The Gradey Dick Thread Part 2

[Madvillainy2004]

Gradey Dick just flat out sucks.

Need athletes in today’s NBA.

Another wasted lotto pick.

This team is plummeting.

What other lotto picks did we waste? Lmao and Gradey wouldn't be the first player ever to go from awful/unplayable rookie to a useful player. I'm not a point where I can say the pick is "wasted" lol

[johanliebert]

Gradey Dick just flat out sucks.

Need athletes in today’s NBA.

Another wasted lotto pick.

This team is plummeting.

You also need skill and shooting. grady will get his opportunity after some trades.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

What i don't get is how we worked him out yet didn't know he's not a good 3pt shooter at the NBA range. Like, he can get away with his lack of strength and athletics if he can shoot. But we have to wait and see if he can do that. And until he's a real good 3 pt threat, how can you play him?

It may have been better to not to send him down to G league - because now it seems like until he can be a really good player there, why bring him up. If he just sat on the bench, maybe we could have snuck him in a trade and tried to get some value back.

[anotherhomer]

What i don't get is how we worked him out yet didn't know he's not a good 3pt shooter at the NBA range. Like, he can get away with his lack of strength and athletics if he can shoot. But we have to wait and see if he can do that. And until he's a real good 3 pt threat, how can you play him?

It may have been better to not to send him down to G league - because now it seems like until he can be a really good player there, why bring him up. If he just sat on the bench, maybe we could have snuck him in a trade and tried to get some value back.

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

What i don't get is how we worked him out yet didn't know he's not a good 3pt shooter at the NBA range. Like, he can get away with his lack of strength and athletics if he can shoot. But we have to wait and see if he can do that. And until he's a real good 3 pt threat, how can you play him?

It may have been better to not to send him down to G league - because now it seems like until he can be a really good player there, why bring him up. If he just sat on the bench, maybe we could have snuck him in a trade and tried to get some value back.

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

[Tor_Raps]

Gradey Dick just flat out sucks.

Need athletes in today’s NBA.

Another wasted lotto pick.

This team is plummeting.

You also need skill and shooting. grady will get his opportunity after some trades.

You think this is an opportunity issue? He was gifted playing time for several games when he had no business on a nba court.

Then he was gifted playing time on a G League court but the team was better when he was on the bench. There is no one to blame for Gradey's play but himself. He can obviously still turn it around, there's just A LOT of improvement needed.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Gradey Dick just flat out sucks.

Need athletes in today’s NBA.

Another wasted lotto pick.

This team is plummeting.

You also need skill and shooting. grady will get his opportunity after some trades.

Sometimes it's clear to the teammates, fans, opponents that a person is so out of depth that you cross the lexicon from opportunity minutes to merciful benching. I haven't watched much G league - but out side of one game where he got hot - its been more of a merciful benching with Raps. I mean this team is a losing team already, its not like we're too good so he has to wait. He has to wait because he's doesn't really bring anything of value at the moment that could help this team. A team that desperately needs 3 pt shooting and drafted him thinking at the very least he's that. Or maybe they knew that he needed work but they took him anyway even though he can't do anything else exceptionally well. Whichever - it's not good. And yes, when he fell I was happy. I was wrong.

[ATLTimekeeper]

What i don't get is how we worked him out yet didn't know he's not a good 3pt shooter at the NBA range. Like, he can get away with his lack of strength and athletics if he can shoot. But we have to wait and see if he can do that. And until he's a real good 3 pt threat, how can you play him?

It may have been better to not to send him down to G league - because now it seems like until he can be a really good player there, why bring him up. If he just sat on the bench, maybe we could have snuck him in a trade and tried to get some value back.

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

[anotherhomer]

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

Wasting a 13th overall pick isn't the worst thing but nevertheless not looking good for FO

[Scase]

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

It's all about risk management IMO. Drafting a 1 trick pony with as you mentioned, a skill that is hardest to translate, vs picking a player that shows skill in multiple aspects of their game, is less about guaranteed security, and more about the likelihood of it working out.

A guy who does 5 things ok, has a better chance to succeed than a guy who does well at a singular thing. Maybe Gradey turns it all around, but it seems like more and more it was an ill advised pick.

