After suffering a home defeat against Zhejiang Guangsha, Liaoning Men's Basketball Team has faced several championship contenders this season, including Shanxi Fenjiu, Xinjiang Guanghui, Beijing Shougang, and Zhejiang Guangsha, ultimately ending in defeat against all of them. This poor situation has made the management realize the severity of the title defense this season. Therefore, after signing Justin Patton, Liaoning did not stop their pursuit of reinforcements. They have just signed James Webb III, a top-tier stretch four player, who has already set off for Shenyang. However, this is not the last signing of the season for Liaoning, as the management is working on bringing in a fifth foreign player, which could potentially cause a seismic shift in the CBA landscape!
According to American media reports, the NBA's Toronto Raptors have officially parted ways with their frontcourt player Bruno Fernando, making him an unrestricted free agent. Currently, multiple CBA clubs and Turkish league teams have extended offers to Bruno Fernando. There are rumors that Liaoning is also among the suitors for this beast-level interior player. If they can secure his services, it would directly enhance Liaoning's overall strength.
The 26-year-old Fernando is an extremely explosive interior player with a physique. Despite being only 208 cm tall, Fernando weighs 108 kg. Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, he averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. However, after transferring to the Raptors this season, Fernando's playing opportunities were very limited. He was at a disadvantage in the competition with players like Poeltl, Boucher, and Olynyk, ultimately leading to his release.
Although it may be challenging for Fernando to establish himself in the NBA, if placed in the CBA arena, he would undoubtedly be a formidable presence. Taking Lofton's performance with the Shanghai Sharks as a reference, this forward, who stands only 198 cm tall, had an NBA career average of just 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, with personal statistics comparable to Fernando's. After joining Shanghai, Lofton led the team to a 13-game winning streak, averaging 24.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.63 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, scoring effortlessly as if picking a pocket.
Following the order of player acquisitions, if Fernando can join Liaoning, he would become the team's fifth foreign player. The management will surely evaluate Patton and Webb's performances and cut one of them. With the "arms race" among CBA teams becoming increasingly fierce, Liaoning must invest heavily in strong foreign players to defend their title. The domestic frontcourt's shortcomings are already evident, and the upcoming transfer window for domestic players presents a great opportunity for Liaoning to reinforce their squad. If they can trade for a suitable domestic frontcourt player to support Han Dejun from another team, it is almost certain that Liaoning will make a serious push for a fourth consecutive championship.
