Raptors news: Coach defends Gradey Dick, Gary Trent Jr. update

The Toronto Raptors have seen rookie stud Gradey Dick take and make some big shots early in his career while showing a feel for the game that will help him carve out a decade-long career in this league. However, the raw numbers from Darko Rajakovic’s latest pet project haven’t been jaw-dropping.

Dick is averaging just 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The efficiency has been the biggest area of criticism for the anti-Dick crowd, as he is making just 29% of his shots overall and 25% of his 3-pointers. It turns out that going from college to the pros at just 19 years old isn’t a smooth ride for everyone involved.

The Raptors are going to give young players they believe in all the time in the world to develop into a future star, and Dick will likely be afforded that same luxury based on how glowingly everyone around the organization speaks of him. Rajakovic will keep leaning on Dick as a key member of the rotation.

“There is no other way to learn than to go through it and we’ve got to live with some of his mistakes,” Rajakovic said, via Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. “He’s our future. So we got to really invest in him and we got to have patience with him.”

More Raptors news

• After missing a handful of games due to a foot ailment, all signs point to Gary Trent Jr. suiting up for Toronto’s first In-Season Tournament game against the mighty Boston Celtics. OG Anunoby, however, is listed as doubtful. The latter could have a bigger impact on the outcome of this game than the former.
• The Raptors made history when they let undrafted free agent and two-way point guard Markquis Nowell make his NBA debut. The 5-7 Summer League standout Nowell, who was a star in college at Kansas State, became the first player listed at under 5-8 to play in the NBA since 5-5 Earl Boykins retired in 2012. Hopefully, that was the first of many NBA games for Nowell.

NBA news

• While some around the NBA believe that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green getting suspended for five games after choking Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert was lenient, Steve Kerr is not one of them. The Warriors coach called the action “inexcusable.”
• The Los Angeles Clippers have yet to win a game since acquiring James Harden in a trade, and the frustration seems to be getting to Paul George. The star forward was hit with a 435,000 fine after critical comments directed at the officiating. 

Will Dick and the Raptors take down Boston on Friday?

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