PLAYER NEWS:
--USA White Team member Rudy Gay of the Grizzlies opened eyes in the Team USA intrasquad game that ended the team's Las Vegas-based mini-camp. Although Gay's team lost, he drilled 11-of-12 attempts from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range to finish as the game's high scorer with 27 points. "He played like a star," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "I didn't know he was that explosive offensively. He played really well, really well."
Gay said he hoped he showed enough to make the roster for next summer and then eventually the Olympics.
"I still think of some things to work on, but I think I pretty much showed what I have worked on," Gay said. "I learned in this camp that the more things a player can do, the more successful they are in this league. So, just talking with Coach K and the other coaches around, they are just telling me to do the helpful things. They know I can score, just try to rebound, just try to pass it off to people (that are) open."
Grizzlies teammate O.J. Mayo also scored 13 points for Gay's White team in the game.
--The Grizzlies signed rookie draft choices DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young.
Carroll, a forward from Missouri who was selected with the 27th overall pick, agreed to a multiyear deal, the team announced. Though terms were not disclosed, Carroll will likely be paid about $1.5 million over his first two seasons, according to the NBA rookie salary scale, with a team option for a third.
Young, who was selected in the second round with the 36th overall pick, will earn nearly $900,000 in each of his first two seasons, with a team option for a third. The contract also includes $600,000 in incentives.
MEDICAL WATCH: No injuries to report.
DRAFT PICKS:
Hasheem Thabeet, C, 7-3, Connecticut (first round) -- Blocked 417 shots in three seasons at UConn. Still raw offensively, but can do enough on the offensive boards to contribute points to the lineup.
DeMarre Carroll, F, 6-8, Missouri (first round) -- Averaged 16.6 points as a first-team All-Big 12 selection. A sheer blood, guts and sweat guy who simply outworks a lot of his opponents.
Sam Young, F, 6-7, Pittsburgh (second round) -- Could be underrated second round steal. Not only played in a a school-record 143 consecutive games and finished as Pitt's fourth all-time leading scorer (1,884 points), but can score inside and out.
