The Milwaukee Bucks are confident that their first round draft pick, China's Yi Jianlian, will be ready for training camp which starts in 12 weeks.
NBA Commissioner David Stern shakes hands with Yi Jianlian (R) after Yi was drafted sixth by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2007 NBA Draft in New York, June 2007. Six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen urged Yi to reconsider his refusal to play for the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that chose him in last month's draft. [AFP]"I felt there was a lot accomplished," Bucks general manager Larry Harris told ESPN.com after meeting with Yi.
"He got to know us a little bit, and we got a chance to explain why we drafted him, explain the role we envision for him and talk about the opportunity in Milwaukee."
Yi, the 7ft forward who the Bucks took with the sixth overall pick last month, reportedly does not want to play in a city with such a small Chinese population.
"He was very pleasant, very engaging," Harris said. "I think he's excited about playing in the NBA. But I made it very clear (to Yi) - not in a negative way - that we're not going to trade you."
Yi's camp has threatened not to show up in Milwaukee, insisting the Bucks must trade him or watch him sit out a year and re-enter the 2008 draft.
Yi has been playing in the NBA summer league this week, but with China and not the Bucks.
Now he is heading home to prepare for further international commitments, but before he left he did speak to officials from the Bucks.
Prior to the June 28 draft, Yi had tried out for several teams but refused the Bucks' invitation, a clear sign that he did not want to play in Wisconsin. That was not enough to deter the team.
"When we drafted him, we knew it wasn't going to be the typical situation," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak told ESPN.com. "But I just think, when it's all said and done, he's going to be in a Bucks uniform. And hopefully this will have been a great learning experience for all of us."
Yi has not addressed his situation directly, with the NBA imposing a ban on interviews with the 19-year-old.
A reporter from NBA.com was permitted a question-and-answer session with the forward after agreeing not to ask about Milwaukee.