The Gradey Dick Thread Part 3

[Dalek]

They're developing him like they did with Desmond Bane. The shots will fall, eventually. He's a more interesting player in the limited SL and pre-season run than he was last year or at Kansas. It's pretty clear by how he's guarded, even in pre-season, that his 3PT shot is a threat.

That is a good point about D Bane. That is very possible with Darko.

I do worry about Gradey functioning under duress. It is something about his shot release or a lack of confidence, but when he faces a hard close out he almost always drives - this happened in SL and last year as well. I wish for him to speed up the release so that defenders can't catch-up, but maybe this improves as the season goes on. I definitely don't like trading threes for twos.

[Basketball_Jones]

I have kind of a weird prediction that Gradey is more of an all around scorer/playmaker than a 3 point sniper. In that sense, we could see a bit of overlap with him and RJ. But this team needs creators and floor spacers and it’s great that Gradey could be both.

[Boogie!]

I have kind of a weird prediction that Gradey is more of an all around scorer/playmaker than a 3 point sniper. In that sense, we could see a bit of overlap with him and RJ. But this team needs creators and floor spacers and it’s great that Gradey could be both.

Barrett is leaps and bounds better than gradey in terms of handling the ball and finishing in traffic. Gradey really needs to ger his 3 point shot in order. He shouls be the type of shooter that side steps a close out instead of dribbling and pulling up, but like someone else mentioned he still looks uncomfortable with hard close outs and when he bricks its ugly. His form seems wonky and inconsistent for a legit shooter though. It doesn't seem smooth and automatic. Idk I really didn't expect him to pick it up like he did in the second half last season, but there's still something about his form that doesn't inspire confidence. I really expected him to be a 40% in the mold of someone like hauser or even korver but with more versatility to his game. Time will tell.

[Reeko]

I have kind of a weird prediction that Gradey is more of an all around scorer/playmaker than a 3 point sniper. In that sense, we could see a bit of overlap with him and RJ. But this team needs creators and floor spacers and it’s great that Gradey could be both.

Barrett is leaps and bounds better than gradey in terms of handling the ball and finishing in traffic. Gradey really needs to ger his 3 point shot in order. He shouls be the type of shooter that side steps a close out instead of dribbling and pulling up, but like someone else mentioned he still looks uncomfortable with hard close outs and when he bricks its ugly. His form seems wonky and inconsistent for a legit shooter though. It doesn't seem smooth and automatic. Idk I really didn't expect him to pick it up like he did in the second half last season, but there's still something about his form that doesn't inspire confidence. I really expected him to be a 40% in the mold of someone like hauser or even korver but with more versatility to his game. Time will tell.

Sure, but I would argue that Gradey is already better at making reads and passing than RJ.

[WuTang_CMB]

Lol

Read on Twitter

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[agkagk]

I won't say 15, but he has put on some muscle.

I don’t think 15 lbs is a stretch. His arms, shoulders, back, legs, backside are all noticeably larger.

Ayyooooo!

Yup his but was too small

He couldn’t hold his balance at the slightest contact.

He needed to improve his base and core to absorb man strength.

[Thaddy]

His 3pt shot is looking really bad. It looks like he has issues with NBA range. He'll be fine spotting up but I was hoping for a player that could create efficient looks from above the break off picks and off the dribble.

Mid range shooting is the biggest fool's gold skill in the league. It produces the least amount of points per possession. It's good he has an in between game but that's not the role player skill set that leads to contention.

Defense and shooting need to be his priorities and I don't see how he's gotten better there.

[ATLTimekeeper]

His 3pt shot is looking really bad. It looks like he has issues with NBA range. He'll be fine spotting up but I was hoping for a player that could create efficient looks from above the break off picks and off the dribble.

Mid range shooting is the biggest fool's gold skill in the league. It produces the least amount of points per possession. It's good he has an in between game but that's not the role player skill set that leads to contention.

Defense and shooting need to be his priorities and I don't see how he's gotten better there.

I'm not worried about his 3PT shooting. I think he ended up around 36% as a rookie at good volume. He did start off abysmally and required some time off for correction. Maybe he's a slow starter in that aspect.

And I have to disagree wholeheartedly about the midrange being the biggest fool's gold skill. It's critically important in the playoffs. Role players are the first to get scouted out of games, so if you're just camped beyond the 3PT line you will eventually be weaned out of the rotation.

