After some speculation, it can finally be confirmed that Marreese Speights will be heading overseas this season to play for the Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Speights — a champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 — made his decision public in an Instagram post on Tuesday:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnnGxnmA-Rr/?utm_source=ig_embed_loading
ESPN's Marc J. Spears reported the news of Speights' impending Chinese deal back in July. A dollar amount was not released, but Spears noted that the contract was set to be a “lucrative” one:
Orlando Magic free agent forward Marreese Speights is nearing a lucrative deal with the Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, a source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 1, 2018
Speights' last stint in the NBA came with the Orlando Magic, who signed the 31-year-old last summer to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. He made 52 appearances with the Magic during their 2017-18 regular-season campaign (three starts), racking up averages of 7.7 points on 39.5 percent shooting from the field (36.9 percent from beyond the arc), 2.6 rebounds, and just under one assist (0.8) in 13.0 minutes per outing.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports, Speights sold one of his two Florida homes in April, which seemed to indicate that he was ready to move on.
Speights has played for several teams over the course of his 10-year career in the NBA, including the aforementioned Warriors and Magic, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LA Clippers.
Follow Us
Subscribe