Recent rumors have emerged that the recent signing of Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian by the Los Angeles Lakers could eventually pave the way for the Hollywood team to finally snag All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings next season.

The 28-year-old stretch four officially returned to the NBA after the Lakers signed him to an unconventional one-year, $8 million deal last week. The contract was not ordinary because Yi had to "reach several benchmarks in games played" in order to earn its full value, according to CBS Sports.

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Of the $8 million, only $250,000 is guaranteed to be received by Yi no matter what happens. His base salary of $1.1 million, the veteran's minimum, will only become guaranteed on Jan. 10 next year if the former Milwaukee Buck is still in the Lakers roster.

Furthermore, Yi will receive an additional $2.3 million when or if he reaches his 20th, 40th, and 59th game of the season, which means he has to stay healthy, perform well, and actually play for LA to be able to earn his full $8 million contract.

Basically, if the Lakers deem him unfit to be taken to the next season, then the team will just cut him and he will take with him only $250,000 out of the $8 million.

The report noted, though, that Yi's unique contract allows him to become a valuable trade chip as his $8 million salary will count against the cap, "but the team receiving him could acquire him and waive him immediately".

Sportsrageous reported that Yi's acquisition "could be the last step for the team to get" Cousins from the Kings around mid-December next season.

The article said that in order for the Lakers to get Cousins, they will have to swap "at least $11,957,900 in salary" to Sacramento, in which Yi's wage will provide a lot of help to pull off. It suggested that the "combined salaries of Julius Randle, Anthony Brown, and Yi" would be enough for a deal involving Cousins "to be executed".

TagsNBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2016, Yi Jianlian, China basketball, Los Angeles Lakers