CBA's Liaoning Flying Leopards to sign O.J. Mayo after quarantine

O.J. Mayo of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball in the game against the Boston Celtics at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 9, 2016. /VCG

The CBA's Liaoning Flying Leopards announced on Sunday that former NBA guard O. J. Mayo has arrived in Shenyang, where the team is based, and will sign to become a member of the team after his finishes quarantine and qualifies for physical test.

The Flying Leopards already have two foreign players, Lance Stephenson and Brandon Bass. However, the team had to consider signing a third one because Stephenson already received five technical fouls before the Spring Festival break, one away from being suspended.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic all over China made it even more urgent for the Flying Leopards because back then there were reports about Bass considering a return to the NBA. Few players were willing to come to China to do the physical because of health concerns.

O.J. Mayo (C) attends a closed door game of the Super Basketball League between the Jeoutai Technology and the Taiwan Beer at the Banqiao Stadium in Taiwan, March 19, 2020. /VCG

That's when Mayo's agent recommended him to the Flying Leopards: he was playing in Taiwan at that time, which made it easier for him to go to Liaoning. Moreover, Mayo used to play for a Chinese NBL team and thus holds a Chinese visa.

Landing Mayo is a gambling move because he caused a lot of trouble when he was still an NBA player: for example, the latest reason is that he was banned for two years by the league for violating its anti-drug program. Furthermore, he never seemed to understand how to be a good teammate when he's not leader of the team.

O.J. Mayo #32 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives towards the rim in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, May 5, 2012. /VCG

Nonetheless, Mayo does have good talent. He was a No. 3 select in the 2008 NBA Draft, before Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love. In seven of the eight seasons he played in the NBA, Mayo reached double-digits in his average scoring. Turning such a player down, especially when the team are in desperate need for a foreign player, does not seem wise either.

The Flying Leopards also updated on when Stephenson and Bass will return. Both are in the U.S. now and have discussed with the team about when they will return. There had been confirmed dates but as there's no clear schedule of when the rest of the CBA regular season will resume, Stephenson and Bass decided to postpone their trips. So far there's no clear schedule for them either.