Taj Gray to join the Kings

Sac4cwebb

Sac4cwebb

G-League
The sting of not being selected in the 2006 NBA Draft will probably always stick with Taj Gray.

But knowing that three teams were surprised he wasn't taken Wednesday -- as were Gray, his family and friends -- and that those same three teams were interested in him playing for their summer league entries had to ease the pain.

Golden State, Phoenix and Sacramento called Gray's agent, Jeff Austin, Thursday morning, and after consultation, agent and player chose the Kings. He will play for Sacramento in the Reebok Vegas Summer League from July 6-13. Rosters in the summer league are made up primarily of rookies and free agents. Gray is not guaranteed a spot on the team's roster. He is also not bound to the Kings.

He's a free agent in search of a home.

"He wants to showcase himself," Austin said. "I think he'll be fine. I think he's walking into a good situation."

Sacramento has a new coach in Eric Musselman, who is billed as "energetic" in his bio on NBA.com. He previously coached the Golden State Warriors.

"I think he'll like Taj's style of play," Austin said.

Ron Artest, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas and Corliss Williamson are the only forwards currently under contract with Sacramento. Bonzi Wells is a free agent.

The Kings open the Summer League against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Games against New Orleans, Toronto, New York and Dallas follow.

Sacramento's No. 1 pick, Quincy Douby of Rutgers, will likely participate, as will most drafted rookies and second-year players.

But this is truly a chance for undrafted prospects, like Gray, who now have extra motivation.

"No one could have anticipated what happened (Wednesday)," said Steve Gray, Taj's father. "That was ridiculous.... But this is his opportunity."


Taj Gray's profile:
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?mod=pprof&p=338
 
Holy crap... Muss/Petrie are having a field day getting these undrafted intriguing big men! One of them will have to make it now.

4 of the best undrafted players now.
 
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Indeed -- I think we may have done better snatching up all the undrafted big men than we did in the draft itself. Certainly better than a lot of teams that had 2nd round draft picks. I mean, we basically grabbed ALL of the intriguing undrafted bigs who might be able to reboudn or block a shot.

Only disappointing thing now is that barring a major roster clearing, we probably only have room for maybe 1 of them, even if a number of them show some skill. Maybe if we starting keeping more than 12-13 again, but been years since the maloofs were willing to pay for those extra guys.
 
It's no wonder Petrie keeps giving away all the second round picks, it's much better to just sidle up to guys during the workouts and say, "Hey, if you're not drafted we want you in summer league."
 
I like what im hearing and Taj Gray is a good pickup. I want to see what he can do on the next level. Its stinks that we only get to keep 1 or 2 guys at the most.
 
Earlier in the year I wanted us to draft him with THE PICK we had. Then they didn't do too well in the tournament and people forgot about him and his stock slipped. I hope we get Taj Gray and Justin Williams, that would be like having 3 first round picks(Douby, JWill, and Gray) with only 1.
 
BMiller52 said:
Earlier in the year I wanted us to draft him with THE PICK we had. Then they didn't do too well in the tournament and people forgot about him and his stock slipped. I hope we get Taj Gray and Justin Williams, that would be like having 3 first round picks(Douby, JWill, and Gray) with only 1.
Click to expand...

Well, not only that. He just sort of stalled. Didn't get any better senior year. May have even taken a slight step back. And then there were some questions whether he was going to measure out at a true 6'9" or if he was going to be too small. There were legit reasons he did not get drafted. But as a summer league flier? Sure, why not. Let him prove it on the court.
 
Of the three teams mentioned by Gray's agent, we're the only place were the front court rotation is up in the air. Phoenix has their guys, and GS drafted big men last year and this year. I hope at one or two stick around for the season.
 
All we have to do is trade a couple salaries for KG and we have open roster spots for some minimum contracts....
 
But there is the NBDL

Sac.Kings said:
I like what im hearing and Taj Gray is a good pickup. I want to see what he can do on the next level. Its stinks that we only get to keep 1 or 2 guys at the most.
Click to expand...

