http://www.theknicksblog.com/2009/05/17/nets-looking-to-move-yi/After one season, it appears the Nets are ready to cut ties with their young forward Yi Jianlian. Mitch Lawrence is reporting that the Nets have said that they are interested in finding a deal for the forward.
?Coming off a season when he was demoted from the Nets? starting lineup to the bench because of his lack of production, Yi Jianlian might have played his final game in New Jersey.
Team sources say the Nets are interested in trying to deal the 7-foot small forward they acquired from Milwaukee last summer for Richard Jefferson. ?They?re talking about moving him,? said a source.
Yi?s struggles to improve his defense, rebounding and passing under Lawrence Frank didn?t sit well with GM Kiki Vandeweghe, who engineered the deal with the Bucks. Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23 minutes per game, but was often privately criticized for looking only to shoot.?
We should try to get this guy, if we can. Assuming the Nets don't ask for too much, he would be an excellent pick up. 7 foot, good shooter, a lot of potential. He has a lot of talent, his only problem is motivation. But maybe a change of coach and scenery would do him good. D'antoni is known for getting the most out of his players.
What would the Nets want for him? Maybe we could make a draft day deal, including him? His trade value is pretty low right now, so I don't think it would take much.