The Lakers plan to waive Chinese center Yi Jianlian on Monday, according to a league source familiar with the situation.
The Lakers had signed Yi to a non-guaranteed contract at the veteran’s minimum, including incentives that could have made the deal worth as much as $8 million. But after hoping Yi could provide some outside shooting at the backup center spot, Yi averaged only 3.6 points on a 36.8 percent clip in 12.2 minutes through five exhibition games. Yi also shot only 16.7 percent from 3-point range.
Yi had met with the Lakers on Sunday and asked for his release, according to a league source.