The influx of NBA-talent into the CBA this off-season was the most publicized topic in the history of Asian basketball outside of Yao Ming. It seemed that all the major news outlets had at least one story on the subject. As the names of former NBA players signing contracts with CBA teams kept rolling in, discussion about China, and the CBA in particular, taking on a new importance in the world basketball scene increased. While much of that talk is justified, the excitement about many of the NBA veterans has proved not to be.

Crittenton is the third former NBA player to be cut this season, joining Ricky Davis and Patrick O’Bryant on early flights home. More than anything I think these cases need to be a lesson for CBA teams. Crittenton and O’Bryant were both drafted on potential and “upside.” The reason they are not in the NBA (not including Crittenton’s encounter with Arenas) is that neither of them lived up to this potential. Frankly, they were not good enough to be in the NBA. Anyone who watched them play in the NBA knew that Crittenton is neither a point guard nor a shooting guard and that O’Bryant is the world’s tallest match stick and has a phobia for painted areas. I discussed Ricky Davis a few days ago, but to reiterate, he too is a player who never lived up to his potential. It is flawed logic on the part of CBA teams to think that just because a player was in the NBA they will be successful in China. Time to do a little more scouting!

The interesting bet at this point would be who is next. Mike James’ name is floating around as a potential cut, but after that who is not going to live up to expectations? Does anyone know how much of Francis’ contract is guaranteed? I can imagine Beijing is rereading his contract trying to find an out clause . . . or they are just praying for him to flick someone off again?

I have been hearing the Ricky Davis rumors for the past few days, but today NiuBball threw Mike James' name into the rumor mill as well.

I get the Davis rumors. After watching him play in two games it is obvious that he is not the kind of player who will find success in the CBA. His shot is too inconsistent and he has struggled to create off 1-on-1 opportunities. I think we look at players through rose-colored glasses when they make the move overseas. We assume that the competition overseas will be weaker so the problems they had in the US will somehow disappear. Ricky Davis excelled on bad teams. Being the star on the pre-Lebron Cavs is not a resume highlight to brag about.

The Mike James talk though surprises me. I have watched two of his games also, and frankly have just felt bad for him the whole time. The Chinese players on his team are AWFUL. He should two or three times as many assists, but his teammates miss the short jumpers or three-pointers. What surprises me more is that the team thinks Marcus Williams will somehow be better than James. Is there anything Williams can do on the court that James doesn't do? How about replace Josh Boone? It is not like he has been playing like a young Shaq. Once again, blaming a slow start on the foreign players is by far the easiest thing for team owners to do, but until their local stars Ding Jinhui and Jin Lipeng start playing consistently they are going to have trouble winning.