Rate the Dick Pick

[Dennis 37]

I like the pick. He will be good. My only disappointment is that we didn't get a PG who would signal Fred is out the door. If we get Fred back either Darko will do a heck of a job ridding him of his selfishness, or we will continue to be pissed off.

[JJ From Deep]

good shooter, poor defender. definitely a new era in Toronto

He's actually not a poor defender at all. Not sure why people keep saying this. Quoting his pre-draft scouting report here:
" A steady defender at the point of attack, consistently plays with effort and gets down in his stance … Also shows active hands and awareness defensively (1.5 spg), constantly stripping the ball away from unexpecting slashers and reaching in the passing lanes to get a hand on lazy passes that occasionally lead to live ball turnovers and runouts. He has been a quality defensive player and an asset in transition too, using his instincts to come up with a number of steals and deflections. He seems to have the kind of size, shooting and positional defense to help a team as he gain experience. If his defense remains steady he will be a good fit as a 3-and-D specialist on the perimeter"

[Tom_Foolery]

This kid will have a fake Jamaican accent by mid-March.

I don't hate the pick but I think it signals we are going to be mid at best.

I've learned to lower my expectations for this team.

[canz55]

I've heard his ceiling is Peja from some people.

That's mighty praise because if he reaches anything resembling Stojaković then the Raptors won the draft.

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[Clutch0z24]

Great pick....I want to package Siakam to Hawks for Murray/Bufkin package + whatever else they would give us....Maybe one of Bog/Hunter?....But a team of

Murray
GTJR
OG
Barnes
Yak

Hunter or Bog
Dick
Bufkin
Precious
Banton
Flynn
Koloko

We would be still younger and also would open up Barnes/OG to get bigger roles....I think i like that team a little more than bringing everyone back with just Dick being the one we add...

[grant101]

I've heard his ceiling is Peja from some people.

That's mighty praise because if he reaches anything resembling Stojaković then the Raptors won the draft.

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Peja's actually the first comp that I like for Gradey - both tall, heady, winning sharpshooters. Gradey is more athletic and better attacking closeouts, but he's going to need to add a great deal of strength to match Peja's impact. I think by the end of Gradey's rookie contract you'll be seeing a lot more making this comparison

[PhilBlackson]

Majority of this board will talk themselves into ANYTHING the FO does so not surprised by the ratings.

I'm actually NOT one of the posters that selected "Hated It" -- but I did select I Don't Like It.

Doesn't mean I think Dick is trash and some scrub. His "value" is obvious, he's a shooter/floor spacer. He's basically a 6'8 Duncan Robinson, maybe as he adds more ballhandling that will be Huerter and that's not hate, those guys are "valuable" players to their teams because yes it's just a fact now that everyone needs shooting...and that's what this FO did, drafted for "need" which is more my gripe with the pick - a true not hating the playa lol but the game/FO. They made that decision and I just don't like their vision (or lack thereof) for the team as it seems they're constructed much of it on public opinion, not any real strategy of their own and they're missing golden opportunities for the sake of playing it safe and I can't get with that.

The hoard of apologists will blab about yesteryear and the same slow build up expecting lightening to strike twice because they seen the world's biggest fluke of a trade in Kawhi, now blindly believe there's some grand plan although literally the FO is changing their answers of what they're after by the press conference (Vision 6'9 abandoned, immediately brought in two 7 footers the very next year, we're drafting a Raptors type guy that defend, oh no ooops, we got some shooting bc we don't wanna admit OKC pulled the trigger on a trade we wouldn't do for the actual player we wanted: Cason Wallace). They're just floating whereever the wind takes them and basically now are beholden to mid-players like Fred & Pascal who will produce mid results for the foreseeable future.

