Raptors news: Gradey Dick struggles mightily in G League, Darko Rajakovic lauds Masai Ujiri

The Toronto Raptors demoted No. 13 overall pick Gradey Dick to Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. After shooting under 30% from the field and 3-point range just a few months after shooting over 40% from deep at Kansas, Darko Rajakovic tried to help Dick get his mojo back.

Instead of lighting the scoreboard up, Dick's debut for Raptors 905 was a nightmare. Dick finished with more turnovers (three) than points (two), and both of his points came on a dunk. 905 dropped to 0-7 on the season during a loss against the Capital City Go-Go.

Dick went just 1-12 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers. Not only is Dick currently lacking in confidence, but it appears as though concerns about how his skinny frame would hold up against professional-level athletes in his first season in the NBA have been validated.

Rajakovic has called Dick "the future of the organization" and a "tremendous talent," but it looks like the Raptors may need to wait to see him unleash his full potential. Still, he has just turned 20 years old, which means he is still quite far away from being a finished product.

More Raptors news

• In an interview with Serbian publication Blic, Rajakovic praised Raptors president Masai Ujiri. "[Ujiri] lived in Belgrade, he has great respect for European and Serbian basketball, so he feels international throughout the city and the organization," Rajakovic said. "We have excellent communication... we have the same vision for our team and how it should be developed."
• The Raptors do not have any players on NBA contracts (outside of Christian Koloko and his ongoing respiratory issues) on the injury report for their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, Darius Garland might be on the report after leaving the Cavs' game against the Lakers with a neck strain.

NBA news

• Jonathan Givony's 2024 NBA Mock Draft has the Detroit Pistons using the first pick on G League forward Ron Holland. The Washington Wizards will make a surprising move by adding international player Nikola Topic at No. 2 overall, while much-hyped G League player Matas Buzelis slipped to the Utah Jazz at No. 6 overall.
• Former NBA forward Serge Ibaka said that playing in Europe is often more difficult than playing in America. "Sometimes in the NBA, you can rest a bit on defense because one guy is going one-on-one," Ibaka said. "Here [in Europe], it’s not like that. You have to be involved.