Detroit Pistons Center Aaron Gray Will Miss Training Camp

Hasheem Thabeet came into training camp with the Detroit Pistons with a mere chance of earning a roster spot for the upcoming season.

Now, his opportunity to continue his career with his sixth team in five seasons has dramatically increased, due to an unfortunate incident involving newly free agent signee Aaron Gray.

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According to reports from the team earlier on Monday, the veteran center will miss training camp as he prepares to rehab from a cardiac episode following a voluntary workout in late August.

Gray, the 29-year old from California, will seek additional medical evaluation from cardiac specialists to determine an appropriate course of action moving forward.

"“I’m taking a little bit of extra time to gather as much information as possible,” Gray said (via Detroit Free Press). “I’m really hoping everything goes well. Once we have all the information we’ll put a plan in place and be off and running. Not only a second opinion, but the episode happened so soon. I’ll do all the tests and wait two to four weeks, do all the test again. The body is responding great right now.”"

This certainly is a major blow to the Pistons frontcourt heading into training camp as the depth at center is heavily depleted.

Gray signed a two-year deal with the Pistons last summer after spending most of last year with the Sacramento Kings when he was traded to his home state from the Toronto Raptors with Rudy Gay back in early September.

In his career, Gray (7-foot-0, 270 lb.) has averaged 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 points per game while coming off the bench. Playing in 33 games, including six starts last season, Gray saw the floor for more than 10 minutes a game.

This now leaves Thabeet, the former No. 2 overall draft pick who signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Pistons, as the only big man behind Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe.

Detroit comes into training camp with 18 contracts, along with two non-guaranteed, three more than the NBA maximum. If Gray somehow can’t contribute this season, head coach and team president Stan Van Gundy could look to get rid of the contracts of both Gray and another player to make room for Thabeet to backup Drummond.