so i was right, my suspicions were correct! when they took in a new naturalized player it basically meant they were now looking to replace kai.
the gm himself cited that kawada's "physicality" and "rebounding strength" made them decide to get him instead of wait for sotto. that statement is like a loaded gun as it pretty much tells everyone that kai doesn't have those tools and skills that kawada possesses.
reality check as well, all that nba talk probably also pissed off hiroshima management, referring to kawada as "motivated to build a career in japan" also gives us an idea on how they feel about kai
hiroshima press release on their website
"General Manager Shuji Okazaki comments
We are pleased to announce that Kai Sotto will be playing for the Yokohama Bee Corsairs on a time-limited transfer contract. I would like to report on the details of his contract and decision making process.
First of all, as you all know, only one player can be a member of a team under the Asian Special Quota or Naturalization Quota. We had expected Sotto to play from the beginning of this season, but he has been out of action for several months due to a back injury he sustained during the off-season. Since the club had been preparing for the possibility of an injury, we placed Sotto on the Injury List, waited for [NODE="15"]Europe[/NODE] Chiriji Kawada to naturalize, and registered Kawada as a naturalized player, and he has been playing the season so far.
Sotto has been undergoing vigorous rehabilitation and training since before the season, and has now recovered to the point where he is able to return and play. Meanwhile, in conjunction with Sotto's return to Hiroshima, the time has come for Hiroshima to make a selection of players for the Asian Special Quota and Naturalized Citizens Quota. Specifically, we have to choose between Sotto, who is very young and has a lot of potential, and Kawada, who has a proven track record as a naturalized player. This decision was very difficult for the club.
We believe that both players have almost the same strength in terms of flat leg strength and defensive ability, but both have their own advantages: Sotto has the versatility of height and softness, while Kawada has the expertise of strength and rebounding ability. Ultimately, Kawada's contribution up to the league's November hiatus, when the decision was made, was a major factor. Also, when considering the fact that there was even a slight risk of a recurrence of Sotto's back injury and the balance with other foreign players, we thought that Kawada's expertise in physicality and rebounding strength would make a difference in team tactics for Hiroshima, which has many versatile players. Furthermore, from a longer perspective, we decided to give priority to signing Kawada, who can play with us from a medium- to long-term perspective, compared to Sotto, who has his sights set on overseas, and Kawada, who is highly motivated to build a career in Japan.
Based on the above, since around the beginning of November, we have been working with and coordinating with a number of clubs that are candidates for deadline transfers. However, the POLO application and certification required for the transfer of a Filipino player took time, which is why today's announcement is made. We understand that this mid-season deadline transfer has had a variety of impacts on existing players and club staff. Once again, I would like to thank Yokohama BC GM Ken Takeda and everyone involved for their cooperation. We are very happy that Sotto will be playing for Yokohama BC, a great club with culture and momentum.
Sotto's 220cm height not only allows him to score and rebound in the paint, but his soft game, including his passing skills, were the driving force behind our appearance in the CS last season. He will be leaving Hiroshima without playing this season, and we thank him for his contributions. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
