The Milwukee Bucks traded away Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons for Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets. Though the trade happened on the day of the 2008 NBA Draft, no draft picks were exchanged.

Even though no draft picks were swapped, the move signals to the potential picks Milwaukee or New Jersey will make in tonight’s NBA draft. The Bucks pick at #8, while New Jersey has the #10 pick.

Yi Jianlian, the 7-footer from China selected sixth overall in the 2007 NBA draft, spent one up-and-down season in Milwaukee. After a promising start to the season, Yi faded during the second-half, finishing off the season wih 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and failed to make either All-Rookie Teams. But that didn’t deter the Nets from pursuing the promising 20-year old. “We feel that Yi can be a very special player,” said Rod Thorn, the Net’s GM, “He is a 20-year- old seven-footer who shoots the ball extremely well, and he is an excellent addition to our frontcourt. ”

And no doubt Jianlian and his agent are happy that they’ll be moving to a city with a much larger Asian population, which was the main point of contention when Yi held out last year after being selected by Milwaukee. Around 3.5% of the Wisconsin city’s population is Asian and if the state is any indication, half of that 3.5% is likely to be of Hmong descent (re: Not Chinese), while in East Rutherford, New Jersey (where the Nets play), the Asian population is roughly 10.6%.

Jianlian was packaged with Bobby Simmons, the NBA’s Most-Improved Player in 2006. “Bobby Simmons is a veteran NBA player who has averaged 10 points for his career, and should be a rotation player for us.” said Thorn.

The 6-7 Richard Jefferson, a part of the 2004 USA Olympic team that brought home the Bronze, has spent his entire eight-year career in New Jersey, and averaged a career best in points (22.7) last season. He has career averages of 17.4 ppg, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

“We certainly gave up a good player, but to get a good player you have to give up a good player. With Yi, we feel his upside is very up,” Thorn said. “We feel strongly (Yi’s) going to be a real good player for us.”

Sources and links: Yi Jianlian traded to New Jersey Nets Supposedly (Interbasket), Nets trade Jefferson to Bucks for Yi (Yahoo Sports) 2007-08 NBA All-Rookie Teams (NBa.com), Latino, Asian numbers rising (JSOnline), Chinatown in Milwaukee? Just maybe (JSOnline)