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[Randle McMurphy]

I watched Battle when he was Gradey’s age in college and he hasn’t gotten any better at defense since then lol

He’s not a player worth caring about in any respect

Let’s be real here, you didn’t watch any of these guys in college. You’re not fooling anyone. lol.

Considering he just brought up Jalen Harris as an example of a guy who shot 40% from 3 and is out of the league makes that even more clear

Do you want me the post the list of scrubs who shot 40% just in the NBA last year? There's no shortage of guys capable of doing exactly that in low minute/usage roles as Battle did; it doesn't make them good players at the NBA level (particularly if they do nothing else of actual value).

I don’t know why he cares what Battle did 3 years before he was even on the Raptors.

So the fact that Battle was struggling at the NCAA level at the same age as Gradey Dick is now isn't relevant how you view them as players? If Gradey Dick was in college this year, he'd be averaging 30 PPG. He's a far superior player to Battle and has loads more potential. I cannot fathom why anybody would want to bench him at this point.

[Randle McMurphy]

Matt Thomas shot over 40% from three for the Raptors two years in a row in this decade. He's been playing in the German league for a couple of years now.

Is he not a scrub

[Los_29]

I watched Battle when he was Gradey’s age in college and he hasn’t gotten any better at defense since then lol

He’s not a player worth caring about in any respect

Let’s be real here, you didn’t watch any of these guys in college. You’re not fooling anyone. lol.

I watch over 100 college basketball games every season at a minimum. Oh yeah, I watched them.

Just because you don't doesn't mean others don't too.

Given your post history, I highly doubt that. You’re wrong about every prospect.

[Randle McMurphy]

Let’s be real here, you didn’t watch any of these guys in college. You’re not fooling anyone. lol.

I watch over 100 college basketball games every season at a minimum. Oh yeah, I watched them.

Just because you don't doesn't mean others don't too.

Given your post history, I highly doubt that. You’re wrong about every prospect.

Which prospect was I wrong about?

In any case, all that would prove is that I shouldn't quit my day job. Not that I'm not watching regularly college basketball games nightly come November. Until March, I'm probably watching them more than the NBA these days.

[Los_29]

I watch over 100 college basketball games every season at a minimum. Oh yeah, I watched them.

Just because you don't doesn't mean others don't too.

Given your post history, I highly doubt that. You’re wrong about every prospect.

Which prospect was I wrong about?

In any case, all that would prove is that I shouldn't quit my day job. Not that I'm not watching regularly college basketball games nightly come November. Until March, I'm probably watching them more than the NBA these days.

Horrifically wrong on Edey. Thought Suggs was an amazing prospect and bashed the Scottie Barnes pick. You don’t seem to comment much on draft picks but every time you do, you’re usually completely wrong. So maybe it’s a good idea to stay quiet or at least go easy on the hot takes.

[Randle McMurphy]

Given your post history, I highly doubt that. You’re wrong about every prospect.

Which prospect was I wrong about?

In any case, all that would prove is that I shouldn't quit my day job. Not that I'm not watching regularly college basketball games nightly come November. Until March, I'm probably watching them more than the NBA these days.

Horrifically wrong on Edey. Thought Suggs was an amazing prospect and bashed the Scottie Barnes pick. You don’t seem to comment much on draft picks but every time you do, you’re usually completely wrong. So maybe it’s a good idea to stay quiet or at least go easy on the hot takes.

How was I horrifically wrong on Edey? He looked exactly what I expected him to be (a high floor guy who can score in the half court but that gets played off the floor whenever a team goes with a stretch five due to his movement). He has his use in the NBA as a role big but he will never be a guy you can close with on a good team. Not an interesting prospect to me in any respect and not a guy I would have drafted in the lottery.

And I still like Suggs. You don't? His defense and intangibles have been the driving force behind the Magic's success (and they tellingly took a step back when he got hurt last year).

Admittedly I was wrong on Barnes but that doesn't prove that I don't watch games. It just proves I was wrong on Barnes (although I had a concern about his shooting which reared its ugly head again last year after the uptick in year 3).

None of that will deter me from giving out any further opinions, nor should it.

[SpezNc]

My thoughts.


For CMB, how is he that heavy, but looks small
He is quick, so that weight isn't an issue
Don't see him as a C
He did make a 3, though he stepped out.
Would like to know how long he was not playing before tonight.
Mogbo I thought should spend time in GLeague getting better touch. Now, he is dunking mist time which is even better.

Could have swore after game 1 someone said Martin could already replace IQ. Lol

We really do seem to have to try and make either a consolidation trade, or trade someone for a pick.

Castleton really stands out as a liability that will be gone and replaced with another big.

Keep telling myself, if these guys could shoot, they wouldn't be on the Raps because they would all be high picks.

It's great depth, but none are threatening a starter this coming year.

CMB said it was his first real action in over a month .

As for why he is heavy but may looks small I wonder if it’s because his lower body is very strong .

Being a strong defender he probably want to have a strong lower center of gravity

His legs and overall lower body is probably weighing a ton.

We often over index the chest and biceps but lower body is often more important

I could be out of lunch though.

[TheAlchemist23]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

[Los_29]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

Problem with him is he’s already 24. He’s older than Scottie and Scottie is heading into his 5th year. Another problem is he’s not even that much better (if at all) than our younger guys like Dick and Walter who are much younger. Silva’s TS% was in the low 50s and as a 4 year senior you expect guys like that to contribute in year 1. That’s why he was drafted where he was.

I like him though and think he can develop into a solid role player.

[Psubs]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

He's the guy I really wanted to draft but everyone just said role player.

[Got Nuffin]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

Problem with him is he’s already 24. He’s older than Scottie and Scottie is heading into his 5th year. Another problem is he’s not even that much better (if at all) than our younger guys like Dick and Walter who are much younger. Silva’s TS% was in the low 50s and as a 4 year senior you expect guys like that to contribute in year 1. That’s why he was drafted where he was.

I like him though and think he can develop into a solid role player.

He looks nice, but at 24 years old if he's not destroying these kids in summer league then he may not even be a long term NBA player tbh.

Same for someone like Mogbo if he plays again next season.

[Appostis]

Y’all have really lost y’all’s minds if you think Battle is better than Gradey lol. I don’t think people on here really watch the games, they just look up boxscores and make judgements off that solely with zero context lol. Gradey takes much tougher shots than Battle and whether y’all think Gradey can shoot or not the league believes he can shoot and guards him as such. Gradey has so much gravity and is a movement shooter who has audacity. He takes shots Battle couldn’t even and wouldn’t even dream of. Battle is strictly a set 3 point shooter.

Gradey was actually a very good set shooter last season which so many people ignore because his overall 3 point percentage was just average. And the reason being was the type of shots he took. Samson Folk says it all the time, Gradey shot something like 43%-46% on wide open set 3 point shots. He’s great at that, but Raptors have higher expectations for him and don’t allow him to just take those easy shots.

Gradey flashed so much to start last season. Yes it did not last but he showed us what he could be. Battle could never. When Gradey figures it out he’s going to be so much more than just a catch and shoot 3 point shooter. He has some exciting potential on offense. And it’s funny bc everyone here hates the defense first players we pick bc they can’t shoot, but the one time we draft offence with no defence and the potential for Gradey to be a special offensive player is clearly still there, everyone gives up on him so early bc he isn’t what they want when they want it. Growth isn’t linear and doesn’t happen at the pace you want it to lol. That’s not how it works. Have some patience.

It's the popular thing to do, write off Dick.

I'm just here buying everyone's stock in the guy.

[Los_29]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

Problem with him is he’s already 24. He’s older than Scottie and Scottie is heading into his 5th year. Another problem is he’s not even that much better (if at all) than our younger guys like Dick and Walter who are much younger. Silva’s TS% was in the low 50s and as a 4 year senior you expect guys like that to contribute in year 1. That’s why he was drafted where he was.

I like him though and think he can develop into a solid role player.

He looks nice, but at 24 years old if he's not destroying these kids in summer league then he may not even be a long term NBA player tbh.

Same for someone like Mogbo if he plays again next season.

Yeah it will be interesting to see what kind of leap he makes next year. He should have a nice bench role set up for him. Needs to improve that efficiency which I think he can.

[Appostis]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

You really can't make this **** up

It's summer league bro...

[ArthurVandelay]

Would love to see Chomche more aggressive securing rebounds.

But his development has been unreal. If he can continue on the same development curve the next two summers, he’s an NBA player.

When people are talking about his development what are the improvements exactly?

Positioning
Activity
Disruption on D

He was raw af last year. I’m not expecting major NBA minutes next year and said two more years of a jump like this year to last. I don’t think I’m over reacting.

The main thing is the team is better with him on the court. That’s huge for a 19 year old.

[mtcan]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

He's the guy I really wanted to draft but everyone just said role player.

He is a role player tho.

AJ Lawson scored 20+ pts in the last 2 games as well. Handing him the keys to the franchise now?

Summer league stats...lol at the overreaction.

[Tripod]

Gradey showed he could be a corner c&s guy in year 1 after his gleague stint. Wasn't he a top corner 3 shooter from that point onward ..not rookies, but for the league.

In year 2, they didn't stick him in the corner. They had him as a movement shooter running all over the God damn floor and shooting from further distance.

That was his development. Unfortunately it got cut short.

We all know he lacked strength and unfortunately, only time can fix that. You can't fix getting stronger in 2 months. It takes time.

This year, he will start in the rotation. His play will dictate if he stays there. He 100% needs to be better defensively and show he isn't a turnstile there. We can't have teams exploit his defense. Hopefully he has gotten stronger as he looks like he has.

On offense, he draws gravity regardless if his shot is falling or not. It will be interesting to see how he is used when on the court.

I still am in his corner because I can see how he was used differently each year in trying to develop his game and because he has been undersized strength wise. But next year he needs to take the next step in more consistent shot making and much better defense. If not, we have other options that will get that opportunity. But it will be Gradey's spot to start...and keep, or lose, imo.

[Boogie!]

Y’all have really lost y’all’s minds if you think Battle is better than Gradey lol. I don’t think people on here really watch the games, they just look up boxscores and make judgements off that solely with zero context lol. Gradey takes much tougher shots than Battle and whether y’all think Gradey can shoot or not the league believes he can shoot and guards him as such. Gradey has so much gravity and is a movement shooter who has audacity. He takes shots Battle couldn’t even and wouldn’t even dream of. Battle is strictly a set 3 point shooter.

Gradey was actually a very good set shooter last season which so many people ignore because his overall 3 point percentage was just average. And the reason being was the type of shots he took. Samson Folk says it all the time, Gradey shot something like 43%-46% on wide open set 3 point shots. He’s great at that, but Raptors have higher expectations for him and don’t allow him to just take those easy shots.

Gradey flashed so much to start last season. Yes it did not last but he showed us what he could be. Battle could never. When Gradey figures it out he’s going to be so much more than just a catch and shoot 3 point shooter. He has some exciting potential on offense. And it’s funny bc everyone here hates the defense first players we pick bc they can’t shoot, but the one time we draft offence with no defence and the potential for Gradey to be a special offensive player is clearly still there, everyone gives up on him so early bc he isn’t what they want when they want it. Growth isn’t linear and doesn’t happen at the pace you want it to lol. That’s not how it works. Have some patience.

It's the popular thing to do, write off Dick.

I'm just here buying everyone's stock in the guy.

I actually don’t think it’s the popular thing at all. I think most people are still high on dick.

[OakleyDokely]

I'd rather have Tristan da Silva than any of our guys on rookie contracts

Watch on YouTube

He better look good in summer league, he's 24 and one the oldest players there.

Based on his age/rookie season, he looks like a role player at best.

[OakleyDokely]

The standout of summer league so far has been Mogbo. He picked up where he left off defensively, but he looks more decisive and sure handed offensively.