One of the Rockets’ second-round picks from 2016, Chinese big man Zhou Qi, is in Houston to train with the team’s staff and hopes to initiate contract talks for the 2017/18 season, agent Tony Leng suggests to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle.
“We will be training with the Rockets,” Leng said. “We are looking forward to sitting down and talking and seeing what might happen in the future. His dream is to one day play in the NBA. Right now, we are focused on training.”
Zhou, the 43rd overall pick in the 2016 draft, reportedly remains under contract with China’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers for another four years beyond this season. However, he is said to have an NBA out clause worth $650K this year, opening the door for him to come stateside.
Zhou, a 7’2″ center, is still just 21 years old, so it remains to be seen if the Rockets will want to bring him over for the 2017/18 season, since he’s not likely to play a meaningful role in Houston quite yet. The Rockets’ decision may hinge on whether they want to take on Zhou’s developmental years themselves or wait until he becomes more of a finished product.
The league’s new two-way contracts, which essentially allow NBA teams to open up an extra pair of roster spots, could create some added flexibility for the Rockets should they decide to sign Zhou.
For now, Zhou remains focused on working with the Rockets’ training staff and rehabbing a thumb injury. The big man suffered a left thumb fracture when he collided with Guangdong’s Carlos Boozer during the Chinese Basketball Association Finals earlier this month, Feigen writes. Zhou averaged 16.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.3 BPG for the season in China.