The Brooklyn Nets have an entire roster of talented young players who look to have promising upside. Despite possessing 10 players age 25 or younger, a few of whom are former first-round picks, the Nets are not done enhancing their youth movement.
Sean Marks' rebuilding plan includes focusing on building a successful team through player development and the draft. But that plan also involves finding diamond-in-the-rough players who could find a future with the team through two-way contracts, and Chinese guard Yongxi "Jacky" Cui could be the next promising contributor.
Reports out of China and Portland have indicated the Nets are close to signing Cui, a 21-year-old 6'6" shooting guard, to a two-way deal, per NetsDaily. At the time of the report, Brooklyn neither confirmed nor denied their plans to bring Cui onto the roster.
Yongxi Cui's player background and how he fits with the Nets
Cui (pronounced "twsay") has had two strong seasons with the Guangzhou Lions of the CBA. The former NBA Global Academy attendee averaged 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot 37.1 percent on three-pointers during the 2022-23 season before making a promising improvement one year later.
Cui comes off a 2023-24 season where he averaged 15.6 points and 5.9 rebounds on a 35.6 percent shooting clip. Check out this highlight clip where he erupted for 31 points and 10 rebounds during one of Guangzhou's matchups against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in January:
Yongxi Cui went undrafted in June but earned a spot on the Portland Trail Blazers' Summer League roster. With a 6'9" wingspan and 34" max vertical, Cui has the tools to play both sides of the ball at a high level. He made 23-of-25 shots during a three-point shooting drill at the G League's pre-draft workout camp, NetsDaily noted.
If the Nets follow through and sign Cui, it will be consistent with owner Joe Tsai's willingness and desire to bring more talented Chinese players to the NBA.
"I’ve been on record saying if there’s good Chinese players, I would do anything to help them come — if they want to come play in the NBA, I would do anything to help them do that," Tsai said in March of 2019, via NetsDaily.
Cui would be the Nets' first Chinese player since Jeremy Lin, who played for the team during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Yongxi Cui's ability to shoot at a high level and his defensive potential could be an asset for the Nets. The 21-year-old is another prospect on the team's radar who could become a valueable contributor.