It’s finally official! Guangdong team makes a major decision as a national team player confirms his exit

On April 1 (Beijing time), the second phase of the CBA regular season continued, with Guangdong securing a 101–92 home victory over Jiangsu in a highly anticipated matchup—effectively avenging their previous loss.

Although Jiangsu currently sits second from the bottom of the standings, they had previously stunned Guangdong with a buzzer-beater win. This time, under head coach Du Feng, Guangdong came prepared. Key players such as Hu Mingxuan and Xu Jie stepped up, helping the team secure its first two-game winning streak of this phase.

The standout performer of the night was forward Zhang Haojia, who delivered a well-rounded performance with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes. His impact on both ends of the floor marked a breakthrough moment in his development.

Zhang’s emergence has also reshaped Guangdong’s frontcourt rotation. Fellow forward Du Runwang, despite being listed in the squad, did not see any playing time and has effectively fallen out of the rotation. Coach Du later confirmed that Du Runwang is currently dealing with injuries.

However, beyond injuries, Zhang’s improved defensive presence and rebounding have given him a clear edge. Previously, both players were considered stretch forwards, but their defensive limitations often became liabilities. Now, Zhang appears to offer a more balanced option.

Looking ahead, with players like Sullinger potentially returning to the power forward role and additional rotation options emerging, Du Runwang’s role is increasingly uncertain. Guangdong may eventually phase him out of the main rotation entirely.

From a roster-building perspective, Guangdong is still in urgent need of a reliable domestic big man with size and defensive capabilities. In this context, Shen Zijie has emerged as a strong potential target. Even if Wang Shaojie joins permanently, the team still lacks interior presence.

Given budget constraints and limitations on foreign player recruitment, Guangdong is unlikely to secure a dominant center through imports. Therefore, if Zhang continues to solidify the power forward position, general manager Zhu Fangyu may consider trading Du Runwang in exchange for a physically imposing domestic big.

With Beijing Royal Fighters dropping out of the top 12, the timing could be ideal for Guangdong to pursue such a move. If executed well, Shen Zijie could become a crucial addition to Du Feng’s system.