Even with the team’s need for a backup point guard and their general lack of guard talent, the Toronto Raptors decided to opt for a 6-8 wing/guard hybrid in the 2023 NBA Draft when they selected Kansas wong Gradey Dick with the No. 13 pick. Shooting was clearly valued above all else.
With a new coach in Darko Rajakovic that wants to run a very-fast offense that chucks it deep with regularity, Dick seems like the type of player Rajakovic has often had success with. Desmond Bane went from the No. 30 pick to a max player, so imagine what Dick could do.
With Rajakovic’s offensive skills, as well as Masai Ujiri’s self-imposed directive to place more of Toronto’s younger players and place an emphasis on internal development, Dick should be able to thrive. Even as a rookie who only had one year in college, Dick will be trusted to perform.
A successful rookie season for Dick would likely consist of achieving these three goals. While he has plenty to work on from a technical and physical point of view due to his stringy frame, Dick’s feathery scoring touch and savant-like understanding of the game should help him adjust to life in the pros.
3 achievements for Toronto Raptors rookie Gradey Dick to achieve.
3. 10 points per game
Dick’s scoring was held in very high regard when he was drafted, as the Raptors likely view him as instant offense off the bench. While there are quite a few mouths to feed in this rotation, Rajakovic would be making a grave mistake if he did not feature Dick prominently.
Dick’s most significant role in his rookie season might involve a lot of standing around in the corner, but Toronto’s lack of shooters last season made the spacing almost impossible to work with. Dick was tremendous during his lone season with the Jayhawks in catch-and-shoot situations.
Gradey Dick could be a solid scorer for the Toronto Raptors.
While it might take a year or two before Dick should be trusted to create for himself in on-ball situations, his Summer League stint showed he has the tools needed to become that sort of player eventually. His touch near the basket and ability to make shots from unusual angles all work in his favor.
It might be tough for Dick to get shots when all five starters need to eat, Dennis Schroder will try to get his as a top bench presence, and names like Precious Achiuwa and Jalen McDaniels will try to make their mark. However, if Rajakovic installs a very egalitarian offense, Dick should be in line for a good diet of wide-open triples.
2. 1.0 steals per game
Dick is going to be an offense-first player for his entire career, but he can’t be a negative asset on the defensive end. Gary Trent Jr. made some improvements after coming to Toronto, and Dick will need to do the same to make up for the possibility he never becomes a high-end on-ball defender.
Dick has shown some solid defensive potential in Summer League, as he used his great feel for the game and instincts on the defensive side to be disruptive and generate turnovers. Dick needs to follow Trent’s developmental path to improve his NBA longevity.
Gradey Dick must show the Toronto Raptors he could defend.
The aforementioned lack of physicality will likely be a problem on the defensive end, as his bony frame and lack of insane lateral mobility might make him somewhat of a turnstile during his rookie season. Dick needs to add about 10 pounds of muscle before his defense can really start to blossom.
The weight will eventually come, but he can use his active hands and nonstop motor to help the team immediately in 2023. There will be growing pains on this end, but Ujiri wouldn’t have taken him if he didn’t believe that Dick could take steps forward in this area.
1. All-Rookie Team
Dick will have to overcome some severe doubts and multiple players drafted ahead of him if he is going to make this incredibly selective team. One benefit he will have is the fact that a Toronto team that started Christian Koloko frequently will give him a long runway in his rookie season.
Dick’s shooting will give him a high floor, and his ability to thrive in the two areas described earlier might be the determining factor in helping him stand out when compared to his peers. If Toronto is out of it near the end of the year, Dick will likely be starting while being given a very green light.
Will Toronto Raptors rookie Gradey Dick make the All-Rookie team?
The Thompson twins are by no means locks to earn starting roles in their rookie season, and the story is much the same with Cason Wallace in Oklahoma City and the duo of Anthony Black and Jett Howard in Orlando. The right level of volume and efficiency could work wonders for Dick.
The Raptors know that Dick is going to be a work in progress in certain areas, but his best traits are so lethal for his age that it would be the equivalent of basketball malpractice not to let him get time out on the floor.