NEW YORK - Yi Jianlian’s representatives are still working to prevent him starting his NBA career in Milwaukee after the Bucks drafted him sixth overall in New York on Thursday.

Yi did not travel to Milwaukee for the customary post-draft introduction, saying he needed to head to Dallas to join the Chinese national team, but behind the scenes his agents are seeking a trade away from the Bucks.

Yi is due to play for China when they compete in the NBA’s summer league, starting with Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Asked about his plans, Yi said that game was his only immediate priority.

“Within the next few days I will join the Chinese national team in Dallas and train with them to prepare for the upcoming NBA Summer League,” he told Chinese reporters. “Based on the timing, I have no chance to go to Milwaukee.”

If his agents have their way, Yi will not travel to Milwaukee at all. Before the draft, Yi’s camp had prevented him from working out for the Bucks as they did not want him to be drafted by a small market team, especially one from a city without a significant Chinese population.

Yi had attracted interest from several teams prior to Thursday’s draft, and his agents now hope to engineer a trade for the 22-year-old forward.

“Our agent team had meetings to study this case immediately after the draft,” said Yi’s Chinese agent Zhao Gang. “Yi’s selection at six has proved his capabilities and value.

“However, we feel that the Bucks are not the best fit for Yi Jianlian. Our team will make contact with other teams who have watched Yi’s training and games to see if there is any possibility of a trade.”

Some reports had suggested that Yi would refuse to travel to Wisconsin and, if no deal was done, would instead return to the Chinese Basketball Association rather than beginning his NBA career.

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However, his club in China, the Guangdong Tigers, has denied this will happen.

“Though the final result of the negotiations and communications are uncertain, I can guarantee that whatever the outcome is, it could not be so bad that Yi will be back to play in the CBA,” said Liu HongJiang, deputy general manager of the Guangdong Hongyuan Basketball Club.

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