After seeing some reports killing Gray early in the week, it seems he has been among the most consistent performers at Orlando.
Pittsburgh center Aaron Gray is the only player in Orlando who is averaging more than six rebounds and 14 points per game. Gray has posted averages of 15.5 points and seven rebounds in his two games to date, with another game this afternoon.
That naturally has the revisions going on how Gray has looked at the camp and his draft status. At the very least, the concession is that he hasn’t slid in the draft projections.
Aaron Gray had yet another solid performance here today, following up on his good performance yesterday, and he’s thus far succeeded in not hurting his stock here at the camp, though not really improving it much either. Gray got all his scores coming off post-ups and pick-and-rolls, getting to the basket and hitting a lay-up or going to the line, or by settling for a turnaround jumper from about five feet away from the basket.
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Gray had two very nice back-to-the-basket plays on the game, one coming on a turnaround jumper off the glass from five feet out, and the other coming on a fake spin one way into a spin back the other, where he laid the ball perfectly in the basket after spending just a second with his eye on the hoop, showing good awareness of where he was with the ball.
Gray scored 16 points of 5-9 shooting and a stunning 6-7 of FTs.
Apparently, a lot of teams and people watching this are still most impressed that Gray has slimmed down further (Insider subs.)
Gray probably will move up a few spots in the draft just by showing up to camp in great shape. His body is clearly more chiseled, his abs ripped and his stamina better than at Pittsburgh.
He put up a very solid performance on both ends of the floor — though he was lacking much in the way of competition.
Again, being in such great shape, in preparation for the NBA draft camp goes a ways to showing NBA scouts and people how serious and willing to work hard Gray is.
Pittsburgh center Aaron Gray continued to show off his streamlined physique and bulked-up offensive game. After delivering 15 points and nine rebounds Wednesday, Gray returned with a 16-point, five-rebound effort Thursday. Gray has shown scouts that he has a traditional big man’s power game, muscling up shots close to the basket while also being active on both backboards. Gray has been a bigger presence in the lane than he was when I saw him during the season for the Panthers.
Over at Hoopsworld, they have several writers offering takes and reporting on players.
One current NBA assistant coach had this to say: “Everyone wants to talk about what he can’t do, but he’s an NBA player.” The scout noted that he will likely be a late first round or early second round selection which was right about where most people had him slotted before he came to camp.
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At 7’ 270 pounds, Gray provides the presence in the middle that so many teams are after. But don’t look for Gray on a running team. He isn’t the fastest big man out there — “He is what he is,†said one scout — but another assistant coach contends that he can succeed with the right guards getting him the ball inside.
You know, I know I mentioned Eastern Conference teams would likely grab him, but I could also see him working in the Spurs system.
