NBA prospect Zhou Qi and his Chinese mother team Xinjiang Flying Tigers have reportedly reached a buyout agreement that will permit the 7-foot-2 center to play in the NBA next season while still being eligible for the coming 2016 NBA Draft.
After what said to be long negotiations between his representatives in China and the US, a deal is finally agreed to let the 20-year-old stretch big man terminate his current contract with the Flying Tigers in 2017 even if he still has five years left as of the moment.
Yahoo Sports reported that the CBA club, who lost in the semis of the country's premier basketball league, was "initially reluctant to let him fly to the US to work out for NBA teams and enter the 2016 draft" and was also "hesitant to agree to part with him so soon because he still has another five years left on his contract".
The amount of the buyout is said to be $675,000 according to CBA rules.
Now that Zhou's status is cleared, he can decide whether to continue to join the draft next week or play one more season in China to further build up his stock in time for next year's draft.
Today's Fastbreak noted that several teams are interested in the Henan, China native which have already "held private workouts" with him, namely the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns.
At over seven feet in height and a wingspan of 7'8", Zhou is said to be China's best NBA prospect in a long while after Yao Ming. However, his flimsy 218-pound frame needs to be bulked up if he wants to become an inside force in the league.
Reports said that his slimness can be initially compensated by his above average outside shooting that stretches up to the three-point area. Many believes that he can be a steal in the draft if he can live up to his potential moving forward.
Online mock drafts put Zhou at 31st overall, but that was prior to this buyout deal being completed. With the guarantee that he will be able to leave China and move to the NBA next season, the probability of him getting picked higher had also risen.