What happens now, is that Aaron Gray will be hopping an early flight from Philly to Chicago. The day after the draft are the post-draft press conferences in the franchises respective cities with the draftees being present.
The Chicago media naturally was much more focused on the Bulls pick of Joakim Noah at #9. As for the second round picks, well JamesOn Curry has more of a story since he had issues back in high school. Gray is just there.
“Aaron Gray is another big body,†general manager John Paxson said. “Obviously not the athlete that other players are, but he can be very solid for us.â€
Gray was steady, but rarely dominating, as an upperclassman for the Panthers. He averaged 13.9 points and 9.5 rebounds last season, but concerns arose about his lack of speed and athleticism.
Those issues dropped him from a borderline first-round prospect early in the predraft process to a late second-round selection.
“He’s got a soft touch,†coach Scott Skiles said. “He moves around the floor pretty well. We look at him as a guy that, if he can make it, can body up some of the bigger players in the league for a few minutes.â€
Gray, must have read some of the snippets after he was drafted about “making it,” judging by his comments.
”I still have a lot of work to do, but my foot is in the door,” Gray said. ”I just have to go out there and do my best.”
One of the major knocks on Gray was that he wasn’t athletic or quick enough, but he’s in better shape than he was in March when his college career ended, and he believes that he will be in even better condition after playing summer league with the Bulls.
Gray’s bags are already packed for his trip to Chicago.
”People right now, I’m sure are doubting me,” Gray said. ”It’s just the same thing at a different time of my life, people not thinking I’m going to make it. I just have to go out and prove them wrong.”
Well, at least he has something to help motivate him. The Bulls may look to find some more low-post help in free agency, but being so thin there and a couple restricted free agents (like Nocioni) will make Gray a low cost option to provide depth at the Center spot.
The lateness of where Gray was picked and the hour meant there wasn’t much in the newspapers yet. A little bit about other Centers taken before Gray. If Gray makes it with the Bulls, he stands to get a three-year deal worth nearly $2 million. The summer league will be vital.
Remind me again what exactly it was that you told us? Something to the effect of he won’t last in the league, and he will get abused by other centers I believe. When was your point of view validated? He hasn’t played a single minute yet. You may want to hold off on patting yourself on the back just yet…Gray may in fact fail, but I don’t think you’ve earned the right to say “I told you so” quite yet.
Thanks again for checking back in…
On another note, seems like Blair and Dodson will be eligible with a chance at getting Vargas still-“the rebuilding panthers” look pretty good right now!
Where you hear that Blair and Dodson qualified – thought I just read something pointing towards the other direction with respect to Dodson.
Thanks..
I recall a game with UConn in Gray’s freshman season when he scored on Okafor. The announcers were astonished that he wasn’t rejected into the 5th row, and frankly, so was I. This guy came a long, long way. Celebrate it, don’t denigrate it.
I hope he does succeed and that he becomes a huge player at the next level, I honestly do because he deserves it. Either way if he makes the team then he will be laughing all the way to the bank. I see 5-7 minutes per game(if lucky) and averaging 1.8 points and 3.5 rebounds if he plays his rookie year, second year could be make it or break it depending on the draft talent pool. He should play at the all-star game where first years play second years…he should shine at that game. If he gains some muscle and hustle then he can be a legit 6th man. I wish him everything in the world because he was a good student athlete and a better human being.
I feel happy for Gray that a decent guy will hopefully make a good living doing it for a while and if possible, put away enough cash to last him most of his life. If he can be a moderate success on a good team, hopefully it will lift Pitt’s stature a bit (and shut up some of the lcoal douchebag media that dismiss Pitt’s hoops success because we produce no great pro players). But that’s frankly the most amount of interest I can summon for it.
For me (and many above), it’s less a matter of his opinion as it is continuous demonstrations of poor character. Again, see the archives. You’ll likely get an understanding for the vibe thereafter.
