Rising defensive stars could soon force Gradey Dick out of a Raptors spot

Gradey Dick’s Raptors spot may be at risk as Summer League reveals fierce new challengers
Toronto Raptors v Indiana Pacers
Toronto Raptors v Indiana Pacers | Dylan Buell/GettyImages

At the end of the season, I highlighted how, in coach Darko Rajakovic's media scrum, he noted that his mindset toward rotations next year would not be as fixed as it was this year (no room for playing favorites). To put it simply, Rajakovic essentially said that just because a player had a role on the roster in the 2024-25 campaign, it doesn't mean that player has an untouchable spot in the rotation — in his own words, he's not here to be an ice cream man; his job is "not to please everybody."

And while I think this sentiment can be worrisome to many players, if I had to pick a name at the highest risk of getting lost in the shuffle, it would be third-year player Gradey Dick.

Is the new Raptors era leaving Gradey Dick behind?

Looking at how Summer League has unfolded, we've seen how this hungry group of defensively intense youngsters has been showing out. While I had my doubts about a prospect like Collin Murray-Boyles, his last outing with the Raps on July 17 against the Warriors put a damper on some of those pressing concerns (20 points, nine rebounds, two assists, four steals).

Sure, he's still not a threat from beyond the arc, but he's been demonstrating a knack for getting on the inside, grabbing boards and scoring near the basket. On the defensive end, that goes without question; he's looked the part of a mini-Draymond.

And then there’s Ja'Kobe Walter, who’s definitely added more size to his frame and is showing a renewed spirit as the energetic force I already saw pushing the Raptors’ young core. You still have standouts like Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, and even the two-way guys like Ulrich Chomche and Alijah Martin, who have certainly looked the part at Summer League. Overall, this 2025 Summer League squad has exemplified what it means to hound opposing teams with pressuring defense, force turnovers, and make the other team's night a struggle in every sense.

Focusing back on Gradey Dick, he showed moments of impressive play last year, but as the season went on, his lack of defensive intensity made him an easy target for Coach Rajakovic, who may see him as a lesser option in the rotation. Sure, he might be one of the only other sharpshooting threats besides Immanuel Quickley, but even there, Dick's three-point shooting can be shaky (he shot 35% last season). I'll still give Dick credit, he can definitely play with some hustle and grit, but he is by no means a plus defender like his competition — Walter, Shead, Mogbo, and the new recruits Murray-Boyles and Martin.

Knowing how much this crop is set on a defensive identity, Dick just seems like the odd man out. After the draft, I saw Jonathan Mogbo as a player at risk of losing his spot, but now I’d say he’s a little safer given he offers an added punch of defense and versatility, even if he’s somewhat redundant alongside guys like Scottie Barnes and the rookie Murray-Boyles.

Like the saying goes: "Defense wins championships," and I think Raptors Nation knows better than anyone that their franchise highly values defensive hounds over anything. That just is not who Gradey Dick is, and if he cannot prove to be an undeniable player with a unique set of skills that surpass his defensive competition, the hourglass on Dick's tenure could be quickly ticking away.