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NBA Draft 2016: 5 Best Fits for Lakers at No. 32

By Stephen Ontiveros

Feb 16, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) smiles after a foul in the second half of the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Mackey Arena. Purdue won 71-61. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) smiles after a foul in the second half of the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Mackey Arena. Purdue won 71-61. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zhou Qi – Center, China

Standing at 7-2 with a wingspan of 7-8, Zhou Qi of the Chinese Basketball Association is a pure physical specimen. In his final season in China, the 20-year-old (depending on if you believe his reported age or not) averaged 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to go along with his per game average of 3.2 blocks, good for first in the entire CBA. 

He is also an extremely efficient and reliable player to have in the low post, connecting on roughly 60 percent of his shots and making a respectable 76 percent of his free throws. However, as is the case with most international players, some are worried that Qi’s talents may not translate when playing against more talented opponents, especially when you consider the fact that the top competition he faced in the CBA consisted of Greg Oden and Samuel Dalembert, who for one reason or another could not cut it in the NBA. 

One of his main obstacles is adding weight to his slender frame, as he weighed in at just 218 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine. Moreover, there are the aforementioned concerns regarding the age of the Chinese prospect. Some scouts believe that he’s much older than 20 years old, some saying he may already be in his mid-20s. However, if Zhou Qi lives up to his potential, he could end up being one of the top players in this draft. 

Next: No. 1 Diamond Stone

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