Even the Lakers' secret backup free-agent plan failed.
Lakersnation.com, based on a tweet from pro basketball reporter David Pick, reported that Los Angeles tried to lure former 2007 NBA first-round draft pick Yi Jianlian to join the Lakers.
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Source: Los Angeles Lakers tried to lure Chinese power-forward Yi Jianlian back to the NBA.— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 18, 2015
Note that the tweet does not mention if the Lakers are done trying but that the operative word in the tweet is "tried."
Yi was the sixth pick overall of the Milwaukee Bucks in the '07 draft. He did not have a stellar career but he wasn't exactly a bust.
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According to Pro Basketball Reference, Yi played five seasons in the NBA. His best year came in 2009-10, his third year in the league and his second season with the New Jersey Nets after being traded from the Bucks. The Chinese import averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game that season. The Nets, however, traded him to the Washington Wizards, and his last two years in the league - with the Wizards and Dallas Mavericks - were uneventful.
He never played more than 66 games in a season.
Yi, however, apparently has found new basketball life back home in China, according to Lakersnation.com.
"After appearing in 30 games for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2011-12 season, Yi has since played in China where he has won three CBA titles. Appearing in 45 games for Guangdong, Yi averaged 27.7 points on 57.5 percent shooting and 10.9 rebounds."
The Lakers entered free agency with sights on free-agent prized big man LaMarcus Aldridge and drafted guard D'Angelo Russell, rather than Duke center Jahlil Okafor.
They had the first interview with the former Trail Blazer but failed to impress him during the interview. A second interview later went better, but by then most experts believed Aldridge had his sights on San Antonio, which eventually signed him.
Because of the Lakers' belief in their prospects of landing Aldridge, they were not in serious discussions with other big-men free agents Kevin Love or Greg Monroe.
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