The Gradey Dick Thread Part 2

bballsparkin · Post #501 » by **bballsparkin** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:08 am

HumbleRen wrote:Dude is a project with a very low ceiling upside lol.

That’s rough.

13th pick. What are we expecting? Booker?...If he becomes a top 7 rotation player on the team the pick will pay dividends imho. Not rough yet. Perhaps one day it will be or not.

Post #502 » by **Reeko** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:23 am

Tha Cynic wrote:
Boogie! wrote:
Tha Cynic wrote:The worst thing that could have happened to the Raptors last season was the schedule makers lol. They gave the Raptors a very easy second half schedule and that combined with the Poeltl trade made our front office and some fans here think the team was legit lol. That's the reason why Gradey Dick was drafted. He's not a Masai type of pick.
based on his skillset and the teams obvious 3 point shooting woes for years he was exactly the type of pick to address those needs. So it makes complete sense they would go after an offensive, lights out shooter instead of the usual long athletic but raw and unskilled with no shot. Him forgetting how to shoot is honestly crazy. Makes no sense.

In today's NBA they could have either signed or traded for a shooter imo. Everyone can shoot these days. Didn't need to waste a 13th pick on a one dimensional shooter.

But he's not one dimensional, which is why they picked him over a guy like Hawkins. He showed signs of being able to handle the ball as well and attack the rim. What's happened to him is sad and damn near unexplainable. Hopefully in 3 or 4 years we'll all look back and laugh at this, and he's explaining why his rookie year was rough on the JJ Redick podcast.

WuTang_CMB · Post #503 » by **WuTang_CMB** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:39 am

Watch on YouTube

Chalky_White · Post #504 » by **Chalky_White** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:41 am

The one time they switch up their strategy and draft a shooter it turns out....he can't shoot.

They're never drafting a shooter again :lol:

ItsDanger · Post #505 » by **ItsDanger** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:42 am

Is there even 100 fans at this game? LOL

Westside Gunn · Post #506 » by **Westside Gunn** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:47 am

College Park Georgia. Didnt even know.

The Raptors have the dumbest team name though. Why not rep Mississauga?

Prestige · Post #507 » by **Prestige** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:49 am

He simply needs to bulk up, cut his hair, and become a chad. Then he’ll start scoring.

Childs · Post #508 » by **Childs** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:51 am

Brandin Podziemski hitting 3s makes me sad.

Chalky_White · Post #509 » by **Chalky_White** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 4:55 am

TorontoBarneys wrote:Should have drafted Bufkin.

Man, Bufkin turning into a star would be so painful. He seemed like the obvious pick at the time since another ballhandling guard was needed considering VanVleet was the only PG in the rotation at the time.

I was so happy when he was available at 13 since there were rumours he was rising up the board and the Jazz could possibly take him at 9. Him working out with SGA during the pre-draft process was also a good sign. Still shocked they passed on him.

Hopefully any Siakam to Hawks deal includes him. Unlikely at this point, but fingers crossed.

PhilBlackson · Post #510 » by **PhilBlackson** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:02 am

PRESTIGE wrote:He simply needs to bulk up, cut his hair, and become a chad. Then he’ll start scoring.

I know this is said jokingly but I don’t think strength is his main issue…

The bottom line is Gradey is a not a good athlete & in particular he’s not quick laterally which means he can’t play the SG position. Gradey doesn’t have the frame where he’ll ever be a bigger SF where his strength will create advantage and that’s what being good/great is all about is being able to create advantages. He’s never gonna be one of the stronger SFs. Extra strength will help him a bit to not get moved off his spots or just handle contact a bit better but I’ve said before, if he’s going to be anything meaningful in the league he’s going to have to drastically improve his ball handling, his screen navigation and extend his range even more (assuming he gets his shot back smh).

People thought I was hating before, during & after the draft but it’s just the issues I’ve seen from the beginning but those who love this FO just can’t take you critiquing our players or the FO decision making. I’m not writing him off as a bust but I tried to say he projects as a role player and still may become a valuable one ie/ like Kevin Huerter but I didn’t/don’t see any star upside there without drastic improvements in those areas of his game. Obviously hoping his game really grows in the off-season, he’s doing so bad he might need to just build up his skill development more before even worrying about his in game confidence. Definitely not very encouraging stuff…

TorontoBarneys · Post #511 » by **TorontoBarneys** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:05 am

Boogie! wrote:
TorontoBarneys wrote:
HumbleRen wrote:Dude is a project with a very low ceiling upside lol.

That’s rough.

