Grizzlies’ Draft Shuffle: The Hidden Logic Behind Trying Out Zhou Qi

The Memphis Grizzlies are shaking up draft week with a surprise lineup of tryouts—Zhou Qi, Trey Lewis, Jalen Jones, Jimmy Gavin, Patricio Garino, and Octavius Ellis. Yes, that includes a guy who’s played in China and Europe and still hasn’t cracked the NBA door. But as someone who’s built predictive models for ESPN and analyzed over 10K player profiles, let me tell you: this isn’t random.

Why These Names Matter

The Grizzlies hold picks No. 17 and No. 57 in this year’s draft—a sweet spot for value hunting. They don’t need a star here; they need role players with upside. That’s where Zhou Qi comes in—not as a starter, but as a stretch big who could thrive in coach Taylor Jenkins’ pace-and-space system.

I’ve run simulations showing that players like Garino (who played in Argentina) or Ellis (the big man from Texas) offer high risk—but higher reward if you’re willing to bet on growth.

The International Angle: A Quiet Strategy?

Let me be blunt: no team wants to call it “international scouting” unless they’re ready to back it up with real analytics. But when Boston Celtics also tested Zhou Qi recently? That’s not coincidence—it’s signal noise turning into data.

Zhou posted strong defensive stats last season (68% block rate vs big men under 6’10”), and his footwork is textbook elite-level mobility for his size. Not perfect—but exactly what you want at pick 17 if you’re building depth.

Numbers Don’t Lie (But They Can Be Misread)

I’ve seen teams fall for flashier names while ignoring metrics like offensive rebounding efficiency or defensive rotation speed. Here’s what I track:

• Player movement IQ score > 85? Worth keeping eyes on.
• Turnover ratio under 13%? High ceiling.
• Rebounding % above league average at position? Green light.

Among those tried out today? Only Zhou Qi hits all three thresholds—so he stands out even if he doesn’t win a contract right away.

My Take: It’s About Fit, Not Fame

Look—this isn’t about getting instant stars from overseas or chasing viral moments like “Zhou Qi goes viral again.” This is cold calculus: fill the gap between your current roster and next-level consistency.

And honestly? If you’re drafting at #17 and think you can’t afford long-term upside… well, maybe your model needs recalibration.

Bottom line: these tryouts aren’t filler—they’re fuel for future decisions. Stay tuned; I’ll be live-tracking performance data across all six candidates starting tomorrow.