Yi Jianlian

Yi was maddeningly inconsistent last season, displaying glimpses of potential (15.6 points, 8 rebounds when given 30-plus minutes) before getting injured in January and fizzling out over the final three months of the season. He has yet to make the proverbial "leap," to justify being the sixth pick in the 2007 draft, and it's painfully clear the Nets need him for financial reasons as well, given the revenue he generates because of his popularity in China. Needless to say, Yi must improve this season or he's well on his way to becoming the Chinese Robert Horry.

For a brief period last season, Jianlian was one of the most productive rookies in the league – even ahead of highly-touted players like Kevin Durant. But the physical nature of NBA play took its toll on the rookie, who missed time due to ankle, shoulder and wrist injuries, and he was limited to 66 games. He’ll get a fresh start this season on a New Jersey squad in the midst of an extreme makeover. At 7-0, 230, Jianlian has the size – along with a wide range of post moves and a handle that would make many guards jealous – to play the four at the NBA level, but he’ll need to adjust to the stronger, quicker competition he’ll face night-in, night-out. He’ll be in the mix with the likes of Josh Boone, Sean Williams and Bobby Simmons for minutes at the three and four for New Jersey.

Yi was one of the more controversial picks in the NBA draft this summer, as there was sincere doubt as to whether the Chinese government would allow him to come to the NBA to play for Milwaukee. While all of this melodrama played out off the court, Yi struggled to distinguish himself against U.S. competition at the Las Vegas Summer League. Eventually, the contract dispute was settled, and Yi agreed to join the Bucks. So, what should one expect from the rookie? It is currently being reported that Yi’s contract with the Bucks guarantees him at least 20–25 minutes of playing time per game. This is big, because on paper he has the size (7-0) and skill set (very coordinated, moves like a guard, nice ball-handling and post moves) to be effective in the NBA if he can transition to the more physical style of play in America. He could possibly could put up numbers similar to Andrea Bargnani’s rookie stats but without the 3-pointers.