jakobe & Dick were bad picks

[mademan]

I have high hopes for JKW and think he can be a D.White kind of player. Dick, to me, has to show he's an elite shooter. He has no other route to being a starter level player, and im dubious he can be that.

Gradey IS an elite shooter. The problem is that the Raps don't want/need an elite shooter. They want someone who can be an elite shooter while also managing a heavy defensive workload, handle and pass and knows the team game. Reed Sheppard is another kid fans wrote off early for his shooting when in reality it was all about his team demands stealing his legs for his shot. Gradey isn't the same kind of player but that specific issue is the same for both of them.

There is no data that supports Gradey being an elite shooter. If he was bangin 90%+ from FT's going back to college, then i might be able to squint and see it, saying that it at least demonstrates elite touch. But all i really see is a good shooter, in a league full of good shooters, which just isnt enough for him if he wants to stick around

[RoteSchroder]

Jakobe was a 19th pick in a historically weak draft. We should be happy if he turns into a reliable bench player.

it was only weak at the top, role player depth wasn't too bad

Isn't that pretty much exactly how he's grading out to be? A decent+ role player?

[manjusaka]

it was only weak at the top, role player depth wasn't too bad

Isn't that pretty much exactly how he's grading out to be? A decent+ role player?

Jakobe is on track to be a decent 3D wings this year. However, he is still young, so I would like to see more from him. Our starters, all can play with and without the ball. Jakobe as a 3D this year should refine his ability to play off the ball, and of course read and react to the situation. Those are the emphasis of our offence. Therefore Jakob’s should work on dribbling and creating offence off the dribble to get to the next level. It will be great if he can become like Nembhard. Can’t remember it was preseason or summer league, Jakobe was trying some of those moves, but bricked most of them. He need to keep it up and finds something works for him.

[Kevin Willis]

Gradey's confidence looks gone. I don't know how long you keep trying to make it work with him.
At the end of the day, Gradey needs to be taking and making 3s at a high volume/rate if he's going to be playing in the NBA. He, quite simply, is not that good a shooter and can't score well enough otherwise.
I like Gradey's tools. You can see development in his game over the years. His defence is improving. However, there needs to be flashes offensively. Those have seemed to died down over time.

I just don't think he's going to get there in Toronto. Seems like a guy that either kills it in Europe or carves out a role on another team after his rookie contract is up.

Jakobe on the other hand seems like a Raptor's coaching development success story. Comes in with a tweener game as an off the dribble scorer. Becomes clear he's not THAT guy at this level. Coaches have completely changed his approach.
He keeps it super simple. On-ball defence and open threes. That's all. Do that well and you will play in the NBA. Quick feet, a motor and 40% from 3 quickly becomes a 30mins/starter in this league.

I'm coming around on Gradey this year, even though I'd like more Battle minutes... and I think it's really not about his 3pt shot at all, for him or Jakobe. There's good reason to play both of them even when their shots aren't falling, as Darko has done. Gradey is just being defended like a shooter even though he's mid from deep, mostly due to his college career, quick release and being a goofy looking white guy.

But he hasn't played like a shooter at all, more like a slasher. He's the best guy off the bench doing a ripthrough and getting downhill. He never stops moving, has good athleticism on the wing, and is using his length more on defense and the glass. He drives the ball and moves it quickly off the catch, similar to what Shead and Mamu do for the offense. That stuff is what the team really values and it's harder to get from a replacement level bench wing.

Good observation, absolutely agree. Plus his defense much better and he gets disruptive with the steals (although he does lose his man from time to time). What's helping Gradey is that he's not playing to his scouting reports like you said. The league will catch up and then we have to re-assess him and Jakoke. Also he doesn't have a confidence problem - if he starts hitting his 3s his game becomes ridiculous because he could slash, pass, shoot and play some D.