The second stage of the CBA regular season is in full swing, and the dynamics of foreign player recruitment by various teams have become a hot topic among fans. Recently, the name of 22-year-old swingman Deyshon Nix has been frequently mentioned. According to reports, this young player who was recently cut by the Timberwolves has attracted the attention of several strong CBA teams, including Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Qingdao. Several teams have even offered him contracts. However, it seems that Guangdong is the most likely team to sign Nix, depending on whether the young player is willing to give up his dream of returning to the NBA and instead join the CBA.
Nix is only 22 years old, standing at 193cm tall and weighing 102kg, a typical "heavyweight" swingman. During his time with the Rockets, he once scored an impressive 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in a single game. This sounds explosive, right? But in reality, his offensive efficiency is not high. In the NBA, where there are many strong players, Nix's attribute as a "ball possession consumer" makes it difficult for him to establish himself. During his time in the Development League, his shooting percentage was not outstanding, and his three-point shooting percentage was only around 30%, which is clearly not enough to make him a top-tier foreign player. Simply put, Nix is not the kind of super foreign player who can easily turn the tide of a game like Samner or Diawlo.
However, from another perspective, the playing style of the CBA league is completely different from the NBA. Many players who hover on the fringes of the NBA can rejuvenate their careers in the CBA. Can Nix become the next successful "comeback story"? We'll have to wait and see.
Although Zhejiang and Qingdao have also been involved in this foreign player bidding war, many fans believe that these two teams are more like "also-rans."
First, let's talk about Zhejiang. Their two small foreign players, Simmons and York, have shown stable performances, especially in terms of chemistry with the team, reaching a very good level. Although they are not considered "killer-level" scorers, their coordination with Zhejiang's local lineup is seamless. In this situation, it would be difficult for Zhejiang to risk giving up their current configuration for an uncertain Nix.
As for Qingdao, their foreign player combination is also satisfactory. Small foreign player Witherspoon is in hot form and can almost be considered one of the top small foreign players in the CBA at present. Big foreign player Mickey provides comprehensive support for the team's offense and defense with his all-around performance. Obviously, Qingdao does not need to make major changes for Nix, let alone spend a high price.
On the other hand, Guangdong's problems are obviously more urgent than Zhejiang and Qingdao. The team's ball-handling core Xu Jie is under great pressure to organize, and urgently needs a foreign player to share the workload. Guangdong has just quickly cut new recruit Les, indicating that the management is ready to make room for a more suitable small foreign player. Judging from this series of operations, Nix is undoubtedly Guangdong's key target.
Although Nix's three-point ability is slightly lacking, his physicality and tough playing style are exactly what Guangdong urgently needs as a "containment-type core." His playing style is very similar to Dominique Jones of Jilin, capable of dribbling through and creating shooting space for teammates. If Guangdong really signs him, Nix can not only relieve the pressure on Xu Jie but also open up the game for shooters like Du Runwang and Zhang Haojia, which is of great tactical significance to Guangdong.
From Nix's point of view, the CBA environment is undoubtedly more suitable for his characteristics. He has no problem with physical confrontation in the CBA, and Guangdong can fully support his playing style that requires a lot of ball possession. As long as Nix is willing to work hard and adapt to the rhythm of the CBA, he could very well become a key piece in Guangdong's championship puzzle.