Yi scored 26, 14 rebounds vs. Greece

[JonathanJoseph]

It's zero risk anyway, considering the team had to ink sufficient players to fill a 13 man roster. QRoss would be paid to do nothing, playing behind Gil, Wall, Hinrich, NIck, etc. By contrast Yi can play multiple positions at an area of need (Dray's injury and Javale's foul issues suggest we'll need minutes here, and even resigning Josh doesn't give us great depth at SF since he'll be rehabbing for half the season). Yi saves us the salaries of multiple players even as bench filler. Said it before, Quinton wasn't even versatile at sucking.

Correct. Zero risk, high potential reward.

It's a 6'11'' reserve PF on a 1 year, $4M contract. Find a servicable backup PF on a better contract than that in the NBA. There are few if any, and Yi has upside whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not and we now have his Bird rights.

[montestewart]

^
Most on this board acknowledge the possibility that Yi could develop his game, and that a 7-footer with an outside touch would be valuable if he could put it all together. In that sense, trying him out on the last year of his contract seems like a low risk move, especially given his perhaps undefined role for two different teams during his first three years. Still, Yi's first three years showed no particular positive trend, but maybe Wall and Arenas will have a positive effect on him.

By acquiring Yi and Hinrich (and getting a pick out of it as well) the Wizards filled out their roster, got Wall extra targets to work with, and got Wall a mentor type as well. At the same time, they took on salary that may prevent moves later, moves that might have acquired better pieces for the long run. Every move has some risk, but this is our team now, and I’ll try to embrace a positive approach and trust that both players might be great contributors and that for every opportunity cut off, a new one could emerge.

Go Yi!

[Kanyewest]

The Wizards really signed Yi to a 1 year, $3 million offer with the Ross for Yi trade; the difference in salary is only $3 million. If Yi plays like he has international play, then it would be considered a good trade.

[Hoopalotta]

^ They also got $3 million in cash in the transaction.

I think that'll be the end of the generic Ketchup - it's Heinz from here on out, boys!

[doclinkin]

The Wizards really signed Yi to a 1 year, $3 million offer with the Ross for Yi trade; the difference in salary is only $3 million. If Yi plays like he has international play, then it would be considered a good trade.

Consider also which one would be the more interesting trade prospect, as an expiring contract. QRoss would have to be packaged with a boatload of other scrubs, to a team that could clear up roster room. Yi, whether he pans out or not, is easier to swap, as a solo piece or part of a larger trade, the contract is just about the ideal size to add to any big ticket package, and the potential for upside actually exists. Even as an expiring contract for this team, he dumps more cash off the cap at the end of the year, becoming a significant asset when it matters most: Draft day.

Considering the team was paid cash money to take his contract, the Yi deal was nothing but a steal. The only way it's a negative is if QRoss suddenly goes statistically berserk. The raw cap space steals are done for the year, I'm thinking. I doubt we'll see much else happen on that front for any team.

[Dat2U]

^
Most on this board acknowledge the possibility that Yi could develop his game, and that a 7-footer with an outside touch would be valuable if he could put it all together. In that sense, trying him out on the last year of his contract seems like a low risk move, especially given his perhaps undefined role for two different teams during his first three years. Still, Yi's first three years showed no particular positive trend, but maybe Wall and Arenas will have a positive effect on him.

By acquiring Yi and Hinrich (and getting a pick out of it as well) the Wizards filled out their roster, got Wall extra targets to work with, and got Wall a mentor type as well. At the same time, they took on salary that may prevent moves later, moves that might have acquired better pieces for the long run. Every move has some risk, but this is our team now, and I’ll try to embrace a positive approach and trust that both players might be great contributors and that for every opportunity cut off, a new one could emerge.

Go Yi!

Agreed. There are certainly other ways to fill out roster than taking on dreck. And while doc & others can make an impassioned case about Yi filling a role and finding his comfort zone the truth of the matter he's gotten plenty of opportunities & minutes over the past three seasons and he's been downright awful with no sign of development.

The risk is Yi will continue to be Yi. He might eat up minutes in Blatche's absence but the fact is he's been no better than a replacement level player. Maybe even a step down from one. When he plays, his team loses. That's a pretty big risk right there IMO. I'd rather have Singleton getting those minutes. Or if were gonna lose, I'd rather do so while developing our rookies as opposed to a guy we took a flier on who won't likely be here next year.

Also, nothing beats raw cap room. Yi maybe an expiring and easy to trade, but using raw cap room is even easier and no team is going to prefer a stiff on an expiring deal when if they can get immediate savings instead.

[JonathanJoseph]

^
Most on this board acknowledge the possibility that Yi could develop his game, and that a 7-footer with an outside touch would be valuable if he could put it all together. In that sense, trying him out on the last year of his contract seems like a low risk move, especially given his perhaps undefined role for two different teams during his first three years. Still, Yi's first three years showed no particular positive trend, but maybe Wall and Arenas will have a positive effect on him.

By acquiring Yi and Hinrich (and getting a pick out of it as well) the Wizards filled out their roster, got Wall extra targets to work with, and got Wall a mentor type as well. At the same time, they took on salary that may prevent moves later, moves that might have acquired better pieces for the long run. Every move has some risk, but this is our team now, and I’ll try to embrace a positive approach and trust that both players might be great contributors and that for every opportunity cut off, a new one could emerge.

Go Yi!

Agreed. There are certainly other ways to fill out roster than taking on dreck. And while doc & others can make an impassioned case about Yi filling a role and finding his comfort zone the truth of the matter he's gotten plenty of opportunities & minutes over the past three seasons and he's been downright awful with no sign of development.

The risk is Yi will continue to be Yi. He might eat up minutes in Blatche's absence but the fact is he's been no better than a replacement level player. Maybe even a step down from one. When he plays, his team loses. That's a pretty big risk right there IMO. I'd rather have Singleton getting those minutes. Or if were gonna lose, I'd rather do so while developing our rookies as opposed to a guy we took a flier on who won't likely be here next year.

Also, nothing beats raw cap room. Yi maybe an expiring and easy to trade, but using raw cap room is even easier and no team is going to prefer a stiff on an expiring deal when if they can get immediate savings instead.

Wow.

1) The roster was filled out with dreck? Hinrich is a very good guard and Yi is a backup PF on a 1 year contract. What backup PF on a short term contract would have been better? Who else would you have suggested adding on a short term contract?

2) When Yi is on the court his teams lose? So the Nets were really a good team last year they just had Yi holding them back?

3) If Yi is so awful, how is it he's going to eat into Blatche's minutes? Blatche will not "lose minutes" to anyone much less someone as bad as you claim Yi is.

4) Yi is a step down from a replacement player? But Singleton isn't?

5) Raw cap room is better than an actual 7-foot basketball player? This is the height of madness.

There are so many ridiculous assertions in here that it's hard to fathom. You are going way, way out of your way to find reasons for pessimism. If Yi is no good, he'll be gone next year. There is zero risk here.