**2016 NBA Draft Combine Thread (measurements, news, rumors, etc.)**

[kozlodoev]

I'm drooling over Thon Maker's upside.

Manute Bol with a lower basketball IQ?

You realize that Manute Bol was 7'7 and weighed 200 lbs, right?

Thus the Maker comparison.  If he loses a little weight, he can get there.

Has to also grow what, 6 inches?

Manute Bol was an interesting player though -- he never averaged less than 5 blocks per 36 except for the last season of his career, and ended up with an eye-popping 6.5 per 36. Also, he had more blocks than points

[Eddie20]

I'm drooling over Thon Maker's upside.

Manute Bol with a lower basketball IQ?

You realize that Manute Bol was 7'7 and weighed 200 lbs, right?

Thus the Maker comparison.  If he loses a little weight, he can get there.

Has to also grow what, 6 inches?

Manute Bol was an interesting player though -- he never averaged less than 5 blocks per 36 except for the last season of his career, and ended up with an eye-popping 6.5 per 36. Also, he had more blocks than points

And I remember Nellie had him shooting 3s

[vjcsmoke]

Zhou Qi, 20 years old (China), unofficially has largest wingspan (7'7.75") + standing reach (9'4.5") at '16 combine

Qi looks like the next Gobert.  He's got extreme length and natural height.

And he can actually run the court.  Actually has lateral speed to close out.  Doesn't look stiff. 

Could really be worth it with one of our early 2nd round picks.  We can either stash him overseas, or have him compete for a roster spot if we decide to let go Zeller and/or Sullinger/or Amir Johnson (in a bigger trade).  As a plus, he can shoot pretty well for a 7 footer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuDpwRMnFDQ

International stats, 42 GP:
Already very productive as a 19 year old.
60.3% FG, 60.0% 3PT??!!, 75.8?% FT, 15.8 PPG. 3.2 BPG, 9.8 RBG.

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Zhou-Qi/International/33432

[kozlodoev]

Zhou Qi, 20 years old (China), unofficially has largest wingspan (7'7.75") + standing reach (9'4.5") at '16 combine

Qi looks like the next Gobert.  He's got extreme length and natural height.

And he can actually run the court.  Actually has lateral speed to close out.  Doesn't look stiff. 

Could really be worth it with one of our early 2nd round picks.  We can either stash him overseas, or have him compete for a roster spot if we decide to let go Zeller and/or Sullinger/or Amir Johnson (in a bigger trade).  As a plus, he can shoot pretty well for a 7 footer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuDpwRMnFDQ

International stats, 42 GP:
Already very productive as a 19 year old.
60.3% FG, 60.0% 3PT??!!, 75.8?% FT, 15.8 PPG. 3.2 BPG, 9.8 RBG.

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Zhou-Qi/International/33432

That would be 9 for 15 in 42 games. Not exactly a large sample.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I really hope Zhou Qi works out for no other reason than I just like basketball and a player like that could really invigorate straight up billions of kids to get more into it. 

[vjcsmoke]

That would be 9 for 15 in 42 games. Not exactly a large sample.

True,  I was wondering if the 60% was a typo, which is why I put the exclamation marks.  Apparently he shot the same in drills.  So without a hand in his face, or in international competition, he can  shoot the ball from deep.

At the Combine, he shot 14-25 from NBA 3 in drills for a 56%.
http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-051316-nba-draft-combine-day-2-notebook

So i guess the shooting is not a fluke.  Of course the main question is can he bulk up his frame from 218 lbs to more like 240 with functional strength to contend against other bigs.  If he can, he could play the modern stretch 4/5 role.

[Denis998]

As expected, Valentine out there was abysmal when in the athletic testing. Worse in every category compared to that of centers.

[CFAN38]

I'm drooling over Thon Maker's upside.

I'm fighting the internet hype with this kid but I think I'm going to lose the battle in my own mind. Bottom line he measured great just really needs to add bulk/strength. At the similar age Tyson chandler had nearly the same measurements. He is obviously very athletic, add a reported great work ethic and giving good interview my vie has change. My first thought was that he would be worth an early 2nd now I'm thinking at the mavs pick he maybe to high potential to pass up on.

[Emmette Bryant]

It's hard to imagine Zhou Qi in the context of the NBA, but this helps a little. Here's a nice video of Zhou Qi (and his frontcourt-mate Andray Blatche!) taking some punishment from Will Bynum and our old friend Yi Jianlian.

http://www.oneworldsports.com/stories/nba-hopeful-zhou-qi-not-yet-match-yi

Yi is the three-time CBA MVP, by the way.

zhou looked absolutely lost in that clip. it will be interesting to see how he turns out.

by the way, yi is the family name for yi jianlian. and zhou is the family name for zhou qi. in china, family names come before given names.

I like the part where Zhou can be Joe Chee in the USA.

[loco_91]

It's hard to imagine Zhou Qi in the context of the NBA, but this helps a little. Here's a nice video of Zhou Qi (and his frontcourt-mate Andray Blatche!) taking some punishment from Will Bynum and our old friend Yi Jianlian.

http://www.oneworldsports.com/stories/nba-hopeful-zhou-qi-not-yet-match-yi

Yi is the three-time CBA MVP, by the way.

zhou looked absolutely lost in that clip. it will be interesting to see how he turns out.

by the way, yi is the family name for yi jianlian. and zhou is the family name for zhou qi. in china, family names come before given names.

I did not think he looked lost. Obviously this was a highlight reel so you got to see all the posessions he got dunked on, but for the most part it was because other guys on his team didn't play D.
-He had one weak hedge. The guard in the PnR gave up on the play, and it was essentially a 2 on 0.
-There were two instances where he tried to block with his right and he should've gone up with his left instead; this seems easy to correct.
-There was one instance where he his timing/positioning on the block attempt was a bit off and he got dunked on.

However:
-He boxed out.
-He had two good PnR sequences where he contained the ballhandler. However, the guard on his team was an incompetent defender, allowing easy passes to the roll man and dunks. One of those possessions he actually did a great job corralling the ball handler baseline, and literally any one of his teammates could have stepped in to cut off the easy pass to the roll man who was lumbering down the lane.
-He had a dunk where he showed off good positioning to get open for the dish, and he's quick off the ground with two feet.

Now what I would really like to see is Zhou defending the post.