Learning nothing from the Vancouver Grizzlies, the Bucks picked Yi and now have to deal with a draft pick that doesn't want to be there. This time it is the Chinese team threatening to block Yi from the NBA if he's not dealt to a team that better fits their interests. ESPN reports:
Chen Haitao, owner of the Guangdong Tigers -- Yi's former team -- said the 6-foot-11 power forward will "definitely not" sign with Milwaukee and could be headed back to the Chinese Basketball Association.
"If the Bucks insist, Yi will go back to the CBA," Chen told the Chinese-language Beijing News on Tuesday.
His agent, Dan Fegan, has pushed for a trade and wants Yi in a city with a large Asian influence -- or at least a larger city.
It won't be Milwaukee, and the main sticking point is not the lack of Chinese-Americans in the city, Chen said.
"And it's not about Yi's commercial interests," Chen said. "We want to find a team that is good for Yi's development. That's the root of the problem."
So, the question that has been bantered about since draft night is: will Ainge renew his interest in Yi now that the price may be dropping to aquire him?
In other China news, it appears that Wang Zhizhi may make a return to the NBA.