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How Kohl Finished Yi Deal
"It was a team effort," Kohl said. "John (Steinmiller, the team's vice president of business operations) and Ron and Larry Harris and myself were working on this thing on a daily basis. Another person, Mike Burr (Bucks chief financial officer) was a big part of this effort. "I wouldn't say one person was most instrumental. Everyone doing his little bit made up a very strong whole. Working together we got something done." Kohl declined to divulge the transfer fee the Bucks paid the Guangdong team to release Yi to the NBA, but the senator said it was "in that modest range to get a player released from a foreign team." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Bucks Sign Yi Jianlian To Multi-Year Contract
Bucks owner and team president Senator Herb Kohl, General Manager Larry Harris and Bucks Vice President Ron Walter were able to meet with Mr. Chen, as well as Yi and his family, as part of the process. Yi Jianlian is expected to join the team for training camp that begins on Monday, October 1 at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI. “There has been a genuine excitement throughout our city and state, as well as internationally, following our selection of Yi in the NBA Draft,” said Senator Herb Kohl. “We all anticipate Yi’s arrival and welcome him and his family to Milwaukee. We look forward to a successful relationship for many years to come.” “We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge and thank Mr. Chen for his assistance and support in the negotiating process,” Kohl added. “We were thrilled to be able to draft Yi Jianlian in June and are equally excited to sign him to a NBA contract as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks,” said Harris. “We drafted Yi with the expectation that he would be a part of our franchise for a very long time and this is the first step in that process. Yi is a skilled and versatile young man who we have seen play numerous times over the last few years including this summer in the NBA Summer League. Our players and coaches look forward to working with Yi and I know our fans will enjoy watching him compete with the many talented, young players on our roster.” NBA Commissioner David J. Stern commented, “We are happy that Yi will be playing with the Bucks to further develop his skill and his contribution to both the Chinese National Team and the NBA. This is another great example of cooperation between the CBA and the NBA and I want to congratulate the CBA, Mr. Chen, the Guangdong Tigers and the Milwaukee Bucks.” Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Bucks Are Meeting With Yi
The high-level meeting marks the first substantive talks since the 7-foot Chinese forward was selected by the Bucks with the sixth overall pick in the June 28 draft. Sen. Kohl's presence is seen as a critical piece in negotiations to bring Yi to the Bucks. His representatives initially balked at having Yi join the Bucks and requested a trade, and they did not allow him to work out for the Bucks prior to the draft. If the Bucks are to sign Yi, they must reach an agreement with Guangdong Tigers owner Chen Haitao and officials of the Chinese Basketball Association, and the Bucks must pay a fee to release Yi from his contract with the Tigers. The meeting was expected to begin on Wednesday morning in Hong Kong, which was Tuesday night (Milwaukee time). Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Bucks Aug 2007 Archive
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Bucks' owner Herb Kohl downplayed his personal role in the Yi Jianlian discussions and discounted his status as a U.S. senator playing an important part.
The Milwaukee Bucks announced on Wednesday that 2007 first round draft pick Yi Jianlian has signed a multi-year contract. The Bucks 6th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Yi Jianlian signed his contract in Hong Kong following a negotiating session with Mr. Chen Haitao, owner of the Guangdong Tigers.