Poll: Odd man out: Gradey, Ja'Kobe or Ochai?

[Scase]

I voted Gradey, but it's still possible that he ends up the best player of the bunch. It will be interesting to see what he looks like this year with a tighter leash now that we are trying to win.

JKW seems to have decent upside and a decent shot at reaching it, but I'm not sure what the final product will look like.

Ochai is high floor, low ceiling, and probably the best fit for a team trying to win games right now.

This is where I am, GD I think has by far the highest ceiling (AS level), but he's got the most he needs to put together, Ochai is the safe pick since he's a good defender and reliable (last year) corner shooter, JKW is likely going to turn into a solid 6th man, not sure I see him as starter material.

Ultimately the answer is RJ

[OhCanada]

Guys like Gradey grow on trees.

He’s just a 3pt specialist at the moment and he hasn’t shown any defensive flashes.

I’m rooting for Gradey but both Ochai and Walter have shown flashes of a more well-rounded game

He's not even a 3pt specialist. He can defenitely shoot but hes not like a Klay Thompson no dribble movement shooter. He needs rhythm, he needs to miss a few shots, needs to dribble the ball and create, mix it up attack the rim. Thats just what they are trying to develop him into which is why he is struggling.

[LoveMyRaps]

Guys like Gradey grow on trees.

He’s just a 3pt specialist at the moment and he hasn’t shown any defensive flashes.

I’m rooting for Gradey but both Ochai and Walter have shown flashes of a more well-rounded game

He's not even a 3pt specialist. He can defenitely shoot but hes not like a Klay Thompson no dribble movement shooter. He needs rhythm, he needs to miss a few shots, needs to dribble the ball and create, mix it up attack the rim. Thats just what they are trying to develop him into which is why he is struggling.

Ya I was being generous with the specialist label. Gradey needs to step it up big time next season or he’s gone.

[HumbleRen]

It’s Gradey. His offence has a high ceiling but he’s been a bottom 400 defender in both seasons of his career so far.

That’s just not good enough for a team with aspirations to get better. It’s also not like his offence is very efficient either.

[Kingsway_fan]

Gradey....

[OhCanada]

Guys like Gradey grow on trees.

He’s just a 3pt specialist at the moment and he hasn’t shown any defensive flashes.

I’m rooting for Gradey but both Ochai and Walter have shown flashes of a more well-rounded game

He's not even a 3pt specialist. He can defenitely shoot but hes not like a Klay Thompson no dribble movement shooter. He needs rhythm, he needs to miss a few shots, needs to dribble the ball and create, mix it up attack the rim. Thats just what they are trying to develop him into which is why he is struggling.

Ya I was being generous with the specialist label. Gradey needs to step it up big time next season or he’s gone.

I actually feel like on a team like Utah or Washington with no 1st option he could be a 20 ppg scorer. The fits just not great for him in Toronto until he can become that movement off ball shooter.

[SpezNc]

If Gradey is traded before Ochai then you know that Gradey pick was made by Masai and not Bobby

Not necessarily, Gradey's next contract might be projected to be bigger than Ochai's and Gradey also has a decent amount of value around the league.

As currently constructed if no more moves happens the Raptors going to have about 10M left for 2026-27 to sign Ochai + 2 other roster spots. That is not enough.

There will be another luxury crunch next off season.

Unloading Ochai for a minimum player or even straight if the other team has room left in the MLE would help Raptors getting below the luxury tax threshold for both this season and next one.

Obviously if Raptors trade RJ for a slightly less expensive player would be the other way.

I could be wrong but I feel that RJ and Ochai are the two players the most probable to be traded between now and February 2026.

I also think that Mogbo may have some difficulties to see the floor if no injuries with CMB being drafted.

[Appostis]

Ochai *shrug*

Once again I'm here to buy all the GD stock though I. Gotta admit Ja'Kobr showed promise.

[Rainman66]

Toronto SG's
RJ/Shead
GD/Walter
Ochai/Battle
Lawson/IQ
Hepburn/Martin

[ATLTimekeeper]

What a disingeous poll. The answer is RJ.

Least fitting and the most expensive contract out of the 4.

