The still-rebuilding The Brooklyn Nets are close to signing Yongxi “Jacky” Cui, a 6’8″ Chinese shooting guard, on a two-way contract. Nothing formal has been announced yet, however Cui’s Weibo account (a Chinese social media platform) recently began following a few Nets players, and other Chinese basketball X accounts alluded about the transaction. Cui, 21, visited the NBA Global Academy in Australia in May and has earned a lot of attention since. Despite going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, he was added to the Portland Trail Blazers’ Summer League roster and received limited playing experience.
Cui (pronounced “tsway”), the youngest player on the Chinese basketball squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics, chosen to play in the Chinese Basketball Association rather than college basketball in the United States. In two seasons with the Guangzhou Loong Lions, he has made rapid growth. In the 2023-24 season, he averages 15.6 points per game.
What’s next for the Nets and Cam Thomas in 2024 as they rebuild Kyrie Irving? Gone. How about Kevin Durant? Gone. Same goes for Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Royce O’Neale. It’s all gone.
The Nets have 13 first-round picks over the next five NBA drafts, including four in 2025. Perhaps the Nets might learn from the Oklahoma City Thunder’s little army of youthful talent gathered over the years. Cam Thomas, the team’s new nucleus and first-round pick from LSU in 2021, bears a lot of responsibility.
Last season, with more on his plate, Thomas averaged 22.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. He’ll turn 23 during the NBA preseason, and while the Nets won’t win many games in 2024-25, Thomas and his teammates will have to deal with adversity since they only have time—and draft picks—on their side.
There is a silver lining in the distant horizon, as Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler has publicly stated that he would like to play for the Nets in 2025. He is in the second year of his three-year, $146 million contract, with the third season being a player option. Butler announced his plans in June, claiming that he intended to play out the 2024 season before seeking a new contract in 2025 through Shams Charania.
“Jimmy Butler, he’s going to play out next season under his current contract with the Heat,” Charania replied. “I’ve been assured that he will not sign an extension with the Heat or any other team before opting out of free agency in 2025. This clarifies any idea of trade demand.
out of Jimmy Butler. He expects to play next season.” Should the Nets offer him that much money at age 36 in 2025? They will deal with it when the time comes.
Meanwhile, the regular season slow burn of a Nets rebuild will begin on the road against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Leave a Reply