Jodie Valade of the DallasMorning News reports that Wang Zhi-Zhi does not want to defect to the U.S. He is merely trying to improve his defense and rebounding in an effort to gain more playing time.

Zhi-Zhi is playing with the Golden State Warriors? summer league team while he negotiates with the Dallas Mavericks on a new contract. He has also ignored two demands by the Chinese to return for workouts with their National Team.

Wang reiterates that he is not defecting from China and will rejoin the Chinese National Team when they play an exhibition game in San Francisco before the World Championships on August 29 in Indianapolis.

Wang says he wants to return to Dallas, but he is also impressed with the athletic style of the young Warriors as well as the large Chinese community in the San Francisco area. He also sees himself getting more playing time with the Warriors? and playing time is important.

"I would get maybe 10 minutes of playing time [last season]. I want maybe 20 minutes, like [Eduardo] Najera," Wang said. "Nellie [Don Nelson] says [my] defense no good, rebounding no good. I want to be a good rebounder and good at defense. I want to play summer league, practice defense and practice rebound. Maybe next season Nellie will watch and say, 'Good defense, good rebound ... we need Wang.' "

Meanwhile, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has slightly changed his stance on resigning Zhi-Zhi. In the past, Cuban has said he will match ?any offer? to keep Wang in Dallas. He has recently changed that to any ?reasonable offer?. As a restricted free agent, the Mavericks have the ability to match any offer up to the NBA?s middle class exception (about $4.6 million).