It wasn?t the way Rudy Gay envisioned draft night in the NBA, but he realizes everything worked out well in the end.
Many draft experts believed Gay, a Baltimore County native and Archbishop Spalding graduate, was going to be the first player chosen. At the very worst, Gay was not supposed to fall beyond the fifth pick.
However, Gay slipped to eighth when the Houston Rockets grabbed the All-American from the University of Connecticut, only to ship him and forward Stromile Swift to the Memphis Grizzlies for forward Shane Battier. The trade was announced that night, but became official July 12.
“I didn?t even know about the trade at first,” said Gay, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward. “I was being asked about being traded during the interviews after the draft. I was just happy to finally get out of that seat in the draft room [at Madison Square Garden]. Now, I?m glad to be a Grizzly.”
Immediately following the trade?s completion, Gay, who averaged 15.2 points per game last season in college, signed a two-year deal with team options for the following two years. He then joined the Grizzlies? summer league team in Long Beach, Calif. Gay finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in Memphis? final summer league game, a 111-108 win over the L.A. Lakers Wednesday.
“It felt great to get out there and play five-on-five basketball,” Gay said. “It was really good competition.”
Gay, who had never visited Memphis before being traded there, said he wants to improve his defense as he gets ready for his rookie season. At the same time, he added he is willing to fill whatever role the team needs.
Gay joins a team that has made the playoffs the last three years, but has yet to advance past the first round. Gay will be part of a nucleus that includes all-star Pau Gasol and reigning NBA Sixth Man award winner Mike Miller.
“This is an ideal situation for me. I?m getting the chance to play for one of the best general managers and coaches in the league today,” said Gay, referring to Jerry West and Mike Fratello, respectively.
THE GAY FILE
Age: 19
Height: 6-9
Weight: 220
High School: Archbishop Spalding
College: Connecticut
Did you know? Last season, Gay recorded six double-doubles and reached double figures in scoring a team-high 28 times. Gay was one of five UConn players selected in last month?s NBA draft. Hilton Armstrong (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets), Marcus Williams (New Jersey Nets) and Josh Boone (New Jersey Nets) went in the first round, while the Seattle Sonics took Denham Brown in the second round.