[ATLTimekeeper]

They're developing him like they did with Desmond Bane. The shots will fall, eventually. He's a more interesting player in the limited SL and pre-season run than he was last year or at Kansas. It's pretty clear by how he's guarded, even in pre-season, that his 3PT shot is a threat.

That is a good point about D Bane. That is very possible with Darko.

I do worry about Gradey functioning under duress. It is something about his shot release or a lack of confidence, but when he faces a hard close out he almost always drives - this happened in SL and last year as well. I wish for him to speed up the release so that defenders can't catch-up, but maybe this improves as the season goes on. I definitely don't like trading threes for twos.

I would much rather he work on making plays with the ball than just shooting. We know he can shoot. The opposition knows he can shoot (hence the hard close outs). He'll be valuable if he can further break down the defense (which is tiring and what wins games). You want the opposition wasting their legs running around. This is why .5 basketball works so well. You keep the defense from loading up and allowing bigs to sit back and pin shots. The Raptors don't appear to have the talent to pull it off at this point, but if this year is just for development we should be looking at Gradey in terms of what they want the team to eventually play like, not what he should play like to make himself look efficient.

[MessiahUjiri]

They're developing him like they did with Desmond Bane. The shots will fall, eventually. He's a more interesting player in the limited SL and pre-season run than he was last year or at Kansas. It's pretty clear by how he's guarded, even in pre-season, that his 3PT shot is a threat.

That is a good point about D Bane. That is very possible with Darko.

I do worry about Gradey functioning under duress. It is something about his shot release or a lack of confidence, but when he faces a hard close out he almost always drives - this happened in SL and last year as well. I wish for him to speed up the release so that defenders can't catch-up, but maybe this improves as the season goes on. I definitely don't like trading threes for twos.

I would much rather he work on making plays with the ball than just shooting. We know he can shoot. The opposition knows he can shoot (hence the hard close outs). He'll be valuable if he can further break down the defense (which is tiring and what wins games). You want the opposition wasting their legs running around. This is why .5 basketball works so well. You keep the defense from loading up and allowing bigs to sit back and pin shots. The Raptors don't appear to have the talent to pull it off at this point, but if this year is just for development we should be looking at Gradey in terms of what they want the team to eventually play like, not what he should play like to make himself look efficient.

Gradey's best development path is Gordon Hayward. Identical physical traits. Both came in known as shooters, but flashed a glimpse of dribble handoff creation.

Gradey looks like a long term 3 to me, with the way the league is played now. It's great to see him add strength. I'd look for another strength +10lb in the next offseason. Year 3 is where he will start to become his own player - again similar like Hayward.

[youngRAPZ]

That is a good point about D Bane. That is very possible with Darko.

I do worry about Gradey functioning under duress. It is something about his shot release or a lack of confidence, but when he faces a hard close out he almost always drives - this happened in SL and last year as well. I wish for him to speed up the release so that defenders can't catch-up, but maybe this improves as the season goes on. I definitely don't like trading threes for twos.

I would much rather he work on making plays with the ball than just shooting. We know he can shoot. The opposition knows he can shoot (hence the hard close outs). He'll be valuable if he can further break down the defense (which is tiring and what wins games). You want the opposition wasting their legs running around. This is why .5 basketball works so well. You keep the defense from loading up and allowing bigs to sit back and pin shots. The Raptors don't appear to have the talent to pull it off at this point, but if this year is just for development we should be looking at Gradey in terms of what they want the team to eventually play like, not what he should play like to make himself look efficient.

Gradey's best development path is Gordon Hayward. Identical physical traits. Both came in known as shooters, but flashed a glimpse of dribble handoff creation.

Gradey looks like a long term 3 to me, with the way the league is played now. It's great to see him add strength. I'd look for another strength +10lb in the next offseason. Year 3 is where he will start to become his own player - again similar like Hayward.

This 100% I believe he can be just as good or at least 85% of Gordon Hayward and that would be a great get at where we got him.

[Got Nuffin]

His 3pt shot is looking really bad. It looks like he has issues with NBA range. He'll be fine spotting up but I was hoping for a player that could create efficient looks from above the break off picks and off the dribble.

Mid range shooting is the biggest fool's gold skill in the league. It produces the least amount of points per possession. It's good he has an in between game but that's not the role player skill set that leads to contention.

Defense and shooting need to be his priorities and I don't see how he's gotten better there.

I'm not worried about his 3PT shooting. I think he ended up around 36% as a rookie at good volume. He did start off abysmally and required some time off for correction. Maybe he's a slow starter in that aspect.

