Zhao Rui teams up with Zhou Qi! Cui Yongxi transfers to Guangdong, Chen Guohao returns home! The CBA is buzzing with excitement!

On that same late night in August 2023, the Basketball Association officially declared: Zhou Qi shifted from Xinjiang Guanghui to Guangdong Hongyuan with a one-year D-class maximum salary contract; Zhao Rui transferred from Guangdong Hongyuan to Xinjiang Guanghui, agreeing to a three-year D-class maximum salary contract.

This trade occurred six days before the Men's Basketball World Cup began, handled as a special case, becoming one of the most talked-about transfers in recent Chinese basketball history, reflecting the difficult balance between national team performance and league professionalism in China.

However, that is now history.

Because today, two years later, these two main players have joined forces at Beijing Shougang.

Last night, sources like Zhibo8 and Basketball Circle’s Zhao Detective confirmed that Zhao Rui will join Beijing Shougang for the new season.

Xinjiang did not actively sell Zhao Rui but chose to release him after considering the player's wishes and multiple offers from other teams.

Beijing Shougang couldn't offer a top-tier salary slot (already occupied by Zhou Qi, Chen Yingjun, and Fan Ziming), so the final arrangement involved Xinjiang buying out Zhao Rui’s last year of his D-class maximum salary contract, while Beijing signed him with a three-year C-class contract (not top-tier) to bypass salary cap restrictions.

Theoretically, Zhao Rui’s annual salary cap is 5.5 million RMB before tax.

For Xinjiang, Zhao Rui only played 35 games in two years, with a concerning attendance rate.

Getting him doesn’t necessarily mean winning his full commitment.

Rather than this, it’s better to trade him away and gain something—usually “a substantial cash sum.”

Considering Zhao Rui’s outstanding performance in this year’s Men’s Asian Cup, selling at a high point makes perfect sense!

For Beijing Shougang, this trade helps build a “galaxy battleship” team. The domestic player core includes Zhao Rui, Chen Yingjun, Zeng Fanbo, Raymond, and Zhou Qi... a solid national team lineup.

As a major state-owned enterprise, Shougang can usually solve problems with money easily.

So, there’s no need to overly praise the management’s brilliance. True skill is not about being dealt a good hand but playing well with a bad one...

If they can make the Sichuan team great, then that would be real skill.

In professional teams, having money is the most important factor.

Also, don’t get hung up on whether Zhao Rui’s contract is D-class or C-class.

The 500,000 RMB difference is minor and can be compensated in other ways.

No more to say, just never doubt our ability to navigate the rules.

“Substantial cash” can solve many problems.

For example, another big trade:

Guangdong Hongyuan and Guangzhou Long-Lions, two Guangdong teams, officially completed a trade.

The former acquired Cui Yongxi, while the latter received Xu Xin plus a significant transfer fee.

Notably, Hongyuan included a buy-back clause for Xu Xin in the deal.

Xu Xin will first sign a four-year contract with Guangzhou Long-Lions, but both sides agreed that Guangdong has the right to pay a certain amount to buy him back early within a specified period.

Combined with another trade reported yesterday:

Guangdong sent out Xia Zhenfeng, Zhang Huafei, and cash to get Jiao Boqiao;

Long-Lions sent Jiao Boqiao and received Chen Guohao, Xia Zhenfeng, Zhang Huafei, and cash;

Beikong sent out Chen Guohao and received cash;

Chen Guohao got his wish to return home, and Guangdong Hongyuan strengthened their weak center position.

The trades were made based on each party’s needs and different starting points. Guangdong Hongyuan aims to strengthen for the championship run.

Guangzhou sought a better future, gaining young talent and a considerable cash amount.

The core lineup that once pushed Guangzhou to the playoffs under Guo Shiqiang has now completely left.

Chen Yingjun (Beijing), Cui Yongxi (Guangdong), Jiao Boqiao (Guangdong)

Li Yanzhe (Xinjiang), Guo Kai (Shandong), Jia Mingru (Shanxi), Zhu Mingzhen (Tongxi)

Each team made choices and strategies based on their own circumstances; there is no right or wrong, and all moves are reasonable.

Another point worth mentioning is that Cui Yongxi will most likely return to the CBA next season, wearing the Hongyuan jersey.

With full rosters, the matchups between Guangdong and Beijing will be highly anticipated...

Regarding this, I can only say:

The CBA has been extremely lively these past few days.

Brothers, just eat whatever is served...