Yi Jianlian set to return to Guangdong

The Chinese Basketball Association has just added another NBA player. And this one, every person in China is sure to know.

As confirmed by team general manager, Liu Hongjiang, former Chinese Basketball Association MVP, Yi Jianlian, has agreed to play this season in the Chinese Basketball Association with his old team, the Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers. The deal includes an NBA out-clause.

Yi played with the Guangdong senior team from 2003-2007 and helped the team to win three league championships within that span. In 2006, he was awarded as CBA MVP.

The move comes as a major surprise. Up until two weeks ago, it was reported that Yi would stay in the United States during the lockout, and would only consider a return to China if the NBA season was cancelled. However, with negotiations looking less optimistic by the day, Yi only recently decided to rejoin the seven-time CBA champs for another run. The CBA has already confirmed that he has been officially registered for the new season.

But although Yi will start the year with Guangdong, it is unlikely that he’ll finish it. As a free-agent, Yi is committed to playing in the NBA next season and beyond, and will leave the team immediately whenever the lockout ends. Unlike foreign players, who are forbidden to sign back-to-the-NBA out-clauses in any CBA contract this year, Chinese players are allowed to go back to the NBA.

“Although he may not stay for us very long, I am quite sure the move is good for himself, the team and Chinese fans as well,” Liu said. “He could keep his edge in CBA, our team will also benefit from his skills and fans certainly want to see him play at his best years.”(...)

Is Yi still worthy of the NBA? Our two cents: Yes, simply because teams will be willing to sign him to a deal in the hopes of penetrating the all important China market. Even if NBA ratings across China are down, there’s still a lot of Yi interest in his home province of Guangdong, population 100 million. And although he’s never really proven himself yet, with that body and athleticism, I’m sure there’s some GM’s who’d be willing to take a cheap flyer on him in the hopes that he can blossom into a solid role player.