Gradey Dick, who was drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the 13th pick in 2023, will face his former team for the first time since being traded as part of a package deal that sent aging star Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers. Over three seasons with the Raptors, Dick averaged 9.2 points per game over 20 minutes. His return to Rogers Arena is described as "bittersweet," given his fond memories and strong ties in Toronto despite the trade complications due to NBA salary cap investigations.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Gradey Dick, a 22-year-old NBA player, is set to face his former team, the Toronto Raptors, for the first time since being traded. Drafted by the Raptors with the 13th overall pick in 2023, Dick played three seasons in Canada, averaging 9.2 points per game over that period. He was part of a package deal sent from Toronto to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for aging superstar Kawhi Leonard. Leonard had helped Toronto win its only NBA title during his single season with the team in 2018-19. Dick described his feelings as "bittersweet" and emphasized it is an opportunity to play NBA basketball, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory after being traded mid-season.
Written for “NBA Trade UpdateDick Returns” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
VANCOUVER – Gradey Dick repeated one word to describe the feeling ahead of his first game against the team that drafted him in 2023 — “bittersweet.”
asserted
that → repeat → 2023
Part of a package deal sent from the Toronto Raptors to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for aging superstar Kawhi Leonard, Dick suited up against the Raptors in pre-season action at Rogers Arena on Saturday.
asserted
Dick → send → Saturday
The Raptors sent Dick, Brandon Ingram, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks in exchange for Leonard, who helped Toronto win its only NBA title in his only season with the club in 2018-19.
asserted
Toronto → send → 2018
The club selected Dick with 13th overall in the 2023 draft.
asserted
club → select → draft
He averaged 20 minutes and 9.2 points per game over the course of his three seasons in Canada.
asserted
He → average → Canada
“It makes me think about the last three years,” Dick said in the hours before tipoff in Vancouver on Saturday.
asserted
Dick → make → Saturday
“It’s kind of bittersweet, but at the same time, it’s NBA basketball.”
asserted
it → ’ → time
The 22-year-old grew up and played high school and collegiate basketball in Kansas before he was drafted by Toronto.
asserted
he → grow → Toronto
“Me being from Kansas and going all the way out to Toronto, the first time I’m living away from my family,” Dick added.
asserted
Dick → go → family
“(Toronto) kind of welcomed me with open arms all the way.
asserted
Toronto → welcome → arms
That’s why it’s kind of bittersweet.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Get daily National news
The trade faced complications, with the Clippers and Raptors opting to not conclude the deal until the NBA had finished its salary cap circumvention investigation into the Clippers.
asserted
NBA → get → Clippers
The NBA opened its file in September into whether a $28 million endorsement contract involving Leonard broke league rules.
asserted
contract → open → rules
The 35-year-old is working his way back to fitness and is not expected to play in the short-term.
asserted
old → work → term
Leonard is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.
asserted
Leonard → come → games
The investigation left Dick in limbo as he waited for the league to wrap up its work before the trade could be completed.
“Fortunately, around that time I was on vacation with my family,” he said.
uncertain
he → leave → family
“It was easy to have them help me keep my head on straight and not really focus on other stuff.
asserted
me → have → stuff
“On the basketball side of it, it was really just me doing my individual stuff and being ready for whatever the decision called for.
asserted
decision → do → whatever
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said he’s looking for the Wichita-born forward to become more consistent from the three-point line.
asserted
forward → say → line
“I had a talk with him this summer about getting to be a 38-, 40-per-cent three-point shooter,” said Lue, who added he’s unsure if Dick’s confidence took a hit.
asserted
confidence → have → hit
Dick shot 36 per cent from beyond the arc in his first season, but dipped to 30 per cent by the time he left Toronto.
asserted
he → shoot → Toronto
“He’s very talented and being able to cut the way he does, slash the way he does, to play in transition,” Lue said.
asserted
Lue → ’ → transition
“Add that to his game I think it would make him a very good player.”
asserted
him → add → game
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said he and Dick were able to text Friday and have a little bit of a catch-up before Saturday’s game.
asserted
he → say → game
“He’s one of the most talented players in his draft class and I think he’s going to have an amazing career,” Rajakovic said.
asserted
Rajakovic → ’ → career
“He just needs to be consistent, to have a consistent opportunity and he’s going to shine.”
asserted
he → need → opportunity
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Oct. 10, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Oct.
The Aporia
