| Yi The Key To Kobe Deal? Authored by John Bonick - June 16, 2007 - 10:44 pm
Okay, Jerry Buss, are you ready to transition from the former World Champions into the new Los Angeles Lakers? Retooled and ready to put “show” back into your “show business?” Well, clean off your glasses, Dr. B., because it’s time to envision the future. And the future is a two-letter word: Yi.
If ever there was a time for an international (Chinese) star in Los Angeles, it’s right now at the beginning of the “China Century.”
Beyond Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the dynamic duo of this year’s draft heroes, there is only one player with the marketing potential to fill the seats at the Staples Center. Yi Jianlian, the 7-foot power forward who already looks ready to light up the nets in the NBA.
Not only does Yi have the potential to be a star (and admittedly, potential is a two-sided coin), he is a marketing opportunity just waiting to be tapped. Think of the worldwide hype, the demand for seats from Hong-Kong and Shanghai businessmen, the heightened attention of Asian-American communities of Southern California. Think of all those wide screen tv’s tuned to the Lake Show. And ask yourself, with the Southland all abuzz about Yi, how long before Jackie Chan puts him into one of his movies?
Will the NBA’s international presence benefit from having Yi in LA? You bet. How about Nike? Think they’d like to get a bigger foothold in the China market? The Lakers are already showing interest in Yi, as has Yi’s agent in them. Conveniently, Yi has been holding all of his work outs in Los Angeles.
With Kobe Bryant already paving his yellow-brick-road out of Los Angeles, the timing couldn’t be better for Yi. The catch is, there is only one team in the NBA who can make this dream come true for David Stern, ahem, I mean, Jerry Buss. The Chicago Bulls. Fortunately the heavens are converging onto just the right team. The Bulls are one of three teams Kobe has said he will consider. New York, one of the others, doesn’t seem to have the pieces and certainly can’t get their hands on Yi. The Clippers or Suns are likely the third team, but no one believes Buss will give away Bryant to a conference rival.
That leaves the Bulls, who just happen to have the #9 pick in this year’s draft. It is up to the Bulls (and to Yi’s agent Dan Fegan) to get their hands on Yi at #9 , or above, if necessary. That way the Bulls can offer the Lakers two stars in Yi and Ben Gordon, two excellent role players in Andres Nocioni (sign and trade) and Thabo Sefolosha, and future picks and spare parts creatively crafted to match salaries. The Lakers would likely have to give the Bulls back their first round pick this year, #19, so that Chicago can complete their front line and be competitive enough for Kobe to want to land there.
This is the moment, Jerry Buss. It’s all coming full circle. Look West toward the East and get ready for a brand new day. |
