So it's hard to tell if the 7-foot power forward is warming to the prospect of playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

But the first halting steps have been taken in sweltering Las Vegas, beginning with Yi's one-hour meeting with Bucks general manager Larry Harris and coach Larry Krystkowiak last week.

The Bucks grabbed Yi with the sixth overall pick in the June 28 draft, but he was stunned to be chosen by Milwaukee, after his representatives had refused to let Yi work out with the team.

An icy, awkward period followed, but the Bucks thought time was on their side and resolved to patiently pursue Yi.

Harris clearly saw Yi's potential yesterday, when the Chinese star scored 17 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and calmly made a short turnaround jumper in the final second of play, lifting Team China to an emotional 85-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I'm convinced he has no problem going down there and banging," Harris said of Yi's low-post game. "The shot he made, they could have called a foul on that.

"There was a lot of contact, and he was able to finish it off and win the game for them. I'm proud of the young man and really happy to see China get a win in the summer league."

Adding to the intrigue during the weekend was a report from Marty Burns, a writer for Sports Illustrated magazine's Web site, that said NBA Commissioner David Stern might become involved in finding an agreement between Yi's representatives, the Chinese Basketball Association and the Bucks.

"I don't answer speculation, but from a Bucks standpoint we're doing everything we can to move the process along and have Yi as a Milwaukee Buck next season," Harris said.

The Bucks have reached out to Yi, inviting him to Milwaukee in a letter from team owner Herb Kohl. Bucks officials hope that meeting can take place later this month, after the Chinese national team completes its five-game summer league schedule.

Harris headed back to Milwaukee on a red-eye flight last night, and he was encouraged by the weekend's developments and the chance to watch Yi play on three straight days.

"It was a chance for our coaches to see him play in an NBA environment, with NBA rules, against NBA players," Harris said. "It's been a win-win on a lot of different fronts."

Team China coach Jonas Kazlauskas said he thought Yi would make a positive impact in the NBA as a rookie, a development that also should benefit the Chinese team when it takes the world stage as the host country in the Beijing Olympics next summer.

"He can play easy in the NBA, there is no question," Kazlauskas said. "How high he can play we will know in the future. I don't have magic, so I can't explain it for you now."

Yi clearly has experienced highs and lows in the summer league, competing well Friday night against Memphis' Rudy Gay and seemingly disappearing in the first half Saturday night against Sacramento.

It's all part of the development of the Guangdong Tigers player, whose progress is being watched closely in China.

Yi will not play in the same style as Houston Rockets center and former Shanghai Sharks player Yao Ming, but the 19-year-old also will try to become a star in the NBA.

Yi, along with No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden of Portland and No. 2 selection Kevin Durant of Seattle, has been the focus of attention of the fans at the Cox Pavilion.

"I explained to him that everything is going around him about his future," Kazlauskas said, "but just to play how he can play. And he did those things well."

The Bucks were giving strong hints they would select Yi in the weeks preceding the draft, even if not too many people were listening.

And team officials have become even stronger in their conviction to keep him.