The Gradey Dick Thread Part 3

[Scase]

18ppg, while shooting 34% from 3, which is nuts cause its not gonna stay that low.

52% at the rim when it was 64% last season
34% from 3 when it was 37% last season

Just improving those 2 things to rookie season level, and Gradey is a 3 level scoring machine

Offensively he is a very, very exciting prospect.

I still worry about the long-term defensive fit with IQ / RJ, but that's a different problem for a different day

This is why I've been on the "RJ is not a long term piece" train for a while. GD is showing that he is a much more versatile scorer, and currently just as bad of a defender, but with 4 years less experience. Unless we are seriously overestimating his abilities, he will almost guaranteed, end up being the better player.

As you said, not an issue right now, but long term it's either gotta be RJ is traded for that true 3+D wing we need, or he's our star 6MOTY player coming off the bench. I just don't see a successful future (contender) with him being a starter.

[Indeed]

Fun little fact

Gradey is averaging 24.8 PPG PER36 when Scottie and RJ are on the bench. I think the kid is going to such a fantastic scorer for us moving forward. Next season is going to be so fun.

IMO he is our 6th man going forward as long as RJ is here (or vice versa I suppose).

IQ/Agbaji/RJ/Barnes/Poeltl start, Dick is the spark plug off the bench.

You can still close with Dick, or even go smaller in some specific situations (IQ-Ochai-Dick-RJ-Barnes) or just have Dick replace RJ or Ochai depending on the night.

Roles will change depending on our top 7 draft pick (it won't e lower than that). If we draft Cooper Flagg, Barnes has to move to the wing. If we draft Bailey, who really looks like a small forward, RJ either displaces Dick at SG or comes off the bench as the all-purpose wing. If we draft Harper, he will play combo, sometimes at SG, or backing up Quickley. You can play around with these combinations, but there are many possibilities depending on our next first round pick.

And sadly, Barnes can't play the wing, we tried have him defend there, and it doesn't work.

[Brinbe]

I've probably said this before but the thing I love most about Grady's game, aside from his inate knack for scoring, is his undeniable motor and will/want to win. In that sense he's a considerably great natural pairing with Barnes personality wise in terms of similar on-court dispositions. And considering those traits, it's not hard to see why we're almost always in close games despite the obvious deficiencies. If there's an early core trait to be gleaned from this young team, it's that they are relentlessly compeitive and I think that's why they're (mostly been) so watchable this season despite the record. And I really believe that's something that will serve them well when they're ready to win and compete for real when there's more talent on the team and the core gets a bit older. A big reason why Lowry is the GROAT and it's heartening to see that spirit and ethos live on.

Certainly that energy doesn't always work out and that over-aggresion can work against Dick in spots and he can always learn to pace himself better so he's not wiped out by the 4th as we've seen at times, but again, that that'll come in time with further experience and physical maturation. But having watched hoops for three decades now, motor is really one of those things that you can't teach and when matched with skill/bball intelligence, it's a devastating combo. With Grady it's just a matter of waiting for his body to catch up with the rest of his game but it'll come.

Anyway, that Vecenie breakdown was uploaded as its own segment and it's def worth a watch. It's really hard to project exactly what Gradey ultimately becomes since he is still so young and I always like to remind myself that he would be a College Junior right now, but the leap he's already taken in a year is pretty damn notable.

Watch on YouTube

[Psubs]

IMO he is our 6th man going forward as long as RJ is here (or vice versa I suppose).

IQ/Agbaji/RJ/Barnes/Poeltl start, Dick is the spark plug off the bench.

You can still close with Dick, or even go smaller in some specific situations (IQ-Ochai-Dick-RJ-Barnes) or just have Dick replace RJ or Ochai depending on the night.

Roles will change depending on our top 7 draft pick (it won't e lower than that). If we draft Cooper Flagg, Barnes has to move to the wing. If we draft Bailey, who really looks like a small forward, RJ either displaces Dick at SG or comes off the bench as the all-purpose wing. If we draft Harper, he will play combo, sometimes at SG, or backing up Quickley. You can play around with these combinations, but there are many possibilities depending on our next first round pick.

And sadly, Barnes can't play the wing, we tried have him defend there, and it doesn't work.

So on offense, Bailey is in the corner and slashing and crashing for offensive boards while Barnes is getting back on D and on defense Bailey would guard the SF and Barnes guarding PFs.

[everdiso]

what seems significant to me is that his 3pt% is only down on corner 3s. the easiest kind.

he's made a huge jump up in above break 3s in both quantity and quality.

'24: AB3 2.4 (30.6%), CR3 1.6 46.8%, MDR 1.0 (39.3%), PNT 0.7 (39.5%), RA 1.7 (60.0%)
'25: AB3 5.5 (35.2%), CR3 1.9 31.7%, MDR 2.7 (47.5%), PNT 1.7 (50.0%), RA 3.0 (50.0%)

shooting over 35% on high volume above the break is excellent.

corner 3 should be money for him, but hasn't been working for him this year at all - but there's no reason to think that won't fix itself going forward.