And I have to disagree wholeheartedly about the midrange being the biggest fool's gold skill. It's critically important in the playoffs. Role players are the first to get scouted out of games, so if you're just camped beyond the 3PT line you will eventually be weaned out of the rotation.

Yeah i get that people wanted him to shoot better in pre season game 1 but come on. He was never going to be a player who just creates off the dribble. Criticising his developing an in-between game is flat out crazy if he can hit that efficiently - and early on it looks like he can.

Gradey will draw hard close outs on the perimeter for as long as he plays basketball. If he fakes and dribbles to the mid-range that's one defender behind him. He's drawing another close out to him because he can/will hit the 15-20 footer if he's unguarded. That's two. Now he decides to swing the ball instead - 100% the defence is in chaos now.

It's fantastic that's he developing this part of his game and it could set him apart from a lot of other specialist shooters around the league imo.

[OakleyDokely]

I don't get the concern over summer league / preseason stats when he has over a 100 game history at a major division college and regular season nba games.

He shot 40% on 6+ 3pt attempts per 36 in the NCAA
He shot 37% on 6+ 3pt attempts per 36 in the NBA (and he was right around 40% after the gleague stint).

I never considered Gradey a lights out, generational shooter. He's a really good shooter and I think he can hover around 40%, but the appeal of him for me was the shooting combined with all the other skills -- the rebounding, the passing, the bball IQ in a 6'6 body.

There are a lot of guys who can hit open shots now, they're available for the MLE or below every season. But guys who have other skills combined with the shooting, especially guys who can make plays with the ball, are extremely valuable and Gradey can be one of those guys.

[Boardbreaker]

I don't get the concern over summer league / preseason stats when he has over a 100 game history at a major division college and regular season nba games.

He shot 40% on 6+ 3pt attempts per 36 in the NCAA
He shot 37% on 6+ 3pt attempts per 36 in the NBA (and he was right around 40% after the gleague stint).

I never considered Gradey a lights out, generational shooter. He's a really good shooter and I think he can hover around 40%, but the appeal of him for me was the shooting combined with all the other skills -- the rebounding, the passing, the bball IQ in a 6'6 body.

There are a lot of guys who can hit open shots now, they're available for the MLE or below every season. But guys who have other skills combined with the shooting, especially guys who can make plays with the ball, are extremely valuable and Gradey can be one of those guys.

1.5 summer league games and 1 preseason game take precedence over that

[Indeed]

His 3pt shot is looking really bad. It looks like he has issues with NBA range. He'll be fine spotting up but I was hoping for a player that could create efficient looks from above the break off picks and off the dribble.

Mid range shooting is the biggest fool's gold skill in the league. It produces the least amount of points per possession. It's good he has an in between game but that's not the role player skill set that leads to contention.

Defense and shooting need to be his priorities and I don't see how he's gotten better there.

I'm not worried about his 3PT shooting. I think he ended up around 36% as a rookie at good volume. He did start off abysmally and required some time off for correction. Maybe he's a slow starter in that aspect.

And I have to disagree wholeheartedly about the midrange being the biggest fool's gold skill. It's critically important in the playoffs. Role players are the first to get scouted out of games, so if you're just camped beyond the 3PT line you will eventually be weaned out of the rotation.

Yeah i get that people wanted him to shoot better in pre season game 1 but come on. He was never going to be a player who just creates off the dribble. Criticising his developing an in-between game is flat out crazy if he can hit that efficiently - and early on it looks like he can.

Gradey will draw hard close outs on the perimeter for as long as he plays basketball. If he fakes and dribbles to the mid-range that's one defender behind him. He's drawing another close out to him because he can/will hit the 15-20 footer if he's unguarded. That's two. Now he decides to swing the ball instead - 100% the defence is in chaos now.

It's fantastic that's he developing this part of his game and it could set him apart from a lot of other specialist shooters around the league imo.

That is pretty low expectation for someone who isn't going to be a good defender.
I shall see if Walter has better potential and leap frog Dick. Walter should have the same expectation as a shooter, yet, his defense was better in summer league.

[YogurtProducer]

I'm not worried about his 3PT shooting. I think he ended up around 36% as a rookie at good volume. He did start off abysmally and required some time off for correction. Maybe he's a slow starter in that aspect.

And I have to disagree wholeheartedly about the midrange being the biggest fool's gold skill. It's critically important in the playoffs. Role players are the first to get scouted out of games, so if you're just camped beyond the 3PT line you will eventually be weaned out of the rotation.

