2016 Draft Prospect: Zhou Qi

[Chinook]

http://content.draftexpress.com/headshots/zhouqi.jpg

Height: 7-2
Weight: 209 lbs
Date of Birth: 01/16/1996
Team: Xinjiang
Country: China

DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Zhou-Qi-61857/)
NBADraft.net (http://www.nbadraft.net/players/zhou-qi)

[Drom John]

720996175352963077"

[BD24]

I sincerely hope we don't draft him. This guy is garbage and has bust written all over him. Let another team waste a pick on him.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Future All-Star tbh.

[BD24]

Future All-Star tbh.
I agree...in the Chinaman league

[Chinook]

I agree...in the Chinaman league

I think your missing BG's joke.

[BD24]

I think your missing BG's joke.
I guess I missed the sarcasm lol.

[Chinook]

I guess I missed the sarcasm lol.

I took at as Qi, being Chinese, was going to get voted into the ASG no matter what.

[BD24]

I took at as Qi, being Chinese, was going to get voted into the ASG no matter what.
Ahh touche. Solid joke that went over my head.

[elemento]

I just saw the scouting video and this guy screams bust. His weaknesses are just too much for the NBA.

[Uriel]

I remember watching this guy in the Philippines vs. China 2015 FIBA Asia Championship game. Dude was an absolute beast, and he was only 19 years old.

I would be thrilled if the Spurs took him, but he might be drafted before we pick.

[BD24]

I just saw the scouting video and this guy screams bust. His weaknesses are just too much for the NBA.
Yep. He's rail thin. Going to get tossed all over the freaking place in the NBA. He has looked like shit against other top talent his age.

[pad300]

I think the definite bust label needs to be rethought. IMO, 25% chance he busts due to being unable to handle the physicality/add the needed muscle, 70% he becomes a Ryan Anderson/Channing Frye, a pretty generic perimeter PF, a rotation guy. 4% he becomes Chinese Dirk. 1% he becomes dirk with shotblocking! For pick 29, the potential payout from the high end is worth considering.
Positives
He has length on a ridiculous, Gobert level. He has mobility - he can move his feet well enough to play the perimeter, and run the floor. He has skills - ball handling and a jumpshot, which should become good out to the 3 pt line. He's a decent shot blocker - led the Chinese Basketball Association in blocks per game and per minute this year (by roughly 40% on BPM), including former NBA players Samuel Dalembert, Greg Oden, 3.2 blocks in 34 minutes per game.
Negatives
Weak Strength and resulting weak rebounding..

[Drom John]

Basketball Insiders: 2016 NBA Mock Draft: Consensus Ver 4.0
By Basketball Insiders
On June 1, 2016

Joel Brigham, 1 of 4

[dbestpro]

Weight does not matter in today's NBA. Its a jump shot league where strength and power are for a game from a bygone era.

[Chinook]

Weight does not matter in today's NBA. Its a jump shot league where strength and power are for a game from a bygone era.

If you watch the DX videos on him, you'll see that's not true. It's one thing to be like Noel and just skinny for a five but still have an NBA body. Qi doesn't have that. The dude was being pushed out of the way by guards.

[Drom John]

CSN Washington: 2016 NBA Mock Draft Version 2.0
WRITTEN BY CSN WASHINGTON POSTED: 06/03/2016, 01:22PM


29. SAN ANTONIO: ZHOU QI, C, CHINA

The Chinese Basketball League is miles behind the NBA, but Zhou and his insane 7-foot-7 wingspan more than held his own against former NBA power players. Clearly need more bulk, but as they say, you can't teach size and the 7-foot-2 center clearly has that.

[DPG21920]

He looks damn skilled and mobile for that size. I mean, another stash would suck, but his ceiling seems pretty damn ridiculous if things break well.

[r0drig0lac]

He looks damn skilled and mobile for that size. I mean, another stash would suck, but his ceiling seems pretty damn ridiculous if things break well.

agree

[Snaq O'Meal]

He looks damn skilled and mobile for that size. I mean, another stash would suck, but his ceiling seems pretty damn ridiculous if things break well.

I really hope they DON'T draft this guy. The team needs an immediate contributor, not someone who will take years just to put on a few more pounds. If they're looking for a center in the draft, perhaps trading for an early second round pick can land someone like AJ Hammons who can contribute straight away.

[BD24]

Its cute that people actually think this guy will ever be an NBA level player. Bust written all over him. I really really hope the Spurs don't draft him.

[xellos88330]

Hmmm.... looks interesting. Worth another look tbh.

[TheGoldStandard]

Welcome to the Spurs in 2021

[Uriel]

Why are people so sure this guy is going to be a bust without even having seen him play? Just because you're a tall, skinny foreigner doesn't mean you're going to be a bust. This guy is the best prospect to come out of China since Yao Ming.

