In the 27th round of the second stage of this season's CBA regular season, Guangdong Men's Basketball Team faced off against Tianjin Men's Basketball Team in a fiery match. Despite Tianjin putting significant pressure on Guangdong in the latter stages of the game and even reducing the point difference to single digits at one point, Guangdong ultimately secured a victory with a score of 120-111, thanks to the outstanding performances of Xu Jie, Jerian Grant, and Morand. This win marked their fourth consecutive victory, while Tianjin suffered their sixth consecutive loss.
However, this match also revealed some issues within the Guangdong team. Their main guard, Xu Jie, showed signs of physical exhaustion on the court, indicating that Guangdong urgently needs to introduce a suitable ball-handling foreign player to truly resolve their offensive difficulties. Coincidentally, Zhejiang recently announced the cancellation of the registration of their foreign player, Kobe Simmons, which could be a positive signal for Guangdong.
Originally, both Guangdong and Zhejiang had shown keen interest in Daejon Davis, who previously played for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. However, Davis' three-point shooting percentage in the development league is less than 30%, leading many fans to hold reservations about him. If Zhejiang were to choose him, Guangdong might have to give up on this option.
After all, Davis' current form does not entirely align with the type of foreign player Guangdong requires, and this season is not the best time for Guangdong to make a championship push. If Zhejiang signs Davis, they would be giving up the possibility of signing Kobe Simmons, which could instead present an opportunity for Guangdong.
Returning to the match, despite Guangdong once leading by over 20 points in the first half, Tianjin's counterattack in the second half made the game exceptionally intense. Guangdong lacked a reliable scorer in critical moments, making the final stages of the game particularly tense. Especially in the fourth quarter, Guangdong's scoring almost entirely relied on Jerian Grant's individual ability, while Xu Jie's performance significantly declined due to physical exhaustion. This situation exposed the hidden danger of Guangdong's lack of a ball-handling foreign player in their offensive end.
If Guangdong could sign Kobe Simmons, the problem might be effectively alleviated. After all, Simmons is a player capable of scoring in crucial moments, a skill that Guangdong currently lacks the most. Introducing Simmons would not only allow Jerian Grant and Xu Jie more rest time but also provide more stable offensive output in critical moments.
Although Guangdong's funds are not abundant, unable to bring in top-tier foreign players like Samner and Goodwin, Simmons' relatively low contract cost, especially after being cut by Zhejiang, may give Guangdong the chance to sign him after the season ends. Considering the current restrictions on foreign player registrations, Guangdong cannot immediately sign Simmons, but they can pursue this powerful foreign aid in the free market after the season ends.
As for Daejon Davis, although he is a decent team-oriented ball-handler, he is not the best choice for Guangdong. What Guangdong urgently needs is a foreign player who can solve scoring problems with individual ability in tight situations, and Simmons undoubtedly fits this need better.
In summary, there is no doubt about Simmons' personal offensive ability. Although he may not fully adapt to Zhejiang's highly team-oriented style of play, for Guangdong, he is undoubtedly the scoring machine that can step up in critical moments. If Guangdong can ultimately sign Simmons, it will have a profound impact on their subsequent games and may allow them to challenge for higher honors in future CBA seasons.