warrior Troy Murphy.

Fegan has a lot of ties with the Warriors organization, he could broker a deal in their favor.

One of his free agents the Warriors might have to sign in return for Yi:

Ruben Patterson
Dermarr Johnson
Austin Croshere</div>

Damn it Shape, I specifically went through this thread and thought, "wow, I'm surprised no one has posted on this yet." Then I thought, "hmmm, I seem to remember the site policy was that we couldn't cut and paste from insider, so I summarized."

So now that my thunder's been stolen, all I'm left with saying to you..."ooohh, big man, thinks because he owns this site he doesn't have to play by the rules." And then tattling on you to one of our mods...

ahem...CUSTODIIIIAAAANNN, please edit Shape's post...

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Haha. I summarized and added a new twist to it. </div>

That's it...twist the knife...jerk.

(man, why'd you guys take away my favorite emotocon? It's the one where the smiley face is running from side to side going "whoo hoo". How else am I supposed to show you and the rest of the jbball world that I just stuck it to you?)

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh you mean this one ...

</div>

I'm I stupid enough that I scrolled over it too quickly and missed it, or am I stupid in some other way?

btw, let's keep this thread on track...Yi is awesome.

 

The problem the Warriors face in moving up the draft order is: Do you need the #3 pick to get Yi, or will the #9 pick do? That's a dilemma because the trade packages would be enitrely different depending. I dunno -- I really like Yi, but Walker hit on something I've been saying since the day GS was out of the POs: Zarko is the X factor. I think he could be perfect in Nellie's system, and in my own poll I voted him most likely to break out next year. With that said, it wouldn't hurt at all to have TWO big men who can run the floor and handle the ball like that, but I think Zarko will fill a need.

I think it would be terrific to get Yi, but not if we have to throw in too much. I think the Warriors need a Boozer-type heavy-hitting PF to compliment Biedrins, too. So, it's not a situation where it's Yi or bust, IMO.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The problem the Warriors face in moving up the draft order is: Do you need the #3 pick to get Yi, or will the #9 pick do? That's a dilemma because the trade packages would be enitrely different depending. I dunno -- I really like Yi, but Walker hit on something I've been saying since the day GS was out of the POs: Zarko is the X factor. I think he could be perfect in Nellie's system, and in my own poll I voted him most likely to break out next year. With that said, it wouldn't hurt at all to have TWO big men who can run the floor and handle the ball like that, but I think Zarko will fill a need.

I think it would be terrific to get Yi, but not if we have to throw in too much. I think the Warriors need a Boozer-type heavy-hitting PF to compliment Biedrins, too. So, it's not a situation where it's Yi or bust, IMO.</div>

Theoretically, Zarko should be perfect for Nellie's system, but theoretically, Murphy and Dunleavy should have been as well. We'll see whether Nelson has any confidence in Zarko based on whether he's resigned with the team. Unfortunately, that can't happen until after the draft, but that only matters to the fans who are in the dark.

So basically, it breaks down like this:

If Zarko isn't injured and Nelson just doesn't have confidence in him, he's not going to be resigned, and the Warriors may already be working on Operation Draft Yi (boring, I know, how 'bout Operation Yi-grab 2007?).

If Zarko IS injured but Nelson has seen enough of him to know he doesn't like him, then he won't be resigned

But, IF Zarko IS injured and IF Nelson either likes him or doesn't know if he'll fit into the system, but wants to give him a shot, then he'll be resigned.

This is one of those times where Nelson and Mullin know way more than the fans do and all we can do is speculate about what they already know.

Like I said, this may all be moot because Chicago is in a MUCH better position to acquire Yi if they want him. The only chance the Warriors have is if Chicago wants someone else more. They need a low post scorer, so they may just decide to stand pat and get Spencer Hawes. Or they may decide to go after Kobe, which means they won't want to wait for Yi to develop...and they'd still need to get a low post scorer, but instead they'd go after a veteran instead of Hawes.

Oh well, it'll be fun to watch how this plays out.

 

http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70692

This is a thread I started about Zarko. All indications are that he'll be healthy and ready for camp. I am confident Nellie will give Zarko at shot, at least in practice, to show what he can do. That's how Barnes, Az, and others got their shots.

I think it's all going to depend on whether Zarko will capitalize on the opportunity.

The reason why I think he'll do that is because IMO he's perfect for Nellie ball. I think Nellie will give him a chance, and I think Zarko -- if he's ever going to be a player -- this is the situation for him to prove himself. Running the floor, handling on the break, the green light to try to score -- that's what Zarko is all about. That's what Nellie is all about.

Now with that said, we still won't know until after the draft, of course, so GS can't just stake their future on Zarko, lol! But what I do think they have is some serious prospective talent with POB, Zarko, Az, and Kosta Perovic, all 4 players of whom GS hasn't really had a chance to see blossom yet. Anyone of those guys could break out, if given a chance. Adding that to the 3 picks we have in the draft, I just think GS will find at least 1-2 starters out of that 7-player pool for the coming years.

Is it worth trading a prospect like POB plus a few prospective draft picks, to move up in the draft order? IMO, only if what you're getting is clearly better than what you could get at 18.