What they're doing is literally a giant waste of time, so I won't be tuning much until there's a MAJOR change (period) whether that's the players or the FO. The outcome is just way too predictable over the next 3-4 years IF they do just "run it back" with Gradey & some other minor pieces around the fringes as is very likely the case now -- it will be good REGULAR season record, quick Playoff elimination (rd 1 or 2 - they won't sniff a Conference Finals). They just wanna play it safe and make sure they even make it that far because of course MLSE wants that $, and instead of planning for the future with some short term pain to take more of a gamble on guys like Whitmore or Bufkin to become the 2nd option scorer that is ACTUALLY needed long term (or flipping either of OG or Pascal for players with higher potentials than their own) they continue to squander opportunity for real chance at growth & sacrifice it (yet again) for short term gain just to stay in their comfort zone. I don't play that way in my own life, so it's just a matter of principles that I disagree on so that's why I "don't like it" and stand by it even if works out "ok", I don't want just "ok" in anything lol but ya'll have fun with that.

[Fairview4Life]

Just because a player can do something the team wasn't good at doesn't mean it was a need pick and not also the best player available.

[Duffman100]

Majority of this board will talk themselves into ANYTHING the FO does so not surprised by the ratings.

I'm actually NOT one of the posters that selected "Hated It" -- but I did select I Don't Like It.

Doesn't mean I think Dick is trash and some scrub. His "value" is obvious, he's a shooter/floor spacer. He's basically a 6'8 Duncan Robinson, maybe as he adds more ballhandling that will be Huerter and that's not hate, those guys are "valuable" players to their teams because yes it's just a fact now that everyone needs shooting...and that's what this FO did, drafted for "need" which is more my gripe with the pick - a true not hating the playa lol but the game/FO. They made that decision and I just don't like their vision (or lack thereof) for the team as it seems they're constructed much of it on public opinion, not any real strategy of their own and they're missing golden opportunities for the sake of playing it safe and I can't get with that.

The hoard of apologists will blab about yesteryear and the same slow build up expecting lightening to strike twice because they seen the world's biggest fluke of a trade in Kawhi, now blindly believe there's some grand plan although literally the FO is changing their answers of what they're after by the press conference (Vision 6'9 abandoned, immediately brought in two 7 footers the very next year, we're drafting a Raptors type guy that defend, oh no ooops, we got some shooting bc we don't wanna admit OKC pulled the trigger on a trade we wouldn't do for the actual player we wanted: Cason Wallace). They're just floating whereever the wind takes them and basically now are beholden to mid-players like Fred & Pascal who will produce mid results for the foreseeable future.

What they're doing is literally a giant waste of time, so I won't be tuning much until there's a MAJOR change (period) whether that's the players or the FO. The outcome is just way too predictable over the next 3-4 years IF they do just "run it back" with Gradey & some other minor pieces around the fringes as is very likely the case now -- it will be good REGULAR season record, quick Playoff elimination (rd 1 or 2 - they won't sniff a Conference Finals). They just wanna play it safe and make sure they even make it that far because of course MLSE wants that $, and instead of planning for the future with some short term pain to take more of a gamble on guys like Whitmore or Bufkin to become the 2nd option scorer that is ACTUALLY needed long term (or flipping either of OG or Pascal for players with higher potentials than their own) they continue to squander opportunity for real chance at growth & sacrifice it (yet again) for short term gain just to stay in their comfort zone. I don't play that way in my own life, so it's just a matter of principles that I disagree on so that's why I "don't like it" and stand by it even if works out "ok", I don't want just "ok" in anything lol but ya'll have fun with that.

You said all of this before. And we won a title. You’ll say it all again. Rinse and repeat.

[bonjovi0308]

The question down the road will probably be Dick (shooting) or Kobe(quick 1st step)?

[OakleyDokely]

Just because a player can do something the team wasn't good at doesn't mean it was a need pick and not also the best player available.

you also don't pick a 19 year old if you're only worried about the short term.

[The Warrior]

Superstar persona to go with that big Dick energy.

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[ItsDanger]

PhilBlackson is right, their approach to player acquisition appears rather inconsistent lately. Just collecting assets/contracts might be the strategy, the actual on court product is secondary.

[Fairview4Life]

So not a need pick then. Got it.

[Duffman100]

PhilBlackson is right, their approach to player acquisition appears rather inconsistent lately. Just collecting assets/contracts might be the strategy, the actual on court product is secondary.

