It has been one long extended tryout in Toronto for most of the team this season as Coach Casey and President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo evaluate which current players will continue to be part of the Raptors rebuilding process next year. Gray has been making his case for one of those spots.
“We’ll see,” said Casey. “We are still evaluating. Everyone is still being evaluated. I like a lot of what he is doing. He has great hands. He is smart. He knows all the positions on the floor defensively, so he is doing a good job.”
“I think there is a great opportunity here,” said Gray. “I think I bring something to the team that this team needs, but at the end of the day, it will be their decision because I love the city of Toronto and the team. They are rebuilding and really have a plan that is going in the right direction and to be a part of that would be great.”
A traditional reserve big man, Gray fills a role on the Raptors that can be very hard to fill. One only has to remember the likes of Alexis Ajinca, Patrick O’Bryant, or Loren Woods to realize not all big men are willing to accept the role assigned to them. Toronto has not had many centers that have embraced the role Gray relishes.
Next season, Casey and Colangelo will have a lot decisions to make about which players they wish to go forward with in their attempt to build a future contender, if Gray continues to do what he does, he should earn one of those spots.
“We’ll see,” said Casey. “We are still evaluating. Everyone is still being evaluated. I like a lot of what he is doing. He has great hands. He is smart. He knows all the positions on the floor defensively, so he is doing a good job.”
“I think there is a great opportunity here,” said Gray. “I think I bring something to the team that this team needs, but at the end of the day, it will be their decision because I love the city of Toronto and the team. They are rebuilding and really have a plan that is going in the right direction and to be a part of that would be great.”
A traditional reserve big man, Gray fills a role on the Raptors that can be very hard to fill. One only has to remember the likes of Alexis Ajinca, Patrick O’Bryant, or Loren Woods to realize not all big men are willing to accept the role assigned to them. Toronto has not had many centers that have embraced the role Gray relishes.
Next season, Casey and Colangelo will have a lot decisions to make about which players they wish to go forward with in their attempt to build a future contender, if Gray continues to do what he does, he should earn one of those spots.
Source: Stephen Brotherston, HoopsWorld.com
There is no doubt in my mind Aaron Gray should be one of the players to be brought back next year. Personally I think he has shown enough that Toronto might have competition in retaining his services. Remembering the reserve C's the team has employed over the years makes me value Gray's contributions even more.
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