[Drom John]

Fansided: Sportingsota: TIMBERWOLVES
Sporting Sota NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Minnesota Makes a Buddy
by Paul Bellesen 21 hours ago [AKA 7 June 2016]


29. San Antonio Spurs

ZHOU QI C, China
The Spurs are a team that can take a chance on a draft and stash prospect. If you have done any reasearch on Qi, he moves like a player who is 6’5″ in a body of a player who is 7’2″ with a 7’7″ wingspan. He will need to add some weight.

[Maddog]

I really hope they DON'T draft this guy. The team needs an immediate contributor, not someone who will take years just to put on a few more pounds. If they're looking for a center in the draft, perhaps trading for an early second round pick can land someone like AJ Hammons who can contribute straight away.

The Spurs need to swing for the fences.
The # of immediate contributors in any draft is low, especially at 29 and beyond.
Last year only 18 players logged more than 800 minutes. (10 minutes a game for 80 games- pretty low bar)
The year before after two seasons only 28 have played more than 1,000 minutes.

[Drom John]

Basketball Insiders: 2016 NBA Mock Draft: Consensus Ver 5.0
By Basketball Insiders on June 8, 2016

1 of 4 Alex Kennedy

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/518081443390435328/5sxQFIyj_bigger.jpeg Chad Ford Verified account ‏@chadfordinsider (https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider)

Zhou Qi is listed as a 20 year old born in 1996. But a number of NBA scouts believe he was born in 1992 or 1993. Big difference to teams.

[Captivus]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/518081443390435328/5sxQFIyj_bigger.jpeg Chad Ford Verified account ‏@chadfordinsider (https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider)

Zhou Qi is listed as a 20 year old born in 1996. But a number of NBA scouts believe he was born in 1992 or 1993. Big difference to teams.

http://persephonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/colbert-wtf.gif

[lmbebo]

No issues with drafting him.

[Chinook]

I just don't get the hype with him.

[SAGirl]

Wow the rumors about his age not being accurate are a huge red flag. It means there is no further development to his body if he's older than advertised. Hmmm even at 29, that's too risky. I doubt they go for this guy. I wouldn't go after him either.

[Drom John]

FanSided: Air Alamo: FanSided NBA Mock Draft First Round 2016
by Ian Smith 20 hours ago [aka 20 June 2016]

A mock draft among the FanSided site, Smith picked for the Spurs.

Wanting Thon Maker who left the board at #26,


We were sad, but not totally defeated, because there were other intriguing alternatives. The Spurs have the luxury of being one of the elite teams in the NBA already, and able to draft for the long-term instead of feeling pressured to pick a player who can instantly contribute.

After some deliberation, we decided to go with Chinese center Zhou Qi with the 29th overall pick in the 2016 NBA mock draft.

Our rationale is included in the link to the mock draft above [see below]. He has captivating skills, and although he’s a bit of a project at this point, the Spurs have had a lot of success with draft-and-stash prospects.


29. San Antonio Spurs
Zhou Qi

C, China

Pick made by Ian Smith (@IanMalcolmSmith), representing Air Alamo (@AirAlamo).

Zhou Qi has “San Antonio Spurs draft pick” written all over him. This is the team that made it fashionable to invest in international prospects. While the players polish their games in foreign leagues before making the leap to the NBA, the Spurs look like geniuses for not having to devote a roster spot or cap space in the short term while benefitting in the long term. Let’s start with what’s really at the core of his intrigue: his size and length. He stands at over 7’2’’ in shoes and has a wingspan of an astounding 7’7.75’’. He’s more of a finesse guy who relies on his outside shooting touch to score points. An obvious concern is his lack of strength inside, as the weighs only 218 pounds. He can operate as a rim protector on defense and stretch opposing big men out to the 3-point line to open up space for teammates, and is surprisingly mobile for a guy his height.

He has negotiated a buyout with his Chinese team but won’t be able to play in the NBA until 2017. He can use that time to not only enhance his skills in the competitive Chinese Basketball Association, but also bulk up to be able to withstand the rigors of playing in the NBA against some of the strongest athletes in the world. With Tim Duncan nearing retirement, center is an area of concern for the Spurs, and while Zhou won’t provide instant gratification for a team that’s coming off a premature playoff exit, this is a popular draft formula they’ve used. As a 67-win team, they have the luxury of not feeling the pressure to try to use this pick to improve in the short term. Zhou is a fascinating player, and the Spurs are in a position to take a chance on him.

[Gibbz]

Ranked #1 in Pelton's prospect WARP projections for this draft. I say he's worth the risk if he slips to us. Also wouldn't mind taking Diamond Stone.

[Mr. Body]

No doubt the next Porzingas. If only.

[Keepin' it real]

Serious question, is the name pronounced zoo-key, like Godzooky from the 1970s cartoon?

http://l7world.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Godzilla-cartoon-Godzooky-cameo-in-Godzilla-movie.jpg