[tecumseh18]

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

It's all about risk management IMO. Drafting a 1 trick pony with as you mentioned, a skill that is hardest to translate, vs picking a player that shows skill in multiple aspects of their game, is less about guaranteed security, and more about the likelihood of it working out.

A guy who does 5 things ok, has a better chance to succeed than a guy who does well at a singular thing. Maybe Gradey turns it all around, but it seems like more and more it was an ill advised pick.

Quite the opposite. The guys who succeed tend to come into the league with at least one Grade A NBA skill.

In any case, I wouldn't have said Grady was a "one trick pony". Early on, I was impressed with how he used his length to make good passes, rebound and get steals. For a skinny 19 year old, he seemed to have a lot of tools.

We're only getting frustrated because EVERYTHING the front office has done since drafting Scottie has not worked out. They traded down in 2022 to draft Koloko - he can't play, and neither can Thad. Precious looked great - until he stopped looking great. Otto seemed like a perfect signing, but he can't play. The defensible decision not to trade Fred at the deadline now seems stupid. Schroder seemed like a good signing, but is a classic case of "live by the Dennis, die by the Dennis". McDaniels has no NBA skill, and can't see the floor. And there's Jak - $20 mill AAV for a bench, non-shooting big?

We'd more easily forgive Dick his rookie foibles if just one, f'in thing had gone right in the last two seasons.

[Tor_Raps]

Just realized why Dick isn't playing with the 905. These games are part of the G League showcase in Vegas where all front offices are in attendance.

Masai doesn't want the world to see how much of a scrub Dick is currently so it doesn't kill his trade value lol.

[mtcan]

Just realized why Dick isn't playing with the 905. These games are part of the G League showcase in Vegas where all front offices are in attendance.

Masai doesn't want the world to see how much of a scrub Dick is currently so it doesn't kill his trade value lol.

The showcase is for guys who don't already have a real NBA contract to get noticed by other front offices.

The Gradey hate is sickening. Give the kid time or at least consistent minutes. We aren't winning with or without him anyways. If we give him 25-30 minutes a game and draw up schemes to free him up like other 3 point specialists get on better run teams and after a year or 2 is still like this...fine...whatever but I'm hoping he can figure it out without all that

[djsunyc]

pages 1-11 of this thread - tldr version:

[dTox]

We wasted the 2023 pick with Gradey selection, and we are about to waste another one next year by giving it away to the Spurs. The FO is unconsciously making decisions these days.

[djsunyc]

We wasted the 2023 pick with Gradey selection, and we are about to waste another one this year by giving it away to the Spurs. The FO is unconsciously making decisions these days.

we also let kawhi walk away for nothing.

[Tor_Raps]

Just realized why Dick isn't playing with the 905. These games are part of the G League showcase in Vegas where all front offices are in attendance.

Masai doesn't want the world to see how much of a scrub Dick is currently so it doesn't kill his trade value lol.

The showcase is for guys who don't already have a real NBA contract to get noticed by other front offices.

The Gradey hate is sickening. Give the kid time or at least consistent minutes. We aren't winning with or without him anyways. If we give him 25-30 minutes a game and draw up schemes to free him up like other 3 point specialists get on better run teams and after a year or 2 is still like this...fine...whatever but I'm hoping he can figure it out without all that

I'm not saying he's a lost cause... I'm just saying he looks like utter crap right now so any trade does come along, it's better to give teams the "intrigue" factor rather than seeing reality with their own eyes.

Also, drawing up plays for Dick isn't the issue right now. The man can't even hit open stand still 3s. He should start with that and work his way up lol.

[Tacoma]

i'm guessing they saw him shoot well in practice, but shooting from 3-pt range in game-time situation was different

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

Tyler Herro's scouting report said he "has the makings of an elite outside shooter". Buddy Hield's report said he was a "natural-born shooter… One of the most reliable 3-point specialists". Devin Booker was "the best shooter in this draft". They translated. Of course it's not 100%, but it's dubious to say it's often the hardest skill to translate.

