The Gradey Dick miss in Toronto has become more than just a Raptors regret - it’s now part of a bigger draft debate about how NBA teams value pure shooting prospects.
Toronto took Dick 13th overall in 2023 after he flashed real range at Kansas, where he hit 40.3% of his 3s while taking almost six attempts a night. The fit made sense on paper. The Raptors had finished that season 28th in 3-point percentage, connecting on just 33.5% of their 32 tries per game, and badly needed perimeter help.
But the shot never fully carried over. Dick settled in as an average shooter over his first two seasons, never really separated himself defensively, and eventually slipped out of the rotation last season. He was then sent to LA in the deal that brought Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto.
Now with the Clippers, Dick still has a chance to reset his career. Even so, the pick itself has already turned into a cautionary tale, and it’s the kind of outcome other teams have almost certainly noticed.
On the October 21 episode of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie pointed to that exact tension, arguing that recent misses could change how teams approach similar prospects going forward.
“These guys that are shooters only…Maybe not shooters only, but so much of their value being tied up in shooting-you could look at Jett Howard, you can look at Gradey Dick, you can look at two guys that were cut yesterday in Dalton Knecht and Walter Clayton-it just feels like right now, that is where there seems to be a real inefficiency in terms of where teams are taking these guys and what their value has become,” Vecenie said.
He continued, “I just wonder if teams are going to be a lot more hesitant on somebody like Braylon Mullins at UConn this year…than what they were just a few years ago.”
That’s the danger with betting early on a one-trick profile, even when that one trick is the skill you need most. Toronto found out the hard way.
This year, the Raptors took a different swing.
They didn’t have a lottery pick, but they still landed a solid one at No. 19. They also still needed more shooting, especially in the frontcourt after losing Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency.
Allen Graves could eventually help on that front. He hit 41.3% from deep at Santa Clara.
But that’s only part of what makes him appealing. Graves brings defensive upside and rebounding strength, which matters just as much.
In his Raptors debut, he missed both of his 3-point attempts, but he still finished with five points, three blocks, one steal and four offensive rebounds.
That’s the key difference between Graves and the type of prospect Vecenie was discussing. His value isn’t built almost entirely on whether the jumper falls.
He’s a 20-year-old with one college season behind him, and he spent that year as a backup. There’s reason for patience there, but also plenty to like.
He fits Toronto’s system and identity. Now the next step is proving he can do it against better competition than the young, inexperienced Chicago Bulls.
In Other News...
Allen Graves Had A Very Toronto Moment Before His NBA Debut
Allen Graves first night in the NBA came with all the Toronto trimmings. In his debut against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21, the Raptors rookie chipped in five points, five rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes, but what stood out just as much was the setting around him. Graves called the experience of playing in front of a sold-out crowd and hearing the national anthem a significant moment, the kind of arrival that makes a debut feel bigger than a box score.
And for a player taking his first professional steps, Toronto supplied a scene he wont forget soon. Drake was courtside, adding another unmistakably local layer to the night, and Graves said he felt the support of family and friends after the game. For a rookie trying to settle into the league, it was a reminder that his first NBA memory in this city came with plenty of noise, attention and the sort of atmosphere that makes Toronto feel different from anywhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face An Early Road Test Their Defense Can't Fake
The Raptors are about to get their first road test of the season in Washington, and it arrives with a chance to find out a lot about how real their early defensive promise is. The Wizards have reshaped their roster with the kind of veteran help that can steady a young group, bringing in Anthony Davis and Trae Young to support their younger players, which makes this more than a simple early-season stop. Torontos defense has looked sharp enough to invite optimism, but road games tend to expose whether that edge travels or gets softened by unfamiliar surroundings.
Washington will also be short-handed, with AJ ruled out, which removes another layer from a matchup already built around questions about depth and consistency. For Toronto, the interest is less about the prediction and more about how the team handles a setting where effort and discipline matter just as much as talent. If the Raptors can carry their defensive identity into this one, it would say something meaningful about where this group stands before the schedule gets any less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
JaKobe Walters Steal Goal Is Turning Into A Raptors Challenge
JaKobe Walter did not waste time making his presence felt in the season opener, coming away with three steals as the Raptors opened the year with a strong defensive showing against the Bulls. The win was built around pressure, activity and a willingness to turn possessions into transition chances, with Toronto forcing turnovers and making Chicago work for every clean look.
Walter has said he wants to lead the NBA in steals in his third season, and that is the kind of ambition that fits a team already deep in disruptive defenders. Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes also bring serious value on that end, which means Walters chase is not just about individual numbers. It is about carving out enough of a role in a defense that already has plenty of players willing to take the ball away. [Read more 🡒]