Yi to the Wizards for Ross

[dopeismarcus]

You know what's funny, I was close to putting a "not directed at you" disclaimer in the post but forgot. LOL

No, that was directed at everybody with their "OMG there is no reason for this trade" posts. Either way, this team is going to stink. If this is the way they want to fill out their roster, so be it. Whoever they had at backup PF wasn't going to be there longterm anyway. So if it's Yi or James Singleton, it doesn't really matter. But some folks seem to have it in their heads that every move is supposed to be some kind of GM-of-the-year steal that's going to net us a future HOF player and that's not reality.

lol i agree. people are just caught up in the hype of this years free agency class.

[DallasShalDune]

The only saving grace is that this stupid move is only a short term mess. By next summer, it all goes away. All it costs us was $4M in cap space maneuverability at the Trade Deadline. I'll get over it, but it's so darn senseless.

This reminds me of the Crittenton trade. It wasn't worth bitching about too much because the ultimate consequences were relatively minor, but it was still an utter waste of assets.

I think Crittenton made quite an impact of this team, if I'm not mistaken . . .

[Hoopalotta]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.
I think that a Booker/Yi, 3/4 second unit might work while Booker is still developing his 15-20 ft jumper.

This is really the only rational explanation. I think it's a bad premise. Yes, some Chinese fans may tune into Sopcast and watch a few extra Wizards games, but only so long as Yi is on the roster. Yi is going to suck and he will get cut next summer. Does Ted really think any of the new Chinese fans will continue to be Wizards fans thereafter?

It's John Wall though, I think they're factoring in the seduction factor. Even if one in twenty Chinese fans stick around, that could be a big revenue stream long term. If they market him over there, it could turn into something.

I believe that a Nets poster said 60 Nets games were shown in China each year, so it's not a few games.

We also picked up that Sun Yue (?) guy on our summer league team, though I highly doubt he makes the team.

[BanndNDC]

I dont know why some of you think wasn't an EG move it fits his m.o. perfectly. not cut throat enough to take advantage of his leverage, does another team a favor, and brings in an atheltic (if 1-3/4) or tall (if 4/5) player with relatively low bball iq but high upside.

it's just another example of him overpaying and jumping the gun on a trade for a marginal talent. at least we got somebody tall. in a vacuum this trade isnt that bad (but why not beasley in that case) it's just a pointless wasted opportunity. not getting a pick thrown in (just like in last year's minny trade) is what makes it bad value. ive said it before but EG is a rug merchant's wet dream.

this team is going to be absolutely brutal to watch (and many probably won't) if they dump arenas.

[Ed Wood]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.
I think that a Booker/Yi, 3/4 second unit might work while Booker is still developing his 15-20 ft jumper.

This is really the only rational explanation. I think it's a bad premise. Yes, some Chinese fans may tune into Sopcast and watch a few extra Wizards games, but only so long as Yi is on the roster. Yi is going to suck and he will get cut next summer. Does Ted really think any of the new Chinese fans will continue to be Wizards fans thereafter?

It's John Wall though, I think they're factoring in the seduction factor. Even if one in twenty Chinese fans stick around, that could be a big revenue stream long term. If they market him over there, it could turn into something.

I believe that a Nets poster said 60 Nets games were shown in China each year, so it's not a few games.

We also picked up that Sun Yue (?) guy on our summer league team, though I highly doubt he makes the team.

Absolutely that's a cogent rationale for the trade and there's nothing wrong with attempting to make inroads towards expanding the Wizards' global footprint. I don't have any problem accepting that as a component of picking up Yi. But any fans the team might theoretically be gaining in this move wouldn't have looked at the deal if it included something worthwhile and say "oh, well the Wizards also picked up the rights to Tibor Pleiss, I'm not about to care about them." It's okay to also add to the overall talent level of the franchise while you make money.

[nate33]

this team is going to be absolutely brutal to watch (and many probably won't) if they dump arenas.

It's the same team as the post-trade Wizards last year except:

Wall replaces Livingston (huge upgrade)
HInrich replaces Foye (modest upgrade)
Booker replaces Miller (significant downgrade, but then, Miller missed a lot of games)
Seraphin replaces Oberto (probably a wash)

Then factor some modest improvement out of Blatche, Young and McGee, and overall, it shouldn't be all that brutal. The post-trade Wizards played at a 25 win pace. I figure this team plays at a 32 win pace and ends up picking around 9th or 10th in the draft.

