With the 19th Pick, the Raptors select Ja'Kobe Walter!

[TheProfessor]

Keep them both and let their development dictate what happens in the coming years.

Unless of course we move one for a backup C with similar upside

Yeah exactly, there is no rush.

3rd year Dick should give us a good indicator. By year 3, Dick should be a solid and positive contributor or at least clear signs he's trending that way.

If Walter is on his heels or passing him next season, the decision is obvious.

The only way Dick becomes a positive contributor is if A) he plays on OKC where he can learn to shoot and have enough defensive players to cover for him or B) he comes the second coming of Klay/Reggie Miller offensively. His defense is that bad.

It should not be a competition, Walter has been flashing skills and actually has upside. I would not be surprised if Gradey is a min to TMLE player after his rookie deal. Nor would I be surprised that Walter turns into Norman Powell type or wins 6MOTY.

But yes you should keep Gradey, hoping he develops but should not be at the expense of Walters's minutes.

[Indeed]

I just wish he was faster. I don’t think he’ll ever have much shot creation ability which means he really needs to work on his shooting.

Speed isn't required for shot creation if the player is clever and/or strong. Guys like Luka, Harden, and Kawhi are slow as molases but can get off any shot they want. Not that JaKobe has their basketball IQ or size either, I'm just pointing out that shot creation can come in different forms.

I agree, and a better indicator of shot creation is FTs created, which is a big strength of his and something Bobby also cited when they drafted him.

He has craft, it'd be nice but he doesn't need to be as fast as guys like Maxey to be a complete scorer.

He will need a good pull up and footwork with ball handling. I can see the pull up, while footwork can be trained. However, it would be a long way to become elite on those.

[Thaddy]

I think his handle is already pretty good, it's much more far along than Dick's. We should give him some run at PG in the GLeague and try to develop his creation ability with and without the pick and roll. I think he could be a good shooter off the bounce and his injury affected that part of his game. He has creational ability we should be looking to uncover.

If Walter becomes a half decent option at PG we would have some serious talent on our bench. Especially if we draft someone like Tre Johnson and they can play off each other, we would have a strong bench which would help load manage our starters for the playoffs.

Poeltl / (Dick trade)
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Agbaji
Barrett / Johnson (2025 1st)
IQ / Walter / Shead

That could be a contender level team if IQ and Barrett develop into above average starters. We would have the best scoring bench in the league which would make it easy to give Ingram and Barnes time off.

[raincityraptors]

I think his handle is already pretty good, it's much more far along than Dick's. We should give him some run at PG in the GLeague and try to develop his creation ability with and without the pick and roll. I think he could be a good shooter off the bounce and his injury affected that part of his game. He has creational ability we should be looking to uncover.

If Walter becomes a half decent option at PG we would have some serious talent on our bench. Especially if we draft someone like Tre Johnson and they can play off each other, we would have a strong bench which would help load manage our starters for the playoffs.

Poeltl / (Dick trade)
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Agbaji
Barrett / Johnson (2025 1st)
IQ / Walter / Shead

That could be a contender level team if IQ and Barrett develop into above average starters. We would have the best scoring bench in the league which would make it easy to give Ingram and Barnes time off.

I liked Walter better than Dick from the start so sign me up. Seeing us draft Shead and Walter as a Raptors fan living in Texas is a dream come true.

I do think he could play some point but would love to see him focus on being a lockdown POA defender first and foremost, a spacer/shooter second, and a driver off of closeouts/creator of his own offense/draw fouls third.

I think that is the version of Ja'Kobe that helps this team the most.

[Thaddy]

I think his handle is already pretty good, it's much more far along than Dick's. We should give him some run at PG in the GLeague and try to develop his creation ability with and without the pick and roll. I think he could be a good shooter off the bounce and his injury affected that part of his game. He has creational ability we should be looking to uncover.

If Walter becomes a half decent option at PG we would have some serious talent on our bench. Especially if we draft someone like Tre Johnson and they can play off each other, we would have a strong bench which would help load manage our starters for the playoffs.

Poeltl / (Dick trade)
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Agbaji
Barrett / Johnson (2025 1st)
IQ / Walter / Shead

That could be a contender level team if IQ and Barrett develop into above average starters. We would have the best scoring bench in the league which would make it easy to give Ingram and Barnes time off.

I liked Walter better than Dick from the start so sign me up. Seeing us draft Shead and Walter as a Raptors fan living in Texas is a dream come true.

I do think he could play some point but would love to see him focus on being a lockdown POA defender first and foremost, a spacer/shooter second, and a driver off of closeouts/creator of his own offense/draw fouls third.

I think that is the version of Ja'Kobe that helps this team the most.

Ja'Kobe has real potential as a scorer too. He is able to get in the lane and get guys off their feet and draw fouls. I think that's a special element of his game we need to look further into. He is also capable of a inbetween game but I don't see us relying on him for that with IQ and Ingram here.

I don't see how Dick fits into this group. We need an elite shooter and he hasn't been one consistently. It's pretty hard to watch and he pushes us towards a weaker defensive team. The best outcome is trading him and Barrett in a package for a good fit at the 2G position.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Walker looking great tonight so far!!

[Psubs]

Watching him guard up and stifle Franz Wagner was sweet.

[Blazing_royale]

I don't remember Gradey Dick ever hitting a game winner.

