Kings might get a shot at working out Yi?

[nbrans]

From Chad Ford's blog:

he Celtics' Danny Ainge traveled to Los Angeles on Wednesday to take a look at Yi Jianlian in a private workout. Yi worked out for nearly two hours in a gym by himself and then spent several hours with Ainge.

The same drill was repeated on Thursday with the Atlanta Hawks GM Billy Knight. On Saturday the Bulls will get a look at Yi.

The feedback from the workouts has been positive. Yi looks great in that environment. The question is whether he has the toughness to play that way when you put nine other players on the floor.

Next, Yi's camp will sit back and gauge feedback. If none of those teams commit to drafting Yi, then Sacramento likely will be the next team to visit.

If Boston is passing on Yi, I think that means we might see a trade coming. There's talk that the Suns -- to slash payroll -- might be willing to take the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff's expiring contract and Delonte West for Shawn Marion. That would make Paul Pierce happy.

With the No. 5 pick, the Suns could replace Marion with Yi, Jeff Green or Al Thornton. In the Suns' system, all three of those guys could play the four.

Another dark horse in the Yi sweepstakes might be Portland, which is trying to get another top 10 draft pick. As I've mentioned before, the Bulls seem like a possible trading partner, with Zach Randolph involved.
Can you imagine the huge front line of Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Yi? Wow.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blo...e=ford_chad&campaign=rsssrch&source=chad_ford

 

[Bricklayer]

So much competition...please do not be passive Geoff. Please please do not be passive. Drink a Red Bull. Pop some Viagra, whatever it takes. But its time to move with a purpose again.

 

[nbrans]

Since we've heard before that the Chinese government only wants Yi to go to "approved" teams, I wonder if this means we're approved -- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, us, Golden State?

And if that's the case, the odds that he'll slip to us are actually somewhat interesting. He's not a great fit in Atlanta, Boston probably is going to want a sure thing out of this draft, and Chicago needs a post presence.

 

[Kingster]

Since we've heard before that the Chinese government only wants Yi to go to "approved" teams, I wonder if this means we're approved -- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, us, Golden State?

And if that's the case, the odds that he'll slip to us are actually somewhat interesting. He's not a great fit in Atlanta, Boston probably is going to want a sure thing out of this draft, and Chicago needs a post presence.

I'd really like to know what goes into this "approved" status. A significant chinese population? Is a radius of 100 from the chinese population satisfactory? Maybe we need a coach who can speak chinese...

 

[rhythmless]

while we are not one of the larger asian markets, such as oakland/sf/bay, houston, or chicago, we do hold one of the most diverse cities in the nation.

to me, were "second tier" asian communities. if you disagree, you can always take a drive through greenhaven/pocket, and stockton blvd. or all the areas next to broadway too.

 

[BMiller52]

Sweet, he might actually want to come to Sac. That'd be pretty damn awesome, that'd be like teaming up the asian KG+Reggie Miller+whoever we get in trades. That's like coming out of this draft with a top 5 talent. I like all of the other guys too and Yi IS unproven, but hey look at all that talent.

DO IT PETRIE.