Let’s get it on record then. Who would you have taken?

[Los_29]

Majority of this board will talk themselves into ANYTHING the FO does so not surprised by the ratings.

I'm actually NOT one of the posters that selected "Hated It" -- but I did select I Don't Like It.

Doesn't mean I think Dick is trash and some scrub. His "value" is obvious, he's a shooter/floor spacer. He's basically a 6'8 Duncan Robinson, maybe as he adds more ballhandling that will be Huerter and that's not hate, those guys are "valuable" players to their teams because yes it's just a fact now that everyone needs shooting...and that's what this FO did, drafted for "need" which is more my gripe with the pick - a true not hating the playa lol but the game/FO. They made that decision and I just don't like their vision (or lack thereof) for the team as it seems they're constructed much of it on public opinion, not any real strategy of their own and they're missing golden opportunities for the sake of playing it safe and I can't get with that.

The hoard of apologists will blab about yesteryear and the same slow build up expecting lightening to strike twice because they seen the world's biggest fluke of a trade in Kawhi, now blindly believe there's some grand plan although literally the FO is changing their answers of what they're after by the press conference (Vision 6'9 abandoned, immediately brought in two 7 footers the very next year, we're drafting a Raptors type guy that defend, oh no ooops, we got some shooting bc we don't wanna admit OKC pulled the trigger on a trade we wouldn't do for the actual player we wanted: Cason Wallace). They're just floating whereever the wind takes them and basically now are beholden to mid-players like Fred & Pascal who will produce mid results for the foreseeable future.

What they're doing is literally a giant waste of time, so I won't be tuning much until there's a MAJOR change (period) whether that's the players or the FO. The outcome is just way too predictable over the next 3-4 years IF they do just "run it back" with Gradey & some other minor pieces around the fringes as is very likely the case now -- it will be good REGULAR season record, quick Playoff elimination (rd 1 or 2 - they won't sniff a Conference Finals). They just wanna play it safe and make sure they even make it that far because of course MLSE wants that $, and instead of planning for the future with some short term pain to take more of a gamble on guys like Whitmore or Bufkin to become the 2nd option scorer that is ACTUALLY needed long term (or flipping either of OG or Pascal for players with higher potentials than their own) they continue to squander opportunity for real chance at growth & sacrifice it (yet again) for short term gain just to stay in their comfort zone. I don't play that way in my own life, so it's just a matter of principles that I disagree on so that's why I "don't like it" and stand by it even if works out "ok", I don't want just "ok" in anything lol but ya'll have fun with that.

You said all of this before. And we won a title. You’ll say it all again. Rinse and repeat.

And many of the players, if not all of the players he has wanted to draft have not worked out. It just highlights how difficult this stuff really is.

Most analysts considered GD the best player available when we got him. He's a good player who does a lot of things well and competes hard on the defensive end. He doesn't have the highest ceiling in the draft by any means, hence why he slid to 13. But he's got the potential to be a good-great player in this league.

[OakleyDokely]

The Raps pick a raw 6'9 guy -- they only take raw 6'9 guys.

The Raps take a shooter -- they only pick for need.

[Duffman100]

The Raps pick a raw 6'9 guy -- they only take raw 6'9 guys.

The Raps take a shooter -- they only pick for need.

It’s complaining for the sake of complaining. I honestly believe it’s just become a habit for people and it’s hard to break

[OakleyDokely]

PhilBlackson is right, their approach to player acquisition appears rather inconsistent lately. Just collecting assets/contracts might be the strategy, the actual on court product is secondary.

Let’s get it on record then. Who would you have taken?

geodluck on getting a straight answer here.

He will be very opinionated a few months into the season though.

[ItsDanger]

PhilBlackson is right, their approach to player acquisition appears rather inconsistent lately. Just collecting assets/contracts might be the strategy, the actual on court product is secondary.

Let’s get it on record then. Who would you have taken?

I actually like Dick as a player, I just don't like the fit on current roster, plus the path to minutes is difficult. A combo guard version of him would get more minutes. If Fred leaves, they need more ballhandling in backcourt. And your comment really has little to do with my post.