And of course anyone can draft turkeys. But Masai is reputed to be not just anyone. His advocates say he's a talent recognizing genius with anecdotes like FVV, Siakam and Barnes. What happened? Or it was just luck that is now regressing to the mean.

And of course it's early. But (like Booker) he's advertised as one of the draft's best shooters but he's shooting is FG=32%, 3PT%=29% in G-league! The expectations-to-reality shooting gap for Dick is enormous, especially it's this pony's one trick. If he doesn't pan out and we also don't have our 2024 pick, where do we find good young talent to build around Barnes? The heat is not invalid.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

It's all about risk management IMO. Drafting a 1 trick pony with as you mentioned, a skill that is hardest to translate, vs picking a player that shows skill in multiple aspects of their game, is less about guaranteed security, and more about the likelihood of it working out.

A guy who does 5 things ok, has a better chance to succeed than a guy who does well at a singular thing. Maybe Gradey turns it all around, but it seems like more and more it was an ill advised pick.

Quite the opposite. The guys who succeed tend to come into the league with at least one Grade A NBA skill.

In any case, I wouldn't have said Grady was a "one trick pony". Early on, I was impressed with how he used his length to make good passes, rebound and get steals. For a skinny 19 year old, he seemed to have a lot of tools.

Shooting is still the most fickle. An elite ballhandler is going to be an elite ballhandler in the NBA. He might stink at everything else, but that skill will translate. Similar to rebounding. Shooting is really something that can come and go, and we see that with even reputable NBA shooters. The issue is that with the shooter the archetype is that they aren't actively creating for others, so their ballhandling/playmaking skills are undeveloped, and typically they can't defend because shooting is so valued that coaches will coach 'around' a weak defender if he makes other people's day easier on offense.

[ATLTimekeeper]

That would be fine if random joes off the street were running the workouts but these guys are supposed to be able to know what they are doing. I know players don't work out all the time. But less common is just being flat out wrong about what a players skills and attribute are. Who else thought at least on Day one Gradey can space the floor? It's ok if you're wrong, you'd have assumed they wouldn't have drafted him if he couldn't. Again, its one thing if its like if he can add to x with Y - but its like if Gradey ever becomes a good 3pt shooter, he can be a good 3 pt shooter in the league. Why draft that guys when there were others who you could see could do that?

Those of us that hang out in the draft threads know that drafting a one dimensional shooter is a risk, because it is often the skill that is hardest to translate immediately and then the player has little else to keep them on the floor.

But, there's like no security whatsoever in who is drafting. This is a bogus concept that fans and some media throw around. If you keep the job long enough you'll have no shortage of absolute turkeys and passing on franchise altering talent. This could be the case with Gradey, but he's so young that I wouldn't get too heated. It's not even January into his rookie year.

Tyler Herro's scouting report said he "has the makings of an elite outside shooter". Buddy Hield's report said he was a "natural-born shooter… One of the most reliable 3-point specialists". Devin Booker was "the best shooter in this draft". They translated. Of course it's not 100%, but it's dubious to say it's often the hardest skill to translate.

And of course anyone can draft turkeys. But Masai is reputed to be not just anyone. His advocates say he's a talent recognizing genius with anecdotes like FVV, Siakam and Barnes. What happened? Or it was just luck that is now regressing to the mean.

And of course it's early. But (like Booker) he's advertised as one of the draft's best shooters but he's shooting is FG=32%, 3PT%=29% in G-league! The expectations-to-reality shooting gap for Dick is enormous, especially it's this pony's one trick. If he doesn't pan out and we also don't have our 2024 pick, where do we find good young talent to build around Barnes? The heat is not invalid.

This is cherry picking at its finest. You can keep looking and find plenty of 'shooters' that flopped in the NBA as shooters.

I wouldn't call it explicitly luck but regress to the mean is what is happening. With fewer picks there is more intensity on each pick. The ebbs and flow of development isn't going to be accepted as much, and the bad luck of injury (or illness in Koloko's case) is harder to compensate for.

If fans are upset that Masai for drafting a bust, then they are just being unreasonable. If he can't find talent to put around Barnes when Barnes is ready to win, then they can complain.