Raptors Discussion: v97 Raptor's 2024-2025 - Training camp begins Oct. 1
- Thread starter The Nemesis
- Start date
Toronto Raptors’ Rookie Gradey Dick learning under tutelage of Garrett Temple, veteran teammates | TSN
Toronto Raptors rookie Gradey Dick is using every resource around him to bring himself up to speed on the NBA game writes TSN's Josh Lewenberg.
www.tsn.ca
“I think it’s huge, [having] a guy that’s been in the league that long, learning the ropes from him and just trying to take everything that he says and put it into my game,” said Dick.
The two sat next to each other on the five-hour plane ride from Toronto to Vancouver on Monday and, as head coach Darko Rajakovic noted, it didn’t take long for Temple to take the rookie under his wing.
He knows how valuable that tutelage can be for young guys coming into the league. Teams have player development coaches and support staff in place to help ease the transition, both on and off the court. Still, nothing beats getting firsthand advice from a peer, somebody that’s lived and experienced it himself.
Temple remembers learning from Antonio McDyess and getting to watch Tim Duncan’s “immaculate” routine as a rookie with the San Antonio Spurs. He credits Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson, his vets when he played with the Charlotte Hornets (then-Bobcats) during his sophomore season, and Emeka Okafor, who was his teammate a couple of years later with the Washington Wizards.
“I understand how important a good veteran presence is to young players, especially a 19-year-old,” said Temple. “Just giving him as many tidbits as I can about the league, from the business of the league to the actual game itself to life outside of the game, your routine, things of that nature. Having somebody to talk to who has been through it a little bit probably helps.”
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Generally, Masai Ujiri’s stated preference has been to use those end-of-roster spots on younger, higher-upside players – the thinking being that even if they’re not playing those guys can still develop into future rotation pieces. After years of churning out developmental success stories, from Norman Powell to Fred VanVleet to Chris Boucher, that pipeline has gone dry of late, making this an odd signing on the surface.
But coming off a season in which chemistry seemed to be fractured, and with so much invested in the development of the team’s two youngest players – Dick and the 21-year-old Scottie Barnes – Ujiri clearly saw the value in creating a stable foundation of leadership in the locker room. In recent years, so much of that responsibility fell on VanVleet as the club’s most vocal presence. Without him, it’s been more of a collaborative effort early in camp.
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There should be plenty of diverse perspectives for guys like Dick and Barnes to pull from as they grow their games.
“I love the mix that we have on our team,” Temple said. “You don’t want too many old guys. You don’t want too many young guys. You want the mix and I think we have a very good mix on our team. Look across the roster, from guys 19 [years of age] to guys 37 [years], and a lot in between.”
The Nemesis
Semper Tyrannus
trellaine201
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He really must have got teased alot as a kid.
Dr.Funk
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- Jul 2, 2004
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thewave
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- Jun 17, 2011
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Suntouchable13
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I think they will surprise and win 48 games or so. I won’t say 50, because I don’t want to push my luck. 5th or 4th seed.
Schroeder is going to bring some much much needed scoring ability. Finally we have a guy who can create his own shot. Plus he’s a master at getting to the line. Too many times last year we were just forcing it or taking terrible contested shots we’d have long stretches without scoring. With Schroeder here that won’t be an issue
Fred had hip surgery in 2022 offseason. Info was never released to the fans. Was management covering up for the player's pending free agency? If I'm the owner, I'm not happy about this.
trellaine201
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I was watching hi lights of that SA spurs draft pick Wembanyama. Wow he will be fun to watch. Looks like a monster.
capfit9
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- Oct 29, 2009
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trellaine201
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The deal gives the Thunder 22 second-round picks to go along with 15 first-round selections over the next seven NBA Drafts.
lmao
LaPlante94
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- Apr 12, 2011
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They'll be in win now soon with Shai and Holmgren so I'm sure a lot of those picks will be used in a trade to bring a big name there eventually.
Don’t like that Barnes injury
Edit: Thought it might be a leg but it’s an ankle or foot
Edit: Thought it might be a leg but it’s an ankle or foot
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tmlms13
Registered User
I know it's the preseason but the Raptors are 4-0 with a +23.5 point differential. Preseason or not that is impressive. Next highest point diff is +14.5
They did play the Wizards and Cairns.
In my limited viewing, I thought Barnes looked excellent and Flynn was good.
Suntouchable13
Registered User
Not going to put too much stock in that. Let's how they look in the regular season. I am optimistic they will look better than most people think.
supermann_98
Registered User
Agreed, he's going to be an improvement over FVV as he's not chucking every shot he can to cash in on a FA deal. Masai talking about selfishness, he didn't have to name FVV directly to get his point across, I was watching it last year with my own eyes. Also Schroeder can actually defend and keep his man in front of him, unlike Mr bet-on-myself
- Feb 24, 2003
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The 24 biggest questions for the NBA season: Nuggets repeat? Wembanyama not ROY?
From Nikola Jokić to James Harden to #HeatCulture and everything NBA in between: You have questions, David Aldridge has answers.
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