[Indeed]

Roles will change depending on our top 7 draft pick (it won't e lower than that). If we draft Cooper Flagg, Barnes has to move to the wing. If we draft Bailey, who really looks like a small forward, RJ either displaces Dick at SG or comes off the bench as the all-purpose wing. If we draft Harper, he will play combo, sometimes at SG, or backing up Quickley. You can play around with these combinations, but there are many possibilities depending on our next first round pick.

And sadly, Barnes can't play the wing, we tried have him defend there, and it doesn't work.

So on offense, Bailey is in the corner and slashing and crashing for offensive boards while Barnes is getting back on D and on defense Bailey would guard the SF and Barnes guarding PFs.

I was referring to Flagg.
As for Bailey, we are not an iso heavy team, so we are just using Bailey as a 3&D would be kind of a waste of the pick.

[Scase]

what seems significant to me is that his 3pt% is only down on corner 3s. the easiest kind.

he's made a huge jump up in above break 3s in both quantity and quality.

'24: AB3 2.4 (30.6%), CR3 1.6 46.8%, MDR 1.0 (39.3%), PNT 0.7 (39.5%), RA 1.7 (60.0%)
'25: AB3 5.5 (35.2%), CR3 1.9 31.7%, MDR 2.7 (47.5%), PNT 1.7 (50.0%), RA 3.0 (50.0%)

shooting over 35% on high volume above the break is excellent.

corner 3 should be money for him, but hasn't been working for him this year at all - but there's no reason to think that won't fix itself going forward.

Is there anywhere that can break down the shot types by open/contested and/or assisted on etc? I'm not shocked his AB3 shots are at a higher clip than last year, it looked like he was sinking more than I recall he used to, but man that corner 3 is massive. Seems like it might be more of a low sample size thing.

I suspect his AB3s are either open shots and/or assisted on at a high rate, but I'd love to see the stats to confirm/deny that.

[tecumseh18]

SROS redraft pits Dick at #4 to Houston just behind Vic, Miller and Amen. It seems partly for fit, on the theory that Rockets need another shooter.

Watch on YouTube

But overall, I dunno about that. If Gradey gets stronger and learns to move his feet on defence better and develops a legit >40% three-pointer, than sure. And he has a decent chance to do so. Otherwise, wouldn't we rather have Lively, Wallace or Coulibaly over the long term?

[canz55]

I'm really cheering for this kid but the sad reality is he's a black hole on defense. There's maybe a handful of players he can adequately guard in this league but not many.

I don't know if he's a starter long term.

[LoveMyRaps]

Starting to put together a string of efficient shooting nights.

He remains the third best player from his draft class, behind Wemby and Miller.

[raptorforlife88]

Starting to put together a string of efficient shooting nights.

He remains the third best player from his draft class, behind Wemby and Miller.

I think you've gotta put Amen at 3rd. But he's right after that. Amen is a winning basketball player right now, even with no further improvements. He'll win the minutes he's on the floor with that defensive value. I think the advanced stats really bear that out.

[Reeko]

Watch on YouTube

[mademan]

SROS redraft pits Dick at #4 to Houston just behind Vic, Miller and Amen. It seems partly for fit, on the theory that Rockets need another shooter.

Watch on YouTube

But overall, I dunno about that. If Gradey gets stronger and learns to move his feet on defence better and develops a legit >40% three-pointer, than sure. And he has a decent chance to do so. Otherwise, wouldn't we rather have Lively, Wallace or Coulibaly over the long term?

Ya very few teams would take Dick over Lively, and we certainly wouldnt with a real need at C for the future.

[XTC]

Should have taken Keyonte George... am I doing it right?

Masai and Bobby have done it again. Incredible pick.

[deck]

Watch on YouTube

This will only get better once he starts getting calls too.

[Jerry Lucas]

Should have taken Keyonte George... am I doing it right?

Masai and Bobby have done it again. Incredible pick.

How's my draft night grade of A++ looking at the moment XTC?
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107090403#p107090403

A++ pick Masai. Let's absolutely ******* go.

Not only have I been extremely high on Gradey from jump, it's been very obvious to me for a while now that he SCREAMS Masai-type pick. I said it before in the Houston #4 pick trade rumour thread and I'm sticking to it, Masai would have picked Gradey way higher than 13th.

Also I am so tempted to call out the poster who thought it was a joke that I said Gradey produced like a "Masai-type FRP", and that I thought it was a realistic possibility Masai could have taken him 4th overall if the Raptors got that pick (it was in a thread about a trade rumour where apparently the Rockets were considering moving it).

But I'm going to leave it lol, just getting funnier and funnier to look back on.

[XTC]

Should have taken Keyonte George... am I doing it right?

