Gradey Dick appears to be improving. Nobody had anticipated that the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft would have such a disappointing first half of the season. It was anticipated when the Toronto Raptors selected him this past summer that he would be able to contribute as a reserve shooter. Dick was expected to assist in addressing the team’s lack of three-point shooters from the previous campaign. However, perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to rely on a rookie who is only 20 years old to step in and contribute.
Dick had a really difficult first half of the year. The situation became so concerning that Toronto had to put a stop to his season and put him through a two-week strength and conditioning regimen before allowing him to return to the court. But that seems to have worked, and the Raptors have been impressed with the first-year lottery choice since he returned from the G League.
After practice on Thursday, Raptors coach Darko Rajaković remarked, “You can feel the way he’s moving on the court, the way he’s starting to not look like a teenager out there, but actually transform into a man, which is a normal thing for 20-year-old.” Perhaps Dick was not as green as everyone thought. In his first NBA minutes, the game seemed too fast for him, and he was obviously overwhelmed by the height and speed of the best players. He was moving too quickly and making too many errors.
Toronto wants to give Dick more opportunity to start over in the second part of the season. With a rebuilding roster and a new direction, Dick will be able to grow from his mistakes without having to focus as much on wins and losses. Regarding the specific hope, Toronto wants to see Dick appear more at ease as his playing time rises. “To be able to stay in front of the ball and to continue developing those habits off the ball as well is the most important defensive skill,” Rajaković stated. “He’s still learning about the NBA players’ personnel and court spacing,” the statement goes.The fundamentals for him on the offensive end must be cutting, playing without the ball and at a high speed, getting his shots, not forcing things, and letting the game come to him. It is advancing gradually.
In four of Toronto’s past six games—including the last two—Dick has played at least ten minutes. A week ago, he put on a spectacular performance against the Miami Heat, going 2-for-2 from three-point range with four assists. Last Saturday, he added three made three-pointers to his 11-point total against the Utah Jazz. Rajaković remarked, “I think he’s improved physically.” “I believe the strategy we’ve been using with our performance, strength, and conditioning team is working well.”
That will be necessary going ahead for the Raptors. This shift toward a rebuild is obviously motivated by Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. These three serve as the cornerstones for whatever the future holds for Toronto. Will Dick be good enough to join them? will be the question.
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