A Beijing newspaper on Thursday was investigating a story it published this week, quoting Chen Haitao ? owner of the Guangdong Tigers basketball club ? saying power forward Yi Jianlian would "definitely not" sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Yi was drafted sixth overall two weeks ago and is expected to be the fourth Chinese player to compete in the NBA.

The Chinese-language Beijing News said it stood by its story, but a top Guangdong club official said it was untrue and the club had not talked with the newspaper.