[DreamTeam09]

We drafted Jakobe n GD to be two different type of players, I get their both SG right now but not sure why y'all automatically pit them against eachother. Walter could guard opposing team bench PGs next to GD in a bench backcourt with RJ or Barnes leading the 2nd unit. Or maybe Ochai gets the squeeze to start

[LoveMyRaps]

We drafted Jakobe n GD to be two different type of players, I get their both SG right now but not sure why y'all automatically pit them against eachother. Walter could guard opposing team bench PGs next to GD in a bench backcourt with RJ or Barnes leading the 2nd unit. Or maybe Ochai gets the squeeze to start

It's a luxury to have both guys.

Both are super young and have a ton of upside.

[Thaddy]

He's a better fit in the starting line up. He'll clean up his mistakes with more playing time, you could tell he was nervous and his hands were clammy. I see big things for Walter next year he's having a solid rookie year despite being jerked in and out of the line up. If he takes a few steps forward in his sophomore year he could be a valuable player for us next year. I would start him over Dick and Agbaji because he's on a rookie contract and

[Tripod]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

[Psubs]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

[Tripod]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

Yeah it's hard to predict our next moves without knowing where our pick lands.

[YogurtProducer]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

I'd say the odds of moving Ochai for a late 1st/early 2nd are slim-to-none.

I think Dick is the trade candidate this off-season. I just don't see room for him. Agabji is a better player today, Walter has more potential IMO, and we might draft a guard.

[Indeed]

He's a better fit in the starting line up. He'll clean up his mistakes with more playing time, you could tell he was nervous and his hands were clammy. I see big things for Walter next year he's having a solid rookie year despite being jerked in and out of the line up. If he takes a few steps forward in his sophomore year he could be a valuable player for us next year. I would start him over Dick and Agbaji because he's on a rookie contract and

With Ingram, hard to see Walter getting the minutes. The only redundant piece are Ingram and Quickley scoring mainly in the mid and long range. So unless Barrett (or and Barnes) are playing the point, otherwise, unsure we see Walter being the starter except for injury replacement.

Also, Mogbo might even be the better fit if he can shoot the 3s. That would have the same assumption of Barrett (or and Barnes) are playing the point, which Barrett had been kind of the combo guard on offense from time to time. The interesting thing with a lineup of Barrett-Ingram-Mogbo are big enough to switch around as well (though both Barrett and Ingram will need to show a bit more on defense, but that hide them from getting through screens, which is the biggest issue).

[Psubs]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

Yeah it's hard to predict our next moves without knowing where our pick lands.

I would still plan to trade for KD regardless. He's publicly expressed his like for Toronto. If he's willing to take a 2 year extension then we pull the trigger and include the 2026 1st pick (top 4 protected). Imagine Poeltl gets packaged AGAIN and the Raptors win another Championship?

[Tripod]

I would start Ochai over him to start next year with RJ off the bench...for better roster balance. Need the 3+D vs starters that Ochai provides as well as not needing the ball in his hands.

But Walter's 3pt shooting has gotten better as the season has gone on. We often forget he missed training camp and all of October.

Nov 16.7%
Dec 30.6%
Jan 33.3%
Feb 34.2%
Mar 50%...lol

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

I'd say the odds of moving Ochai for a late 1st/early 2nd are slim-to-none.

I think Dick is the trade candidate this off-season. I just don't see room for him. Agabji is a better player today, Walter has more potential IMO, and we might draft a guard.

I agree. I just hope if moved we get a similar type upside guy/pick in return. I guess if they don't, they won't move him.

If Ochai starts for better balance, you still end up with Gradey and RJ off the bench which hurts defensively.

And if not, we'll then you have Shead, JKW, Gradey and Ochai off the bench which is small. I could see us lean into the "strong defense" bench and Shead, JKW and Ochai for that. Gradey doesn't. And at that point you need size beside the others. And Gradey doesn't do that either....Mogbo does. Plus Battle can get Gradeys shots for cheaper, and more makes.

Lots of options for MU to figure out. Better than not enough options I guess.

[Indeed]

Ochai is a 3-D SF in a SG body. I would trade Agbaji at the draft to get Alex Condon, who would be a 3+D PF/C that has an A/T of over 2.

Maybe Ochai gets traded in a package with Barrett for KD or who knows.

Yeah it's hard to predict our next moves without knowing where our pick lands.

I would still plan to trade for KD regardless. He's publicly expressed his like for Toronto. If he's willing to take a 2 year extension then we pull the trigger and include the 2026 1st pick (top 4 protected). Imagine Poeltl gets packaged AGAIN and the Raptors win another Championship?

I dont think we should package Poeltl. He is the one finishing for Barrett, screening for Quickley, making passes to cutters (not Barnes), Poeltl is more valuable to us and impacting our wins more in the Darko system.

We also need a third team to take on salary. I think Durrant would play PF, and we are unlikely to pay Barnes near max for a corner 3&D role that is more than Anunoby and less effective than Anunoby, so I would not be surprised the trade is around Barnes and Durrant.

[MEDIC]

Love this kids mentality and his game. It's a shame that he hasn't had more minutes and a bigger role this season. I think he would have been much further ahead.

Hopefully he has proved himself to the coaching staff after this one & he finishes off the season getting 25 minutes or more every game.