EDIT: Actually, if Arenas ends up being traded for Carter, you can say that Carter is roughly equal to Mike Miller, making Booker gravy.

[verbal8]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.
I think that a Booker/Yi, 3/4 second unit might work while Booker is still developing his 15-20 ft jumper.

This is really the only rational explanation. I think it's a bad premise. Yes, some Chinese fans may tune into Sopcast and watch a few extra Wizards games, but only so long as Yi is on the roster. Yi is going to suck and he will get cut next summer. Does Ted really think any of the new Chinese fans will continue to be Wizards fans thereafter?

It's John Wall though, I think they're factoring in the seduction factor. Even if one in twenty Chinese fans stick around, that could be a big revenue stream long term. If they market him over there, it could turn into something.

I believe that a Nets poster said 60 Nets games were shown in China each year, so it's not a few games.

I think this must be the reasoning behind the move. From a business point of view, it is not a bad deal. However from a basketball and talent point of view, I am not a fan.

We also picked up that Sun Yue (?) guy on our summer league team, though I highly doubt he makes the team.

I don't know by moving Quinton "Mower of Lawns" Ross, the Wizards freed a roster spot in the backcourt.

[doclinkin]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.

Yep. I was thinking this same thing with Sun Yue on our Summer League squad. Then Yi landed here. Doesn't seem a coincidence. Did Jeffrey Lin make a summerleague roster yet?

Edited to add: it all benefits certain unnamed cheap bastids who hunt for Wiz games on the internet instead of paying for cable though.

[80sballboy]

this team is going to be absolutely brutal to watch (and many probably won't) if they dump arenas.

Forget Arenas. If they surely care about the future and Wall, he won't be around. No need for his drama and erratic play. He's probably more combo than 2 guard. Can he run off screens, move without the ball, defend 2's? While I don't like Vinsanity, I'd rather have him and a bulked-up Nick Young (put on 10 pounds I heard) who are at least 2-3 types and can run the floor. This might be a horrible team because of what is up front, but as long as Wall is pushing it up the court and you have some athletes like Javale, Booker, Seraphin, a healthy Blatche, Young, Thornton and whomever else is around (even Yi), they'll be interesting to watch.

[Hoopalotta]

alanhahn Nets trade Yi Jianlian to Wizards for Quentin Ross and save another $3M. Ernie Grunfeld is really trying to stick it to the Knicks here.

It's hard not to get this idea.

We pretty well caught in the "stick it to 'em" crossfire in this deal as well, at least as far as actual basketball.

Here's an article about Chinese basketball and money (from 2007, so adjust numbers accordingly)....

http://streetballblog.com/2007/10/13/nb ... -research/

Chen was Microsoft’s top man in China until he resigned last month. He’ll be charged with pulling together TV rights, sponsorships, new digital offerings and, perhaps, a new freestanding NBA-branded league in a country where NBA merchandise is already sold at 50,000 outlets.

The potential growth is unmistakable.

The NBA generated about US$50 million in revenue last year from China, the league’s largest market outside the United States. That pales compared to overall NBA revenue of almost $4 billion. But the NBA’s 80-person staff in China is set to grow five times in the next several years and Silver suggested revenue will make at least comparable gains.

This is just NOT a coincidence.

[Bickerstaff]

If we are not getting some sort of pick from NJ this is a terrible, awful, indefensible deal.

I am so irritated by this kind of hyperbole. I can't even imagine what it would be like trying to deal with some high pressure situation with you panicky people. Just because you don't like the deal doesn't mean it's terrible, let alone indefensible. This move seems to have way less to do with basketball than marketing, anyway.

[Ed Wood]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.

Yep. I was thinking this same thing with Sun Yue on our Summer League squad. Then Yi landed here. Doesn't seem a coincidence. Did Jeffrey Lin make a summerleague roster yet?

I don't imagine we'll need a gynecologist on the team unless we do go ahead and trade Gil for Vince Carter.

Jeremy Lin is going to be in minicap with the Mavs.