Now, if we did a sign-n-trade Pietrus + #18 to move up to #9, oh yeah I'd do that.

 

<div class="quote_poster">wtwalker77 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
ahem...CUSTODIIIIAAAANNN, please edit Shape's post...</div>

LOL. Nice catch You should be a moderator! You want my job? Of course, maybe Shape "Owns us all" City will say otherwise because of your tattling! (tattletale! ) Still, it must have been a blast to hit the or "add infraction button" <not available to all users) when that article wasn't summarized.

But you guys are right, back to the Yi and Zarko comparrisons.... I honestly could live with either getting rid of #18, POB, AH, or Airhead France for moving up as high as we can to ensure we get Yi. But if we don't move up, I'm pretty happy getting a playmaking utility swingman that's athletic + quick (we're talking a guy that can play at least three positions, can rebound some, plays defense, can shoot consistently from at least the baseline and the elbow from 20 feet, and has a true position like Joe Johnson or Mike Miller or better version of Marko Jaric). I'm not sure if Zarko will go back to his 05 form, but dang, that guy was the man when he was finding his scoring rhythm. He'd even make a few plays off the dribble or from a set position off the top of the key. My favorite passing plays from him will always be the ones where he finds Beans inside for an easy dunk or the one where he hit Baron or Ike Diogu for an alley oop jam. His dunks are pretty cool too because he takes these long as steps and has tremendously large hands and long arms. He's got some of the nicest looking running floaters or running hookshots. It's probably because we don't see too many big guys doing that like he does.

Still, it would be the best situation possible to have Yi in our starting lineup next year (project or no project let's get this guy going like we did Biedrins). He is like the next version of Pau Gasol type PF/C with a wing's perimeter skill, only supposedly better at all-around defense (but we'll see if he can play nba caliber defense against stronger players). Some scouts have this guy rated as a Stromile Swift (shotblock and dunk prowess), an Andrei Kirilenko (shotblock, lateral quicks, and passing prowess), an Andris Biedrins (same), or a Pau Gasol (inside out scoring). Not sure I've seen enough of Yi's inside game, but the dude is extremely long, skilled, and quick and that does translate to nba ball if he's got good balance when getting bumped on his shots, he's wirey strong, and he's intelligent and aggressive at the right times. We don't want no guy that was like... "what he could have been if only..." type player. If he's 3/4's as good as Pau Gasol I could live with that, just as long as he's pretty balanced on both ends of the floor. I don't like these one-dimensional or two-dimensional SF/PF's that suck either on offense or defense and they don't pass very well or hit their danged free throws. Gotta be Shaq or Duncan to get away with such silliness at the free throw line, especially if any big man can at least hit a three pointer or a 20 footer with ease. I just understand guys like Antoine Walker, Rasheed Wallace, Darko Milicic or Al Harrington. Garnett, Elton Brand, and Nowitzki hit them!

 

<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70692
</div>

You got my vote. Zarko is awesome (offensively). And although not quite Al Harrington offensively with the low post moves, but he makes up for it by better passing, ballhandling, and finishing (IMO). It'd be like having a Bulls era Toni Kukoc when this guy is on a roll. No joke! Yeah, Al can score inside with his footwork because he's got all the post moves down, but he finishes like a little girl against the guys Nelson wants him to match up with (primarily bigger guys he doesn't always outquick because he's too heavy and slow). Plus, his hands aren't that great compared to Z. I'd take a healthy Z any old day over AH for some reason even though AH is probably the better defender (but not by much, I think). And maybe AH is actually stronger than the 220-230 lb Zarko, but for some reason I just can't appreciate AH's game, not when he has the mix of strength and athleticism to at least hit the glass a bit harder (but he doesn't). It's like having Troy Murphy without the rebounding and same selfishness with the ball. It's like having the tweener forward that only dominates guys way way smaller than him but can't match their quickness and struggles to do anything against bigger guys and has to use quickness/hustle in order to survive. Maybe that same description can be said of Zarko, but I think he looks a lot quicker out there and makes the team better on more occasions than Ah does with his risky passes and handles.

pant pant pant

Anyway maybe AH and Z are both washes because IMO they both are bench guys anyway who specialize in different things offensively (AH being the more all-around guy except for passing and the off the dribble stuff). What we need are kinds of anchor big man. Zarko ain't it, and his regular season consistency is probably even worse than AH's, but I really like his playmaking ability. I think it's much easier for Zarko tp make sure the team is always moving the ball around. What this team is Elton Brand or Jermaine O'neil or some tough guy that can actually run the floor and isolate down low or step back and hit a midrange shot. Zach Randolph also has a good game, but one wonders if he can handle running it and he's pretty selfish too and he's got the jailblazers era mentality. Oh and his defense sucks too.

 

With a fairly deep draft for point men a guy like Crittenton or Brooks might still be on the board around eighteen. Might we look to snag a point and work out a deal to flip the rights to Atlanta for Yi? We'd have to throw in oter players, obviously... Would tey want Harrington back? Jackson? These guys are Atlanta cast-offs, unfortunately...