"We're back with the second-to-last installment of our draft lookback series, this time revisiting October 2022. The 2022-23 Toronto Raptors entered what would ultimately be Nick Nurse's final season as head coach-a campaign that signalled the beginning of the end for his tenure. Toronto finished the regular season at an even 41-41, good enough for the ninth seed and a shot at the Play-In Tournament, where they would need two wins to secure a playoff berth."
"In their first matchup, hosting the Chicago Bulls, Toronto built a comfortable 11-point lead at halftime. Chicago chipped away in the third quarter, but the Raptors regained control early in the fourth. Then the wheels fell off. Toronto's offence sputtered, settling for free throws they couldn't convert. Thanks in part to Diar DeRozan's disruptive courtside presence, the Raptors shot a brutal 18-of-36 from the line-an inefficiency that sealed their fate. That collapse marked Toronto's last postseason appearance to date."
"Having traded away their 2022 first-rounder in a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto finally re-entered the draft with a pick in 2023, landing the 13th overall selection. With it, they selected Kansas sharpshooter Gradey Dick, widely regarded as one of the best perimeter threats in the class. Given the Raptors' struggles from beyond the arc the season prior, the move fit a clear need. Still, the pick raised eyebrows when players like Keyonte George (Utah Jazz), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), Ben Sheppard (Indiana Pacers), GG Jackson (Memphis Grizzlies), and Toumani Camara (Portland Trail Blazers)-all of whom have since shown flashes of promise-went off the board after him."
The Toronto Raptors finished the 2022-23 regular season 41-41 and entered the Play-In Tournament as the ninth seed. In the Play-In game against Chicago, a halftime lead evaporated as Toronto's offence stalled and the team shot an inefficient 18-of-36 from the free-throw line, a key factor in the loss. The postseason exit preceded the departure of coach Nick Nurse and the hiring of Darko Rajaković. After previously trading away a 2022 first-rounder, Toronto used its lone 2023 pick (13th overall) to select Kansas shooter Gradey Dick to help with perimeter scoring. Dick's rookie season began slowly, but he capitalized as minutes increased.
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