Half the people didn't even know what he could do when we drafted him. "Oh, well he's white so he can shoot, probably. We need that, right?" was like the prevailing sentiment on draft night.

He shot 40% from 3 in college, was drafted based on his shooting prowess, so yes expecting him to be able to shoot was not some absurd expectation… no idea what you’re even insinuating with this post.

This is like if you watched Vince Carter mash alley oops in college, saw him win his high school dunk contest and then he got to the nba and somehow could only play below the rim… I’m supposed to act like we shouldnt expect him to dunk? wtf are you saying.

Basic reading comprehension appears difficult for some.

Potential · Post #512 » by **Potential** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:13 am

Podz balling out on national tv and we're stuck with Shanghai sharks future legend gradey dick

Masai why?????????????????????

Post #513 » by **niQ** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:18 am

Childs wrote:Brandin Podziemski hitting 3s makes me sad.

Watching Bufkin drain 3s (in front of our 3-pt specialist) makes me sad.

Post #514 » by **DG88** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:26 am

The thing that's concerning to me is that he needed a special strength and conditioning program in December. I mean what did he do this offseason to get ready for the NBA? Yes, most rookies don't contribute meaningfully in their rookie seasons but Gradey was a lottery pick, but his defense is poor and his one skill has dropped off the face of the Earth. Again he has a lot of runway and the hope is next year he's good to go to contribute to the main club

HumbleRen · Post #515 » by **HumbleRen** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:40 am

bballsparkin wrote:
HumbleRen wrote:Dude is a project with a very low ceiling upside lol.

That’s rough.

13th pick. What are we expecting? Booker?...If he becomes a top 7 rotation player on the team the pick will pay dividends imho. Not rough yet. Perhaps one day it will be or not.

Well, Booker was the 13th pick so yeah. :lol:

Jokes aside, the expectation was that he was a high floor player with a low ceiling. The fact that he might be a long term project is absolutely rough considering his ceiling is very low to begin with.

Hopefully he can become a solid rotation player for us in the next several years but it’s absolutely rough right now, no doubts about it.

ItsDanger · Post #516 » by **ItsDanger** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:47 am

Read on Twitter

These 2 had a similar pre freshman year draft profile. Houstan's stock tanked but was still taken early 2nd. Not surprisingly, he struggled a lot in rookie NBA season but has shown signs of improvement this year. Definitely looks stronger and more confident. Going to need patience with Gradey.

Los_29 · Post #517 » by **Los_29** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 5:51 am

HumbleRen wrote:
bballsparkin wrote:
HumbleRen wrote:Dude is a project with a very low ceiling upside lol.

That’s rough.

13th pick. What are we expecting? Booker?...If he becomes a top 7 rotation player on the team the pick will pay dividends imho. Not rough yet. Perhaps one day it will be or not.

Well, Booker was the 13th pick so yeah.

Jokes aside, the expectation was that he was a high floor player with a low ceiling. The fact that he might be a long term project is absolutely rough considering his ceiling is very low to begin with.

Hopefully he can become a solid rotation player for us in the next several years but it’s absolutely rough right now, no doubts about it.

He was drafted as a 19 year old. What kind of production were you expecting? lol.

bballsparkin · Post #518 » by **bballsparkin** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 6:04 am

HumbleRen wrote:Well, Booker was the 13th pick so yeah.

Jokes aside, the expectation was that he was a high floor player with a low ceiling. The fact that he might be a long term project is absolutely rough considering his ceiling is very low to begin with.

Hopefully he can become a solid rotation player for us in the next several years but it’s absolutely rough right now, no doubts about it.

That's my point. Booker is like the best case scenario for the 13th pick. Not a realistic expectation. If he is not a long term project why did he drop? Define low ceiling. I get it it's a rough start. He may bust. Yet he shows some positives out there so I'll wait and be patient and hope for the best. Maybe worst case scenario flip him to some other sucker with that shooter potential. It's too early to fret. Unless you doubted him from the start. If so then fret away.

Raptorland23 · Post #519 » by **Raptorland23** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 6:10 am

He is a goofy nerd looking non athletic white kid

What was y’all thinking would happen :lol:

PushDaRock · Post #520 » by **PushDaRock** » Fri Jan 5, 2024 6:15 am

16 points on 7-14 from the field usually isn't a terrible game but all anyone is really looking at right now is the 3 point shooting. Kinda funny how everyone would be way happier with a 5-14 if he was hitting 4 or 5 of those FG's were threes. It's absolutely possible for him to turn it around even this season but it's hard to not see the cause for concern.