[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Apparently the Lakers have worked out a deal with Yi for next season. Reports indicate it’s a one year contract in the 8 million range. Seems like a pretty low risk move. 

Can Yi redeem his NBA career after being out of the league for almost 5 years? He should get an opportunity to contribute in LA and no one ever really doubted his offensive ability. Defensively, that’s another story, but hopefully he can at least give them something and will be an improved version of the player he was when he last played in the league. He looked good in the Olympics and was easily China’s best player, albeit on an awful team.

What are everyone’s thoughts on this signing? Is it a reach or a good, under the radar move?

 

 

[McDunkin]

That will depend on Yi. He has always had the talent it just seems like the only time he consistently shows fire is when playing in China or for the National team.

[-Aria-Participant]

 I really hope he can pull all his talent and drive together, even after all these years I’m a fan of his, very disappointed in his nba stint so far, but still a fan…

cmon Yi, do it for China

 

[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

 No reason why he can’t be productive in today’s NBA, guys that are his size at 7′ plus with a legit three point shot, and an inside game are a premium in today’s NBA game. If he comes in focused and ready to prove himself there is no reason why he can’t average around 10-12 points, 4-5 rebounds a game.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Crazy but not so crazy prediction..  Yi ends up starting more games than Mozgov.

[kanuflengParticipant]

If you watched him played before the injuries, you can see that he is a capable player and that he belongs in the league. He would occasionally have big games like 14-16 shooting with 29 pts, but then follow it up with an awful one. But his talent and size was there. He was Kristaps. He was the Chinese Nowitzki. Consistency was an issue but he is more mature now so it might help. Strength and health were problems for him but he has done a good job of getting stronger while maintining a healthy body the last few years. Hes been dominating the CBA the last few years matched up against Foreign imports. His chinese team supports the return, as he has always wanted to play for the Lakers. Good marketing by LA too with the big chinese community. If Mosgov continues with his awful game because of balky knee and Nance being injured. I wouldnt be surprise if he gets rotation minutes and end up as a starter in the West!

 

[mowestenParticipant]

I watched him play several games with China and three things stood out, one he was more aggressive than he was in the NBA. Secondly, he was tougher at the defensive end and on the boards.

And third, he looks more comfortable from 3 than I remember him being and he finished in the paint. 

 

I think if he brings those three things with him back to the NBA he could be a good, but probably not great player. I think he could easily be in the NBA what Ersan Ilysaova has been. Similar players only Yi is probably a bigger, taller, more athletic version.

 

If he doesn’t bring those three aspects of his game to LA with him that I saw the past couple of weeks in the Olympics, he’ll be right back in China before the year is out. That’s my opinion.

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 C Mozgov, Black, Zubac

PF Randle, Nance, Yi

SF Deng, Ingram, Young (recent reports have him staying)

SG Clarkson, Williams

PG Russell, Calderon, Huertas

There are no all-stars yet, but the depth is surprisingly decent. They signed Yi for 8 million, so you think they’d play him. I think it’s fine if he plays 3rd string PF or takes Mozgov’s minutes at center. But I think Randle and Nance should be on the floor as much as possible. Zubac looked great in summer league, but I think he needs to figure out NBA defensive rotations and he needs a ton of physical work: strengthening, flexibility, bursts. He deserves 10 minutes a game or so. As long as Yi doesn’t interrupt Randle, Nance, and Zubac’s development, it’s a good move. 

I love Tarick Black, but he’s not essential. 

[HitsterParticipant]

Great pay day for Yi considering he might be 3rd choice PF. I’ll be interested to see how the Lakers line up going forward as Ingram is seen as possibly their best prospect but he may well start behind Deng. If the Lakers do go smallball they will have a lot of money in Mosgov sat on the bench.

There is some confusion whether Yi was born in 1984 or 1987 according to a few sites. Does anyone know what is true.

[cargathusParticipant]

Apparently, according to Chinese media outlets, he is making 1/3 of what he was being offered by his Chinese team. Maybe he actually wants to do something in the NBA…I hope so, but hes so soft 🙁

[JoeWolf1]

I think Yi has all the tools to be a successful NBA player, but I’m not 100% confident he can put them all together.

The one thing I noticed in Olympic play that I thought might be troubling from an NBA standpoint, is his tendency to take bad / contested shots. I understand his role with the Chinese national team is different, because he is vastly better than even their 2nd best player, but I suspect he might be a low efficiency NBA player. That was the case during his first stint in the league, and I don’t think it’s really been addressed much over the past few years.

If Walton adopts a faster paced system like he ran in Golden State, I see the appeal of taking a flier on Yi. He’s a big, versatile 7 footer. His aggressiveness offensively might render him a role similar to Mo Speights played in Golden State. Mo wasn’t necessarily an every day player, has never shot over 50% from the field, and is sporting a career mpg clip of 15.2, but he definitely has made the difference in a number of games over the past few seasons.

[iguapops420Participant]

 1 year vet minimum with a wide-ranging amount of incentives that COULD reach 8 million. low risk high reward. Covers the asian market. Smart business IMO, way to keep a large market interested during down times.

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 They could have sign bargiani for half of price…

[McDunkin]

 He’s already signed to Saski Baskonia of the ACB

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