Fitting isn't just about 3 pt shooting, Darko's offense wants players who can dribble drive and pass. RJ is one of the few perimeter guys on the team that can create (IQ and Scottie the other 2) and he's actually the best of the bunch at it getting to the basket. When the Raptors make the playoffs and RJ is a key factor at creating his value will skyrocket and will become a positive asset.
Ochai being a standstill 3pt shooter who can't dribble or pass is actually the worst fit.

I agree. Ochai isn't a great fit and I think his acquisition had more to do with Masai's interest in him from the draft (he was friends with his dad). That was pre-Darko. imo Gradey is the best fit for starting 2 to play with these guys long-term. RJ short-term. They need to figure out if IQ is actually needed. We're like a year away from CMB being in the starting line-up, too. This future line-up could get really funky with Scottie as the starting PG again.

[OakleyDokely]

JaKobe is going to be the best of the 3 this season imo. He has the best all-around game and he has the tools to be a complete player. He's pretty crafty offensively and finds unique ways to create open shots off the dribble, his 3 was falling in the second half, and he's a long, quick defender who will be able to create turnovers and defend players bigger than him.

[kalel123]

What a disingeous poll. The answer is RJ.

Least fitting and the most expensive contract out of the 4.

Fitting isn't just about 3 pt shooting, Darko's offense wants players who can dribble drive and pass. RJ is one of the few perimeter guys on the team that can create (IQ and Scottie the other 2) and he's actually the best of the bunch at it getting to the basket. When the Raptors make the playoffs and RJ is a key factor at creating his value will skyrocket and will become a positive asset.
Ochai being a standstill 3pt shooter who can't dribble or pass is actually the worst fit.

I agree. Ochai isn't a great fit and I think his acquisition had more to do with Masai's interest in him from the draft (he was friends with his dad). That was pre-Darko. imo Gradey is the best fit for starting 2 to play with these guys long-term. RJ short-term. They need to figure out if IQ is actually needed. We're like a year away from CMB being in the starting line-up, too. This future line-up could get really funky with Scottie as the starting PG again.

We have 3 guys who need ball in their hands. A 3+D wing like Ochai is going to fit just fine from either starting lineup or the bench. And this team desperately needs a shooter in there.

There's a reason RJ's been rumored to have been shopped around with no takers and also rumored to be of not much value around the league.

[OakleyDokely]

Bench Mob 2.0 should include all 3.

Mamu
CMB
Ochai
Dick
Walter

[Raptorfan2012]

I really do not believe we need Gradey, and its best to trade him while he still has that 'potential' label. If this team wants a defense identity, they cannot play Dick. Flip both him and RJ for either a good PG or another big.

[dagger]

RJ if there is a trade this summer, otherwise it's going to be a competition with any trade deferred to the deadline or next summer. None of the smaller contracts can bring back much of a player on its own because of salary matching. So trading Dick or Walter now on his own might just recover their value in picks, which is frankly not much to aspire to.

[djsunyc]

Bench Mob 2.0 should include all 3.

Mamu
CMB
Ochai
Dick
Walter

no shead? i like his ability to get into the lane at will.

[OakleyDokely]

Bench Mob 2.0 should include all 3.

Mamu
CMB
Ochai
Dick
Walter

no shead? i like his ability to get into the lane at will.

You can sprinkle him as well. Just a little concerned about the shooting.

[Shakril]

RJ, there is no reason for Dick, Agbaji or Walter to be sidelined. They can play great minutes from the bench.

[Madvillainy2004]

It’s Gradey. His offence has a high ceiling but he’s been a bottom 400 defender in both seasons of his career so far.

That’s just not good enough for a team with aspirations to get better. It’s also not like his offence is very efficient either.

Gradey needs to be a high volume 40% guy from 3 for me to even take him seriously on this roster going forward lol he had some fun moments last year but he's terrible on defense, can't finish at the rim and doesn't do much as far as passing goes. Year 3 is big for him I think this determines what kinda career he's gonna have.

[Tofubeque]

Bench Mob 2.0 should include all 3.

Mamu
CMB
Ochai
Dick
Walter

I’ve had this thought as well, Raptors get so much playmaking from C/PF and off-ball movement that if they really wanted to find all these guys minutes, you could get away with JaKobe guarding PGs.

I like how Shead plays but maybe we shouldn’t always pencil him in with poor shooting and giving up size.