EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Yi Jianlian at the Chinese forward’s request.
The Lakers also waived forward Anthony Brown on Monday and apparently kept Metta World Peace on their opening night roster.
Yi returned to the NBA last month after a four-year absence in an attempt to win a job with the Lakers. The 7-footer was the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft.
Yi averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds during the preseason. But Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Yi apparently didn’t think he would have a prominent role with the team.
The Lakers also released Brown, their second-round pick out of Stanford last year.
The surprising moves mean World Peace and journeyman Thomas Robinson likely have made the opening roster.
The Lakers host Houston on Wednesday.
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