Never forget about stashing one or two on the Albuquerque NBDL team. Max roster is 15 and minimum is 13. They could have 12 on active roster and 1, 2 or 3 on NBDL or even send a couple to Europe for a year. There is always a way if there is a reason..... :D
 
We are definetely going in the right direction with the inviting of the defensive big men on the summer league team. I wish there was a huge trade or something to keep me occupied--i hate just sitting here and waiting and waiting and waiting... Wish the season started soon because im bored as hell.
 
CruzDude said:
Never forget about stashing one or two on the Albuquerque NBDL team. Max roster is 15 and minimum is 13. They could have 12 on active roster and 1, 2 or 3 on NBDL or even send a couple to Europe for a year. There is always a way if there is a reason..... :D
Click to expand...

Well would be nice, but thing is if they show sometyhing during summer league they may very well get offered camp invvites from other squads wiuth a chance to make the NBA roster. So be kinds tough to get them to accept just being our NBDL lackeys unless they've completely exhausted their NBA options.
 
CruzDude said:
Never forget about stashing one or two on the Albuquerque NBDL team. Max roster is 15 and minimum is 13. They could have 12 on active roster and 1, 2 or 3 on NBDL or even send a couple to Europe for a year. There is always a way if there is a reason..... :D
Click to expand...

Our affiliation isn't with Albuquerque Thunderbirds this year. It's with the ...










brace yourself ...

















Bakerfield Jam.














WHOOOOOOOT! A team named after a jar of fruit preserves!!!!!
















1118.gif
 
Sac.Kings said:
We are definetely going in the right direction with the inviting of the defensive big men on the summer league team. I wish there was a huge trade or something to keep me occupied--i hate just sitting here and waiting and waiting and waiting... Wish the season started soon because im bored as hell.
Click to expand...


Well we get our summer fix here in a week so that will tide me over until October. I can't wait to see these guys!
 
Bricklayer said:
Well would be nice, but thing is if they show sometyhing during summer league they may very well get offered camp invvites from other squads wiuth a chance to make the NBA roster. So be kinds tough to get them to accept just being our NBDL lackeys unless they've completely exhausted their NBA options.
Click to expand...
You're probably right, but if we offered them a minimum contract before anyone else did they'd probably jump at it. From there I don't think they'd have much say in where they'd play. NBDL vs. inactive reserve is logically where most of these guys end up.

None of these guys is going to make too big a dent in the salary cap/luxury tax that if they show promise we couldn't keep at least the top 2.
 
Taj Gray

Without shoes
6' 7.25"
With shoes
6' 8.5"
Weight
231.0
Wingspan
7' 0.75"
Standing Reach
8' 11"
Vertical Jump
33.0
 
Kings113 said:
Yeah, his long arms and athleticism should make up for his lack of height.
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You keep on saying that about everybody, but its not normally how it works. At least gives him a shot, but at 6'7"-6'8" I can see how he slipped. In the NBA that's just small. Still a nice move to pick him up for summer league, but lack of size probably caps him off as a end of the bench type guy if he makes a team at all.
 
Awesome! I can see 2 of the camp invites going down to the NBDL this year. We didn't use it last year but these recent moves look like they may.
 
Bricklayer said:
You keep on saying that about everybody, but its not normally how it works. At least gives him a shot, but at 6'7"-6'8" I can see how he slipped. In the NBA that's just small. Still a nice move to pick him up for summer league, but lack of size probably caps him off as a end of the bench type guy if he makes a team at all.
Click to expand...

Everybody? Two guys, Brick. I mean it as a good possibility.
 
Actually I would call Taj in the 6'8" - 6'9" range.

Justin came out at basically 6'9".

Yemi and Justin had pretty bad pre-draft camps I have read. But who knows if that was really the case. As long as they were rebounding/blocking shots, thats all that matters to us.
 
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