Yeah i get that people wanted him to shoot better in pre season game 1 but come on. He was never going to be a player who just creates off the dribble. Criticising his developing an in-between game is flat out crazy if he can hit that efficiently - and early on it looks like he can.

Gradey will draw hard close outs on the perimeter for as long as he plays basketball. If he fakes and dribbles to the mid-range that's one defender behind him. He's drawing another close out to him because he can/will hit the 15-20 footer if he's unguarded. That's two. Now he decides to swing the ball instead - 100% the defence is in chaos now.

It's fantastic that's he developing this part of his game and it could set him apart from a lot of other specialist shooters around the league imo.

That is pretty low expectation for someone who isn't going to be a good defender.
I shall see if Walter has better potential and leap frog Dick. Walter should have the same expectation as a shooter, yet, his defense was better in summer league.

Long term I dont think we are Walter or Dick it can be both of them together. Defence would be tricky, but IQ/Walter/Dick/Barnes is completely functionable offensively (if guys develop properly).

If Walter becomes a 2-way player and can defend that helps that end of the floor to.

[Gavin_TDThree]

You can see that he has the pieces to be a really good player, he just needs to slow down a bit. Use his quick first step but remain in control.

I wouldn't mind seeing him getting some back up PG minutes (no i'm not saying he's a PG at all). Similar to Bain's development, I want him to start adding this his game. He's a high IQ player so it could be good for his development

[gha4life]

Yeah we need to get him to slow down ,he always looks rushed

[Indeed]

Yeah i get that people wanted him to shoot better in pre season game 1 but come on. He was never going to be a player who just creates off the dribble. Criticising his developing an in-between game is flat out crazy if he can hit that efficiently - and early on it looks like he can.

Gradey will draw hard close outs on the perimeter for as long as he plays basketball. If he fakes and dribbles to the mid-range that's one defender behind him. He's drawing another close out to him because he can/will hit the 15-20 footer if he's unguarded. That's two. Now he decides to swing the ball instead - 100% the defence is in chaos now.

It's fantastic that's he developing this part of his game and it could set him apart from a lot of other specialist shooters around the league imo.

That is pretty low expectation for someone who isn't going to be a good defender.
I shall see if Walter has better potential and leap frog Dick. Walter should have the same expectation as a shooter, yet, his defense was better in summer league.

Long term I dont think we are Walter or Dick it can be both of them together. Defence would be tricky, but IQ/Walter/Dick/Barnes is completely functionable offensively (if guys develop properly).

If Walter becomes a 2-way player and can defend that helps that end of the floor to.

Sadly, I don't see both of them together. I don't even see Quickley-Walter-Dick-Barnes lineup, since they don't offer enough on both ends. Lack of ball penetration / rim pressure, and lack of point of attack defender.

As for Walter-Dick lineup, they are too small. Even Barrett was too small, let alone either Walter or Dick at SF. I see one of them being bench player. Furthermore, on Quickley-Walter-Dick lineup, two of them would be bench player to provide better rim pressure and point of attack defense.

[PoundTown]

That is pretty low expectation for someone who isn't going to be a good defender.
I shall see if Walter has better potential and leap frog Dick. Walter should have the same expectation as a shooter, yet, his defense was better in summer league.

Long term I dont think we are Walter or Dick it can be both of them together. Defence would be tricky, but IQ/Walter/Dick/Barnes is completely functionable offensively (if guys develop properly).

If Walter becomes a 2-way player and can defend that helps that end of the floor to.

Sadly, I don't see both of them together. I don't even see Quickley-Walter-Dick-Barnes lineup, since they don't offer enough on both ends. Lack of ball penetration / rim pressure, and lack of point of attack defender.

As for Walter-Dick lineup, they are too small. Even Barrett was too small, let alone either Walter or Dick at SF. I see one of them being bench player. Furthermore, on Quickley-Walter-Dick lineup, two of them would be bench player to provide better rim pressure and point of attack defense.

What would really tie the team together is a big combo wing with a 3 and D game. I mean cooper Flagg would be perfect, but someone in the mould of minny mcdaniels even would really be great, and then Walter or dick off the bench. Gradey might be the piece we have to deal because it’s possible that IQ, barrett, Scottie and a 3 and D wing will give us enough shooting, and along with a good defensive Center, we could be solid enough defensively too. I probably believe in RJ offensively more than most though.