Throughout the NBA playoffs, where we Raptor fans are left to wallow, Raptors Republic brings you the 100 Words Series. Calling on RR writers and other Raptor scribes from around the internet and MSM, we’ll provide the Republic with 100-word takes on players, coaches, management and announcers. Look for these two or three times a week, continuing today with Aaron Gray. The mission I charged the contributors with was simple: you have 100 words (prose, poetry, song, whatever) to discuss said player.
Arsenalist, Raptors Republic
I like Aaron Gray and think he should return as a third-string center (not second, as he was at times last year). He plays defense, is surprisingly productive on offense at times, and is a matchup-player that any team needs when going up against the bigger bigs of the league. At the same time, nobody’s exactly banging on his agent’s door. Let that not stop Colangelo from keeping a $2.6M player option on his deal. I love this guy.
Blake Murphy, Raptors Republic
The amount of time I spent defending my jokes about Aaron Gray to people probably exceeds the amount of time opposing teams thought about the guy this year. For some reason, some people freakin’ love him. To me, he’s an end of the bench big being paid like a back-up, which isn’t really a backbreaker for the franchise. He’s also goofy and good for a laugh, plus he looks like Garrett, so all in all he’s worth the money.
Garrett Hinchey, Raptors Republic
He goes by many names: AIRon Gray, the White Panther, a Garrett Hinchey doppleganger – but none of these really do justice to my favourite third center in the Association. Sure, he’s a punchline more often than not around these parts, and he leads the team in turnovers more than any backup forward should, but what he really is is the Raptors’ lunchpail guy, a man who accepts his role without hesitation, and one of the few good-value contracts in the organization right now. Oh, and he’s my younger brother’s favourite player in the league, inexplicably. Well, maybe semi-explicably…
Tim W., Raptors Republic
Aaron Gray is the greatest 270 pound, lumbering white center with a beard in the NBA today. And it’s not even close.
