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TSN Sports' Josh Lewenberg predicts that the Toronto Raptors will move on from 2023 first-round pick Gradey Dick this summer.
After a disappointing finish to their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors have now entered the offseason and will go back to the drawing boards. One question at hand will be the conversation of Gradey Dick.
Dick, 22, was a Raptors first-round pick in 2023. After landing the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Toronto went on to select the Kansas prospect. His career was trending in the right direction until 2025-26.
In his sophomore season in 2024-25, Dick averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 41.0/35.0/85.8 shooting splits. Just one year later, and a part of a newly competitive Raptors team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2022, Gradey Dick wasn’t in the rotation.
His regular-season stats declined to 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds with 41.9/30.1/87.5 shooting splits in 2025-26. In the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dick appeared in just three games, averaging 1.3 minutes per game.
The potential seemed to be there for Gradey Dick, but head coach Darko Rajakovic was unable to find a consistent spot in the rotation for the 22-year-old.
Maybe it’s a call for the Raptors to move on from the former lottery pick.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic said that Dick’s work ethic still receives high praise, and the Raptors still believe in his abilities as a player, but he needs to understand why he fell out of the rotation this season, according to TSN Sports’ Josh Lewenberg.
Lewenberg also said that Toronto should acknowledge the possibility of moving on from Gradey Dick this offseason.
“I’m just not sure that it will be here in Toronto. With the evolution of Ja’Kobe Walter, I don’t see a clear path for minutes for Gradey (Dick),” Lewenberg said. “And then you look at the cap sheet, he’s owed $7 million next year in the final year of his rookie deal. That’s money that they could use to potentially resign Sandro Mamukelashvili.”
The Raptors insider mentioned that there’s a chance that other teams are willing to trade for Gradey Dick this summer.
“Now, Gradey’s still just 22; he’s a former lottery pick, expiring contract, so there will be teams out there that are willing to take a flyer. This might be one of those situations where a fresh start and a change of scenery is what’s best for both player and team.”
Facing real expectations and pressure for the first time as an NBA head coach, Darko Rajakovic showed that he could lead the Raptors to the next level (likely earning him an extension this summer). And an update on where Toronto and Gradey Dick stand going into the offseason:
Gradey Dick isn’t the only player the Toronto Raptors will look to evaluate this offseason.
Breakout forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has a $2.8 million player option for 2026-27. The 26-year-old had a career year in his first season with the Raptors, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 52.3/38.9/74.7 shooting splits.
Ja’Kobe Walter, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jonathan Mogbo, and Jamal Shead are set to have team options for next season as well. Walter and Shead showed great improvements in their game while taking over for an injured Immanuel Quickley in the playoffs.
On top of this, Jakob Poeltl has a contract that turns heads after an injury-riddled season. The seven-footer opted in to his 2026-27 player option for 2026-27. This means that he has three new years to his contract that pays around $28 million annually.
Poeltl was unable to play in back-to-back games this regular season due to a lingering back injury. This resulted in just 46 games played while averaging 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Each category is his lowest since the 2020-21 season when he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Raptors president Bobby Webster will speak on Wednesday. The lead front office man in Toronto could address each situation in preparation for the summer.
Toran Flores is a sports reporter located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He's covered news in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. His work has been featured on platforms like FanSided, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Lakers All Day Everyday, and others. In his free time, Toran enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and traveling. More about Toran Flores
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