[nate33]

While I don't like Vinsanity, I'd rather have him and a bulked-up Nick Young (put on 10 pounds I heard) who are at least 2-3 types and can run the floor. This might be a horrible team because of what is up front, but as long as Wall is pushing it up the court and you have some athletes like Javale, Booker, Seraphin, a healthy Blatche, Young, Thornton and whomever else is around (even Yi), they'll be interesting to watch.

Where did you hear that.

I did notice that Young looked a little bigger in a recent video. (He was getting schooled by Paul George in a 3-on-3 workout at the time.)

[Ji]

dont understand the purpose of clearing salary cap space in the best FA class of all time and not trying to sign a Free agent. What did we do last year for when we got rid of all that dead weight?

[Bickerstaff]

making Booker gravy.

I do not like the sound of THAT. :

[GoneShammGone]

I have to think its a mistake... but Mike Lee is reporting that the Wizards are actually sending cash to NJ as part of the deal.

Wizards acquire Yi Jianlian from New Jersey (updated)

The Wizards have acquired Yi Jianlian from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Quinton Ross and cash considerations.
...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/06/wizards-set-to-acquire-yi-jian.html

If that isn't a misprint, that really ups the WTF factor.

[80sballboy]

While I don't like Vinsanity, I'd rather have him and a bulked-up Nick Young (put on 10 pounds I heard) who are at least 2-3 types and can run the floor. This might be a horrible team because of what is up front, but as long as Wall is pushing it up the court and you have some athletes like Javale, Booker, Seraphin, a healthy Blatche, Young, Thornton and whomever else is around (even Yi), they'll be interesting to watch.

Where did you hear that.

I did notice that Young looked a little bigger in a recent video. (He was getting schooled by Paul George in a 3-on-3 workout at the time.)

Heard Flip on a talk show discuss how much bigger he's gotten. Of course coaches tend to exagerrate and he needs to do more than just bulk up.

[doclinkin]

Also, dont underestimate the Chinese aspect. This is a quick way to build the Wizard/John Wall brand overseas and allow a generation of people to "grow" with Wall over the next 10-12 years.

Yep. I was thinking this same thing with Sun Yue on our Summer League squad. Then Yi landed here. Doesn't seem a coincidence. Did Jeffrey Lin make a summerleague roster yet?

I don't imagine we'll need a gynecologist on the team unless we do go ahead and trade Gil for Vince Carter.

Jeremy Lin is going to be in minicap with the Mavs.

Uhh.. yeah, him. The Harvard kid.

[nate33]

I have to think its a mistake... but Mike Lee is reporting that the Wizards are actually sending cash to NJ as part of the deal.

Wizards acquire Yi Jianlian from New Jersey (updated)

The Wizards have acquired Yi Jianlian from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Quinton Ross and cash considerations.
...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/06/wizards-set-to-acquire-yi-jian.html

If that isn't a misprint, that really ups the WTF factor.

They fixed it. It now reads:

The Wizards have acquired Yi Jianlian and cash considerations from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Quinton Ross.

[Hoopalotta]

Absolutely that's a cogent rationale for the trade and there's nothing wrong with attempting to make inroads towards expanding the Wizards' global footprint. I don't have any problem accepting that as a component of picking up Yi. But any fans the team might theoretically be gaining in this move wouldn't have looked at the deal if it included something worthwhile and say "oh, well the Wizards also picked up the rights to Tibor Pleiss, I'm not about to care about them." It's okay to also add to the overall talent level of the franchise while you make money.

It's totally not a basketball fan move, no. I had actually just posted about not wanting Yi earlier this morning on the T&T board before any of this was mentioned.

These were my exact words and in response to a deal that had us getting back something by way of picks for Yi and Hump.

A soon to be ambushed Hoopalotta said:
We could see what Yi would get by way of an expiring in a three way, though. That would choke the cap, but it might work out.

Humphries would be perfect for us if he just shot less, but even then he'd work. Yi is under pressure being a rookie in a contract year, so that would almost surely make for bad chemistry if he's not getting his touches (and he probably wouldn't).

I didn't even realize how bad Yi's shooting numbers were when I said that; I was thinking he was much more efficient.

So yeah, it pretty well sucks from a basketball perspective unless were buying draft picks every year with the profits from 20 million hardcore Chinese John Wall fans. That trend would be starting in 2015.