Masai and Bobby have done it again. Incredible pick.

How's my draft night grade of A++ looking at the moment XTC?
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107090403#p107090403

A++ pick Masai. Let's absolutely ******* go.

Not only have I been extremely high on Gradey from jump, it's been very obvious to me for a while now that he SCREAMS Masai-type pick. I said it before in the Houston #4 pick trade rumour thread and I'm sticking to it, Masai would have picked Gradey way higher than 13th.

Also I am so tempted to call out the poster who thought it was a joke that I said Gradey produced like a "Masai-type FRP", and that I thought it was a realistic possibility Masai could have taken him 4th overall if the Raptors got that pick (it was in a thread about a trade rumour where apparently the Rockets were considering moving it).

But I'm going to leave it lol, just getting funnier and funnier to look back on.

Almost as good as mine brother

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2300691&p=107085075&hilit=Dick#p107085075

People see white and shooter, and think Kyle Korver 

He has a very advance shooting game, which includes shooting 3's off the dribble, and he's a very smart offensive player who knows when and where to cut.

People are going to like him once the season rolls around.

Still makes me laugh when people where comparing him to Kyle Korver and Duncan Robinson

Kid had similiar numbers to Tyler Herro, and didn't watch any games of him in college and where quick to label him. Kid was always a scorer with a bag.

[Duffman100]

Should have taken Keyonte George... am I doing it right?

Masai and Bobby have done it again. Incredible pick.

How's my draft night grade of A++ looking at the moment XTC?
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107090403#p107090403

A++ pick Masai. Let's absolutely ******* go.

Not only have I been extremely high on Gradey from jump, it's been very obvious to me for a while now that he SCREAMS Masai-type pick. I said it before in the Houston #4 pick trade rumour thread and I'm sticking to it, Masai would have picked Gradey way higher than 13th.

Also I am so tempted to call out the poster who thought it was a joke that I said Gradey produced like a "Masai-type FRP", and that I thought it was a realistic possibility Masai could have taken him 4th overall if the Raptors got that pick (it was in a thread about a trade rumour where apparently the Rockets were considering moving it).

But I'm going to leave it lol, just getting funnier and funnier to look back on.

Almost as good as mine brother

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2300691&p=107085075&hilit=Dick#p107085075

People see white and shooter, and think Kyle Korver 

He has a very advance shooting game, which includes shooting 3's off the dribble, and he's a very smart offensive player who knows when and where to cut.

People are going to like him once the season rolls around.

Still makes me laugh when people where comparing him to Kyle Korver and Duncan Robinson

Kid had similiar numbers to Tyler Herro, and didn't watch any games of him in college and where quick to label him. Kid was always a scorer with a bag.

I said his ceiling was Reggie Miller type player and I keep seeing that comp

[mrdressup]

He the most dynamic offensive player we have, and he has more PG in him than Barnes if you ask me. Ironically SB is the guy standing at the line jacking up threes thee days.

[Jerry Lucas]

Should have taken Keyonte George... am I doing it right?

Masai and Bobby have done it again. Incredible pick.

How's my draft night grade of A++ looking at the moment XTC?
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107090403#p107090403

A++ pick Masai. Let's absolutely ******* go.

Not only have I been extremely high on Gradey from jump, it's been very obvious to me for a while now that he SCREAMS Masai-type pick. I said it before in the Houston #4 pick trade rumour thread and I'm sticking to it, Masai would have picked Gradey way higher than 13th.

Also I am so tempted to call out the poster who thought it was a joke that I said Gradey produced like a "Masai-type FRP", and that I thought it was a realistic possibility Masai could have taken him 4th overall if the Raptors got that pick (it was in a thread about a trade rumour where apparently the Rockets were considering moving it).

But I'm going to leave it lol, just getting funnier and funnier to look back on.

Almost as good as mine brother

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2300691&p=107085075&hilit=Dick#p107085075

People see white and shooter, and think Kyle Korver 

He has a very advance shooting game, which includes shooting 3's off the dribble, and he's a very smart offensive player who knows when and where to cut.

People are going to like him once the season rolls around.

Still makes me laugh when people where comparing him to Kyle Korver and Duncan Robinson

Kid had similiar numbers to Tyler Herro, and didn't watch any games of him in college and where quick to label him. Kid was always a scorer with a bag.

Yeah the low upside comparisons always kind of irked me. I made a couple of admittedly aggressive posts shortly after the draft, pushing back against the narrative that formed pretty quickly about Gradey on this board:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107092410#p107092410
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=107115798#p107115798

Anyone who says this pick points toward running it back knows nothing about Gradey and has no clue how high his upside is. Just remember I was one of the only people who said Franz Wagner had high upside back when he was called a high floor pick in 2021. The "he can't defend" posts are completely laughable too. A lot of posters are running their mouths but know absolutely zilch about this guy.