5 Raptors storylines at NBA Summer League, from Gradey Dick, Markquis Nowell to undrafted gems

It's been nearly three months since a heartbreaking loss to the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament, but Raptors basketball is back. Summer Raptors basketball, that is.

Led by 13th overall pick Gradey Dick, Toronto's Summer League team is set to take the floor in Las Vegas, with meetings scheduled against the Bulls, Cavaliers, Pistons, and Nets.

As the Raptors usher in a new era of basketball under the guidance of new head coach Darko Rajakovic, their time at summer league should provide a glimpse of what's to come moving forward. That said, there are a few things worth keeping an eye on when the Raptors take the floor.

Gradey Dick's all-around game

As Toronto's lottery pick, all eyes will be on the Kansas product, who is expected to immediately provide an answer to the team's dire need for shooting.

As good of a shooter, as Dick is, Raptors GM Bobby Webster has made it clear that he is much more than that.

"He knows how to play off the ball, he knows how to make backdoor cuts, he can pass well, he rebounds well," Webster said after Toronto made the selection. "I think he's more of a well-rounded player even though he's going to get pegged as a shooter early on."

In a summer league setting, Dick will have an opportunity to showcase other elements of his game as well as his shooting ability, which should give fans an idea of where he is developmentally and what to expect moving forward.

Magnificent Markquis Nowell

He took the college basketball world by storm in March and Nowell will be must-see TV in Vegas.

The diminutive guard stands at just 5-8, but his game is much larger and much louder. From flashy passing to clutch shot-making ability, Nowell is as fun as he is effective on the floor, and he's the perfect type of player to draw plenty of attention during summer league.

Summer league should provide an idea of just how much of a hindrance Nowell's stature will be moving forward. The Raptors have glaring needs in their backcourt, and Nowell has an opportunity to prove that he's capable of being a solution.

Two-way candidates

As it stands, Nowell is the only player on a two-way contract and per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA and NBPA, teams are now permitted to carry three players on two-way contracts, as opposed to two from years past.

Among players to keep an eye on are forward DJ Hogg, who has a solid shooting stroke and an impressive 6-foot-9 frame, as well as undrafted rookies Kevin Obanor, JT Shumate and Desmond Cambridge Jr., who showed an ability to fill it up from the guard position while at Arizona State last season.

In order to be eligible for a two-way contract, players must have less than three years of NBA experience to their name, making some other notable names ineligible.

Frontcourt rotation

In addition to voids in the backcourt, the Raptors could use a third traditional center to spell Jakob Poeltl and Christian Koloko, who is not on this year's summer league roster.

Three names of note on the summer league roster are Moses Brown, David McCormack and Moses Wright.

At 7-2, Brown quite literally stands out above all. The UCLA product has four years of NBA experience under his belt but has yet to find the right home. In his second season, he averaged 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds over 43 games (32 starts) with the Thunder.

McCormack went undrafted in 2022 but played an integral role in Kansas winning the NCAA Tournament earlier that year. He's a 6-foot-10 player with a solid frame and has cerebral instincts in the interior.

Wright is a 6-9 forward that went from being an unknown recruit to winning ACC Player of the Year at Georgia Tech. He spent time with the Clippers and Mavericks before spending last season in China.

It will be far from a given, but each of the above three stand out as having an opportunity to make a good impression and potentially earn an invite to training camp.

Familiar faces

Toronto's summer league roster also features a group of players that fans of the Raptors — and Raptors 905 — should already be familiar with.

Joe Wieskamp, who signed a multi-year deal with the Raptors in February, will get an opportunity to showcase the shooting ability he made a name for himself with during his three-year career at Iowa.

Ron Harper Jr. and David Johnson, who have both been on two-way contracts with the Raptors, get an opportunity to learn under the new system and potentially stay with the franchise for the coming years.

Darryl Morsell, who was acquired by Raptors 905 in December, is a 6-foot-5 forward that was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year at Maryland in 2021. His defensive chops are worth keeping an eye on. 

Raptors Summer League schedule

Here is the Raptors' schedule for their first four games at the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.