UPDATE (08/17/2016): The Los Angeles Lakers will sign Chinese big man Yi Jianlian to a one-year deal worth around $8 million, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Yi Jianlian update: ESPN sources say the Lakers are now in the midst of finalizing a one-year deal in the $8 million range w/the China star.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 17, 2016
This contradicts David Pick’s previous report that the Lakers would be paying Yi just $1 million:
Yi Jianlian, according to source, had 20M RMB left in China, equivalent to $3M. Lakers signing him to $1M.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 17, 2016
Yi Jianlian has played basketball in China ever since he left the Dallas Mavericks after the 2012 season. In China, he has been a star. Most recently, he led China to an Olympic birth by helping them defeat the Philippines in FIBA Asia.
He has played well in Rio, and the Lakers have taken notice and are interested in signing the 28-year-old 7-footer to a contract:
The Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced discussions to try to bring China star Yi Jianlian back to the NBA, according to league sources.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 17, 2016
Yi was drafted 6th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, but he was a bust during his time in the NBA. He averaged more than 12 points in just one season, and in his final season in Dallas, he averaged just 2 PPG. He played for 4 teams in 5 seasons, and only once did he play for the same team in consecutive years.
In the Olympics, Jianlian has been the lone bright spot for a rather poor Chinese team. He is averaging 20 PPG, along with 6 RPG and 1 APG. The Lakers are taking notice, and are considering whether or not they should give him another shot in the NBA. If his play has really improved this much, he is worth a shot for a rebuilding Lakers team in need of a center. Maybe he will continue to play like this in the NBA.
