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Reports out of China and Europe Tuesday have Wilson Chandler, who will be an an unrestricted free agent this off-season, is about to signwith Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Wilson Chandler is heading back to Chinese CBA and re-joins Zhejiang Lions for 2020-2021 season, first reported by Jiangnandecheng.
— Zhang Duo (@ZhangDuo15) September 8, 2020
Wilson Chandler will continue his career in China as he agreed to return in Zhejiang Guangsha Lions.He played there in season 2011/12. #basketball #cba #nets @BrooklynNets #nba #NBATwitter #Zhejiang #Lions #china @wilsonchandler pic.twitter.com/bgWB0CazCs
— chris harper (@chrisalucard) September 8, 2020
However, Alex Schiffer of The Athletic tweets that those reports may not be true...
A source close to Chandler tells me this is not accurate. https://t.co/LR4pJoUMT7
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) September 8, 2020
Later though, an Instagram conversation between Chandler and Stephon Marbury from three weeks ago suggested that Chandler was indeed heading back to China.
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Finally, Emiliano Carchia, who the expert in overseas basketball news, cleared up the confusion...
The deal between Wilson Chandler and Zhejiang Guangsha is not done yet but it will be done, I am told.
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) September 8, 2020
Chandler has played with Zhejiang Guangsha in 2010-2011
Chandler, who Kenny Atkinson and Jacque Vaughn used a defensive stopper, played 35 games this past season, following a 25-game suspension for PED use. The 12-year NBA veteran averaged 5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds with a 40/31/87 shooting line in 21 minutes per game.
The 33-year-old, who started three games —replacing Taurean Prince in the final two before the hiatus, opted out of the “bubble.” He cited both health issues as well as a commitment to social justice. Chandler noted that he was concerned about infecting his 87-year-old grandmother and his children, one of whom has asthma.
The Nets have 11 players under contract for the 2020-21 season, not counting Jeremiah Martin who is on the second year of a two-year, two-way deal.