After last year’s complete whiff by NBA draftniks on where Chris Taft and many other kids would get drafted, there seems to be a slightly lesser amount of attention to the draft boards. Especially before the Orlando draft camp. That seems to be why the range for discussing Aaron Gray seems to vary from mid-1st to late-2nd. Or it could simply be that it is only the end of April and there’s nearly 2 months before the draft.
Gray is still listed as the 5th best Center (Insider Subs), but is now dropped to 44th overall best prospect as other kids (like Kyle Lowry of Villanova) declare. The deadline to declare is on Friday. Chad Ford gives the pros and cons for Gray in the draft.
He has the size and strength to be an NBA center and his physicality is his greatest asset. As a prototypical big man, he uses his size and bulk to push people off the block. He’s also an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive boards.
He’s still not polished on the offensive end of the floor, but he does have a nice short jump hook that he uses when he gets deep position, and he’s a good passer out of the block.
The obvious concern with Gray is his lack of athleticism. He’s a groundhog who doesn’t really move up and down the floor that well. He’s also very foul prone, which hurt Pittsburgh in the tournament.
Given the dearth of centers in this year’s draft, combined with his solid play this year, his stock might never be higher.
He’s still on the first-round bubble, but on draft day, size often seems to trump other factors — giving him a legit shot at the first round.
Size tends to trump. That may be the one thing that gets him to stay in the draft. I don’t think Ford has a real sense on Gray, because it is arguable that his offensive rebound stats are a bit exaggerated from following his own misses. Not to mention, nary a word about his turnovers.
It’s an interesting thing about all sports. As much as it is about the athleticism and doing the extraordinary, there is a hard bent of conservatism when it comes to how a player should look or style at a position. A comfort in the Center in basketball being a big, slow space-eater of a guy. The QB being a drop-back, pocket passer.
