Yahoo Sports Raptors pick up options for Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick
The Raptors have exercised their fourth-year option on shooting guard Ochai Agbaji and their third-year option on shooting guard Gradey Dick, the team announced today in a press release.
Source: Hoops Rumors
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Bruno Fernando with the assist at one end, the blocked shot triggering the break at the other, Ochai Agbaji with 21 points and three triples. Just as planned. Raptors have cut Clippers lead to 93-91 with 4:08 to play. - 12:48 AM
Ochai Agbaji got two chances to make a 3, and he cashed out on the second opportunity after getting himself a floater 39 seconds earlier
LAC uses one of the 4 timeouts they had stashed with 7 minutes left and lead down to 89-82. - 12:38 AM
Starters for tonight at LA
Raptors: Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl
Clippers: James Harden, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Derrick Jones Jr., Ivica Zubac
LAC is one of 2 teams (Portland) to start the same starting five for 10 games so far - 10:03 PM
More on this storyline
The 24-year-old is averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 30 minutes of floor time and doing it with remarkable efficiency, converting 56.8 per cent from the floor, including 42.4 per cent from three. And he’s doing it with the lightest of touches: Agbaji ranks third on the Raptors in total minutes played and fifth in minutes per game, but his 14.2 per cent usage rate is 13th on a 15-man roster. -via SportsNet / November 7, 2024
“First of all, he's a really, really hard worker. I give him credit for that,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “Like there was not one time in the practice or his workouts that you need to tell that guy to go harder. He's very coachable. We talked a lot. I've been really focused on what he needs to do for the team every night, and that's being a really good on-the-ball defender, rebounding, improving his agility on the defensive end, being able to avoid screens, all of those details. “Offensively, to do a really good job of cutting and moving and creating space and scoring in those opportunities. And he's constantly working on his shooting as well. We're seeing progress with that. So, everything that we put in front of him, he did a really good job of embracing it and taking it to another level.” -via SportsNet / November 7, 2024
Eric Koreen: Raptors have exercised player options on Ochai Agbaji (fourth year) and Gradey Dick (third year). Their contracts for 2025-26 are now guaranteed. -via x.com / October 29, 2024
“He has the ultimate green light, the ultimate freedom, that’s a great place to be … He’s a fantastic offensive player,” — Lakers head coach JJ Reddick on Gradey Dick. -via Twitter @michaelgrange / November 10, 2024
The Raptors have used him in a way that plays to his strengths. There haven’t been many possessions where they just toss the ball to him, set a screen and let him create — Barrett has had the wheel in most of those moments. Instead, Dick is taking handoffs on the move or accepting off-ball screens and taking passes that way and making quick decisions. “You always talk about preparation. And with long seasons like this, you never know who’s going to be in and out. And it can switch on a nightly basis,” Dick said in a quiet moment courtside before the Raptors’ shootaround on Monday. “One night could be some guys in, the next some guys out. So I feel like if you have the preparation then you can be prepared for any lineup.” -via New York Times / November 6, 2024
With Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors’ two lead playmakers, out of the lineup, Dick has stepped up behind RJ Barrett to be one of the team’s top creators. Even better: He has done it in a way that feels at peace with Dick’s normal game, and could scale down to fit in with a healthier version of the Raptors. “Yeah, he’s balancing it great. I think he understands that his shots, the amount of shots he takes, the type of shots he takes may change when IQ and Scottie get back and we’re whole,” said Temple, who has worked closely with Dick since last year. “But I think him playing in this role right now will do nothing but enhance our team. I think the confidence that he has as a player will be what it is, regardless of if he’s taking seven shots a game or 18 shots a game. And I think because he can play so well off the ball, he’ll be fine. The transition going from when he’s … the number one or two option to the number three or four option won’t be bad for him. “His ability to knock down shots and his ability to finish at the rim right now is what is going to allow him to really make us even more of an offensive juggernaut when those guys get back.” -via New York Times / November 6, 2024
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Raptors pick up options for Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick
