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

[OAKLEY_2]

Calling it now. Ochai traded will be how we escape the tax vs. moving RJ. Dick is still a young prospect with badly needed shooting. He's not going anywhere. They will trade RJ when there is half a season left on his deal.

[Tom_Foolery]

It's between Dick and Ochai.

Ochai is still fairly young, athletic, and has been a much more consistent 3pt shooter than expected.

I like Gradey, but his shooting needs to be insanely good for me to continue with him. He doesn't do much else well enough.

[JB7]

It's probably Ochai. He is older and his rookie deal is expiring. Plus a 3&D player on an expiring deal will probably get a better return. At least the Raps don't need to move a large contract this year to get below the tax.

[LoveMyRaps]

Calling it now. Ochai traded will be how we escape the tax vs. moving RJ. Dick is still a young prospect with badly needed shooting. He's not going anywhere. They will trade RJ when there is half a season left on his deal.

Yeah unfortunately this is what I expect to happen as well.

Easier to move Ochai to a contender at the deadline for a first rounder.

RJ isn't gonna fetch anything.

[Grew]

Go look at Peja's and Reddicks start to their careers.

Gradey being the odd man out in favor of Ochai is short sighted.

You can't want to draft offense first teenagers in the lottery, and then when we actually have one, decide you can't wait for them to develop.

People around here decided things about Gradey literally in his first summer league, and continue to dwell on his weaknesses without giving him any credit for the improvement he has made.

Feels like this board has old man yelling at clouds syndrome when it comes to Gradey. Are you jealous of a skinny white boy making the league? It feels like an irrational level of hate towards a guy that seems like a nice hardworking kid who just wants to get better and help this team win.

You can't be around here complaining about how bad we are offensively if you're also going to non stop complain about how bad Gradey is on D. Obviously they are trying to get him stronger, it takes time...

You can't be around here complaining that we only draft long arm defense first tweeners, and then non stop cry about how the offensive first kid can't deal with a big body vet going after him around the hoop.

You can't be upset with the team trying to make the playoffs, our ceiling not being high enough, and then say one of our highest ceiling guys is taking to long, so he's the odd man out.

[Grew]

I'd rather run Gradey's value into the dirt, proving he's not an NBA player, than give up on him year 3 and have him blowup somewhere else.

Consolidation for a proven star is one thing, but calling him the odd man out and flipping him for the sake of it? Ridiculous.

[James_Raptors]

RJ is the real answer (but it's going to be Ochai, unfortunately).

[kalel123]

Go look at Peja's and Reddicks start to their careers.

Gradey being the odd man out in favor of Ochai is short sighted.

You can't want to draft offense first teenagers in the lottery, and then when we actually have one, decide you can't wait for them to develop.

People around here decided things about Gradey literally in his first summer league, and continue to dwell on his weaknesses without giving him any credit for the improvement he has made.

Feels like this board has old man yelling at clouds syndrome when it comes to Gradey. Are you jealous of a skinny white boy making the league? It feels like an irrational level of hate towards a guy that seems like a nice hardworking kid who just wants to get better and help this team win.

You can't be around here complaining about how bad we are offensively if you're also going to non stop complain about how bad Gradey is on D. Obviously they are trying to get him stronger, it takes time...

You can't be around here complaining that we only draft long arm defense first tweeners, and then non stop cry about how the offensive first kid can't deal with a big body vet going after him around the hoop.

You can't be upset with the team trying to make the playoffs, our ceiling not being high enough, and then say one of our highest ceiling guys is taking to long, so he's the odd man out.

Gradey Dick's problem isn't necessarily defense. It's the fact that he doesn't shoot nearly as well or consistently as advertised or as someone with that kind of defense should to be on the court. It's a two-way street. For people to not complain as much about his weakness, he's gotta show he's good at what he's supposed to be good at. He hasn't put it together on that end, which is why then defense becomes harder problem to overlook.

I don't think he's the odd man out but right now, I'd rank him below Ja'Kobe. Or at level with him at the most. And he really should be way ahead.

[Loso04]

Hepburn & Martin about to put the clamp on all the guards when training camp starts

[OAKLEY_2]

Go look at Peja's and Reddicks start to their careers.

Gradey being the odd man out in favor of Ochai is short sighted.

You can't want to draft offense first teenagers in the lottery, and then when we actually have one, decide you can't wait for them to develop.

People around here decided things about Gradey literally in his first summer league, and continue to dwell on his weaknesses without giving him any credit for the improvement he has made.

Feels like this board has old man yelling at clouds syndrome when it comes to Gradey. Are you jealous of a skinny white boy making the league? It feels like an irrational level of hate towards a guy that seems like a nice hardworking kid who just wants to get better and help this team win.

You can't be around here complaining about how bad we are offensively if you're also going to non stop complain about how bad Gradey is on D. Obviously they are trying to get him stronger, it takes time...

You can't be around here complaining that we only draft long arm defense first tweeners, and then non stop cry about how the offensive first kid can't deal with a big body vet going after him around the hoop.

You can't be upset with the team trying to make the playoffs, our ceiling not being high enough, and then say one of our highest ceiling guys is taking to long, so he's the odd man out.

Ochai just established one season of corner three on top of good motor and defence. He is not elite at anything as undersized small forward. Gradey has the clear potential to be a long ball specialist that can get to the hoop due to his threat from deep. That has to play out. JaKobe could be as good as Ochai or better and considering his age I'd say better if he gets the development reps.

[FreshyFlames]

For the wing positions, I think our depth chart starts out like this

Ingram / Dick / Battle
Barrett / Agbaji / Walter

This means that of the options in the poll, Walter is currently the odd man out. Ochai was much better than Dick or Walter last year, and if the team is trying to win, he should start the season in our rotation. Dick is a year older than Walter, has more NBA experience, and is coming off a season where he was in the starting lineup in every game that he played. I don't think Gradey is getting completely dropped out of the rotation right away, so he'd be the 4th guy. That leaves Walter and Battle on the third string when everyone is healthy.

Long term is a different question entirely, and that would depend on how everyone plays this year and what trades end up happening.

There's no way I'm playing Gradey or Agbagi over Walter. Walter is better now and going forward. Develop him

[HumbleRen]

I understand the hesitancy on Gradey but cmon guys.

Bottom 400 defender and is rarely ever efficient. My dude isn’t even showing up for summer league.

I personally did not expect a project when we drafted him. It’s hard to give up on him because his offensive highs are very high but this is a make or break season for him.

[Kingsway_fan]

Gradey has to show this season that he's earning the minutes... many lined up to challenge him on the roster.

[Tom_Foolery]

I understand the hesitancy on Gradey but cmon guys.

Bottom 400 defender and is rarely ever efficient. My dude isn’t even showing up for summer league.

I personally did not expect a project when we drafted him. It’s hard to give up on him because his offensive highs are very high but this is a make or break season for him.

I've even say Gradey's Offensive highs are not even really that high or unique.

He needs to be in the G-Leauge for a couple years to let his body mature. We don't have time for projects at this level.

[tsherkin]

Ochai just established one season of corner three on top of good motor and defence. He is not elite at anything as undersized small forward. Gradey has the clear potential to be a long ball specialist that can get to the hoop due to his threat from deep. That has to play out. JaKobe could be as good as Ochai or better and considering his age I'd say better if he gets the development reps.

Two and a half seasons of quality shooting from the corners. 45.7% from the corner as a rook, 41.6% this year. And he was shooting 40.6% from the corner with Utah for 51 games before we acquired him and his shot tanked for 27 games (we also started him for 18).

[Tom_Foolery]

Go look at Peja's and Reddicks start to their careers.

Gradey being the odd man out in favor of Ochai is short sighted.

You can't want to draft offense first teenagers in the lottery, and then when we actually have one, decide you can't wait for them to develop.

People around here decided things about Gradey literally in his first summer league, and continue to dwell on his weaknesses without giving him any credit for the improvement he has made.

Feels like this board has old man yelling at clouds syndrome when it comes to Gradey. Are you jealous of a skinny white boy making the league? It feels like an irrational level of hate towards a guy that seems like a nice hardworking kid who just wants to get better and help this team win.

You can't be around here complaining about how bad we are offensively if you're also going to non stop complain about how bad Gradey is on D. Obviously they are trying to get him stronger, it takes time...

You can't be around here complaining that we only draft long arm defense first tweeners, and then non stop cry about how the offensive first kid can't deal with a big body vet going after him around the hoop.

You can't be upset with the team trying to make the playoffs, our ceiling not being high enough, and then say one of our highest ceiling guys is taking to long, so he's the odd man out.

If your ceiling is Tyler Herro and you are struggling to hit that, realistically how much time and effort should we invest here?

[MEDIC]

Go look at Peja's and Reddicks start to their careers.

Gradey being the odd man out in favor of Ochai is short sighted.

You can't want to draft offense first teenagers in the lottery, and then when we actually have one, decide you can't wait for them to develop.

People around here decided things about Gradey literally in his first summer league, and continue to dwell on his weaknesses without giving him any credit for the improvement he has made.

Feels like this board has old man yelling at clouds syndrome when it comes to Gradey. Are you jealous of a skinny white boy making the league? It feels like an irrational level of hate towards a guy that seems like a nice hardworking kid who just wants to get better and help this team win.

You can't be around here complaining about how bad we are offensively if you're also going to non stop complain about how bad Gradey is on D. Obviously they are trying to get him stronger, it takes time...

You can't be around here complaining that we only draft long arm defense first tweeners, and then non stop cry about how the offensive first kid can't deal with a big body vet going after him around the hoop.

You can't be upset with the team trying to make the playoffs, our ceiling not being high enough, and then say one of our highest ceiling guys is taking to long, so he's the odd man out.

This will be a big year for Gradey. It's time to put his big boy pants on. Hopefully he is doing squates & a core workout & eating whole chickens in Kansas as I write this.

I think everyone here hopes.he takes some.big steps. TBD.

Personally, I like.watching teams that are elite defensively. I think many others see the importance of it as well. There is a reason everyone loves JaKobe. It's becuse he is competitive on both sides of the floor.

The question is......why do you care so much what peoples preferences are?

[MEDIC]

Hepburn & Martin about to put the clamp on all the guards when training camp starts

Hepburn, Martin, CMB, Walter, Shead, Mogbo, Scottie......

GD is going to have a tough time proving himself on both sides of the floor. It's going to be a really good test to see if he man's up & elevates his level of physicality.

[tsherkin]

If your ceiling is Tyler Herro and you are struggling to hit that, realistically how much time and effort should we invest here?

TBF, Herro would be a NICE ceiling. He's an AS, he's been a 6MOY, and the past 4 years, he's averaging about 22/5/5, and just had a phenomenal offensive season. He's not a superstar, but he IS a very good player, and was so particularly in 2025.

That'd be a brilliant outcome for Gradey.

[Tom_Foolery]

If your ceiling is Tyler Herro and you are struggling to hit that, realistically how much time and effort should we invest here?

TBF, Herro would be a NICE ceiling. He's an AS, he's been a 6MOY, and the past 4 years, he's averaging about 22/5/5, and just had a phenomenal offensive season. He's not a superstar, but he IS a very good player, and was so particularly in 2025.

That'd be a brilliant outcome for Gradey.

OK but when?