Xinjiang to re-sign Douby to record contract, hire Donewald as head coach

Going absolutely for broke in their obsession to win a championship, Xinjiang is set to bring in a duo of high-profile foreigners, one coach and one player, at a record amount of money.  According to Sina, Xinjiang will give out the most money to a single player in CBA history when they re-sign Quincy Douby to a reported a one-year $2 million extension this summer.  And according to Basketball Pioneers, Xinjiang will pay Chinese National Team head coach, Bob Donewald, to a record $1 million next year to act as their head coach.

Though neither has officially signed as of yet, their signatures are expected soon.

“Douby was always going to re-sign with Xinjiang,” said Douby’s Chinese agent to a Sina reporter.  ”Right now, negotiations are pretty much wrapped up.  He absolutely won’t be playing in any other country next year, including the NBA, and he definitely will not be playing for another CBA team.  There is only one possibility, and  that is re-signing with Xinjiang.  The only thing that has yet to be done is signing the contract.  We just have to discuss the final salary figure.”

Whatever the final figure will be, it will be more than Douby earned last year, and it will be more than anyone will be earning in the NBA for the foreseeable future.  Last season, frustrated from two straight losses in the CBA finals to the Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers, Xinjiang spent a combined $3 million on Douby and James Singleton, who rejected a one-year offer from the Washington Wizards for an estimated $1.6 million contract to play in China.  Although Douby and Singleton led Xinjiang to a 31-1 regular season record, Xinjiang again came up short in the finals to Guangdong, losing 4-2 in one of the most competitive playoff series in CBA history.

“Two months ago, we contacted Xinjiang to propose a $2.5 million salary for next year.  Since then, we’ve been in ongoing negotiations.  Right now, the amount is around the $2 million range.”

In his first season in China, the former Rutgers standout averaged 31.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.7 steals a game to record one of the finest individual seasons in league history.  He also set league records for most points scored in an All-Star game and most points scored in a CBA Finals game.