This Raptors Rookie Could REALLY Be Their Next Secret Weapon
After being selected 13th overall by the Raptors in the 2023 draft Grady dick has really struggled out the guge of his NBA career and a little bit in his G career as well but despite all this I’m here to tell Raptor fans why you should keep
Your faith in the player and why he could really be Toronto’s X-Factor player going forward let’s get into it welcome back everybody this is Amateur hour Sports the YouTube channel completely dedicated to providing you with Toronto Raptor’s news coverage and announ is and videos just like this as
Well as our live stream watch parties for every Raptor game subscribe to the channel keep up to dat with all that great Raptor content and drop a like on this video because it really makes a difference to helping boost the channel but today it’s all about Grady dick and
I was hoping for a little bit of a better performance in the recent game against the Chicago Bulls to go with this video but unfortunately we didn’t quite get that from a point standpoint but we got other signs as to why you should maintain your belief and maintain
Your faith in Grady dick now a lot of rap rapor fans have been a bit upset with grd dick so far and a bit upset with the Raptor front office who selected him like I said 13th overall in that 2023 NBA draft there was a lot of
Hype after getting him selected at 13th overall because it felt like Grady dick for a lot of the season with his time in Kansas was perceived as a top 10 pick and it felt like he fell a little bit further than expected by mock draft going to the draft had him going at
Number 11 to the Orlando Magic so to see him fall all the way down to the Toronto Raptors was a welcome site especially considering he was on my wish list for who I wanted the Raptors to select and the person who was number one on my wish list was Cas Wallace who wasn’t
Available after being selected 10th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder but nonetheless Grady dick did end up on the Raptors and there’s a lot of reason for optimism coming into the team the Raptors for years had really struggled in the three-point shooting department and floor spacing Department here was a
Player who was going to seemingly immediately enter the team and assist with that but the issues with Grady dick was that it just was not the case he struggled to find his range at the NBA level and with his struggles out the gate on offense not making up for the
Fact that we knew already he wasn’t a great defender he was ultimately sent down to the Raptors 905 in the g- Le to get more touches to get more reps but even then he wasn’t playing exactly particularly well with the Raptors 905 either so far in the season in the g-
League Grady dick has featured in a good amount of games here 11 games overall where he has just not been at his best averaging around 14 to 15 points per game but the efficiency stuff is a bit of a problem here especially in the three-point shooting category he’s
Shooting under 30% from three in the G league and he’s shooting also in his limited amount of NBA minutes that is starting to grow he is shooting just under 30% from three so why with all these negative things associated with Grady dick am I coming here and saying
That you need to keep your faith in this player and that there is reason to have optimism in the player going forward well we had that recent game against the Chicago Bulls where yes he had zero points but he also in this game racked up some assists racked up some rebound
As well and just showcased the reasons why I was so excited about the Raptor drafting player and why I wanted the Raptors to draft this player because Grady dick has ultimately been perceived as a shooter and yes the way he’s going to make his name in the NBA and make an
Imprint on the Toronto Raptors in anyway whatsoever is his shooting that’s ultimately the biggest thing associated with the player but if we take a look at that game against the Chicago Bulls good amount of minutes for Grady dick I believe it was like 15 to 20 minutes for
Grady dick in that game and he gets zero points yes but he only took one shot took one three-pointer didn’t make it but we saw the signs as to why he is better than being advertised right now because grd Dick is a smart player and one of the big things coming into the
Raptors and going into the draft which I was excited about for the player was the fact that he’s not just a shooter what he does so well is that when he’s not taking those threes he’s using his shooting gravity like the Bulls had always had players on him like it was it
Was tough to get a shot up in any way whatsoever because there was always a Bulls Defender right beside him that’s not going to get gry dick his points but that’s going to provide a lot of extra space to his Raptor’s teammates on the interior who have much more space to get
Inside if the ball swings out to him and there is an immediate close out which often there was because they’ve done their homework on Grady dick he has the presence of mind to pump fake step inside he has the presence of mind to swing the ball one extra pass to a wide
Openen three-point shooter he’s not a guy that seemingly is concerned overly about his own personal statistics he is out there to help his team succeed and that is what he has been doing in this recent stretch of games probably the best thing for Grady dick in his rookie
Season is the direction of the Raptors right now not really focused on winning now they did have a very fun win against Chicago Bulls yes but this team seemingly is starting to tank this team is seemingly not as focused on winning basketball games and dark rakovich specifically as head coach has mentioned
That they want to start to get guys developmental reps well we’re in a perfect place right now to provide Grady dick with additional minutes here and I feel like we can start to ramp them up more by more but offensively we’re seeing the right signs and defensively
Things are starting to click a little bit for him yes his defense still isn’t very good but it’s not as noticeably bad as it was to start his Raptor’s career and that’s just a thing when it comes to guys in their first year in the NBA especially guys like Grady dick who are
More Shooters than anything else the jump from college ball to NBA basketball the jump in athleticism is often understated and underestimated there is a massive jump in athleticism there so it’s going to take a little bit of time to adjust for some players certain players yes adjust better than others in
