The Raptors' time in Las Vegas came to an end with Toronto's summer league team posting a 1-4 record at the NBA 2K24 Summer League.
As the record suggests, the Raptors experienced their fair share of struggles during their time in the desert, but not all was bad. Toronto closed things on a high note, ensuring it wouldn't go winless as rookies Gradey Dick and Markquis Nowell powered a victory over Golden State in the finale.
As the focus shifts forward to training camp in late September, there are a few things that can be taken away from Toronto's time in Las Vegas.
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Gradey Dick will only get better with time
The third Raptors lottery pick of the last decade, high expectations were placed upon Gradey Dick before he even stepped foot on the floor. It took him time to get comfortable, but the returns are certainly encouraging.
After scoring a combined 21 points in his first two outings, he bounced back to score 22 points in his third appearance, finding ways to score despite shooting just 2-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Coming into the draft, it was well-known that Gradey Dick's strength was his shooting ability. That he found ways to make his presence felt while his shot wasn't falling speaks to his standing as a complete player.
In the Raptors' summer league finale, the sharpshooting rookie got his jumper going, shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc en route to scoring 21 points on 8-for-16 from the field.
Gradey Dick's stats vs. Golden State:
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) July 16, 2023
21 POINTS
3 THREE POINTERS
5 REBOUNDS
2 STEALS pic.twitter.com/Ni2riF1DTw
Gradey Dick's summer league experience was a literal progression of him improving on a game-to-game basis. As he prepares for his rookie season, he'll have the opportunity to play alongside and learn from a group of veterans that will allow him to accelerate that progression and growth.
The best is yet to come.
Markquis Nowell is worth the excitement
There were plenty of eyes on Nowell as he looked to make the leap into contributing at the NBA level. Sure, he was electric at Kansas State, but could he find a way to be impactful despite being undersized?
In the opener, Nowell proved the answer was a resounding yes by scoring a team-high 17 points and dishing out a few eye-popping assists. In a largely disappointing performance for Toronto, Nowell was one of few bright spots.
Nowell did struggle a bit, shooting a combined 4-for-24 in his second and third game in Vegas, but he finished strong with 17 points (on 6-for-11 shooting) and 12 assists to help lead Toronto to its only win.
Markquis Nowell (17 PTS, 12 AST, 3 REB) balled out in the @raptors final NBA Summer League game! 😤 pic.twitter.com/zu63gEaaG9
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) July 15, 2023
As TSN's Josh Lewenberg reported, members of the Raptors front office "haven't been this excited about an undrafted player since (Fred) VanVleet."
Nowell's 5-foot-7 frame places him in a different "undersized" category than the 6-foot-1 VanVleet, but the clear flashes of excellence he showed in Vegas indicate that he can contribute at the NBA level.
All signs indicate that Nowell can be the next developmental diamond in Toronto.
Patience will need to be a virtue
Outside of Gradey Dick and Marquis Nowell, there weren't many other major developments to come out of the Raptors' run in Vegas.
After a year in the team's system, Ron Harper Jr. didn't exactly have dominant moments and Joe Wieskamp, who entered summer league as the only other Raptor on a standard contract, didn't do enough to have his deal guaranteed for the upcoming season.
Moses Brown had flashes as a big man with legitimate size, but it's unclear whether or not he'll have a future within the organization.
MORE: New CBA explains why Raptors may be exploring Pascal Siakam trade
With the hiring of head coach Darko Rajakovic and the departure of VanVleet, it is clear that the franchise is at a turning point and will be retooling for the future.
The Raptors are mired in uncertainty but moving forward, it will be the next generation of players like Dick, Nowell and Scottie Barnes that will push the franchise forward. Aside from that trio, Toronto will rely heavily on its vets, though it is a group of players with uncertain futures.
That said, fans must practice patience as the young players continue in their development and the new coaching staff establishes an identity. The seeds are there, but it will take some time for things to blossom.
Raptors Summer League recap
The Raptors lost their first four games in Las Vegas before closing things out with a win. Two of Toronto's losses were close, including an overtime loss to Brooklyn in its penultimate game.
Here's a look back at how each game went:
| High Points | High Rebounds | High Assists | |
| Bulls 83, Raptors 74 | M. Nowell — 17 | M. Brown — 9 | M. Nowell — 5 |
| Cavaliers 99, Raptors 76 | G. Dick — 11 | G. Dick — 8 | G. Dick — 4 |
| Pistons 94, Raptors 90 | G. Dick — 22 | M. Brown — 8 | M. Nowell — 6 |
| Nets 99, Raptors 94 | R. Harper — 19 | M. Brown — 10 | R. Nembhard — 5 |
| Raptors 108, Warriors 101 | J. Wieskamp — 27 | M. Brown — 6 | M. Nowell — 12 |
Stats Leaders
- Points per game: G. Dick (16.0 ppg)
- Rebounds per game: M. Brown (7.0 rpg)
- Assists per game: M. Nowell (6.8 apg)
