The second stage of the CBA regular season is in full swing, with intense on-court battles thrilling spectators. However, amidst this excitement, news about the recovery of men's basketball star Cui Yongxi has sparked a new sense of anticipation among fans. As one of the top domestic forward prospects, Cui Yongxi's fame extends beyond the CBA. Initially, he secured a spot with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and was entrusted with significant responsibilities. Unfortunately, unforeseen injuries forced him to prematurely end his overseas journey, ultimately leading to his release from the Nets. Now, the news of Cui Yongxi planning to return to China has reignited the passion of CBA teams, presenting an excellent opportunity for those seeking reinforcement.
Among these teams, Guangdong undoubtedly stands as one in dire need of such a piece. Once a traditional powerhouse, Guangdong now finds itself in an awkward position—lacking the determination to completely rebuild or the ability to challenge for the championship with its current lineup. The team's imported players, such as Arms, Barton, and Rice, have underperformed, falling short of expectations. Looking internally, the team's shortcomings at the three and five positions are glaringly obvious. Even with veterans like Ren Junfei holding up and Hu Mingxuan expected to return later in the season, a stable domestic small forward or center remains scarce for Guangdong.
Complicating matters further is the CBA's "single foreign player in the final quarter" policy, which has repeatedly caused Guangdong to falter in the closing stages of games. While they can maintain parity with dual foreign players earlier in the game, their combativeness plummets during the single foreign player period in the final quarter. Simply put, even if Guangdong invests in a stronger foreign player, their ceiling is likely no more than reaching the playoff semi-finals; winning the championship seems out of reach. Instead, it would be prudent to plan ahead for the future—such as focusing on recruiting Cui Yongxi!
For Guangdong, Cui Yongxi is indeed the most suitable candidate. His technical skills and athletic talent at the three position reach domestic top levels, precisely what Guangdong needs to strengthen. Moreover, Cui Yongxi's playing style does not monopolize the ball, fitting seamlessly into Guangdong's system. With core ball-handlers like Xu Jie and Hu Mingxuan, having a stable forward support like Cui Yongxi would be like adding wings to a tiger! Not to mention, due to injury issues, Cui Yongxi's market value is likely to decrease, making now the perfect time to make a move.
From Guangzhou's perspective, their strategy of dismantling the team this season has already shown initial success, and the possibility of continuing to clear players and sell Cui Yongxi in the future is not low. Guangdong must seize the opportunity to engage with Cui Yongxi upon his return to China, striving to secure this rising star. For Du Feng and Zhu Fangyu, this may be the only good chance to fill the void at the three position. After all, Guangdong's youth training reserves are essentially depleted at the three position. Huang Mingyi still requires time to mature, and young players like Chen Jiazheng and Wang Hongze are simply unsuited for the three position. In other words, within the next three years, it is highly unlikely that Guangdong will be able to cultivate a top-tier small forward on their own.
Therefore, it might be better to abandon the plan of introducing foreign players this season and concentrate all resources on Cui Yongxi. Imagine if a healthy Cui Yongxi joins Guangdong, even if he can only recover to 80% of his peak condition, the team's overall strength would still rise significantly. Even if the single foreign player policy continues in the future, Du Feng's lineup would have enough confidence to compete for the championship.
Ultimately, Guangdong stands at a critical crossroads. Should they continue with the strategy of relying on past glories or take bold action to bet on the future? The news of Cui Yongxi's return to China undoubtedly presents Guangdong with an excellent opportunity. If Zhu Fangyu and Du Feng act decisively, perhaps Guangdong's revival is just around the corner. After all, opportunities are reserved for the prepared, and missing this one might leave no room for regret!