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We try to keep up with Pitt-related players in the pros getting traded, but sometimes one slips through the crack. That was the case this week when Aaron Gray was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Sacramento Kings as part of a seven-player deal. A reader sent me an email and here we are.
I follow the NBA fairly closely, so I was aware that Rudy Gay was traded. What I didn't know, though, was that Gray was part of the deal. He, Gay, and Quincy Acy were dealt to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons, and Chuck Hayes.
For all intents and purposes, Gray is a role player in the NBA. To say he's in the league simply because he's a seven-footer is wholly unfair, but, well, let's just say it helps.
If nothing else, Gray should get more of an opportunity in Sacramento. He's never been a full-time starter for an entire season, but he did start about 1/4 of the Chicago Bulls' games in his second season and about 1/5 of the Raptors' games last year. The year before, Gray started about 1/2 the season, getting 40 starts. But with Toronto starting their 2011 first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas this season, playing time has been hard to come by for Gray this year. He's suited up in only four games and his name has been synonymous with the infamous DNPCD since I don't think he's had any significant injuries.
Gray won't start for the Kings since Demarcus Cousins holds that job, but he could be the primary backup center. Sacramento only has Hamady Ndiaye in Gray's way and Gray will have a good chance at beating him out for the backup job.
Gray's been moved around quite a bit and this is his fourth team in seven seasons. Such is the life of a journeyman center, though, and if nothing else, escaping Toronto in the winter for Sacramento has to be a plus, right?
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