If the LA Clippers roster were fully healthy on opening night, or even close, Gradey Dick, acquired in the blockbuster trade involving Kawhi Leonard over the summer, probably wouldn’t see much floor time. However, the fact is that the Clippers are far from 100%. Starters like Brandon Ingram and Max Strus won’t be available on opening night. Additionally, off the bench, Bradley Beal, Jordan Miller, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are also hurt.
With everyone but Miller and Niederhauser expected back soon, Dick needs to maximize the “next man up” opportunity in front of him. Because if he doesn’t, the Clippers won’t hesitate, even for a second, to move his expiring contract by the trade deadline. From there, he could fall out of the league.
So, to prove he belongs, he must showcase off-ball movement, consistently make quality shots, shine defensively, and ultimately be the type of player Tyronn Lue needs on the court at all times.
Gradey Dick may be out of the league soon if he doesn’t take advantage of LA’s current situation
In his final season for the Toronto Raptors, Gradey Dick averaged 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds, shooting 41.9% from the field and 30.1% from beyond the arc. These numbers do not look good on paper, and the worst part is that they don't capture how weak he was on the defensive end of the floor.
Still, despite his decline from year two to three, the Clippers likely gave Dick the benefit of the doubt during the trade process. Maybe he didn’t fit with the Raptors anymore, or he simply needed a fresh start. We’ve seen these types of stories countless times with players early in their NBA careers, and the hope is that the 21-year-old can be one of them.
On the Clippers, though, which is a clean slate and an environment that’s beneficial for young players, if Dick struggles with the pressure to thrive on his shoulders early in the year, which will force the front office to trade him, it’s unlikely a team will give him another chance, at least in the near future.
This is because if he failed on two teams, it’s likely he would do the same on a third.
That said, Dick’s spot in the NBA is ultimately on the line while several players are recovering from injury. There’s not much of a margin for error, given how desperate the Clippers are for help off the bench.
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