By Walter Dubowec

OK, I pretend I know a little about international hoop stars. Well, it looks like I’m bang on with one prediction and way wrong on another.

Earlier I predicted that Argentian Carlos Delfino will prove to be a great under the radar pick-up for Bryan Colangelo. So far my observation looks very solid.

I also said that Larry Harris made a huge mistake because Yi Jianlian of China will never play a game for the Milwaukee Bucks. Today we found out I was completely off base and Larry Harris pulled off a nice signing which definitely strengthens the Bucks.

                         

Delfino Shines For Argentina

Carlos Delfino is leading the Argentine squad in a way that is putting smiles on the faces of both Raptor fans and GM Bryan Colangelo. "He's displayed a great ability to run a team," Colangelo told the Toronto Star. "Even if he isn't the point guard on the floor, they're running a lot of the offence through him and he's handling it well."

Delfino had 15 points against Canada in another strong game and is averaging better than 18 points, over seven boards and about five helpers so far in the FIBA tournament. Delfino’s rebounding should help the Raptors.

Even though Argentina is without Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Walter Herrmann and Fabricio Oberto, Delfino and Luis Scola have led the squad which is clearly the number two team behind the USA.

If Delfino continues his solid performance later this fall, then the Raptors will enjoy their strongest back court in years.

Also, one wonders if a solid tournament performance by Delfino might motivate Colangelo to more seriously consider dealing one or two of his surplus wing/back court players?


Yi's Surprising Signing

Who knew? Not me, obviously. Yi Jianlian is going to play for the Milwaukee Bucks after all.

Yi, the sixth overall selection in the NBA draft in June, finally inked a deal with the Bucks in Hong Kong, even though he claimed he would never play for Milwaukee. Yi’s agent Dan Fegan, pushed for a trade to a city with a large Asian population. However, Yi eventually relented and signed with the Bucks.

Last season, Yi posted career-high averages with 24.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 30.7 minutes for the Guangdong Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Yi played five games this summer with Team China Basketball in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots.

No doubt, GM Larry Harris won this game of 'international chicken' and the Bucks should be much improved next year.

A couple of questions of interest still remain. First, "what will Yi's attitude be like if things don't go well in Milwaukee?" And secondly (for Raptor fans) is “how does Yi’s signing affect ex-Raptor Charlie V's role with the Bucks”.

Stay tuned. I have a feeling there is still more to come from Wisconsin.