Toronto Raptors Set Sign $678 Million Over…..

Gradey Dick, the No. 13 pick in the draft, has the Toronto Raptors a little miffed about his rookie campaign. Regarding his status with the team, it makes sense given that he did not exactly blow up the G League and shot less than 30% from the field in his limited action.

Dick’s difficult beginning to life in the pros is made even more distressing by the fact that he was touted as a low-floor player who could immediately enter the rotation. Even though it’s obvious how much work he needs to do before Darko Rajakovic can depend on him once more, the Raptors will still make an effort to get him to perform.

Scouts noted that Dick’s frame was a major concern prior to the draft because he was extremely thin and needed to put on weight in order to compete in the physically demanding NBA. Rajakovic and the Raptors have a strategy in place to counteract this knowledge, which they are now fully aware of.

Dick has been undergoing a unique strength and conditioning regimen that will eventually see him return to the NBA and involve more time with Raptors 905 players. It’s likely that enthusiastic Raptors supporters won’t see Dick in the NBA for some time.

Dick plays much lighter than his listed weight of 205 pounds (6’6″). He is no longer much of an asset on the defensive end, and his offensive game has deteriorated to him shooting 3-pointers. Maybe he ought to have completed one more year of college.

If he was making 3-pointers as frequently as he did while he was at Kansas, all of his physical issues would be easily overlooked; however, he hasn’t been able to replicate that shooting ability. He’s had to design his own offense in the G League, and he hasn’t consistently found that effective stroke.

The Raptors need players like Dick in the rotation, especially with Gary Trent Jr. likely to hit the open market in free agency relatively soon. Rajakovic has not wavered in his support for Dick as a player, saying that he is a big piece of the organization’s future as Toronto tries to justify the pick.

Rookie struggling in the NBA is nothing new, and it seems unlikely that a player with Dick’s 3-point shot would simply wither away into nothing in the pros. What is clear, however, is that Dick needs to become more physically adept if he is going to withstand the rigors of an NBA rotation spot.

When the Toronto Raptors traded away their All-Defensive caliber forward OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, the compensation in return was more than satisfactory. Not only did Toronto acquire young guard Immanuel Quickley, but they also gained a hometown hero in Mississauga native RJ Barrett.

Barrett becomes the eighth Canadian to play for the Raptors. After a solid first showing in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the “Maple Mamba” could be on track to become the greatest Canadian in Raptors history.

All five of the Raptors starters put up double figures, with Pascal Siakam leading the way posting 36 points on five-of-eight three-point shooting. The other Raptors newcomer, spry young guard Immanuel Quickley, found himself in early foul trouble but still put up an impressive 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

As for Barrett, it took him a bit of a feeling-out process to get his offensive game going, but he finished with a near-double-double of 19 points and nine rebounds. Losing Anunoby is tough, given his superb defensive ability, but in a small sample size, Barrett proved to be more than sufficient as a replacement in the Raptors’ starting lineup.

A keynote from Barrett’s debut for Toronto was his aggressiveness in drawing fouls and limiting his shooting from distance. As a member of the Knicks, Barrett would largely play as a floor spacer alongside his co-stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, attempting five or more three-pointers in his last three seasons with New York.

Barrett’s poor shooting efficiency during his time with the Knicks has drawn criticism, but after just one game with the Raptors, it appears that Barrett’s offensive flow has changed significantly.

Although Barrett’s journey with the Raptors is far from over, his initial impressions are encouraging for supporters of the team considering their recent dismal results. RJ appears to have a lot of room for improvement, and given the Raptors coaching staff’s history of improving three-point shooting (as evidenced by the development of standout forwards Siakam and Barnes), it’s reasonable to assume they can improve Barrett’s game as well.

The list of Canadian ex-Raptors is decent, but no single name on the list stands out as amazing. Chris Boucher is far and away the biggest name on that list, and even Boucher himself would tell you he isn’t close to as talented an offensive talent as Barrett is. It’s RJ’s chance to blow them all out of the water and make history as the premier Canadian of the group.