Some Raptors hands have highlighted well the guy who went right after Grady dick at 14th overall was Jordan Hawkins who has been exceptional in his rookie season for the New Orleans Pelicans a few picks later you had Keon George who has also been exceptional in his rookie
Season with the Utah Jazz who Raptor fans a lot of raptor fans really wanted coming into the draft well yes unfortunate that these guys were forming more admirably in their first season with with their teams with their respective teams but the Raptors didn’t draft Grady dick to be better in his
First season than these other guys they drafted Grady dick to be a better player for the team for a what would seem a long-term portion of his career I me the Raptors right now the core in place heading in towards a trade deadline it seems like everybody is available except
For Scotty Barnes Emanuel quickley or RJ Barrett well I think we need to start considering Grady dick into that mix as well because yes the stats haven’t been eye popping the performances haven’t been eye popping but we’re really starting to see the Tendencies of why you should maintain your faith in this
Player Grady dick yes he hasn’t shot the ball well but his decision- making is there he’s hustling he’s making the right plays so for a guy who his entire life shot the basketball with a great great degree of Effectiveness who has shot the basketball with a great degree
Of confidence you’re going to struggle to convince me that this guy who has been such a successful shooter in his entire career as a basketball player up to date you’re going to struggle to convince me that this guy all of a sudden forgot how to shoot the basketball struggling out the gate for
Sure adapting to the new three-point line but his confidence hasn’t wavered he has said in an interview that he has not adjusted his jump shot in any way whatsoever if the only thing that I’m really not liking about Grady dick right now is his jump shooting well that’s the
One thing that I can really Bank on that’s going to improve his decision making is fine his play making ability is fine for what he thought would what we thought it would be his defense we knew would be a liability but it’s getting better he’s making the right
Plays out there and I think that going forward with guys like Barrett quickley and Barnes he is a really nice complimentary piece to have beside him like a 6 foot s shooter with a 6′ n wingspan like a shooter with size who can stay out there in with a team that
Already has a great degree of size with it like you’re going to have Emanual quickly at the one this would be the core going forward Emanual quickly at the the one probably Grady dick at the two RJ Barrett and Scotty Barnes with your forwards that’s a pretty good base
To work with whether it be Grady dick and a hypothetical starting five down the line or coming off the bench this is a player that can really fit in with this core and what the rabbits are trying to do and there’s finally like a player who is dedicated to shooting
Threes out there which the Raptors just haven’t had for a long while here I think the biggest mistake the Raptors made with this core of OG cakam van vet Barnes like like what an amazing core to work with like the amount of NBA front offices that would love a core like that
And the Raptors instead of putting spacing and shooting around that Core group of players brought in two-way 6’9 athletic Wings who couldn’t shoot and then didn’t give them a center and when they did it was too late for that core and they brought in a center who couldn’t shoot either
So the Raptors at least at this point have a basis of shooting to work with Manuel quickly can shoot Grady dick can shoot and I believe will figure it out and the signs are there that he will improve RJ Barrett kind of shoot Scotty Barnes seems like he really
Can shoot the ball so it is a good core to work with here I think grd dick needs to be considered in that core and as we go through the rest of the season focus on these things if you’re watching the games they’re tough to watch the team is
Tanking I understand that we do our watch parties they’re much more watchable with the great Raptors Community amateur Army watching along with you but watch the games Grady dick watch the decision-making on offense he’s always making the right decisions so when that jump shot starts to fall when that three-point shot starts to
Fall the Raptors will have a really good player on Deck here but even when he’s the shots aren’t falling he’s affecting the game he’s cutting inside he can still finish at The Rim there’s a lot of Great Signs here yes it hasn’t been as good as we wanted it to be or expected
It to be from grd dick and his rookie season but there very much is reason for optimism and there is reason to believe that things are going to sort out here here and there’s reason to believe that when you consider the Raptor’s Core group of players going forward Scotty
Barnes RJ Barett Emanuel quickley you should lump in Grady dick as well to that team and whatever potential draft picks could be on the way for the Raptors as we get closer towards that 2024 draft but a lot of shaping of the roster on the way here a week towards
The NBA trade deadline we don’t know what the team is going to look like but we do know Grady dick should be involved for the rest of the season I’m excited to see how much more he can progress as we get towards the end of the season
Because we have to take our small victories along the way and grd dicks Improvement wouldn’t just be a small one it would be a big one so Darko give him his minutes let’s see what he can do out there what do you guys make of grd dick
In his rookie season do you agree with my sentiments do you disagree let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comments down below that’s all for me for today smash that like button if you did enjoy subscribe for Raptor content like this and check out the Sportsbook
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Despite being the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NBA entry draft, Gradey’s journey in both the NBA and the G-League has been far from smooth. In this video, we delve into the challenges the young player has faced at the start of his professional career, exploring the reasons behind his difficult transition.
Raptors fans are left wondering if there’s still reason for optimism or if Gradey is destined to become the latest draft disappointment from Masai Ujiri’s front office. We break down the key aspects of Gradey’s struggles and examine whether there are signs pointing towards future success.
