After three seasons with the Raptors, Toronto’s front office ultimately wrote off Gradey Dick. Not only did he fail to develop as a former lottery pick, but he was moving in the wrong direction. At least, that’s what the Raptors made it seem.
Dick was eventually traded to the LA Clippers, and he’s suddenly thriving on both sides of the ball. Why is that? He is playing with no pressure from the coaching staff and is allowed to develop at his own pace. The Raptors, trying to make a serious playoff run after acquiring Brandon Ingram, had high expectations for the 22-year-old to help the team offensively, which was a bit too much to ask and ultimately led to failure.
So, at the end of the day, it makes sense why Dick is playing well in LA. He’s significantly more comfortable and has time to really grow as a player.
The Raptors made it difficult for Gradey Dick to develop in the NBA
In 2024-25, Immanuel Quickley missed 49 games, RJ Barrett missed 24, and Brandon Ingram never even suited up after being traded. This created plenty of opportunities for Gradey Dick to show the Toronto Raptors what he can do.
As a result, Dick averaged 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds. At the same time, though, he was still learning, especially on the offensive end.
However, in the following year, when Ingram joined and the rest of the squad regained their health, the Raptors were serious about competing for the playoffs.
This meant Dick had to score like he had been, or better, while also limiting his margin for error, which isn’t necessarily the best spot for a young player.
So, because the stakes were higher, Dick fell out of the Raptors’ rotation.
Now, with the LA Clippers, things are a lot different. With a clean slate, Dick is on a team in the midst of a youth movement, which puts less pressure on him to develop faster than usual.
These circumstances have let him average 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, shoot 50% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc, and, in the grand scheme of things, play the kind of basketball he’s better suited for.
From a distance, the Raptors have surely realized the failed experiment with Dick was on them. There’s just nothing they can do about it now, as he’s long gone.
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