The second phase of the CBA regular season is in full swing, with recent discussions focusing on Guangdong Men's Basketball's home defeat to old rival Zhejiang Men's Basketball by a large margin. As Guangdong approaches the halfway point of the regular season with only a 12-10 record, many fans are concerned that the team may not make it into the playoffs this season. In terms of foreign aid, despite the addition of new recruits such as Bazley and Les, the team still relies heavily on Morand and Jilunwate for tough games. Bazley failed to perform up to par against Zhejiang, while the fourth foreign aid, Les, is even less capable than the previously released Arms.
In response, Zhu Fangyu, general manager of the Guangdong team, has made it clear that the team is seeking to sign a fifth foreign aid. At the same time, the new recruits Les and Bazley have not met expectations, meaning that Du Feng still needs a foreign aid who can play at the three position with sufficient size and offensive capabilities. After the failures of Barton, Arms, and Les, Guangdong must now prioritize autonomous offensive ability in their foreign aid selection. Additionally, having the standard height and wingspan for the three position is also an essential requirement. As a result, Guangdong may only have the opportunity to strengthen their team after NBA layoffs. However, Guangdong's current record may not be able to sustain them until NBA layoffs occur, so buying out new recruits from other overseas leagues may be the preferred option.
Lance Stephenson, a former strong forward foreign aid in the CBA league, might be a suitable choice for Guangdong's current reinforcement. With a physique similar to Weems, Stephenson's playing style in the CBA is almost identical to Masang's. Although Stephenson's playing style is somewhat individualistic, Guangdong currently needs a foreign aid who can score in critical moments. Therefore, if Guangdong can bring in Stephenson, it could provide strong scoring support for the team. Stephenson not only possesses a rhythmical offense comparable to Masang but also has the standard height and wingspan for the three position, which undoubtedly increases his suitability for Guangdong. If Guangdong can successfully introduce Stephenson, Du Feng's front line will be effectively improved in subsequent games.
During his tenure with teams like Zhejiang and Beikong in the CBA league, Stephenson provided stable scoring output on the offensive end and his explosive physical fitness and superior athletic ability also played a significant role on the defensive end. Now that Stephenson is no longer young, it means that his personal contract value will not be high. As the team's fourth foreign aid, Stephenson will complement players like Jilunwate and Morand very well. Given that Bazley and Morand are incompatible, it is highly likely that Guangdong will continue to abandon Bazley in the future. When there is no more suitable small foreign aid available, Stephenson is already the highest-tolerant choice for Guangdong Men's Basketball.
It must be said that Stephenson is already the only remaining small forward scoring target in the CBA foreign aid market, and he may catch the eye of Zhu Fangyu, general manager of the Guangdong team. It remains to be seen whether Du Feng can find a new foreign aid in the true sense that possesses both Weems' and Masang's characteristics.