If groomed properly with the right team from the start, Dray could have had a different career and become a legit regular starter. He had a lot of talent and skills. Short of being more athletic, there was a ton there. It was Dray the person that was the weak link so quality back up on a good team was his ultimate path.
I haven't been following Dray this year but if I was to take a wild guess given everything he has gone through and this being his second year in Brooklyn...at age 27... I would guess he is probably mentally ready to be a starter again next year. He could probably produce pretty well for about two years then return to a back up again.
Dray is not over paid at 7M. Not anymore then Gortat is. Brooklyn and Dray are bending Ted over the table every single game he plays. Brooklyn getting him for only 1.4M is laughable. Only thing more outrageous then that is they got him for that amount for 3 years.
That's one of the best contracts in the league.
Meanwhile next year Dray will make $8,471,339 plus $1,437,506 is real income. When he becomes a UFA in in 2015 and he is 28 years old, I bet he gets paid again. He will basically look like Gortat will this off season and people here are saying Gortat will get 10M. Me, I say he is worth 7/8M. That's where his good value is. I bet Dray will get something in that range as well.
For a 2nd round pick, he has been a success.
Dray had one fall on your face crap year in 11-'12. He was injured that summer and he also suffered a massive brain fart having been given the keys to the team. Other then that, he has been worth his contract all along. EG didn't over pay him. The team was just gutless in their resolve and gave in to the lame rss booth mob.