[ZT]易建連極有可能參加今年的NBA選秀

There is breaking news out of China. Forward Yi Jianlian, considered the top prospect out of Asia since Yao Ming has been given consent by his team, the Guangdong Tigers, and the Chinese Basketball Association to explore this year's NBA draft. This is significant news because the CBA made a rule in 2004 that Chinese players could not enter the draft until they turned 22. Yi is officially listed as 1987 born. But Yi's actual age is in question, (some feel he's actually 1984 born) and he could already be turning 22 this year. Regardless of his actual birth year, the Chinese National team and all official records state that he is 1987 born, and that is unlikely to change. NBA International scouts feel that Yi is an NBA level player regardless if he is 1984 or 1987 born. The one condition from the CBA is that Yi see action in his first season (roughly 10 minutes per game) to make it worthwhile. The CBA doesn't see any point in having a player such as Yi or Wang Zhizhi come to the US to play, and spend all of their time on a team's bench. But the condition is not an ultimatum, instead more of a pact between the CBA and Yi's agent. Yi is easily the most athletic prospect to emerge out of China. Unlike most Chinese players, he has an American style of play with high flying dunks and use of supreme athleticism. Yi's team is currently playing in the CBA finals. On the year, Yi's averages are: 20.5 PPG, 57.41 FG %, 75.08 FT%, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.2 APG, 2.0 SPG. His biggest adjustment will be getting used to the physicality of the NBA. He has added strength in the past few years, but will need to get much stronger. He has excellent toughness, (considered tougher than Yao Ming) but besides the Olympics (he started for the Chinese team at just 17 years of age), he lacks experience against NBA level athletes. He also has the advantage of being a potential marketing phenomenon like Yao. He'll need to make an impact in the NBA for that to happen, but he's already a fan favorite in China with mass appeal. Yi is likely to explore his options and enter the 2006 draft. He's considered a likely first round pick, with a chance to be a lottery selection if he blows teams away in workouts.