WIZ NET YI FROM JERSEY
The New Jersey Nets acquired guard/forward Quinton Ross from the Washington Wizards for forward Yi Jianlian and cash.
What does it give the New Jersey Nets
For the Nets this deal is all about adding more salary cap space so they can target up to two of the top players in this year's incredible free agent class. Jersey clears roughly $3 Million in salary with the move, bringing their available spending up to roughly $30 Million. Ross is a bench/role player whose primary appeal here is that his salary for next season is $3.3 Million less than Yi's.
What does it give the Washington Wizards
Yi will turn just 23 years old early next season and showed enough in 2009-10 to suggest he can still be an above-average NBA power forward. The Wizards obviously still have the emerging Andray Blatche at that spot, but he's dealing with a surgically-repaired broken right foot (so may get off to a slow start next season). This move suggests the Wiz might consider playing Blatche at center in 2010-11, but if they don't they suddenly have good youth and depth at the 4-spot. The cash also helps (as it was sent along to offset the extra salary Washington will have to pay Yi). All in all, a bit of a steal for the Wizards.
Fantasy impact