From on-court performance to adapting to the demands of professional basketball, Gradey’s journey has been an uphill battle. However, we also explore potential factors that could contribute to his eventual breakthrough and success in the league.
Join us as we analyze Gradey’s game, the Raptors’ development strategies, and the historical context of draft picks from Masai Ujiri’s tenure. Can Gradey turn the tide and prove himself as a valuable asset for the Raptors, or will he add to the list of draft missteps?
If you’re a Raptors fan seeking insights into Gradey’s future in the NBA, or a basketball enthusiast curious about the challenges young players face in the league, this video is a must-watch. Subscribe, hit the notification bell, and join the discussion in the comments section โ let’s unpack Gradey’s journey together! ๐๐
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0:00 โ Overview
0:41 โ Gradey Dick has struggled to start his Raptors career
2:43 โ There is reason to believe in Gradey Dick
5:37 โ Who the Raptors could have had instead of Gradey
6:40 โ Torontoโs future with Gradey Dick
8:15 โ Correcting the mistakes of the past
9:11 โ What to watch with Gradey Dick
10:08 โ Changes are on the way in Toronto
This is Amateur Hour Sports. On this channel, Jacob Gramegna analyzes and breaks down the latest on the Toronto Raptors NBA team from trade rumors to post-game reactions, analysis, and much more. By subscribing to this channel you will be there first to watch and enjoy 3-4 videos a week all focused on this team and on game days Jacob goes live on the channel for a watch party where he interacts with chat, answers your questions, and analyses the game as it happens with play by play and commentary. Join the Amateur Hour Army today by subscribing and consider becoming a member to give extra support to the channel and help create better content more often.
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#raptors #torontoraptors #NBA #GradeyDick #NBA2023Draft #MasaiUjiri #basketballanalysis
19 Comments
Telling everyone right now, get Gradey stocks! His future is bright.
He just needs w/o work on defense.. but he has stepped up.. give him a fights chance!!
What do you think Gradey Dick's NBA ceiling is?
I agree with you brother and hopefully by end of season he will make ppl realize he not a flop n will be good for the raptors
I feel like they need to pass the ball more to Gradey. For example, in the Bulls game, he only had 1 shot. He's not going to thrive and get the confidence he needs if he's not getting the ball.
Gradey looks absolutely awful.. Don't see it whatsoever.. Everything you said is hopes and dreams
Nope. He played 20 minutes without any points and he is suppose to be the shooter he was hyped for. Trade him while the Raptors can still dupe teams that he has great potential. Gradey was not drafted for assist he is suppose to score and get those shots.
Gradeyโs ceiling is a 10 year NBA starter or 6th man. The 20 year old will figure it out. I love the minutes he giving right now just needs to put a few nights together and get that shot flowing. 30 games after the deadline will be every young player on this teams time to shine.
Great video Yacobski!
Key points to me are 1 does he want a long NBA career and will he put in work. 2 He has a high need for strength and system defense skills.
With my eye and projections I think he can be a double digit scorer off bench.
G Dick can be your first Wing off bench. I think he can be a top scorer off bench when you run some players to get him 6-7 threes a night and whatever 2s he can cut and add. I think he will be a SF type if he gets more muscle. I donโt think his speed of dribbling will be enough where you want a lot of him at SG.
SB can play either forward and it would be great to add another defined PF or Combo forward to team in next set of trades or offseason. We clearly need two new Cs a better small ball C like a Serge (maybe Jalen Smith?) then we need one more big C to help if Jak goes down.
Last is SG
The theory is that any shooter is high ceiling low floor… because you either make your shots or you don't. Gradey a higher floor the the average shooter because he's willing to do the little things like making the extra pass, going for the offensive boards, getting hands in passing lanes, etc… still his frame is still thin and his ceiling is really kyle kover or gordan hayward. Base on hussle alone he will probabaly be in the NBA beyond his rookie contract… what he really should be working on next is handles as if opposition stopped him from shooting his only other option is to pass it as he can't drive to the basket. Defensive wise he need more physical strenght from ppl to just plow over him and help him box out.
as far rookie goes, I don't ever expect much of anything, flashes of potential are nice, all I am really looking for is NBA mechanics, which he does have.
We gave Bruno 4 years, we're giving Grady time
Grady was built too light coming out of ncaa for the nba. His 905 time was more about strength and conditioning. He needs a full summer working out, bulking up,, eating, Rico Run time, summer league. He has great IQ, skills. Remember every one he's still just a kid. No matter how well you did in trade school your first year or even two in the trench on the jobsite you know less than squat.
We used to tell the kids that's nice you did good in school, this is how it's actually done out here in the field .
He'll get there.
One year in college is not a lot of preparation then jump[ into the fire is a big jump 2 times.. He is looking more comfortable playing team ball rebounds, assists.
weapon to help tank
I see watanabe as a floor and a taller Tyler Herro as a ceiling.
Floor Steve Novak, Ceiling Larry Bird ๐
He will be a solid role player off the bench but Cam Whitmore who is still 19 years old should have been the pick. I see Cory Kispert in GD.