No. 3: Bruce Brown
The most difficult spot on this ranking was between No. 2 and No. 3, between the proven veteran and the rising youngster. Bruce Brown was part of the closing lineup on a title-winner just over 12 months ago, while Gradey Dick has played less than 1,300 minutes and proven a whole lot of nothing.
Ultimately, however, the flashes Gradey Dick showed in Summer League bumped him above Brown, as he looks ready to take a step up to the next level, whereas Brown had a relatively poor run of play with the Raptors last season and needs to prove that (1) he hasn't lost a step, and (2) he can find a way to thrive alongside the other key players on this team.
It's been well-documented how Brown struggled in Toronto last year, appearing in 34 games but shooting just 31.7 percent from deep and averaging 1.3 turnovers to 2.7 assists as a nominal playmaker. His Box Plus-Minus, admittedly on a terrible team, was by far the worst of his career. Most lineups he was in were worse than if he were replaced by another player.
Brown has proven himself a good defender, playmaker and cutter, and his shooting has waxed and waned. As the team tries to find a trade partner interested in him, the better he can play the more likely it is he is traded to a team with real aspirations, and the better his chance of earning another significant contract beyond this year.